I've been to/I went to/ I visited Malaysia.

[Ashraful Haque]

I know when someone asks whether I've been to a particular place we say 'I've been to that place.' As you people probably know 'travelling/favorite place' are common questions on IELTS. When I get asked questions like "Do you like to travel" or "Talk about a beautiful place you visited" I get confused whether I should say "I've been to Malaysia," "I went to Malaysia" and "I visited Malaysia."

For example:
"If I were given the opportunity I'd like to go to Malaysia again. I've been to/I went to/I visited Malaysia two years ago with my younger brother....."

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, I've been to Malaysia. I spent a week there with my younger brother two years ago.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Don't use the present perfect with a past-time marker such as 'two years ago.

It seems like I did it again. I remember I was told this in this very site.
- I've been to Malaysia once/several times.
But not
- I've been to Malaysia two years ago/last year.

Are 'I went to' and 'I visited' correct? I'd also like to know which one's more natural.

 

[Tarheel]

It seems like I did it again. I remember I was told this on this very site.
- I've been to Malaysia once/several times.
But not
- I've been to Malaysia two years ago/last year.

Are 'I went to' and 'I visited' correct? I'd also like to know which one's more natural.

Perhaps:

I visited Malaysia two years ago. It was different from anything I'd ever seen before.

 

[Tdol]

They both work fine, though.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Perhaps:

I visited Malaysia two years ago. It was different from anything I'd ever seen before.

Does 'I went to Malaysia two years ago' work for you?

And how about 'I was in Malaysia two years ago?' I was told that this one would be wrong.

 

[Tarheel]

Does 'I went to Malaysia two years ago' work for you?

And how about 'I was in Malaysia two years ago?' I was told that this one would be wrong.

I think either can work in the right context.

Don: I went to Malaysia two years ago to work for ABC company.
Ron: Didn't things work out?
Don: The job finished.

Sally; I was in Malaysia two years ago when that tsunami hit.
Dave: Did that happen close to where you were?
Sally: Thankfully, no.

 

[GoesStation]

Does 'I went to Malaysia two years ago' work for you?

And how about 'I was in Malaysia two years ago?' I was told that this one [STRIKE]would be[/STRIKE] was wrong.

They're both correct and natural.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I think either can work in the right context.

Don: I went to Malaysia two years ago to work for ABC company.
Ron: Didn't things work out?
Don: The job finished.

Sally; I was in Malaysia two years ago when that tsunami hit.
Dave: Did that happen close to where you were?
Sally: Thankfully, no.

Someone told me that when you say 'I was in Malaysia two years ago' it sounds like you were asked where you were when something happened. But in my context where I wasn't asked any such questions it should be either 'I've been to Malaysia' or 'I went to/visited Malaysia two years ago.'

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Someone told me that when you say 'I was in Malaysia two years ago' it sounds like you were asked where you were when something happened.

Not true. It just says you were in Malaysia two years ago.

If you're saying where you were when, for example, a volcano erupted, it would be: I was in Malaysia when the volcano erupted.

But in my context, where I wasn't asked any such question, it should be either 'I've been to Malaysia'

That doesn't tell us when, obviously. So it depends on the question.

or 'I went to/visited Malaysia two years ago.'

Those are fine.

Now you know!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It seems like I did it again. I remember I was told this in this very site.

You can't trust anyone anymore!

- I've been to Malaysia once/several times.
But not
- I've been to Malaysia two years ago/last year.

Correct. The first is good, the second bad. You could change the second example to:

- I've been to Malaysia. I went there two years ago.

- I was in Malaysia two years ago.

Are 'I went to' and 'I visited' correct? I'd also like to know which one's more natural.

They're both correct and natural.

I think you're on the right track.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

Now you know!

This takes care of most of my problems except one.
Scenario 1:
I was talking to an Indian I met at the gym...
Indian: I'm from Mumbai.
Me: Ohh, I've been to Mumbai. - I don't think it's correct to say 'I was in Mumbai here.'

Scenario 2:
IELTS examiner: Describe a beautiful place you visited.
Me: I went to/was in/'ve been to Mumbai two years ago/once..... - I think 'went to' is the best choice here but is 'was in' and 'been to' correct here?

 

[emsr2d2]

This takes care of most of my problems except one.

Scenario 1:
I was talking to an Indian I met at the gym...
Indian: I'm from Mumbai.
Me: Ohh, I've been to Mumbai.

I don't think it's correct to say 'I was in Mumbai here'.
You're right. That doesn't work.

Scenario 2:
IELTS examiner: Describe a beautiful place you visited.
Me: I went to/I was in/I've been to Mumbai two years ago/once.

I think 'went to' is the best choice here but [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] are 'was in' and 'been to' correct here?

See my corrections (in red) and my comments (in blue) above.

The answer to your suggestions in Scenario 2 is more complicated.

The following are possible:

I went to Mumbai two years ago.
I went to Mumbai once.
I've been to Mumbai once.
I was in Mumbai two years ago.

The following are not correct:
I've been to Mumbai two years ago.
I was in Mumbai once.