Malaysia Guide
Getting around
Public transport in Malaysia is reliable, though not as cheap as in other Southeast Asian countries. Much of your travelling, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, will be by bus, minivan or, less often, long-distance taxi. Budget flights are a great option for making hops within the Peninsula or around the region, especially in view of the fact that there are no ferries between Peninsular and east Malaysia. The Malaysian train system, limited to the Peninsula (apart from a small stretch of rail line in Sabah), has to a degree been superseded by fast highways which ensure buses actually outpace the trains, though it still has its uses, particularly in the interior and on the express run north from Butterworth to Bangkok.
Note that the transport system is subject to heavy pressure whenever there's a nationwide public holiday – particularly during Muslim festivals, the Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas and New Year. A day or two before each festival, whole communities embark upon what's called balik kampung, which literally means returning to their home villages (and towns) to be with family. You should make bus, train or flight reservations at least one week in advance to travel at these times; if you're driving, steel yourself for more than the usual number of jams.