Skimping on the cost, but not the fun

CUT your coat according to your cloth. That’s the philosophy of most Malaysian holidaymakers.

Instead of whining about the weak ringgit, these people look for alternatives if their original plan to visit a foreign destination did not work out due to the high costs.

Consultant Ashwin Mahendran chose to go to Pulau Perhentian with his friends instead of Gili Trawangan in Indonesia to save money.

“The weaker ringgit has made travelling overseas too expensive. But the Perhentian trip was amazing and at half the cost too!” says Ashwin, 27.

He says he wanted to go for cheaper destinations such as Haadyai, Thailand, which was also not that far away.

“However, even for a place as close to home like Haadyai, my plans were scrapped due to a lack of budget, especially because of the higher conversion rate.”

He has faith that Malaysia’s popularity as a holiday spot will help give the ringgit a boost during these challenging times.

“Malaysia has always been a well-known tourist destination among foreigners due to its unique food, exotic beaches and islands.

“I have several colleagues who, after leaving Malaysia, still decide to come here for a holiday even if it’s just to eat the food, because they feel it is very cheap,” says Ashwin.

Company executive Vanessa Phua, 29, was also in the same boat when she had to forgo a trip to Paris because of the escalating cost.

“Instead, my boyfriend and I went to Bangkok as it was relatively cheaper,” she says.

But even so, Phua laments that visiting the Thai capital is not as affordable as it used to be.

“In the past, RM10 can be converted to 100 baht. But now, you will need about RM13 to get the same amount of baht.

“Everything costs 30% more, which adds up bit by bit. It can make a big difference when going on a holiday,” she explains.

While shopping is the main attraction for her in Thailand, she says things there are not really much of a bargain anymore.

As for her plans at the end of the year, Phua says she plans to travel locally and may go to Genting Highlands for a break.

Teh Eng Hock, who operates a communications consultancy, says he took his family to Kundasang, Sabah.

“We have always wanted to go but the opportunity never presented itself. With the weaker ringgit, we started exploring local options,” says Teh, 35.

He went for a short trip in Betong, Thailand but was surprised by how high the baht has risen.

“Parts of Cambodia and Vietnam accept US dollars, so that also makes these destinations costlier than before,” he adds.

But he admits there are many local attractions that he has not seen, such as Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang or the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah.

“So with the weak ringgit, these places are higher on my travel list now than before,” Teh says.

The weaker ringgit has made travelling overseas too expensive. But the Perhentian trip was amazing and at half the cost too!

Ashwin Mahendran