Kuala Lumpur
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
Kuala Lumpur boasts an abundance of accommodation, from basic hostels through to luxurious hotels. Finding a room you like may not be a particular challenge, but being able to afford it is another matter entirely. Going by hotel rack rates, KL is undoubtedly one of Southeast Asia's most expensive cities to stay in. KL is at its least competitive in regional terms at the budget end of the... Read our full review of 2011 Best places to stay in Kuala Lumpur.
For a city that sees as many young independent travellers as Kuala Lumpur, it is peculiar how few services have sprung up to serve their needs. Compare the situation with Bangkok say, which has a whole travel industry centred on backpackers, and more recently flashpackers too. While KL might not want the fully fledged Khao San Road experience, it could certainly do with more businesses catering... Read our full review of Tengkat Tong Shin: Kuala Lumpur's best hub for independent travellers.
Bukit Bintang has long been KL’s main commercial and entertainment centre, making it the most logical place for most visitors to stay. The area now has both the widest range, and largest amount, of accommodation in the city.
Part of a small chain of budget hotels, My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang offers some of the best value accommodation in Bukit Bintang, so long as the semi-permanent promotional rates stay in force. For not much more than many guesthouses charge for a tiny room with a shared bathroom, you can get a good sized room, with a comfortable bed, decent fixtures and fittings, and a great bathroom. All rooms come... Read our full review of My Hotel @ Bukit Bintang.
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Rainforest by name, rainforest by nature, this place is virtually hidden by a thick covering of tropical vegetation. There is nothing overblown about the decor though, which is simple and tasteful. The dorm beds do not come cheap, but they are among the city’s most comfortable. The rooms, all of which have pleasant bathrooms, are decent value too. Where Rainforest really distinguishes itself from... Read our full review of Rainforest Bed & Breakfast .
This is one of world’s most affordable Ritz Carltons to stay in, so if you have never experienced true five-star luxury, this is a good place to treat yourself. It’s not just the high comfort factor of the rooms themselves that impresses, but also extras you never knew you needed, like the complimentary 24-hour butler service. The hotel even has its own entrance to KL’s most upmarket shopping... Read our full review of Ritz Carlton Hotel.
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A new, and welcome, addition to the KL hostel scene, what Sunshine Bedz lacks in square footage it makes up for in the quality of its product, and its superb location in the heart of Bukit Bintang. The dorm beds are solid and comfortable (albeit quite close together), the staff helpful and friendly, the bathrooms super clean, and atmosphere safe and secure. Overall, it’s decent value for money... Read our full review of Sunshine Bedz KL.
A budget hotel rather than a guesthouse, Apple offers a high level of comfort for the money. The beds are good, the linen is new and clean, and the sparkling bathrooms come with complimentary toiletries. Be warned though, the rooms are small, and the hotel has no communal areas to speak of, so this is not somewhere to while away your waking hours, or to meet other travellers. But in terms of... Read our full review of Apple Hotel.
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If you are looking for a decent, no-frills budget hotel in a great location, then you could do a lot worse than Lodge Paradize — a sympathetic conversion from a 1940s apartment block. Rooms are basic, particularly at the cheaper end of the scale, but all have windows, air-con and good bathrooms. As you ascend the room categories more amenities are added, such as kettles and televisions. One... Read our full review of Lodge Paradize Hotel .
A ramshackle rabbit warren of a guesthouse, its enduring popularity is somewhat surprising at first glance. But to have survived for 14 years in this ever-more competitive location, the Pondok must be doing something right. The dorm beds are certainly cheap, albeit a bit depressing. Many of the mattresses too, appear to have seen better days. The double rooms though give you a lot of space for... Read our full review of Pondok Lodge.
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Tengkat Tong Shin and the roads off it, such as Jalan Sahabat and Jalan Rembia, has in a few short years become KL’s leading hub for independent travellers. It is also superbly based for much of the city’s best food, nightlife and shopping.
An oasis of style and calm, this is one of KL’s most characterful hotels. Sympathetically converted from two shophouses, most of the rooms look out onto a peaceful inner courtyard. The decor is incredibly tasteful, without sacrificing comfort levels for the sake of style. With the right company, this could well be the most romantic hotel in KL. The management is refreshingly honest about the... Read our full review of Anggun Boutique Hotel .
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The word boutique is much overused, but Sahabat is one of only a handful of guesthouses in KL which thoroughly justifies use of the term. It is classy and comfortable in a way that puts many of the city’s expensive hotels to shame. Although the prices jump up at the weekend, this place offers seriously good value for money – it’s no wonder its eight rooms are so often booked out. Although... Read our full review of Sahabat Guesthouse.
