James Jay Carafano
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country spanning the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. Known for its beaches and rainforests, it is cultural and historical cornucopia, a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. If you want to go somewhere most of your friends probably haven’t, this is our pick for your world tour.
When to visit? It is always hot and humid. December to April is best. Avoid the monsoon season. That’s a no go.
How to get there? There are no direct flights. You are looking at one or more hops from either U.S. coast and at the very least at least 24 hours of flight time.
Where to stay? Since it takes so long to get there, make it worth your while. Split your time between the capital, Kuala Lumpur, home to colonial buildings, shrines, and busy shopping districts, and a relaxing downtime vacation.