I've been lucky to visit Malaysia often — a country that keeps drawing me back with its rich mix of battlefield tourism, WWII history, wildlife, hidden bars, and a vibrant blend of British, Dutch, Portuguese, Indian, and Chinese influences. It's a destination with something for everyone — families, couples, and solo travellers alike.

While favourites like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi remain popular with Australians, lesser-known gems like Ipoh, Klang, Malacca, and Kuching are emerging as exciting alternatives, offering everything from memorable day trips to immersive week-long stays.

How we get there is also changing.

The way we travel is now as important as the destination.

On a recent AirAsia flight to Malaysia, I experienced their premium seating with extra legroom and enjoyed spicy Malaysian meals—especially a Nasi Lemak that rivalled my favourite streetside stall in Kampung Baru, just behind the Petronas Towers.

The flight crew’s attentiveness and friendliness stood out too. I couldn’t help but wonder if chatting with passengers is part of their job description. The guy in 1A loves a good conversation—maybe we should take turns swapping stories about his travels and family.

AirAsia’s new routes from Darwin and Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur open exciting options for travellers in those cities. For others, it’s a great excuse to explore a new Australian destination. I haven’t been to Darwin yet, and the idea of flying back there from Kuala Lumpur for a few days before heading home to Perth sounds very appealing.

Where Air Asia are also coming out on top is in their soaring reputation as a top tier airline in sustainability, You only have to look at their sustainability report to see this.

Back on the ground and in Malaysia, AirAsia is also making their passengers transfer from the airport much easier with its own ride share business providing a service that has drivers communicating directly with passengers where they are located at the airport and driving mostly hybrid and electric vehicles, reflecting the values and commitment of Air Asia to sustainable tourism.

Accommodation through the AirAsia brand makes this a triple hit of home runs in Malaysia.

While airline partnerships with accommodation options close to or in airports are common, AirAsia has reached for the accommodation stars by partnering with the luxury Ormond brand to provide a boutique luxury experience for Air Asia travellers to Kuala Lumpur.

The Chow Kit area is familiar to many as the home of the great Chow Kit markets but close by is the renowned ‘Chow Kitt - an Ormond Hotel’. Voted as Kuala Lumpur’s favourite boutique hotel it nods vigorously to a colonial past while tipping its hat to art deco days and while sitting at the bar trying to look cool I was expecting Gatsby to pull up a stool next to me at any moment.

The streets of Chow Kit pulse with a vibrant mix of history and modern life. The hotel offers both guided and self-guided walking tours to help you step outside and experience the neighbourhood first hand.

While Chow Kit itself is full of character, it’s also just a short walk to the monorail station, less than five minutes from the hotel, which takes you to Bukit Bintang, Malaysia’s popular shopping district, and nearby Jalan Alor, famous for its street food.

The last time I wrote about flying it was about my experience in a Spitfire. The nature of that flight was one of awe at the visceral experience of sitting behind a Merlin engine, flames erupting from the cylinders as it came to life and my stomach nearly erupting as Victory Rolls were performed. My Spitfire flight was so memorable I got myself a Spitfire tattoo. I won’t be getting an Air Asia tattoo without significant payment but I have no trouble inking my name to supporting airlines that do more than just offer a fun flight. These airlines connect the whole travel experience from rideshares to boutique hotels and go beyond sustainability targets, making us all rethink how we can travel better for the planet.

NOTE:

Chris Parry was NOT traveling as a guest of AirAsia.