KL: Things to know
I’ve taken too long of a hiatus from blogging, so I’d like to come back with some tips and helpful information if you ever decide to visit Kuala Lumpur (you really should).
Grab Taxi is a godsend. Download the app and link your credit card for easy access to all areas of the city and outside the city. I don’t recommend trying to use the public transport system so much. I’ve lived in Tokyo, and the KL train/metro map had me like whaaaaaaat? Plus the trains aren’t always punctual.
Have small bills. I’m just going to point out that Malaysia is pretty cheap if you are used to USD. Even exchanging yen to RM (Malaysian ringgit) is a good deal. So having smaller bills to pay for things, such as the train tokens, is handy. If you decide to never use the train because of point #1, then smaller bills may prove useful when paying for street food, and shopping in markets.
You must cover your legs at the Batu caves if you are a woman. When visiting mosques, it’s maybe obvious that you should dress appropriately. But when visiting this Sacred Hindu site, please show respect by covering your legs, or borrowing a scarf there for a few RM.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Many countries I’ve traveled to in Asia seem to prefer cash, but I think credit and debit cards are becoming more acceptable.
Don’t drink the tap water. We bought bottled water, but brushed our teeth with the faucet water and were fine. However, I think I also had ice in a drink at a hawker center and once again never felt ill. To be safe, bottled water is the way to go.
Pick up a SIM at the airport. It’s cheap and the employees set it up for you. We used DiGi.
No visa is required if you have a U.S. passport. But double check if you are a citizen from elsewhere. I think most countries can visit visa-free.