8 Lesser-Known & Budget-Friendly Tourist Attractions in Malaysia
- By CompareHero.my
- October 27, 2021
Travel season is upon us once again! With the opening of the Langkawi travel bubble and interstate travel, people have been flocking to various parts of the country for a holiday.
It’s great to be out and about after being at home all this while, but some of us may still have concerns regarding going to crowded places. Fortunately, you can still have a safe getaway, as there are some hidden gems in Malaysia that you can visit.
Unlike the usual touristy spots that would be crowded, these are places that aren’t visited as frequently, but they’re still gorgeous nevertheless.
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1. Black Sand Beach, Langkawi
Iceland is famous for its gorgeous black sand beaches, but fortunately, you won’t have to travel all the way there to see one. Closer to home, in Langkawi, there’s a black sand beach just 4 kms away from The Tanjung Rhu Beach.
It’s a public beach, so entry is free. If you take the cable car in Langkawi, it’s a good idea to visit this beach as well, as it’s just 20 minutes away.
2. Rose Valley, Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands is known for tea and strawberries, but a lesser known fact is that it’s also home to over 450 types of roses. Located in Tringkap, the Rose Valley is perfect for plant-lovers or just those who like aesthetic things on the whole.
You can stroll through hundreds of flower beds while enjoying a cool temperature, as the roses are kept under a roofed structure. In order to enter the place, you’ll need to purchase tickets which are priced at RM5 for adults and RM2 for kids.
3. Pulau Jerejak, Penang
Pulau Jerejak or Jerejak Island, is a tiny island off the eastern coast of Penang. You can make a day-trip here by taking a short ferry ride from Bayan Lepas. Or of course, you can stay overnight. Hotels range from RM90-RM300 a night, so you can go with what suits your budget best.
On the island, there are lots of colourful spots you can visit such as the Rainbow Pier/Jetty, the Stairway to Heaven as well as the swings on the beach. Most of these attractions are free, so you’ll mainly just need to cover your ferry (or other mode of transportation) and accommodation costs.
4. Telaga Tujuh Waterfall, Langkawi
Many people have been travelling to Langkawi lately, so here we are with another hidden gem on the island.
The name already gives it away: Telaga Tujuh is basically 7 natural wells or pools that are connected by a river and waterfall. If you want to see these pools you’ll need to make your way to the Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park. Do take note that you’ll need to hike quite a bit to get to these waterfalls.
The pools are separated into two sections, and there’s a 91-metre cliff between these sections. Entry to the waterfalls itself is free, but if you drive there you’ll have to pay a parking fee. If you need help navigating around the area, there are paid tour services you can use.
5. Sky Mirror, Kuala Selangor
Want some pretty pics for your IG feed? Then this is exactly where you need to go. Due to a natural phenomenon, you’ll get to see the reflection of the sky on the ground; just like in the salt flats in Bolivia.
Take note that because it’s a natural phenomenon, you can only see it on certain days of the month—particularly the 1st and 15th day of a lunar month, and 4 days before and after these dates.
The company that runs this, the Rainbow Sky Jetty, recently reduced their ticket prices to RM60/person. This package covers speedboat transfer to and from the jetty, one light refreshment, props for photography as well as a photography service.
6. Pulau Sembilan, Perak
People flock to Maldives to see the blue tears, a plankton that illuminates water, making it seem as if the sea has blue fairy lights in it. But good news, there’s a place right here in Malaysia where you can see this breathtaking phenomenon.
Pulau Sembilan is an archipelago of nine islands 10 nautical miles off the famous Pulau Pangkor. You can go island hopping between these islands, and what’s interesting is that you can even travel to the Sky Mirror from here. For RM300, you can get all that was mentioned in the Sky Mirror package above plus a boat ride to and from the island.
Pulau Sembilan was actually closed off to tourists for several years due to the damage done t o the ecosystem by tourists. It is slated to open this year, so if you go, please be mindful when dealing with the flora and fauna there, and remember to not litter.
