Duty-free status keeps prices low across this jungly Malaysian island, and its infrastructure — good roads, a cable car up into the rainforest canopy, night markets that rotate villages — makes budget travel effortless. Pantai Cenang has the buzz; Tanjung Rhu the wow. Eat where the night market queue is longest; a full dinner rarely tops a few ringgit more than the parking would at home.
Featured in Ten affordable tropical escapes that won't empty your savings · Tropical