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We’ve 3 weeks in SE Asia next month and will find ourselves in KL for 36 hours and I’m looking for tips on what to do, what to avoid and any hotel advice. We (2 adults plus 11 & 10 yr old) will arrive early evening on a Saturday and leave lunchtime on the Monday. Generally we like activities / doing stuff and happy to leave the city centre.
Hotel-wise, looking for something nice (but not Four Seasons nice, budget blown already on the 3 week trip!) and Hilton or Marriott brand would be useful as can transfer Amex points.
Thanks in advance for any help.
For those interested the itinerary is flying in & out of Singapore (241 in J), few days in SG –> Malaysian Borneo –> KL –> Khao Lak –> Elephant Hills (Khao Sok National Park) –> Phuket –> 3 days in Singapore and home
Hilton KL is a good hotel in a great location. DT is very decent too and usually around half the cost. Both are good with status recognition, especially DT. Avoid being seduced by rates at the HGIs, locations are not the best. 36h is a decent amount of time to explore the city by yourself or with a private driver/guide.
If you intend to use the KLIA Ekspres to/from the airport, then definitely stay at Hilton KL as the location is literally right on the station so you’ll save some time and convenience not having to drag your luggage from town etc. But if you intend to take a taxi then probably the Doubletree would suit better (it’s well located to avoid the traffic getting out of town towards the airport, although traffic is a fact of life in KL, so allow plenty of time 😉
Alternatively, Shangri-La is always my go-to recommendation for location, facilities, ambience etc. But one tip – serviced apartments are relatively cheap in KL and mostly come with washing machines, so if you want to travel light and do mid-trip laundry… Some options could be Lanson Place, Fraser Residence, E&O, Oasia.
The Hilton KL is well-regarded and really easy to get to from KUL. KL traffic can be horrendous so can be 60-90 minutes to downtown KL vs 30 mins on the train to Sentral. Great views from the rooms, especially during evening thunderstorms. Good extensive breakfast, pleasant lounge although the food is unremarkable compared to what you can get in the city. The pool area is nice enough if you just want to be lazy for a day. There isn’t much walkable in the immediate area but you are right next to the station to get around town.
It shares facilities with the Le Meridien next door, so that could be an option if you are desperate to use Marriott points. Room rates are exceptionally low in KL compared to other cities though so you may find it’s not a good use of your points.
Malaysian Borneo
Me too!
Where you going and when?Haha! We have a week in Sabah at the start of next month!
Add a +1 to comments over the convenience of the Hilton in KL, the traffic and the benefits of the lounge.
Tony
Sabah hotel v good, top of the hill, huge pool. Decent Asian buffet. Historic tea rooms and gardens down the hill. The war graves very interesting too… where are you staying?+1 on the Hilton, so handy off of the train. Have the sliders at the bar !
Thanks for the info, very useful. For ease of transportation (especially as we only have a short time in the city) I’ve gone for the Hilton. Have nabbed 2 Lake View connecting rooms which should be great!
For Borneo we’re off the the Shangri-La Rasa Ria outside Kota Kinabalu. I’ve been a few times before (but not with the kids) and it’s always a reliably good experience. Should try and write up a trip report as will be quite a few hotels in different places over the 3 weeks, could be useful to others?
Should try and write up a trip report as will be quite a few hotels in different places over the 3 weeks, could be useful to others?
Yeah good idea and stick it on the Malaysia Master Thread.
I’m at the Hiltons in KK and Kuching.
So funny. We are making our 3rd trip to the SLRR with the kids – has always impressed in the past, but will be interesting now they’re older. Also at the Hilton in KK and our time up at the very top of Sabah is properly out in the jungle. Haven’t told the kids but they may be without wifi for 48hrs – result!
Kuching is a lovely city – or at least was on my last visit about 7 yrs ago. Parts of it frozen in time, probably reminiscent of Singapore in the 60’s so very different to KK. We also stayed at the Hilton and had exceptional service in the club lounge, with one member of staff especially going above & beyond every time. @Aston If you need any Kuching tips, let me know.
We used to do a night in the Hyatt Regency, I stayed in a couple for work so I’d always have enough points to get rooms for a group of us. Then out on a boat “borneo boats and beaches” captained by a British guy – not sure if he’s still going. Then off to the SLRR for 1 or 2 nights relaxation (laterly booked via Emyr). Air Asia had great flight times from Singapore for it and it was a favourite trip of everyone we ever went with !
Also at the Hilton in KK and our time up at the very top of Sabah is properly out in the jungle. Haven’t told the kids but they may be without wifi for 48hrs – result!
What the heck… Are you going to the Kinabatangan too?
This is getting a bit weird!@Aston If you need any Kuching tips, let me know
I’m looking at a full day in Bako NP and an evening cruise up the Santubong river.
Possibly a cultural village half day.
Got 2 days with nothing planned. Any suggestions for those welcome.
Thanks.Shall we move to the Master Thread?
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/kuala-lumpur-malaysia/page/3/What the heck… Are you going to the Kinabatangan too?
This is getting a bit weird!Yeah, up that direction. With Mr Aji
Oh, I think you’ve covered the main bits I was going to suggest for Kuching. Bako is brilliant – hire a guide and unless anything has changed, prepare to get wet if the tide is *out*. The cultural village also is impressive – I thought it might be a bit naff, but actually it was very well done.
There’s an Orangutan sanctuary not far out of the city as well. Haven’t been there since my first visit in 2003 but memorably watched one of them barf up onto a stone wall (the vomit was pink) then efficiently hoover it all back up. Apparently it’s what they do. Even worse however was the fact a minute or two later, a couple came along and sat down on exactly the same bit of the wall….
And bing back peppercorns. Cheap, easy to carry and who doesn’t need peppercorns?
What the heck… Are you going to the Kinabatangan too?
This is getting a bit weird!Yeah, up that direction. With Mr Aji
Top choice. He’s great.
We used to do a night in the Hyatt Regency, I stayed in a couple for work so I’d always have enough points to get rooms for a group of us. Then out on a boat “borneo boats and beaches” captained by a British guy – not sure if he’s still going. Then off to the SLRR for 1 or 2 nights relaxation (laterly booked via Emyr). Air Asia had great flight times from Singapore for it and it was a favourite trip of everyone we ever went with !
Sadly he sold the boat during the pandemic (as I just found out…)
We used to do a night in the Hyatt Regency, I stayed in a couple for work so I’d always have enough points to get rooms for a group of us. Then out on a boat “borneo boats and beaches” captained by a British guy – not sure if he’s still going. Then off to the SLRR for 1 or 2 nights relaxation (laterly booked via Emyr). Air Asia had great flight times from Singapore for it and it was a favourite trip of everyone we ever went with !
Sadly he sold the boat during the pandemic (as I just found out…)
Strange, I received a passive-aggressive email from him in early December 2022. He was taking bookings at that time.
Odd – he just replied, suggesting a couple of other operators.
It’s not strange Aston100, you come across as passive aggressive in most of your posts. You rub people up the wrong way, even when they are trying to be helpful. It always seems other people and companies are in the wrong…and in your bad book, take a look at yourself…
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