7. Gunung Mat Cincang, Langkawi
Feeling adventurous? If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a good hike up a mountain, you might like this!
Gunung Mat Cincang happens to be the second-tallest mountain in Langkawi. Standing at 709 metres above sea level, you’re in for a real treat as you’ll get to see a stunning view of the island at the end of your hike.
Hiking up this mountain won’t cost you a penny, but make sure you’re well-equipped with the right hiking gear as well as food & drink and emergency supplies.
8. Kiulu Farmstay, Sabah
Being cooped up at home all these months has only made many of us want to be outdoors. On that note, here’s another place that’s great for adventurous nature lovers. Situated in Tamparuli, Sabah, this place is a campsite by the Kiulu River.
During the day, you can be a part of several activities such as paddy planting, rice processing and rubber tapping. At night, you can stargaze with a scenic view above. If you’re looking for a getaway to enjoy some pristine air away from the hustle and bustle, this is your place.
Kiulu Farmstay also happens to be a community-based ecotourism initiative. Some of the families here earn less than RM500 a month, so by staying here, you will be helping them as well. Their rates are between RM30-RM230, depending on whether you book a tent or a room all to yourself.
Related: 8 Things You Might Not Have Known About Sabah & Sarawak
When travelling to these places, make sure to strictly follow SOPs put in place. Plan your trip early and do some research on your choice of destination before travelling as well.
It’s also important to ensure you’re sufficiently protected while travelling. Get a comprehensive, all-in-one travel insurance package for you and your loved ones. Here at CompareHero.my, we have a range of packages you can choose from. Just click the link below for more information:
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4 Helpful Tips For Buying A Used Car In Malaysia
- By CompareHero.my
- October 26, 2021
Looking for a new ride? Well, with local and foreign car makers talking about raising car prices in Malaysia, it might be time to consider buying a used car. Here are a few tips in our basic guide to buying a used car in Malaysia.
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1. Do your homework
Arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible even before you go looking for your future car. “What type of car do I want?”, What can I afford?”, “How much is the car’s maintenance?”, and “What kind of loan can I get?” are just some of the basic questions that you need to research while planning to buy a car. Check out our guide for first time car buyers here.
There are a few handy websites that you can refer to, like WeMotor.com, Carbase.my and CarReviewsNCare.com, where you can easily find owner reviews and prices of the various car models and brands in Malaysia. Once you’ve identified your budget, car features and model that you want, it’s time to look for the best used car deals in town!
2. Come up with a budget
Now that you’ve got the initial budget and planning sorted out, check out websites and online classifieds like MotorTrader, or Mudah to research the market price of the used car you want to buy. Then list out and compare what any of the potential candidates are offering. The cheapest car may not be the one with the most value. Remember, a car is a long-term investment and you want to get your money’s worth!
CompareHero.my Tip: Keep an eye out for used cars that are around 5% to 10% of your budget as the price may be negotiable. We all love discounts and it never hurts to ask nicely!
Related: 5 Handy Tips For First Time Car Buyers
3. Inspect your car
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but basing your purchase entirely on pictures is strictly a no-no. Always examine the car in person as you don’t want to get stuck with a kereta potong (cut-and-joined car). Don’t forget; check the car service records to see if the car has been properly maintained!
If you’re not sure how to do it by yourself, bring a friend who does or ask your mechanic for help. Once you’re happy with your choice and are confident enough to proceed, it’s time to break out the paperwork.
4. Get your documentation sorted
You really, really don’t want to be stuck with a roadworthy or stolen car, so make sure all of the proper documentation for the car is in order. If you’re buying from a used car dealership, the car should have already been inspected and certified by PUSPAKOM in order to facilitate the sale. Request for the vehicle registration card, B5 report (Transfer of Ownership) and if you’re taking a bank loan, the B7 report (Hire Purchase Inspection).
