Kuala Lumpur Hotels & Resorts
Being the pulsating heart of Malaysia’s life force, Kuala Lumpur is a buzzing city filled with residential suburbs that extend far into the distance. Knowing where to stay when visiting the exciting capital should be focused around knowing what your travel itinerary will contain and staying close to the attractions and hotspots that you plan on frequenting.
Fortunately, the majority of KL’s suburbs are all nearby to certain attractions or leisure interests, and travelling between the suburbs is very easy to manage with the city’s reliable public transport system.
The best areas in KL to choose your accommodation
Kuala Lumpur can be divided into many distinct districts, however, this travel article will focus exclusively on accommodation options in five different areas as we believe that these areas are most suitable to visitors in terms of proximity to travel hotspots and travel interests.
The areas being explored will be Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), Old City Centre (Chinatown), Golden Triangle, Brickfields (Little India) and a brief introduction into the Northern suburbs simply for its closeness to a couple of natural attractions. A huge plus regarding accommodation options in the sprawling capital is that both budget-conscious travellers, as well as travellers desiring the finer things in life are well catered to.
KLCC
Staying in KLCC affords its guests easy access to some of the most iconic and famous landmarks and attractions in the whole of Malaysia as well as endless choices in dining, leisure, sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and, arts and culture. Popular tourist hotspots in the KLCC nearby area include the legendary Petronas Twin Towers, Menara KL Tower and the megasized Suria KLCC Shopping Mall.
Offering excellent value for money, Dorms KL is a fine choice for travellers looking to stretch their Ringgit. Top features of this budget accommodation include free Wi-Fi, an on-site restaurant, a 24-hour front desk as well as clean and air-conned rooms. Bathrooms are shared but towels and linen are provided. Female, male and mixed dormitories are the order of the day and guests can expect to pay a meagre MYR 12 for one person for one night. Backpacker Jackpot!
For those with a generous accommodation allowance, Mandarin Oriental, situated between the Petronas Towers and Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, offers its high-end guests first-class luxury at every turn. Stunning rooms, suites and apartments are on offer and are all complete with marbled bathrooms, fine linen, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The rooms all have sweeping views of the KL skyline, Petronas Towers, the city, the park or swimming pool. With five restaurants on-site as well as two lounges, two bars, a bakery, a spa, a fitness centre and tennis courts; your every whim and desire is catered to at Mandarin Oriental. Prices are steep and range from around MYR 680 to an exorbitant MYR 6000 for the Club Suite.
Old City Centre, or China Town
Accommodation in the Old City Centre or the more commonly known, China Town, is a wonderful choice for travellers wanting to be based in the traditional centre of Kuala Lumpur and nearby to the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens, Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Deeply entrenched in oriental culture and heritage, streets are lined with quaint and quirky Chinese eateries and shops and fortunately for visitors wanting to be based here, accommodation is extremely affordable.
Birdsnest Collective Café and Guesthouse, well situated at 210 Jalan Tun HS Lee, is an excellent choice for those on a budget. Air-conditioned cosy rooms, complimentary hot drinks and an expansive rooftop café and lounge are Birdsnest’s primary pros. The rooftop café is the ideal spot to relax after a day of exploring or just to watch the sunset and meet other backpackers. Rooms start at MYR 30 and end at MYR 100 for a comfortable Family Room.
The 5 Elements Hotel is our top choice for accommodation in the mid-range price bracket within walking distance of Chinatown. This is a boutique hotel that offers excellent, upscale facilities and services at reasonable prices and is inspired by traditional Wu Xing philosophy and the five elements (wood, fire, water, metal and earth). Free Wi-Fi, inclusive buffet breakfasts, a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk; and plush, comfortable interiors make this hotel the ideal spot to rest and unwind in between all the cheerful and charming Chinatown exploring. Room rates start at MYR 150 for a standard room.