A small guesthouse, CheckMate is located on Jalan Rembia, a quiet side road off Tengkat Tong Shin. All 14 rooms come with air-con and private bathrooms, making them some of the best value en suites in town. While the rooms are not large, the beds are decent, and the decor inoffensive. Rooms nearest the reception area may suffer from noise. A big plus is the pleasant outside seating area. The... Read our full review of CheckMate Guesthouse.
A bit difficult to find, as the Red Palm has no sign on the door, but it’s well worth searching out (next door to Anggun Boutique Hotel). The place only has capacity for 14 people all up, including six dorm beds, which are of a decent quality, albeit slightly cramped together. While the rooms are nothing special, the friendly staff, chilled out vibe and pleasant communal areas make this... Read our full review of Red Palm.
One of a cluster of guesthouses in a small road off Tengkat Tong Shin, Travellers Palm Lodge benefits from a quiet, but convenient location. This is a great little place, the only real downer being the size of the shared bathrooms. Well-run and clean, with a good reputation, Travellers Palm is often full, so booking in advance is advisable. The management is security conscious, to say the least,... Read our full review of Travellers Palm Lodge.
The tropical themed decor may not suit everybody’s taste, but it fits perfectly with the fun, funky vibe of this guesthouse. It has almost certainly the least depressing windowless rooms in town. The shared bathrooms are really very pleasant too. The water is solar heated, so hot showers are not guaranteed, but in KL heat, lukewarm is often all you need. Apart from the en suite rooms, which are a... Read our full review of Tropical Guesthouse.
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You have to give credit to this hotel for doing what they can to make staying on a budget as non-depressing as possible. The rooms are all done out in a cheery, contemporary style. The bathrooms look especially pleasant. High-quality mattresses, power showers and 24-hour security ensure YY38 is not a case of style over substance. Published rates take this hotel into the midrange category, but... Read our full review of YY38 Hotel .
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This place is never going to win prizes for style or comfort, but it’s not a bad option if newer, better rivals nearby are fully booked. On the plus side, the service is efficient, if not actually friendly, and the standards of cleanliness are high. The communal areas, especially the front patio, are a bonus, as are the reasonably priced cold drinks (including beer). On the downside, a certain... Read our full review of Anjung KL Guesthouse.
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This guesthouse offers some of the best value along Tengkat Tong Shin, but do not expect any frills for your money – or a friendly welcome for that matter. But Green Hut is clean and reasonably well-run, albeit a bit smelly in places. The dorm beds are among the cheapest in town, as are the ensuite doubles. Large communal areas are a big plus. The rates include a simple breakfast and free WiFi.... Read our full review of Green Hut Lodge.
Chinatown is KL’s oldest area, the place where the city grew from a frontier trading post, to a proper settlement. It has a huge amount of accommodation, mostly at the budget end of the market, but with a sprinkling of beter quality places.
Housed in a hideous building next to Petaling Street market, this hotel has a lot more going for it once you are inside. A real attempt has been made to add some individual style to the rooms, hence the boutique part. Judged as a boutique hotel it may be found wanting, particularly with attention to detail and service, but as a budget place, it exceeds expectations. Both the beds and bathrooms... Read our full review of Chinatown Boutique Hotel.
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Given what many KL guesthouses charge for tiny rooms with shared bathrooms, this place offers some of the best value accommodation in town. All the rooms come with air-con, decent furniture, cable television and their own bathrooms. Most do not have windows, but given the street noise along Jalan Sultan, this may not be such a bad thing. The simple decor is a hart-to-fault combination of creams... Read our full review of Etika Inn.
Same prices, same quality as Reggae Guesthouse 1, but a very different vibe. This is the place to go if you want a good night’s sleep, not party until the early hours with your new best friends. Cleanliness and security are top notch at Reggae 2, and the decor is simple and tasteful. The communal areas are a plus too. The bathrooms certainly look good, although having just two for such a popular... Read our full review of Reggae Guesthouse 2 .
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Not only does this place have one of the strangest names around, it also has one of the oddest entrances, through a 24-hour convenience store. Once inside though, the popularity of Ribbon Stayyz makes perfect sense. All the accommodation comprises of solid looking bunk beds, whether in private rooms or dorms. Everything is super clean, from the comfortable communal lounge, to the bathrooms.... Read our full review of Ribbon Stayyz Bed & Breakfast Guesthouse .
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This place only opened in February 2011, but has already established itself as one of the best options in Chinatown. Suzie’s offers clean, quiet and secure accommodation, at a very reasonable price. The private rooms are on the small side though, and for not much more money, larger en suite rooms are available nearby. Many people though prefer the sociable vibe of a well-run guesthouse to a... Read our full review of Suzie's Guesthouse and Hostel .