Buying directly from the car owner is a similar process, so ask for the PUSPAKOM B5 and B7 reports (each cost RM30 and RM60 respectively). However, if the owner is still repaying their car loan, the vehicle registration card will be kept by their bank so ask for a bank certified photocopy of the registration card.
The bank will provide the original when it is time to arrange for the transfer of ownership at Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (Road Transport Department Malaysia) . You will also need to provide legal documents and other forms required by Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia to transfer ownership, so check and download the full list here.
So what do you think? Is it worth investing in a used car? Let us know in the comments!
If you’d like to get a second-hand car, a personal loan is one of the easiest ways to fund your purchase. At CompareHero.my, you can select a personal loan that’s right for you from a whole lot of choices. Want to know more? Just click the link below!
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5 Good Reasons You Should Apply For A Credit Card
- By CompareHero.my
- October 25, 2021
If you don’t have a credit card yet, you might not know that it actually has a lot of benefits. Some people even see credit cards as a risk. But the truth is, if used correctly and responsibly, it can be a better payment mode than cash and debit cards.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at what’s in it for you if you get one.
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1. You can get cashback and rewards
One downside to paying with cash or debit cards is that you don’t actually get anything in return.
Say an item you want to buy is worth RM50. You pay for it with cash or your debit card, and that’s all there is to it.
With credit cards, however, you can get benefits each time you swipe your card. There are all sorts of credit card rewards these days: cashback, points, freebies—you name it. For example, there’s the Maybank Shopee Visa Platinum Card which gives you a generous amount of Shopee coins even when you use the card outside the Shopee app. There’s also the Alliance Bank Visa Signature Credit Card which will reward you with 5% cashback on all of your retail spends.
2. Easier to use during travel
As you would have heard, travel is back again and you can even go overseas right now if you like.
Related: 10 Countries Tourists From Malaysia Can Now Visit Without Having To Quarantine
Carrying large amounts of cash when travelling overseas can be a hassle. But more importantly, it’s also unsafe and your precious money could end up getting stolen. So instead of carrying bundles of cash, why not carry one slim credit card around conveniently?
Sure, credit card theft can happen to anyone. But if someone were to steal your credit card, you will get notified if it’s misused and you can then block your card so your funds are untouched. But with cash, once it’s stolen, the chances of you retrieving your money are close to zero.
Most credit cards can also be used in any country. So, you won’t have to worry about having to look for a money changer in case you run out of the local currency in your holiday destination.
3. It can help improve your credit score
A credit score is basically a marker of how soon you can repay your debts and how financially responsible you are. This is why having an impressive credit score is vital. And if you plan to buy a new house/car at some point and you’re going to take a loan, your loan’s approval will depend on how good your credit score is.
But how does using a credit card, which is an added financial commitment, improve your credit score? It all comes down to how quickly you repay your credit card debt. So, if you have a credit card and you diligently settle its amounts on time, this will reduce your debt which in turn will increase your credit score.
And understandably, being late with payments will only have a negative impact on your credit score. To avoid this, make sure you don’t overspend and be mindful of your repayment dates.
Related: How Credit Cards Can Affect Your Credit Score
4. You can get a balance transfer
Debt management is a tricky thing. You start off with a little amount of debt and before you know it, you’re thousands of ringgits in the red and you don’t know how to clear it off. With most types of debt, if you’re having trouble repaying, you’ll need to work it out with your debtor to restructure your payment plan.
With credit card debt, however, it’s a bit easier as there are balance transfer plans. What happens here is that if you have several credit cards with outstanding amounts, you can transfer all of them to a single card to make repayment easier. There are banks who will allow you to do this at no extra charge. Alliance Bank’s Balance Transfer, for example, allows you to transfer your credit card amounts at 0% interest.
