After almost 3 years, I boarded an international flight again from Manila to Kuala Lumpur. My first international travel since the pandemic was to the stunning capital city of Malaysia.
Cebu Pacific Air, in partnership with Tourism Malaysia flew us to Kuala Lumpur to experience its sights, sounds, and flavors.
Malaysia just recently opened its borders to fully-vaccinated Filipinos, and we can travel easy with just a few requirements without the need for a quarantine. It is a fitting partnership as Cebu Pacific encourages every Juan to fly once more with its low fares.
CEB currently flies daily between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, providing passengers with convenient options for them to experience Malaysia’s best. Whether foodies want to revisit the country for its unique culinary scene, or adventurers want to engage in thrill-seeking activities such as water and theme parks, or shoppers just want to splurge in markets – Kuala Lumpur’s the place for you. I have experienced all these along with a really fun and passionate individuals, and I couldn’t wait to share more stories and photos.
#CEBFliesKualaLumpur Crew – Waltz, Lucky, Sir Alex, Ruth, Astrid, Marky, Melo, Poch, Kate, Koko and JT.
(hindi pa kame masyado close nyan en route to KL) 😂
My First Impressions
The first time I got to visit Kuala Lumpur was for a launch event, so I didn’t really get to explore the city. This time around, we stayed for 4-days and learned from our tour guide who has such an endearing way to connect with us.
Night or day, Kuala Lumpur is such a beautiful city. One need not use a drone camera to see and get Impressed with the stunning architecture and iconic buildings. I love the urban parks in between wide roads and train lines. Then, of course, the heart of Kuala Lumpur is in the iconic temples and mosques surrounding the city. Old buildings are restored and even painted with interesting artwork. Kuala Lumpur is such a tourist-friendly destination. It seems that you can go around and see so many things in just one day. The food and flavors that the city offers is another story to tell.
Most of the people we got to encounter are nice, calm, and courteous. They admit that they are not as much friendly, or as hospitable as Filipinos, but one thing I notice is that they are serious and dedicated to the work that they do.
Before Flight | What to Prepare
Before Flight to Kuala Lumpur
Aside from the usual travel essentials, make sure that you prepare the following for airline check-in:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Vax Cards (including Booster Card) and/or Vax Certificate or WHO Yellow Card.
- Either of the 3 is accepted.
- MySejahtera app registration – make sure that you register and upload your vaccine infromation/documents.
En Route Back to Manila
Register and fill out One Health Pass (and save the QR code) – do it 24 hours before the flight.
Where to Stay
Kuala Lumpur is a big city which offers interesting to see and do. Depending on your travel style and budget, there are many lodging options you can choose from.
During our 4-day travel, we stayed in 2 different hotels.
Ibis KLCC: promo starts at Php 2,600 / night
Ibis KLCC is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur – just a 5-minute walk to Petronas Tower. It is more suitable for business travelers. It offers an infinity pool, gym, 2 restaurants, and buffet breakfast.
Chow Kit Hotel (promo starts at Php 4,500/ night)
Chow Kit Hotel is listed as one of the 52 Places to Go in 2020 by The New York Times. It is a quaint hotel with Victorian interiors and modern flair. The hotel serves the best breakfast sets and the staff is really friendly.
I stayed in a Standard Room that is just the perfect size, with modern traveler’s essentials – High-speed Wifi, Luxury Linens, and Organic Bespoke Toiletries. Somehow, my room made me feel like I was staying in Europe.
Momo’s (promo starts at Php 2,139/night)
Momo’s is a popular boutique hotel in Kuala Lumpur with such a fun vibe and personality. Clean, spacious and minimalist rooms. Momo’s is a good place to stay for traveling friends and family.
The restaurant interior is unpretentious with creative event posters that serve as decor.
Kuala Lumpur 3-Day Sample Itinerary
We had free and easy travel during our 4-day stay in Kuala Lumpur. We oftentimes leave the hotel at 12:00 pm. This type of travel allows me to really enjoy the destinations (including our hotels). I tried to compress the activities and destinations into a 3-day itinerary. During our #CEBFliestoKualaLumpur trip, we had dinners and meet-ups to meet local contacts. I think a 3-day trip to Kuala Lumpur is just perfect to enjoy what the city has to offer.
It is fitting to have the flight en route to Kuala Lumpur at night. We were able to take a rest and officially start day one in the morning.
Day Zero:
night flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur (check-in at night)
Day One:
Genting Sky World
Genting Premium Outlet Store
Petronas Tower
Saloma Link
Night Market
Day Two:
Sunway Lagoon (whole day trip)
Day Three:
Batu Caves
Central Market
Lorong Pangggung
Independence Square
National Monument
REX KL Bookstore
Mitsui Outlet Park (before flight)
If you are staying for 4 days, you can have a day break in between Sky World and Sunway Lagoon (it can be pretty tiring to do theme parks on 2 consecutive days).
Estimated Travel Expenses | Travel Budget
I have calculated the estimated expenses for you to help you plan and budget your travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Flight: around Php 4,298 one way via Cebu Pacific Air (you can get a better deal if you book in advance or during Seat Sale!) You can also pre-order in-flight meal for only Php 249.
- Accommodation: cheapest Php 2,500/night x 3 nights
- Meals: simple dishes start at RM 10 (around Php 128 or USD 2.22) to RM 20 (around Php 253 or USD 4.45). You can also go for buffet lunches or dinners at RM 50 (around Php 635 or USD 11.15).
- Transporation: you can go around Kuala Lumpur via Bus, Mass Rapid Transit (Train) or Taxi/Grab.
- Bus Ride: RM 3 (Php 38)
- MRT: RM 1.2 (Php 15).
- You can also go cashless and buy Touch N Go card.
- Theme Park Entrance Fees:
- Sky World Genting (adult) RM 218 (Php 2,396)
- Sunway Lagoon (adult): RM 218 (Php 2,763)
Total budget would depend on one’s lifestyle, interests, and travel style. But most of the attractions and sights in Kuala Lumpur are free to visit. Shopping is a totally different budget. You might need to allot more for this as Kuala Lumpur has 2 popular outlet parks – Mitsui Outlet Park and Genting Premium Outlet Store.
Kuala Lumpur Travel Tips
It is always important for me to have a safe and smooth travel. Sharing some of the tips that you may find helpful on your travel to Kuala Lumpur.
- Flight Check-in. Go to the airport at least 4 hours before your flight. There are more people traveling now and queue to the Immigration and Security Check might take a while.
- Weather: it is usually sunny in the morning, and rains in the afternoon. It is good to bring a jacket, or wear something that you can layer and be comfortable in as you go around the city.
- Currency: I usually use my credit card for purchasing from stores/outlet stores, and just withdraw money from ATM for local currency (to eliminate too much loss on currency exchange). I do not exchange Php to USD, then USD to RM.
- Outlet Plug Type: Type G 240 V. I bring an extension cord with me so I can charge all my gadgets even if there is only one outlet in my hotel room.
- Bring Face Masks. I bring a disposable mask and wear it under a cloth mask (for double protection). Change it every 6 hours.
- Wifi Connectivity. You can rent a pocket wifi for you to bring during travel. Staying connected is a must when traveling. It is much cheaper to rent a pocket wifi vs activate data roaming.
- Have enough rest and sleep. Have a hot shower and enjoy your bed at night. Travel can be really tiring, especially if the itinerary requires physical strength like climbing temples.
In the next blogs, I would be sharing new things to do in Kuala Lumpur. Keep following!
I have more photos and stories to share from this trip with @cebupacificair and @tourismmalaysiaph!
Thank you again for having me! 💙💛
I hope you find this article helpful. Share the love, and share this with your friends.
You can check some of my posts @ruthilicious on Instagram.
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