Chinatown may be able to boast of many excellent budget options, but when it comes to decent midrange choices, the cupboard is somewhat barer. The 5 Elements is one of the few places that successfully bridges the gap between the low and high ends of the market. For your money, you get good sized, comfortable rooms, with mostly tasteful contemporary decor, modern attached bathrooms, tea- and... Read our full review of The 5 Elements Hotel.
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This well-located place only opened in June 2010, but has rapidly established itself as one of KL’s very best guesthouses. Clean, secure and tastefully designed, with friendly and helpful staff, it’s not hard to see why The Explorers is so popular. The lobby area/lounge gets high marks as an area to chill out, meet other travellers, and catch up on emails. The rooftop terrace is great too,... Read our full review of The Explorers Guesthouse .
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This place is a Singapore outpost of a small chain of hostels, so it should come as no surprise that it is both super clean and well-organised. The bulk of the accommodation is dorms, which range from reasonable to overpriced, depending on the number of beds to the room. If you’re OK sharing with 23 other people, then it’s not a bad deal. But if you want something a bit less like a scout camp,... Read our full review of Fernloft KL @ Chinatown .
What Soho has to do with KL Chinatown is anybody’s guess, but regardless of the odd name, this is a welcome addition to Jalan Sultan’s growing band of accommodation options. Although Soho Town only opened its doors in June 2011, it already looks busy – not that this should come as a surprise, given what good value for money this hotel offers. The standard rooms are on the small side, but the... Read our full review of Hotel Soho Town.
Strung out over the top three floors of a building along bustling Jalan Sultan, this no-frills guesthouse offers some of the keenest pricing in KL. It has a range of accommodation, from dorm beds through to en suite doubles. The single rooms are particularly good value. Monkee may be basic, but is also very clean. One quirk is that the air-con temperature cannot be controlled because it is shared... Read our full review of Monkee Inn .
A welcome addition to the KL budget guesthouse scene, Palmmers is located in a converted shophouse, right next to Central Market. It’s a tad difficult to find because the entrance is not on Kasturi Walk, but on a parallel back alley. The owners should be commended for trying to make the most out of the building’s original features, and in the process creating a homely atmosphere. Rooms are on the... Read our full review of Palmmers Guest House .
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This is one of the best value guesthouses in KL, and so long as you do not expect any frills, it’s worth considering for those on a tight budget. Transit Point is certainly basic, with just a bed and little else in the rooms, but it’s also proof that cheap does not have to mean grotty. In fact, it’s very clean. Most of the rooms are windowless, so it’s worth paying the extra ringgit for air-con.... Read our full review of Transit Point Bed & Breakfast Guesthouse .
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Little India has nowhere near the range of decent accommodation offered by neighbouring Chinatown. But the area does have a handful of good options, and is convenient for both sightseeing and public transport.
This place is closer to Little India than the heart of Chinatown, but is still in a good location, near Masjid Jamek LRT station. Although the Cintamani has no dorm rooms, it provides some of the best value private rooms in KL. For solo travellers who want to be close to Chinatown, it’s hard to think of a better deal. Do not expect any frills for your money though. The place is clean, and the... Read our full review of Cintamani Travellers Lodge .
A new midrange hotel, Frenz has an awkward location but has already established itself as a solid choice. The rooms may be on the small side, but the quality of the fixtures and fittings are excellent for the price category. The showers look particularly good, as do the mattresses. Staff are friendly and helpful too. It pays to book in advance online to get the best rates. Noise could be a... Read our full review of Frenz Hotel.
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Brickfields is one of KL’s oldest and most characterful neighbourhoods, located next to the city’s busiest transport hub, KL Sentral. A burst of great new affordable hotels over recent years, has transformed the area’s once seedy accommodation scene.
If you are looking for a decent midrange hotel near KL Sentral, then this new place has a lot going for it. Not only are the rooms clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated, the pricing structure is clear and upfront. Unlike many of its rivals, all advertised prices include tax and service, so what you see is what you pay. The location is a plus too, in the heart of Brickfields, with all its... Read our full review of Hotel Summer View .
Just round the corner from the original My Hotel, this is a welcome addition to KL’s best chain of budget hotels. It’s slightly further away from KL Sentral, on a side street behind the YMCA, but still has a convenient location. Rooms are clean, secure and comfortable, especially for the money. The bathrooms in particular put to shame many pricier rivals. Windows do not come as standard, and are... Read our full review of My Hotel @ Brickfields .
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This was the first of the My Hotel chain to open, and a very welcome addition to the budget accommodation scene it was too. Providing simple, clean, comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices is not exactly a unique concept, but it’s surprising how rarely it is done well. For not much more than a bare room with a shared bathroom costs at many hostels, guests at this hotel get comfortable... Read our full review of My Hotel @ Sentral .