5. It has flexible payment plans
As mentioned in the previous point, handling debt isn’t easy. With most loans and other types of debt, you’ll need to pay the fixed amount stipulated by the debtor each month. Credit card repayments, on the other hand, are a lot more flexible: you can either repay the full amount you owe or a monthly minimum amount stated by the bank. This amount would vary between each bank and credit card, so make sure you clarify this before signing up for the card.
There are a lot more upsides to signing up for a credit card besides the ones stated here. The biggest tip in being a responsible credit card user is to ensure that you spend within your means and repay your debts on time. If you manage to do this, there are a lot of credit card perks you can enjoy.
You should also get a credit card that suits your needs best. This can be difficult to find, as there are hundreds of them out there. Fortunately, here at CompareHero.my, we can help you select a credit card that’s best for you! Just click the button below and you can filter through the many credit cards available on our platform. You can also call us at 012-385 0211 for more information.
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8 Hotels In Malaysia That Are Currently Having Exciting Staycation Promos
- By CompareHero.my
- October 22, 2021
As the country has moved to Phases 3 and 4 of the National Recovery Plan and with interstate travel being allowed, more people are holidaying again.
After being at home all these months, you’re most deserving of a getaway (just remember to be safe). Now if you’re planning to book a staycation, you’re probably going to want to pick a pretty and posh place.
On that note, here are 8 major hotels in Kuala Lumpur that are offering promos and discounts for those who want a quick holiday.
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1. Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur
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Shangri-La is actually having multiple offers at this point and you can check out the whole list here.
Of all the promos they’re offering, what stood out the most to us was their RM390/night package for their rooms and suites. If you book this particular package, you’ll get:
- Early check-in at 10am and late check-out at 5pm
- Breakfast for 2 adults and 2 kids under 12
- One complimentary parking with unlimited entries
- Complimentary shuttle bus service on Friday – Sunday to KLCC, Pavilion, Lot 10 and Avenue K
- Access to their Fun Zone, health club, pool, spa and much more at specific timesThere’s a lot more that comes with this deal, and you can see the full list here. Do note that this promo ends on 17th December 2021.
2. Berjaya Hotels & Resorts
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Under their ‘We Miss You’ campaign, Berjaya is not only offering great deals for four of their resorts and hotels, but they’ve also included other hotels such as The Taaras and Aces Hotel.
One of the promos also includes booking for a charter plane under their Jojo Flights! Wanna fly to Redang Island in style? This deal is just for you.
Berjaya is offering different deals for each hotel and resort, so we can’t list them all here, but in essence, some of the things you’ll get are:
- 10% off on F&B bills (excluding tobacco and alcohol items)
- Free afternoon tea set (2 sets)
- 1 free Starbucks voucher worth RM20 each (per room)
- Free entrance to the Japanese Village, Botanical Garden and Rabbit Park in Colmar TropicaleYou can check out the full list of promos and deals by Berjaya here
3. W by Mariott
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W Hotel currently has at least 8 ongoing promos at the time of writing but according to them, their hottest is the Livin’ La Vida Local.
Use their promo code ‘D60’ when booking a room online, and get yourself all of the following:
- Complimentary breakfast 1-2 persons
- Late check-out (subject to availability)
- Daily 3 course dinner for two in Flock or Yen, their restaurants
- 20% off on food and beverage for selected venues, exclusive of in-room dining
- Complimentary high spend internet access
- Onsite parking for one vehicleIn order to get this deal, the last stay date you can book is 22nd December 2021. More information is available here.
4. EQ Kuala Lumpur
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Joining the list is the ever-famous EQ and they currently have several promotions on dining as well as room bookings. There’s even a special offer for those who want to plan a proposal in EQ!
If you book with them, depending on which offer you choose, you’re entitled to get:
- Free breakfast and dinner for 2-3 people
- Daily laundry
- Afternoon tea for two at Bottega Lounge
…and lots more! Check out the full list of promos here.
5. Pavilion Hotel by Banyan Tree
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Pavilion Hotel is also offering a variety of pretty interesting deals for staycations, dining in, pre-wedding photoshoots and so on.
