Traveling is one of the main life goals for everyone today. It is the perfect solution to release stress, learn & explore, enhance relationships with your loved ones, make new friends, and of course, see the world from a new perspective. 

However, the weakening ringgit has not been doing us Malaysians a favor, which has led us to various concerns about travel budget more than it used to in the past. But that does not mean the fun has to end there, take a look at the numerous spots we have yet to uncover in our country! 

There are so many perfect getaways in Malaysia, perfect for the long weekends which we get to enjoy with the number of public holidays we get here. But how do you make sure you are getting the best out your trip, financially speaking? 

For starters, you probably should get a travel credit card that allows you to boost your Air Miles or AirAsia Big Point accumulation! In Malaysia, we have several credit cards that suit travelers perfectly and if you play the game well, you can probably treat yourself to a free flight ticket with the help of the right card! 

Let’s start from choosing your favorite airline company that you think you will stick with. For example, AirAsia, which caters for almost all major airports in the region and country. Then, the AirAsia-Citibank MasterCard is probably the card for you. You can earn up to 2 AirAsia Points for every RM1 spent and the evergreen AirAsia Points can be used to redeem AirAsia BIG Points and an annual fee of the card. 

You can redeem 500 AirAsia Big Points with every 2000 AirAsia points in your card and combine that with your existing AirAsia Big Points, you are probably ahead of many AirAsia members in redeeming free flights! 

As for Malaysia Airline's supporters, you can probably apply for the CIMB Enrich Platinum MasterCard and redeem flights faster with your Enrich Miles point accumulation. The best thing is, this card offers unlimited Bonus Miles for every RM4 spend locally and overseas whereas AirAsia-Citibank MasterCard points only has three years validity. 

On top of that, this card offers 2 times exclusive accesses to the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge and also up to RM1 mil travel insurance coverage if you charge the full flight ticket expenses on the card. 

Next, you need to look at the budget for accommodation and daily expenses that should involve food, transportation, and other necessities that come at a cost. Sharing is always the best to cut down these costs so traveling with your friends is always cheaper and better!

Here are some ways to stretch your ringgit while traveling in local tourist hotspots: 

1. Opt for public transport like buses or trains, it costs way cheaper than a cab.
2. Use Grab or Uber in major cities such as Penang, Kuantan, and Ipoh. It’s even better if you can share the cost of the ride with your friends.
3. Go for a backpackers’ hotel or homestay with cheaper prices with this amazing travel website.
4. Sometimes, travel websites offer promotions for new users or certain credit cards! 

If you are just short of a few thousand ringgit for your trip, try a comparison platform and find the best personal loan with the lowest interest to make your dream vacation come true!