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For years Brickfields was seriously lacking in decently priced, non-sleazy accommodation, but a new crop of affordable budget hotels is changing all that. The recently opened Joy Inn is a case in point. Located very close to the Monorail, it offers small but comfortable rooms at a competitive price, particularly for solo travellers. All rooms come with en suite bathrooms, satellite televisions,... Read our full review of Joy Inn Hotel.
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This is a bright, funky new hostel, but it’s let down by privacy and security issues. Starting with the negatives, the rooms are not really private, as the dividing walls do not reach the ceiling. This means both noise and light leakage. The rooms can also only be locked from the inside. And the beds are mattresses on platforms. PODS does have much going for it too, including very friendly staff,... Read our full review of PODS The Backpackers Home .
One of life’s truest maxims is that you get what you pay for, and so long as you do not expect any frills for your money, this is not a bad choice for travellers on a tight budget. If your budget stretches a little further though, plenty of better choices are available nearby. It’s not that anything is outright bad about Central Lodge, just that it’s very basic, albeit clean, accommodation. Late... Read our full review of Central Lodge .
Pudu once had a rather bad reputation, but this has improved markedly over recent years. A cluster of decent options, to the rear of Berjaya Times Square, makes for a decent accommodation alternative to neighbouring Bukit Bintang.
Tucked away in the Pudu area behind Berjaya Times Square, the location is the only real downer about this new hotel. Friendly service, clear pricing, tasteful decor, good bathrooms and high standards of cleanliness, all come as standard at the Beltif. The cheapest rooms are windowless but manage not to be depressing. The current rates, which include breakfast and WiFi, offer good value for... Read our full review of Beltif.
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Not really in Pudu, but more in a no man’s land between Bukit Bintang and Chinatown, the Step Inn Guesthouse is easily the best near Puduraya. Given that most of the budget accommodation close to Puduraya is low on quality and high on grime, this place is a breath of fresh air. Not only does it have some of the keenest pricing in town, it’s also clean and extremely friendly. Much of the furniture... Read our full review of Step Inn Guesthouse .
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This well-run guesthouse has retained a good deal of the period charm of the two Chinese shophouses it was fashioned from. It describes itself as a budget hotel, and considered in these terms is somewhat overpriced. Bigger, better equipped rooms are available nearby. But taken instead as a characterful guesthouse, with super clean (albeit small) rooms, a homely atmosphere, filling breakfasts, and... Read our full review of Classic Inn .
This is one of a sprinkling of guesthouses behind Berjaya Times Square, close to Imbi Monorail station. The dorms are clean, with decent quality beds, albeit with somewhat joyless decor. The rooms have a bit more character, although the ones with just fan are a bit overpriced. It’s definitely worth the extra 11 ringgit for air-con. Irsia has pleasant communal areas, two computers for guests to... Read our full review of Irsia Bed and Breakfast .
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This is undoubtedly one of the most convenient areas to stay in the city, but while it has numerous accommodation options, they are all at the high end of the market.
This is without doubt the hotel to stay in KL if you really want a splurge. It’s also among the most affordable places in the world to sample the Mandarin Oriental’s near legendary standards of service and comfort. Add in a superb location, right next to Suria KLCC, great sporting facilities, and a stunning infinity pool, and you can see why so many of the hotel’s guests are repeat customers. If... Read our full review of Mandarin Oriental .
This superbly located hotel is part of an international brand, which was conceived as a less expensive alternative to its parent brand, Shangri-La. Such is Traders’ popularity though, it can get away with charging among the highest room rates in the city. Only the Traders Club rooms and above come with breakfast as standard. What is included in the price is excellent service, spacious,... Read our full review of Traders Hotel.
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One of KL’s newest high-end hotels, this place has slipped into a classy groove straight away. The spacious and well-appointed rooms, the standards of service, the first class sporting facilities, the two (yes two) infinity pools with stunning views of the city, are all seriously impressive. And if all this is not enough, the GTower has come up with a great way of making all their guests feel... Read our full review of GTower Hotel .
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It may not be in the best location, across a busy road (and a 15-minute walk) from KLCC, but this is a hidden gem. As the name suggests, all the rooms at Micasa are suites, with their own kitchen and lounge areas. If you value space and comfort over a central location, then this hotel is an excellent choice. The pool is very pleasant too. It’s also decent value for money, and should be commended... Read our full review of MiCasa All Suite Hotel.
Situated on the top of a hill next to Menara KL, this is both a good location, in that great views come as standard, and bad, as guests have to catch a lot of taxis. Of course, given how spacious and comfortable the rooms are (all of which have their own kitchenette and lounge areas), and how amazing the rooftop pool is (which turns into the uber cool Luna Bar at night), you could be forgiven for... Read our full review of Pacific Regency Hotel Suites .
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