Check to make sure your passport and visa requirements are in order. While U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to Malaysia for business or tourism stays of less than 90 days, U.S. residents of other nationalities may need a visa. Check your nearest Malaysian consulate for details.
View the World Health Organization's facts about diseases and disease prevention in Malaysia. Update any shots or medical vaccines recommended for travel in Malaysia in adequate time prior to your trip. Always carry unscreen and bug repellent when you travel to Malaysia.
Choose your mode of travel into Malaysia. Airlines fly into Malaysia's international airports in Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Penang and Johor Bahru. For more international connections, Singapore's Changi Airport is a short trip from Johor Bahru. Buses run across land borders and ships across sea borders between Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand. There are also ferries from the Philippines and trains from Thailand.
Plan your dates of travel. Although the official rainy season stretches from October to April, rainfall persists throughout the year, as to the tropical, humid temperatures. This makes any season a good time for tourism.
Book your flights, trains and ferries for your dates of travel.
Find a hotel, resort or beach-side hut to plan for your stay, if you are staying in a large, tourist-y city. Smaller, off-the-beaten-track stays will require less planning ahead of time, but planning your first few nights ahead of travel will give you a more pleasant introduction to the country.