Specifically for their City Staycation deal, you can get up to a whopping 35% off room bookings and 20-25% off dining. There’s also the Advance Purchase deal, where if you book even as early as 3 days ahead, you can get up to 10%, and for bookings made 30 days in advance, you’re entitled to a 15% discount.
What’s even better is that frontliners have a special offer of up to 40% off for bookings made on selected rooms by 17th December 2021.
All their ongoing offers can be found here.
6. Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur
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Four Seasons was recently voted as the #1 Hotel in Asia by Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2020. To celebrate this win, they’re currently offering 20% off room rates, breakfast and more!
Other deals include transport to and from the airport, as well as a 20% discount if you make a booking 7 days in advance.
View all ongoing offers by Four Seasons here.
7. Mandarin Oriental
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Pick any of their staycation offers and get a whole lot of rewards such as a complimentary upgrade to their Club room or up to 50% savings on the Best Available Rates inclusive of breakfast.
They’ve also just introduced the Tatler House, a first in Malaysia, which is a Presidential Suite. Sign up for Friends of M.O, their rewards programme, and get yourself more benefits besides the existing price cuts and upgrades.
Check out Mandarin Oriental’s offers page here.
8. Concorde Hotel
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With several promos running until the end of the year, you’re in for a real treat if you book with Concorde!
You can even takeaway their scrumptious meals and enjoy them in your own home at discounted rates. But if you’re planning to book a staycation with them, you’ll get an all-in-one package that covers breakfast too!
If you make a reservation with them directly instead of through a third party website, you’re even eligible to get air miles under your frequent flyer programme.
More information on all their offers can be found here.
Please note that in order to be able to stay at these hotels, you must be fully vaccinated. Do take the necessary precautions during your stay and be mindful of any other measures that your hotel might have in place.
If you’re also considering travelling overseas instead, here are some countries you can go to without having to quarantine there. But do note that for the time being, those returning to Malaysia from overseas will have to quarantine upon arrival here.
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Here’s How You Can Make Money By Being A Personal Shopper
- By CompareHero.my
- October 21, 2021
If you have no idea what ‘personal shopping’ is, it basically is a paid service whereby the ‘personal shopper’ receives a fee to help their customers or clients shop and includes personalized consultation and delivery.
For many shopaholics out there, it is a dream come true to be able to shop for a living and create a career out of it. Nonetheless, to be a successful personal shopper you will require the right skills and knowledge.
In Malaysia, there is actually an increasing number of people who are becoming personal shoppers, either on a full-time or part-time basis supported by the readily available social media platforms and higher demand of local consumers. For example, a part-time shopper who is also working in the Melaka Historic City Council, Nazziatul Hikmah Abd Rahman, shared that she derived a decent income from personal shopping.
To give you an idea of the booming industry of personal shopping just take a look at HonestBee, a Singapore-based online grocery concierge and delivery service that ventured into Malaysia a few years back. They compete with Happy Fresh, a company that runs a similar business in the country.
Or, you can look at GoGet Malaysia that helps customers to run errands, receive or deliver parcels, shop or even queue for tickets like this guy in New York!
To help you better understand the industry, CompareHero.my spoke with the Founder of Helpr.my, Ang Kok Seong to gain insights on becoming a personal shopper and how the local industry operates.
Find the right category
Before becoming a personal shopper, you will need to identify the various categories of products – women’s wear, men’s wear, furniture, groceries, etc – and its demand. According to Ang, if the product can be easily purchased from e-commerce sites such as Lazada or Zalora, it does not make sense to target the same products or categories offered, such as generic fashion items or kitchen accessories.
“You need to look at the demand for the products and the locations you aim to target. If you are targeting the suburban market that has a high demand for specific product or brands, it makes sense to be a personal shopper in that area”, he added.
