Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Hotel Seri Malaysia offers bland but reasonably comfortable rooms. It is found north of the jetty – far enough to be inconvenient if you are on foot.
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Hotel Seri Malaysia offers bland but reasonably comfortable rooms. It is found north of the jetty – far enough to be inconvenient if you are on foot.
Sabah
Mariner's rooms are recently renovated and spacious, with laminate floors, psychedelic art on the walls, fridges and clean bathrooms. Decent breakfast.
Sabah
Friendly homestay offers a big menu of cultural activities in a semi-traditional Malay home near Ranau. Call or Facebook message to arrange transport.
Johor
Jungle cabins and basic hotel rooms in the foothills of Gunung Ledang. The resort also arranges expeditions and activities for large groups.
Kuala Lumpur
This clean and well-run place offers excellent value if you book online in advance. Rooms have TVs and attached bathrooms with rain showers.
George Town
Cintra offers cool, spacious rooms, which aren't equipped with TV, but friendly staff and the attached cafe serve as ample distractions.
Sarawak
These attractive cabins have a living room with couch, chairs and dining table, and three bedrooms with a total of 10 beds. Fan cooled.
Johor
For a fleeting view of the river try this solid budget option that offers clean but rather musty basic rooms; river views cost double.
Malaysia
This hotel is located above a KFC, with Christmas-coloured rooms that are spacious if frumpy. An acceptable crash pad for a night.
Pulau Perhentian
Basic rooms with beds featuring mosquito nets in either a longhouse or individual bungalows set back from Coral Bay's beach.
Mukut Harmony Resort & Chalets
Pulau Tioman
This place has seven simple chalets on a grassy garden plot near the jetty. Wi-fi is available near the reception area only.
Sarawak
The longhouse-style Forest Hostel is fan cooled and has an attached bathroom. Rooms sleep four in bunk beds or double beds.
Pulau Tioman
On the southern section of beach, these simple and old-but-clean bungalows have fans, mosquito nets and attached bathrooms.
Sarawak
The two cabins each sleep eight (there are two double beds in each room), and have attached bathrooms and air-con.
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
Clean, comfortable, 20-bed hostel (choose between four- and six-bed dorms) with fireplace and drink-making area.
Sarawak
A large family house in the village's grassy main square opposite the church. Electricity from 6pm to 11pm only.
Bawang Assan Homestay Programme
Sarawak
A homestay program at an Iban longhouse a 40-minute drive from Sibu.
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
Small, well-scrubbed twin rooms that share common bathrooms. There is an inviting common lounge.
Sarawak
Each rustic, two-bed room has a wood-plank floor, a private bathroom, a fridge and a fan.
Sarawak
A comfortable, homey hostel with three small rooms containing four beds. Fan cooled.
Perhentian Cabana Cafe & Campsite
Pulau Perhentian
Nylon tents under a tarp provide some of the cheapest accommodation on the island.
Gunung Mulu National Park
All 20 beds are in a clean, spacious dormitory-style room with ceiling fans.
Gunung Mulu National Park
This basic wooden 'forest hostel' or large hut is divided into four dorms with sleeping platforms and mats, a kitchen (with gas for cooking and boiled…
Cameron Highlands
The hotel has seen some hard knocks, judging by the prominent stains and wear and tear, but rooms (while plain) are a decent size. If you don’t need…
Sabah
A heck of a misnomer, this place has a few simple rooms varying in comfort, with fan only or air-con, some Banggi-style wooden huts and a semi-dilapidated…
Sarawak
To avoid falling prey to raiding monkeys, tents can be set up at park HQ’s fenced-in camping zone only after 6pm and must be taken down again early in the…
Malaysia
The price is right for the bland, business-style rooms at this aging hotel, five minutes' walk from Terminal 1 bus station. Nothing sparkles except the…
George Town
An old frame shop is the home of this backpackers – they've left a few empty frames and the old shop sign around just in case you didn't get the reference…
Pulau Langkawi
Green Village takes the form of several linked, low-rise villas surrounding a pool and gardenlike grounds. Rooms are small, the decor is dated and some…
George Town
For the epitome of a local experience, book one of the basic rooms in this pier-bound home in the midst of George Town’s biggest clan jetty. You'll be…
George Town
The Yeng Keng is a revamp of a 150-year-old hotel. Its latest incarnation includes rather small and overpriced rooms decked out in occasionally cheesy…
George Town
If you're OK with sacrificing atmosphere for savings and are not a light sleeper, then the starkly bare rooms at this no-frills budget hotel on a busy…
Gunung Mulu National Park
The four rooms here, housed in a wooden outbuilding near the family house, have attached bathrooms and mosquito screens. There's electricity from 6pm to…
George Town
The 24 rooms in this exceedingly plain but clean and comfortable old-fashioned hotel are all similarly equipped with TV, air-con and functional furniture…
Sarawak
This rambling place has seven guest rooms, a lovely verandah, a library-equipped lounge and endearingly tacky floor coverings. Situated 250m along a dirt…