Malaysia

The past decade has seen Malaysia emerge from the shadows of Thailand and Indonesia as a markedly less expensive destination. The country contains some of the oldest rain forests in the world and dozens of pristine islands scattered across the Andaman and South China seas. Several popular orangutan preserves in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo have helped instigate an ecotourism boom. Malaysia’s multicultural capital, Kuala Lumpur, has managed to avoid the fume-laden chaos of Bangkok. A lively confluence of Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures fuels this eclectic city, which offers superb pan-Asian cuisine. (Ask your concierge to direct you to his or her favorite kedai kopi, or outdoor food stall, for a true Malaysian dining experience.) City Centre is worth a stroll for the grand Moorish Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the pith-helmet colonial charm of the Royal Selangor Club. The buzzing Golden Triangle area recalls Tokyo’s Ginza or Singapore’s Orchard Road.