Top 10 Things We’ve Learned in Our First 3 Days in Malaysia (as a Family of 6)

Micah

Okay, we’ve officially been in Malaysia for three days—just three!—and already I have so many things I want to share with you all.

Instead of rambling on (which I could definitely do), I thought I’d break it down into a top 10 list. Hopefully this helps anyone else preparing to travel here with kids—or just gives you a peek into what the first few days have been like for us.

Here we go…

1. Malaysians are seriously friendly—and they love kids

Everywhere we go, people smile, wave, and chat with the kids. It’s honestly such a refreshing feeling as a parent. We feel welcome and safe here—not like annoying tourists. Even the Grab drivers have been incredibly kind and tolerant, despite our spirited two-year-old narrating everything he sees out the window at full volume.

2. Security is everywhere

Micah was invited to “help” do this security guard do his safety checks.

You’ll notice it straight away—security guards are not just at the airport (as expected), but also at shopping malls, train stations, apartment buildings... pretty much everywhere.

At first it felt a bit intense, but it also adds a layer of comfort knowing there’s always someone nearby if you need help. And they’re so helpful too—holding doors, helping lift the pram up stairs, offering directions.

3. Consider how you’ll do your laundry

They say death and taxes are inevitable… but I’d like to add laundry to that list.

When booking this trip, I completely overlooked the washing machine situation. Luckily, we’ve struck gold—there’s a laundry service just a few doors down from our apartment.

For around $14 AUD, they wash, dry, and fold an entire load.

Honestly, that’s about what we’d spend (or more) using laundromats back in Australia—plus way less hassle. So while having a washing machine isn’t essential, it’s definitely worth factoring into your accommodation search if you're travelling with kids for an extended period of time.

4. Pack a few household essentials

If you are planning on staying for more than a few days, things like tissues, a roll of toilet paper, a dishcloth or tea towel, a potato peeler, and maybe even a cheese slicer (yep, I said it) can make a surprising difference in those early days.

I know it sounds odd but hear me out…

We are staying in KL for 10 days before we keep traveling to other parts of Malaysia for another 20, and as part of our normal routine I do a lot of meal prep. The apartments are not always set up for this, and i packed a couple of tea towels and one of my absolute favourite kitchen utensils, my cheese slicer! It doubles as a vegetable peeler and I have already used it more than once.

Brad was stund that I packed these, but it didn’t take long for him to see the value of these two items. If I could’ve, I probably would’ve packed a toaster and sandwich press too. But hey—we had to draw the line somewhere (I am trying to convince Brad to buy a cheap toaster from Mr DIY’s).

let me also be clear - DON’T PACK A SUITCASE FULL OF TOILET PAPER!

But having a toilet roll stashed in a backpack is really helpful. A lot of toilets are squat toilets with a hose, (yep… hose!) so if your not comfortable with the squat and wash, a little roll of toilet paper will be you best friend. So when you’re packing your Day Bag or Backpack, keep a roll with you.

5. Not super pram- or wheelchair-friendly

This has been a biggie. Footpaths are inconsistent, lifts are often out of order or just nonexistent, and hauling a pram up stairs in KL heat is… not ideal. Thankfully Brad’s been with us for most outings, but it’s shifted our rhythm. I usually take the kids exploring while he works, but that’s been harder here. That said, the kids are troopers—Hannah even helps me carry the pram when we get stuck. But if mobility is a concern in your family, it’s definitely something to plan around.

6. Grab is our new best friend

Brad was talking with a local Taxi Driver, and he said that Uber got pushed out of the market, and the two services in use are Taxis and Grab.

We’re averaging $5–$10 AUD a day on Grab rides—about what we used to spend on diesel in Australia. It’s affordable, super convenient, and every driver we’ve had has been lovely. We still walk when we can (you see so much more that way), but when the heat kicks in or the kids hit their limit, Grab is a lifesaver.

Oh, and like Uber, you can get groceries and takeaway meals delivered to your apartment / hotel. This can be a great tool to pull out of your back pocket when you are feeling overwhelmed and tired.

7. Use the currency converter built into your phone

We have iPhones so I can only speak to this, but in the calculator functions button (the one that looks like a mini calculator) there is a currency converter. I use it constantly.

