The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Malaysia

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia Penang, 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.)

Tanjong Jara Resort

Dungun, Terengganu
5-star Resort with prices starting at $202 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Malaysia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Batu 8 Off Jalan Dungun, Tanjong Jara Resort has great rooms from $202 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 9.00 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 a bar, child care, laundry services, a game room, and a spa at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis


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PARKROYAL Penang Resort

Batu Ferringhi, Penang
4-star Resort with prices starting at $124 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is PARKROYAL Penang Resort which has nice rooms starting at $124. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Batu Ferringhi Beach. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, hiking, child care, and laundry services which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The kids will love the water park, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


DoubleTree by Hilton Damai Laut Resort

Lumut, Perak
5-star Resort with prices starting at $100 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Malaysia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found DoubleTree by Hilton Damai Laut Resort to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $100. 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 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Jalan Damai Laut, Manjung. You'll also find a bar, child care, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Kids' club


Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $99 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $99, Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and golf. 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
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Bertam Resort & Water Park Penang

Kepala Batas, Penang
4-star Resort with prices starting at $65 (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 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Bertam Resort & Water Park Penang has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant. The great rooms here start at $65 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 12854 Jln Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir. Furthermore, it also offers a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, golf, and city views, 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.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool
  • Kids' club


Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $135 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu is 8.90 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $135, and it's located at Pantai Dalit, Tuaran. We also love the a bar, hiking, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


The Westin Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $119 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is The Westin Kuala Lumpur because it has great rooms that start at $119. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 199, Jalan Bukit Bintang. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and city views at this convenient hotel. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

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


Scarletz Suites Klcc By M Suites

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $37 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Malaysia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Scarletz Suites Klcc By M Suites offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $37 (before taxes). It's located at 25 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchens which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


The Danna Beach Villas - A Member Of Small Luxury Hotels Of The World

Pantai Cenang, Kedah
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $302 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at Telaga Harbour Park, Pantai Kok, The Danna Beach Villas - A Member Of Small Luxury Hotels Of The World has great rooms from $302 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Like Home Star Klcc

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $79 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Malaysia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Like Home Star Klcc which has nice rooms starting at $79. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at No 1, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a fitness center, a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


For more terrific hotel ideas in Malaysia, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly 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
$64

After analyzing 998 first time trip hotels in Malaysia, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $64. 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: $121
  • 4-star hotels: $71
  • 3-star hotels: $48
  • 2-star hotels: $31


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