How does Malaysia compare with Thailand?

I agree with everything #1 says. There's more choice of food in Malaysia as it's ethnically a a lot more diverse, with especially Indian food available pretty much everywhere in a way that it just isn't in Thailand.

One makes a good change from the other, but there's not a lot to choose between them. Thailand is definitely the better place to just laze on the beach inexpensively for a couple of weeks or months, but it depends on what your basket of goods is how much more expensive Malaysia is than Thailand. If you drink a lot in bars, it's likely to be quite a lot more, but for most things, across the board, Malaysia is about 15-20% more expensive.

Agree with both #1 and #2. But nice beaches within a day's reach? Pulau Pangkor seems to be closest. Forget about Port Dickson or Morrib.

Heh heh heh... but what is normal to some might not be normal to others, and whats abnormal or strange to some, can be very normal and delish to eat to others. Hmmm.

Malaysia are made of many races...mainly malay, chinese and indians...so you will find variety of food to choose. If you go to Thailand...you have mostly Thai food...they have to stay cheap to comptete and Thailand cost of living is much cheaper then Malaysia...so you experience it yourself..not much differences though.

#4 and #7...on what basis is Thailand cheaper...cos IMO subjective the opposite. I have lived in both and travel extensively in both. I range from high class hotels to street stalls, but struggle to find Malaysia nmore expensive. About 3 years ago Malaysia was quoted as the cheapest all round holiday destination in the world...can't find the report of course now!

I think it's difficult to argue that Malaysia IS more expensive than Thailand, but it's not nearly as expensive as a lot of people make out. As Zakry says there are places where alcoholics can reside without busting their bank accounts as well as their livers (Labuan Island off Sabah is another tax free area). But a big bottle of Tiger from just a streetside restrauant on Bukit Bintang will likely cost you at least RM14 and probably more. An equivalent, basically locals only place in Thailand will only charge half that for a big Singha.

Food is about the same, and if you were really watching every cent and knew what you were doing, you could probably survive for very slightly less in Malaysia than in Thailand. Really top end accommodation might also be cheaper in Malaysia than in Thailand too. Where you'll struggle to find parity is in the cheapo 'bungalow on the beach' type places, which despite recent Thai price hikes, are still a lot cheaper there than in Malaysia.

I'd like to contradict what everyone has said about Malaysia being more expensive than Thailand. I was in both countries two years ago, and yes, at the time Malaysia was around 10% more expensive than Thailand. However, these days the Thai Baht has increased in value against the $US, while the Malaysian Ringgit is steady against the $US, and it seems now Malaysia is at least the same price, if not cheaper than Thailand. For instance, when I was in Thailand two years ago for $AUS1 you would get 33 Thai Baht. When I was in Thailand in mid-February this year for $AUS1 you would get 27 Thai Baht. That's about a 20% change.

And to me Malaysia is completely different to Thailand. Different food, different ethnic groups, different religion, different culture, different scenery, Malaysia is much more civilised, more friendly, and less touristed (if you get away from the main tourist spots of Penang, KL, and Langkawi). While I really like Thailand, Malaysia is much, much better to me.

Thanks everyone for your comments. So it looks like Perhentian Kecil or Langkawi.

What's better in early March?

Book before I go or just rock up? Full-board or Room only?

Fly or Bus?

Thanks again.

The only place in Malaysia that's expensive is Johor Baru, as everything's there pegged to the spending power of its neighbour, Singapore.

But if you're just hitting the beaches, then it makes no difference whether you're in Thailand or Malaysia, as you'll be on an island on the South China Sea or the Indian Ocean.