Until your brain adjusts to the exchange rate, it’s so handy—especially when you’re juggling tired kids and trying to figure out whether a watermelon costs $3 or $30.

8. Airports with kids are just… hard

Let’s be real—airport transitions are tough whether you’re going for a week or six months. I wish I had a magic tip for you, but unfortunately, I do not (sigh)…. Tired, hungry, overstimulated kids + tired, overwhelmed parents = chaos.

We talked through it all with the kids beforehand, which helped—explaining each step and reminding them we needed to work as a team to get through immigration, baggage claim, etc.

But there’s only so much you can prep for. It’s still exhausting. Maddie and Ari asked so many questions. But in the end, it’s a short-term challenge for a huge reward: arriving in a new country together, as a family.

Ari was in his element, he loves all kinds of vehicles and was literally busting out of his skin with excitement to go on his first ever overseas plane ride.

9. Wise debit card = Game changer

Before we had kids, Brad and I had some great trips overseas but always had a bad experience with international transaction fees. We thought we did everything right, used partnered and affiliated banks and we were stunned to see the hundreds of $$ that got eaten in fees!

So for current adventure we opened up a Wise Account. Wise is a digital bank that allows you to open numerous sub accounts that are in the currency of the country you are traveling to.

We’ve been using Wise for almost everything—super easy to top up, low fees, and no international transaction costs when paying in local currency.

Our Aussie cards are safely tucked away with the passports. Most places take Visa, and Wise has worked brilliantly. If you want a discount code, just message me!

10. A few surprising little things...

30 eggs for $5.02 — absolutely wild compared to Aussie prices right now! If you're swinging by our place anytime soon, don’t be surprised if omelets are on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

• Internet, eSIMs & WhatsApp – We almost bought a Starlink Mini (very $$$) because we have relied so much on starlink as we have been traveling Australia, but we didn’t. instead we did our research and bought e-Sims.

  When buying an eSim, make sure you check if it is compatible with your destination and your phone (most are). The most affordable are Data Only eSims, so when you are communicating with you family back home, and /your family or travel buddies with you, use WhatsApp or Messenger (both are Facebook Apps). you can call and message with your data. And, don’t forget to turn off your data roaming service in your phone settings for your primary sim card.

• Currency Exchange – If you can set up a Wise account a few months before you travel, you can preload cash in the destinations currency before you leave. Order your debit card so you recieve well in advance of your trip, and withdraw some cash from the Airport ATMs when you arrive. This will give you the best exchange rates and lowest fees.

  Having some cash in local currency before leaving the airport prevents you from getting stuck somewhere in a cash only situation. don’t curry too much though.

• Transfers – We forgot to book an airport transfer (oops) and ended up probably overpaying for a ride. KL Airport was about 50min away from our apartment, but it took longer with increased traffic.

  We could have used the Train from the Airport to KL Sentral Station, but we really didn’t want to take 4 kids, 4 suitcases/large bags, a pram and 3 backpacks on the train after a 5hr flight. But this would have been a lot more affordable.

• Different safety standards – Think: bathroom locks, blind cords, pool fences, power points. Not the same as back home. It’s been fine for us, but it does mean we’re watching the kids like hawks (well. If that could be a deal-breaker for your family, message us—we’ll help you find suitable accommodation.

• Cheese is pricey – Not impossible to find, but the range is really limited. It seems like it is a little more expensive than in Australia as well… and cheese is expensive in Australia so that is saying something. Milk can be expensive as well, I have seen it for $2.90/litre and I have also have paid well over $5 for 2 litres of milk. It varies from store to store.

• No dogs! – We’ve only seen two dogs on leads in three days. KL council has strict regulations when it comes to dog ownership than we’re used to. For our Maddie—who’s working through a big fear of dogs—it’s actually been a huge relief.

We’ve got lots more to share as we settle in, but I’ll leave it there for now. Every day we’re learning something new, stretching ourselves a little more, and discovering that this life experience is worth every ounce of effort.

If you’re dreaming of travelling as a family, or even just a little curious what it might look like… I hope this gives you a glimpse.

💛 Got questions? don’t hessitate to send me a message—I love hearing from you.