Destination choice for a family trip: Malaysia or Indonesia?

Hi everyone,

We’re a family with two kids who’ll be 3½ and 6½ years old at the time of the trip. We live in the city, and the little ones aren’t big hikers in nature, but they’re pretty cool with transportation. Travel month: May 2026 for 3 weeks (round trip) What we’re looking for: a relaxed trip combining nature, culture, beautiful beaches with snorkeling, and sunshine! We want to take our time with the kids and avoid driving 6 hours every couple of days. We’ve traveled as a couple before but not much with the kids (in Europe, by car).

Choices: I ruled out Mexico for various reasons. I’d also dismissed Indonesia because it seemed more tiring with kids in terms of transportation, but it’s back in my top 2 now! 😊 I also crossed off Sri Lanka because of the monsoon on the west coast in May. So, I’m left with Malaysia (KL-Malacca-Selangor-Borneo Sabah-Perhentian Islands area) or Java (Yogyakarta-Bromo-Karimunjawa Islands)... This list isn’t exhaustive—just some rough ideas.

Budget-wise, we’d like to stay in small hotels with pools for under 100 € in cities, but no need for a pool at the beach. Thanks in advance for your tips! Hélène

Hi,

I’m not really sure what you’re looking for from us with this new topic...

Any answers? My first post was about choosing a destination for Mexico, but that’s no longer the case, so I’m changing the subject.

Maybe some answers?

Answers to what questions? There aren’t any...

It's all in the title, as they say. Even though you've already replied to me on another thread about Mexico, maybe other people will have some feedback to share to help me decide... I've already gotten some interesting answers about Indonesia—less so about Malaysia—so maybe someone who's been to both countries can share their experience. Maybe I'm clearer now?

Good evening Why the islands near the Perhentians and not the Perhentians themselves?

I was actually thinking more of Kapas, which seems to fit our expectations better based on what I’ve read—more Malaysian tourists and fewer Western tourists.

We all have preferences for one country over another. It depends on your own personality and tastes... What I'm saying isn't very objective—it's just a feeling—but I didn't really like Malaysia, which I found a bit austere (more rigorous Islam on the east coast). Though since it's been a while, things may have changed. It's also a more urbanized and developed country... Anyway, apart from the Perhentian Islands for snorkeling, I much preferred Indonesia overall. In Malaysia, I only visited the Malay Peninsula (not Borneo).

Thanks. Of course, all opinions are subjective, but it gives me an idea. For Indonesia, I’ll dig into the threads to choose the island, avoid long trips with the kids, and also steer clear of buses packed with hundreds of tourists.

For Indonesia, I’ll dig into the threads to choose the island.

To help those who are undecided about which island to pick, two members here posted fairly comprehensive and well-documented guides on many of them in another forum. You’ll find links to both right at the top of this page: https://forumvoyage.forumactif.com/t3664-decouvrir-l-indonesie-nos-guides-par-ile-et-mode-d-emploi

Awesome, really comprehensive—thanks!

Hi there,

Thanks, Songsam, for "advertising" our travel guides on the Voyage Forum 🙂 where you can ask questions.

Like Djalma, I prefer Indonesia over Malaysia when it comes to the people, but that doesn’t stop me from spending 3 weeks in Malaysian Borneo next September (Sarawak and Sabah).

It’s tough to choose for you, but here’s some info to help: - **Option 1: Malaysia** – Seems more suitable with young kids. Malaysia is much more developed than Indonesia, so transportation is more regular and reliable, roads are in better condition, etc. Beautiful beaches in the Perhentians for the kids and great snorkeling. - **Option 2: Java** – It’s vast, and you might end up with long trips for the kids. Otherwise, it’s great and varied (landscapes, temples, volcanoes), with Karimunjawa for the kids. - **Another option: Bali** – More relaxed with kids since distances are short and transportation is very easy. But it’s *really* crowded now in Ubud and the south. Stick to a few regions (central area near Sidemen, Amed and its beaches—except in summer, the north coast). There are plenty of temples that aren’t overrun. - You can explore the other islands when they’re older 😉 : Sulawesi, Flores, Sumba, Sumatra.

Thanks for your reply. The idea isn’t to choose for me, but I’m happy to take your advice and hear about your experiences! Peninsular Malaysia does seem easier to travel around, but it’s less spectacular in terms of landscapes/temples (except for the Perhentians), and the accommodations are a bit less high-quality—but it’s smoother with little kids. You can’t have it all, I’m starting to realize! I’ll dig into the guidebooks I borrowed from the library.

Hi there, I’m currently writing a travel journal about Malaysia, which I visited this summer. You might find some useful info in it. My kids are different ages, but it could still help. Here’s the link: 3 weeks in Malaysia in July with family (with a side trip to Indonesia) - Malaysia - Routard.com Forums I also have another journal about Costa Rica, a country that’s great for kids (but that’s not the topic here 😉)

I’m stumbling on this post a bit late since it just resurfaced in the thread 😉

Back in 2018, I did Peninsular Malaysia with two kids aged 4 and 8—Penang, the Perhentians, and Kuala Lumpur. It was a fantastic trip 🙂 So I’d definitely recommend it with your little ones 😉