The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Malaysia surveys the gay and lesbian scene in 17 cities. Listings include gay scene maps, organizations, bars, discos, spas, accommodations, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Click here to order

IPOH (Perak State) -- area code (60-5)

• Chris Home Stay
  7 Persiaran Jelapang 5, Taman Silibin, 012-507-7740, email. A gay-friendly homestay fully furnished and includes breakfast, Net access, city tour, and discount on pick-up services. Cooking facilitities available.

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah State) -- (60-88)

Kota Kinabalu is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:

• Marina Court Apartment-Sabah
  Email. Waterfront apartment, in the center of Kota Kinabalu, available for holiday rentals. Located next door to the Promenade Hotel (see map). This sea and pool view apartment offers more privacy, space and amenities than a hotel room and can sleep up to five at a cost of less than two hotel rooms. Privately owned and gay friendly. Utopia Member Discount
• Promenade Hotel
  Right in the middle of the city, close to major shopping and eating outlets. Do check out the hotel gym and sauna which are frequented by GLBTs, both locals and guests. The leisure center is free for hotel guests and for non-hotel guests, a walk-in rate is levied, or a monthly membership fee inclusive of gym, pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Facilities are clean and in working order.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I loved the ocean view rooms at the Hilton. There is also a gay-patronized nightclub in the basement and plenty of cruising right outside the main entrance on the walkway to the shopping center next door." -- Azmi, Feb 12, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR -- area code (60-3)

Bukit Bintang is jammed with bustling shopping centers, restaurants and many of KL's popular hotels which are right in the center of the action. The neighborhood is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:

• Bedara Home Stay
  Jln Bedara, 012-201-8880, FAX 2163-6522, email. Gay-managedhome stay.
• Eight Guesthouse
  8-10 Tengkat TongShin (see map), 2144-2050, FAX 2144-4250. Comfortable, casual and contemporary, this gay-friendly guesthouse has retrofitted three heritage colonial shophouses with modern plumbing, spacious lounges, and Net access. Just a dhort walk to the nearby gay scene and lots of cafés in the vicinity. It attracts a younger, international and mixed clientele. Inexpensive rates with continental breakfast included.
• Hotel Capitol
  Jln Bulan (see map, off Jln Bukit Bintang), 2143-7000, FAX 2143-0000. Right in the heart of the gay scene, this hotel features inexpensive and contemporary hotel rooms with full amenities and Net access. Rates start around US$60/night. Excellent staff, incredible views of the twin towers from the higher floors.
• I Yang Guesthouse
  Bukit Bintang, 016-6786458, 017-211-2586, email. I Yang guesthouse is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and walking distance to major shopping complexes like Lot 10, Times Square and Sungai Wang. A luxury condominium with two rooms and two bathrooms, all furnished. Facilities include swimming pool and gym. Guests also receive a free session of massage services from I Yang Male Massage. Utopia Member Discount
• Matahari Lodge
  58-1 Jln Hang Kasturi, 2070-5570, FAX 2070-5570, email. Gay-friendly guesthouse and hostel for backpackers, students, budget travelers, etc. Good location, very clean, friendly staff. Utopia Member Discount
• Pondok Lodge
  2/F Unit 20-1C & 20-2C, Jln Changkat Bukit Bintang (see map, opposite Frangipani club), 242-8449, 012-211-2237, 012-218-0334, email. A gay-friendly hostel which offers homestay and basic, traditional Malay living. Inexpensive and friendly accommodation for budget travelers. Recently upgraded, with a beautiful roof garden. Situated in the trendy Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur, walking distance to the gay scene and many bars, cafes, and shopping malls. Just a few minutes by bus or taxi to tourist attractions such as National Museum, National Art Gallery, Railway Station, National Mosque, etc. Facilities include: aircon rooms, phones, common kitchen, Internet access, TV lounge with movie nights, shared bathrooms with showers, rooftop garden terrace. Plus they can arrange for meals, laundry, city tours, airport pick-up, luggage storage, FAX and online services.
• Pujangga Homestay
  21 Jln Berangan (see map), 2141-4243, email. Three minutes away from Istana Hotel. Second turn to the right from rear Jln Nagasari entrance of Istana Hotel. The nearest monorail station is Jln Raja Chulan & Jln Sultan Ismail. A small, gay-friendly guest house with personal attention for each guest. Five minutes walk distance from Jln Bukit Bintang, the most happening street in downtown of Kuala Lumpur. Utopia Member Discount
• Travellers Palm Homestay
  21A (upper floor) Jln Berangan (see map, off Jln Nagasari), 2143-1820, email. A G&L-friendly hostel with homestay concept, located in the heart of the city. Utopia Member Discount
• Westover Lodge
  2/F 4 Medan Pasar, 2070-1286, email. A new and friendly gay-owned budget guesthouse located in the heart China Town. Westover Lodge offers single, double and triple rooms which are a clean, comfortable and extremely affordable base for backpackers and budget travelers. Transportation facilities are within reach (2 minutes from Masjid Jamek and Pasar Seni LRT stations). Nearby are Central Market, Merdeka Square, Jln Tunku Abdul Rahman market, China Town, Puduraya Bus station, 24 hours convenience stores, money changers, cafés, restaurants, bars and shopping malls. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I stayed at the Fortuna Hotel in Bukit Bintang. Very conveniently located. The staff is very kind, competent and helpful. Bringing a guest was no problem. Rooms are large and nicely equipped. The superior rooms could do with some renovation though and I had to tamper with the aircon funnel because the room was too cold (next time I'll try a deluxe room, only slightly more expensive). They didn't ask for a CC number when I booked by phone. I recommend this place." -- michaeltacky, Jul 7, 2008

