I'm spending a few nights in Kuala Lumpur and I'm looking for somewhere interesting to stay. I don't mind splurging since the 5 star hotels are a relative bargain, but I'm looking for a little funkiness or uniqueness and I don't know that the Mandarin or others will provide that. I'm sure they have terrific rooms and service, but I spend a lot of time traveling for work and spend a lot of time in chain hotels and, in the end, they all start to seem the same. So I'd welcome suggestions for something a little more interesting or boutique-y. Up to $80 USD or so. Thakns!

KL hasn't quite developed the funky boutique hotels that Bangkok and Singapore have. There is the Palace of the Golden Horse, but that's a lot more than $80 a night. The same is true of the Sunway Lagoon Resort, which has some really funky rooms.

I rather liked the Renaissance. It's not all that special (great fitness club though) but I did have a room where I could lie in bed and see the Petronas Towers.

While it is a chain the Sheraton-Luxury Collection hotel is really superb. We spent 4 nights at the beinning of our 10 day stay in Malaysia at the Ritz and were quite disappointed b=ut at theend of the trip we tried the Sheration-Luxury and were we surprised how lovely it was. Also, in April '06 I think we paid $165+/- for a deluxe-Club Floor room.

Sunway is funky alright. Unlike the usual hotel layout where one whiz upwards for rooms after check-in at ground floor lobby, this one has a lots of rooms at "below lobby" levels. It is perched on the rim of a large ex-tin mining crater. Has good Italian restaurant that serves great buffet. Next to it is Sunway Pyramid, a swanky high-end shopping complex, lots of good eateries and taxis are easily available to KL or to nearest LRT station in Asia Jaya.

hi

maybe you can check out maya hotel - a new boutique hotel not far from the petronas twin towers. it looked really good when it was featured in the local papers when it first reopened

you can check it out here

http://www.kl-hotels.com/maya/

You might want to check this out.. this is a budget hotel.. but is a funky-budget hotel:

http://www.numbereight.com.my/eight.html

I don't know of any upscale boutique hotel in KL.

Palace of Golden Horses (like Sunway Hotel), is different in architectural style than most hotels in KL, but to me the hotel looks old & tired & if you go to their car park, downright dirty.

I like Renaissance, not because its different, but because of the great staff they have at club level and their rooms are priced at a very competitive rates too.

Maya Hotel, the interior design of the hotel is quite soothing & calming, IMO. Walking distance to KLCC and nearby monorail & LRT station. The location next to a Muslim cemetery is certainly funky to my taste..

Sunway Resort Hotel is probably your best best if you do not want a calm & soothing experience that you will get at Maya. You have several options to choose from for your stay, be it moderate to more romantic choices like staying in one of the Villas. The theme park is nearby too, should you need to release your inner kid in you.

Hi

I was looking into staying at Maya or Traders when I'm going to KL next weekend. But the company that I will be working for wants us to stay at Ascott at KLCC. Have you been to KL before? I went there on vacation in March with my wife and I have posted a trip report on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/malaysia_kuala_lumpur.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures