Petaling Street — never a treat

It may pull in tourists like blondes to Warnie, but Petaling Street is a con from start to finish. Yes, they have all the fake watches and handbags, but the salesmen are pros at letting you think that you're getting a bargain when you're paying well over the odds. Just remember, RM250 might be cheap "when you compare it to a real Rolex", it's simply bloody expensive when you compare it to any other unbranded watch from a Chinese sweatshop.

However, there is one reason to go to Petaling Street. In the evening the Hokkien noodles served at the hawker stall outside Hong Leong Bank are the best in town. It's grubby and local but something of an institution. Be there after midnight and you'll see anyone from government ministers to celebrities chowing down after a night out.

The bright frights

The bright lights of Jalan P Ramlee are a massive draw for tourists. Located on the road that runs to the Petronas Towers is a bustling strip of ladyboy and hooker-laden bars that create an entirely false impression of Malaysian culture. The bars are only there for holidaymakers, hence why beer costs around RM30 a mug rather than the more usual RM17 or so elsewhere. Worst among equals is Beach Bar, which is famous for having baby sharks in a tank. But as you stand waiting forever for the waitress to come back with your change, you'll quickly realise that the sharks aren't just found in the aquarium.

For something a lot more wholesome, jump in a taxi to Changkat Bukit Bintang a couple of minutes ride away. This is where locals and expats hang out. The area is lined with laid-back bars and top-quality restaurants. For drinks try Twenty-one, while Bijan offers the cordon bleu equivalent of home-cooked Malaysian food.

Taxing times in taxis

Whether you're in KL, Johor or Penang, one thing seems universal in Malaysia — taxis will be keen to take you for a ride, in the most figurative of senses. It's not uncommon to hear stories of holidaymakers paying RM50 for a RM5 fare. To make sure you don't go anywhere with the bad guys, here's some key pointers: unless they're at an official taxi rank, taxis must keep moving — so your best bet of getting an honest driver is to walk past anyone at the kerb and hail someone driving down the road.

There are absolutely no exceptions to using a meter. It doesn't matter if it's 'peak time' or raining or after midnight. However, the fare after midnight is supposed to be what's on the meter plus 50 percent, so don't argue that one! As if to prove the saying that you get what you pay for, there are excellent premium cabs coloured yellow or blue. These are found outside hotels. They cost more but save you so much hassle that if you have the cash you might as well try and use their services.

Shutter Buggers

If you want to shop for digital cameras and other electronics in Kuala Lumpur, don’t buy them from high-end malls such as Bangsar Village or Mid Valley megamall. For one, there is no room for haggling there. Low Yat Plaza, which is Malaysia’s largest IT Lifestyle Mall, and Bukit Bintang Plaza offer a much better choice of variety and pricing. However, make sure you do your research online first. For digital cameras, Nikon and Canon, for example, have a list of authorised dealers in KL. If you take the time to compare prices, you could save about RM500 shopping at Low Yat rather than Bangsar. On that note, be sure you receive a legitimate warranty card from the dealer. Some might not offer an international warranty card but as long as the product is purchased from an authorised dealer there should be no problem.

Got any more places to avoid? Have your say using the comments form below.

Next: Near the beaten track