  "I just experienced a very nice accommodation at Matahari Lodge, 58-1 Jln Hang Kasturi. It is a new budget lodge - very clean and great, helpful staff. Location is in the city center, around the corner from Chinatown." -- leopm, Mar 28, 2008

LANGKAWI (Kedah) -- area code (60-4)

• Pondok Keladi
  Kg Padang Putih, Jalan Pantai Tengah, 955-1648, FAX 955-1548, email. Gay-friendly chalet with six bedrooms with cooking facilities. Cheap, clean, quite and private. Only 3 min bike ride to the nearest beach. Free bicycles. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I stayed at the amazing Pondok Keladi for 2 weeks. More straight couples than gay. Its garden is superb and the surrounding is blissfully quiet. Excellent venue for a quiet holiday away from the rat race! It's located in a village overlooking the paddy fields. Very private and 15 min walk to the beach and restaurants." -- randee, Mar 6, 2007

• The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
  Jln Pantai Dato' Syed Omar, 960-8888, 960-8871, FAX 966-3097, email. 202 rooms and 20 villas with serene, modern decor, exhilarating views and ample amenities (like cooling rain showers). Gay and lesbian-friendly.

MELAKA / MALACCA -- area code (60-6)

Melaka's Old Town heritage neighborhood is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:

• Hotel Puri
  118 Jln Tun Tau Cheng Lock, 282-5588, FAX 281-5588. Not gay, but a favorite of gay travelers, especially those coming up from Singapore for the weekend. A gorgeous heritage building with inexpensive rates that include breakfast. Great location in Old Town and just a short walk from the bars, shops, and sights. Rooms include air-con, Wi-fi, satellite TV, phone, in-room safe.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "My boyfriend and I stayed at the refurbished heritage Heeren House which is right in the old section of town and a short walk to the shops, the museum, and Melaka's wonderful street life. Our room was simple and cozy, with a large bed and non-pretentious antique furnishings. The bathroom, with shower, was tiny and a bit tatty, but it was en suite at least. The owners, a British/Singapore straight couple, were both extremely helpful, full of useful suggestions and local insider info, and completely at ease with gay guests. Internet access is free in the lobby café, adjacent to their souvenir shop in the front of the shophouse." -- suzhouguy, Mar 20, 2007

PENANG -- area code (60-4)

