Best things to do in Malaysia

Once war-torn, now sublime, Vietnam is long, lovely and languorous.

As Insider's travel reporter in Singapore, I've backpacked in four countries across Asia and have stayed in a dozen hostels.

Royal Caribbean already operates the world’s largest cruise ship—Wonder of the Seas—but next January it will break that record with Icon of the Seas, which boasts 2,805 staterooms (including more than 1,800 with balconies) and 179 suites. Nearly 1,200 feet long, Icon of the Seas has 20 decks and features a 55-foot-waterfall, multiple pools and waterparks and a “chill island” and a “thrill island”—depending on a passenger’s vibe.

Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.

The world’s best this, the world’s best that. Everyone has an opinion. But those opinions only accrue real value when they’re aggregated with those of other people, and preferably other people with first-hand experience of the matter being judged.

If you’re among the privileged few whose pocketbook or corporate travel policy allows you to fly business class, you’re in for an upgrade.

AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).

Wondering what the best airlines are according to the average flyer? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) gives a good idea in its Travelers’ Choice best airline rankings each year based on real travelers’ reviews. And the results are different than most trade studies that list the “best airlines.”

With rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft taking over, you might be wondering where in the world it’s still possible to take a cheap taxi. Cabs aren’t dead, yet: These countries still heavily rely on them.

Kumuta Palan and Avinash Radhakrishna’s love story has been the stuff of fairy tales. “It was your classic childhood-sweetheart thing—I moved into this neighborhood when I was 10 years old and Kumi was probably nine, and I remember Kumi and her siblings lined up along the fence, watching us move into the house next to them,” says Avinash of the couple’s first meeting in Malaysia years ago. The families became close, and as teenagers the pair were each other’s first crushes.

With eternal summer, thousands of kilometres of beaches and affordable prices, Southeast Asia is the perfect destination if you're planning a trip around nightlife.

Despite having turquoise-ringed tropical islands, misty rainforests, cosmopolitan and arty cities, colourful festivals and one of the world's most interesting ethnic mixes, Malaysia remains Southeast Asia's most unsung destination.