Golden Triangle
Next up is accommodation within the Golden Triangle which encompasses the bustling Bukit Bintang shopping area, the Jalan Sultan Ismail five-star hotel strip, busy nightlife and party streets, offices and the world famous Petronas Towers. While the Golden Triangle is most well-known for its luxurious and exclusive collection of five-star accommodation, those on a budget can still afford to stay in this area if they know where to look.
Travellers looking for a bargain in the Golden Triangle should look no further than Sunshine Bedz KL. Although this popular backpacker hostel doesn’t offer any private rooms, it offers excellent value for money. Free Wi-Fi, great location, hot water showers, clean rooms; and with the friendly staff and ideal atmosphere for socializing, it gets a big thumbs up from backpackers everywhere. A comfy bed in an air-conditioned dorm goes for roughly MYR 20.
Being five-star central, it would be amiss to not mention an elegant, upmarket hotel within the Golden Triangle too. Nestled within the heart of the opulence on 160 Jalan Bukitt Bintang, lies the Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur in all its splendour. Surprisingly this spot is really rather affordable at the lower-end rooms if you book well in advance. Floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms offer far-reaching views of the exquisite skyline, plus the four restaurants, a spa and a gorgeous swimming pool, are just a few of the spectacular perks on offer for guests of the Grand Millennium. Rooms start at a reasonable MYR 150 but increase quite steadily with a dramatically increased price of MYR 3000 for the impeccable Imperial Suite.
Brickfield, or Little India
Situated south of the KL’s centre is the up and coming, Brickfields, fondly known as Little India. The narrow streets are bright and colourful with local’s displaying wonderfully aromatic Indian spices, ornate sarees and Indian clothing. Staying within the area offers guests close proximity to the beautiful hilltop Thean Hou Temple as well as a peek behind the Indian culture that contributes to Malaysia’s rich melting pot of diversity. Be warned, accommodation options in Little India tend to veer on two distinct ends of the same continuum – dingy and shabby ‘holes-in-the-wall’, or one of the two five-star hotels within KL Sentral.
A recommended and reasonable priced spot for the night would have to be Signature Hotel on 130, Jalan Thamby Abdullah. Cheap, cheerful and unassuming, this spot offers clean, basic and comfortable rooms with the added bonus of a free shuttle service to and from The Sentral and a few other popular locations. Signature Hotel is a safe bet for travellers wanting to save money but not skimp on hygiene and comfort. Rooms start at MYR 30 for a one-night’s stay.
On the higher end of the price bracket in Little India, the five-star neighbours, the Hilton Hotel and Le Meridien Hotel, are two upscale hotels that travellers requiring first-class amenities won’t go wrong at. Both of these hotels offer similar prices, although the Hilton is slightly cheaper, and both share the same pool and spa facilities. Great location in the KL Sentral precinct, exquisite décor and top-notch service are the orders of the day and both spots are recommended to travellers craving luxury and indulgence. Rooms at the Hilton start at around MYR 180, while the starting room rate at Le Meridien begins at around MYR 230.
Northern suburbs
Lastly, accommodation within the massive Northern suburbs of KL, offers visitors a few of the city’s natural attractions such as the Batu Caves and the Forest research Institute of Malaysia with its beautiful, leafy canopy walk. Although it is not necessary to stay here as travel to this area for sightseeing is very easy to achieve from anywhere within the city. However for guests who want to spend the night in the Northern suburbs in order to beat the crowds at the Batu Caves, we’ve got you covered.
A 5-minute drive from the majestic Batu Caves, Batu Caves Star Hotel is a wonderful choice for those who wish to experience the magic of this natural wonder in isolation before the tour groups and selfie-stick wielders arrive for the day. Free Wi-Fi, very cheap and nearby to over a hundred rock-climbing routes, this hotel is ideal for backpackers or photographers who long to experience and capture the surrounding natural beauty without the crowds. Rooms start at around MYR 20.
For travellers with the same crowd-avoiding ideals who want a slightly more sophisticated and upscale room for the night, KIP Hotel Kuala Lumpur is roughly 3km from the Batu Caves. This hotel is nicely furnished, has a pool and at MYR 50 a night, is great value for money.