BUTTERWORTH / MAINLAND
• Unique Motel
  2/F 6914 Jln Ong Yi How (corner shophouse), Raja Uda, Butterworth, 016-415-3050, FAX 333-7584, email. Center of Raja Uda Town (Butterworth's Chinatown) on the mainland. Same row as MAYBANK Jln Ong Yi How Branch. Convenient to food, banking, etc. Inexpensive single, double and triple rooms with air-con, and some with en suite bathrooms.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "This place is clean, convenient to downtown Butterworth, with a lot of hawker foods and restaurants nearby. All the rooms are cheap, with air-con and TV: around R$30-50/night only. The owners are very friendly, too." -- johnckiat, May 21, 2007

  HISTORIC GEORGE TOWN / PENANG ISLAND

  Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion 14 Leith St, 262-0006. Just a couple blocks from the seaside Eastern and Oriental Hotel. Why not stay a night or two in the most beautifully restored traditional 19th century Straits Chinese mansion in Penang, nicknamed Le Maison Bleu for its exterior of period indigo wash, setting of the feature film Indochine. Billed as a "flamboyant masterpiece of 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 'yin-yang' windows", this home belonged to one of China's last Mandarins and one of Asia's first celebrity capitalists. Of special note, the home is designed according to fung shui to take full advantage of elemental wind and water forces, and is a masterwork of inventive ways to harness chi, including hidden rainwater channels throughout the structure. Rooms are furnished with antiques, art, photographs and objet from daily life in Penang of old. Rate is very reasonable (about US$70/night) and includes breakfast. Unlike visitors on the twice daily guided tours (M-F), guests have run of the mansion and may take photographs. Walking distance from nearby heritage streets and major architectural landmarks. Winner of a UNESCO Conservation Award and a National Architecture Award for Conservation.

• City Bayview Hotel
  25-A Farquhar St, 263-3161. Situated between the seaside Eastern and Oriental Hotel and the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. This ideally located hotel is excellent quality for price (about US$50/night) with gorgeous rooms, sea views, room safe, strong in-room wireless Net access, and full amenities, and easy walks to the heritage streets.
• Hutton Lodge
  17 Jln Hutton, George Town, 263-6003, 263-6002, email. Experience living in a recently restored colonial-style guesthouse with clean, comfortable rooms and spacious bathrooms. Gay-friendly and located in the heart of the city, just off Penang Rd and within walking distance of George Town's many tourist attractions. Extra large beds, garden terrace, Wi-fi, public telephone, laundry, luggage storage. Some rooms have attached shower/wc. Parking and bicycles for hire. Extremely low rates. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I stayed at the Hutton Lodge, 17, Hutton Lane. This very stylish guesthouse Lodge just opened 3 months ago, everything is very clean and safe, very friendly and helpful staff and especially very gay friendly. Various accommodations from R$20-70." -- swissbear, May 21, 2007

  Comments from Utopians:

  "We stayed at Berjaya (One Stop) and the service in this hotel was atrocious." -- owem, Aug 16, 2007

  "On the weekend I took a beautiful deluxe suite at the classic and romantic Eastern and Oriental Hotel with ocean view, king bed, and huge bathroom. I registered my local friend's name so there were no issues of any kind. They have a huge lunch buffet with lots of local specialties, but do reserve in advance as it is also popular with local families." -- dixie, April 14, 2007

  "We stayed at the G Hotel, right next to Gurney Plaza. Shopping was great and the hawker food was just one minute away. G Hotel was very well located on Gurney Drive and a short drive into Georgetown. The G Hotel is newly opened and the foyer was not completely finished yet. It was brand new and I can not fault its service and the cleanliness of the rooms. The decor is contemporary modern. Just R$230++/night." -- cougar26, Mar 4, 2007

  "I stayed first in the Cititel, just a couple blocks from the sea in the center of the old section of the city. The place has been refurbished, but it's basically an older structure and so rooms are cramped feeling. No in-room safe and extremely poor Net access caused me to check out early. Nearby Malaysia Hotel is cheaper, but only smoking rooms were available and the place was looking a bit tired, also no room safe or Net connection in rooms. For not much more money I could have stayed at in a gorgeous suite at the classic old Eastern and Oriental Hotel but they were fully booked so I ended up at City Bayview which was perfect in price, room, and location." -- Azmi, Feb 7, 2007