With IKEA furniture their main focus, Ang’s customer base is growing fast since it was established in 2015. By helping to take orders for IKEA furniture from smaller cities such as Penang, East Malaysia and even overseas, Helpr.my helps to deliver their customers’ orders to their homes which have limited access to IKEA furniture/stores.
There are, so far, two types of personal shoppers in Malaysia: those who focus on local retail outlets, and the rest that focus on international retailers. For local retailers, companies like Helpr.my and GoGet are some of the pioneers in our local market by offering customer’s help to run errands or do shopping, whereas there are several independent personal shoppers that multitask as stylists or beauty consultants too.
Many of these lifestyle personal shoppers are leveraging on their social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube to reach out to their client base.
For example, Kenny Yee, a make-up artist is also a personal shopper for his clients in the makeup industry.
However, don’t get confused between a personal shopper and an online retailer/store. Technically, a personal shopper provides a service with expert advice and gives you the highest level of customized and personal customer service possible. They do the shopping for you. However, online retailers/stores sell a product to you.
For example, Miramramly advertises and sells clothing and fashion accessories instead of fulfilling the job description as a personal shopper as mentioned above. She is an online retailer.
On the other hand, we also have personal shoppers that travel overseas and help their customers shop for branded or international products that are more expensive or cannot be found in Malaysia.
Another unnamed source who is familiar with this form of the business told CompareHero.my that the personal shoppers get to enjoy huge margin given most of these branded products such as Gucci or the Adidas NMD series are cheaper in other countries, such as the United States and in Europe.
“They get to enjoy margins as high as 50% because most of them skip through customs and avoid paying the import tax. However, this is illegal but they continue to place themselves at risk because of the high-profit margin”, she said.
How much do you get paid?
Depending on the type of role you undertake, whether you are a freelancer, a full-timer or on your own, Ang claims that the pay varies across categories and also a job-by-job basis. For a full-time personal shopper, the starting salary for someone without any experience ranges between RM1,500 to RM2,500 a month.
On the other hand, startups and companies that run errands for their customers deal with freelancers such as single moms and students and they are paid hourly, which is about RM15 to RM25.
As for independent personal shoppers, it really depends on their reputation and ability to negotiate with their clients. Currently, there is not much market price information of the fees for hiring a personal shopper. However, it is worth noting that Helpr.my charges a service fee between 8% to 12% to its customers and this could be a benchmark for those who are operating on a similar business model.
Despite the interesting job scope, Ang said that personal shoppers face two main challenges: creating a catalog and setting minimal fees. In terms of creating a catalog, it is somewhat difficult to create a user-friendly and accurate catalog for certain products as this can keep changing and each brand’s catalog is diverse.
On top of that, personal shoppers must find a sweet spot to ensure their business is sustainable by not pushing the customer away but also ensuring they do not lose money. The minimum purchase amount and service fee must be carefully calculated so customers feel that the money they part with is worth the convenience of hiring a personal shopper.
Quick Recap!
If you want to be a personal shopper, here are the options you have to become one:
1. Set up your own business
Decide the best category you want to be in (furniture, fashion or electronic items) and start on your own social media platform or build a website to start selling your service. Aim for the products that have high demand.
2. Join a personal shopping company
As mentioned above, you can consider making this a career if you have what it takes to be a personal shopper. Send out your resume to the companies such as GoGet.my, HonestBee or Happy Fresh and be a personal shopper in your favorite category.
3. Freelance during an overseas trip
Whenever you plan an upcoming overseas trip, do look up for the popular products that may have high demand in Malaysia or branded stuff like handbags that are sold cheaper in these countries so you can shop on behalf of your friends and family with a minimal fee. (Watch out for import tax though!)
If you aspire to start a business as a personal shopper and become a big name in this industry like ShopandBox that operates globally, you can get a personal loan with the lowest interest rates in the market and start your business immediately in line with your goal to become the top personal shopper!
Meanwhile, check out some other ways you can earn while staying at home:
