The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Malaysia

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Malaysia

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

If it's your first trip to Malaysia for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Malaysia. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Malaysia. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Malaysia for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Malaysia beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Malaysia for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi

Ayer Hangat, Kedah
5-star Resort with prices starting at $339 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Malaysia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Jalan Tanjung Rhu, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi has great rooms from $339 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, outdoor tennis, and hiking at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Bayview Hotel Langkawi

Kuah, Kedah
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $29 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Bayview Hotel Langkawi which has nice rooms starting at $29. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Jalan Pandak Mayah 1 Pusat Bandar. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5-star Resort with prices starting at $149 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Malaysia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

We found Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $149. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at No. 20 Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, and child care which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Having a water park here is a terrific addition, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


The Westin Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $108 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $108, The Westin Kuala Lumpur, at 199 Jalan provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers parking, a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


Pullman Miri Waterfront

Miri, Sarawak
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $49 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Malaysia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Pullman Miri Waterfront has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $49 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Lot 1347 Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre. Furthermore, it also offers scuba diving, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $62 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu is 8.80 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $62, and it's located at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Sinsuran. We also love the snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, and golf which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Rangoon Residence @ Georgetown

George Town, Penang State
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $21 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Rangoon Residence @ Georgetown because it has great rooms that start at $21. It has room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, hiking, and city views, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Rangoon Road. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love cooking classes, a game room, free parking, a pool table, and car rentals at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


The Haven All Suite Resort Ipoh

Ulu Kinta, Perak
5-star Resort with prices starting at $93 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Malaysia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The Haven All Suite Resort Ipoh offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $93 (before taxes). It's located at Jalan Haven and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, laundry services, city views, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool


Rebak Island Resort & Marina Langkawi

Pantai Cenang, Kedah
4-star Resort with prices starting at $74 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Langkawi Airport Pantai Cenang, Rebak Island Resort & Marina Langkawi has great rooms from $74 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, child care, laundry services, and cooking classes which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Don't forget to spend some time at the terrific pool bar where you can unwind and relax.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion

George Town, Penang State
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $106 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Malaysia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion which has nice rooms starting at $106. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 14 Leith Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, free parking, and kids meals. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Luxury


For more terrific hotel ideas in Malaysia, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Malaysia, Best Beach Hotels in Malaysia, Best Cheap Hotels in Malaysia, Best Luxury Hotels in Malaysia, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Malaysia, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Malaysia, Best Hotels for One Week in Malaysia, Best Hotels for One Night in Malaysia, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Malaysia, Best Adults Only Hotels in Malaysia, Best Party Hotels in Malaysia, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Malaysia, or Best Business Hotels in Malaysia.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Malaysia?

Malaysia Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$53

After analyzing 532 first time trip hotels in Malaysia, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $53. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Malaysia.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $103
  • 4-star hotels: $69
  • 3-star hotels: $42
  • 2-star hotels: $28


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