Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
 

Hi,
I am flying to KL at the end of October for 12 days. Just wondering where the best place to stay is and the best way to get from the airport,what is the cheapest way. I will be on my own, will I get bored, should I fly to bangkok for a few days ???

Thanks in Advance
Jeff

Price range for a hotel?

Personally, I'd get bored with 12 days in KL. It's certainly worth a few days, but for me, not 12.

It's hard to know what to recommend to you. What are you interested in? If you love cities, Bangkok is the obvious choice, but there are others as well. There are many interesting places within a short flight from KL. Tell us more and we'll be able to be more helpful.

12 days in KL is way too much- now you can hop over to Singapore - which is very close. Thats worth at least 2 or 3 days.

For 12 days, KL will bore you to tears. KL is best bagged in 3 days and I reckon hotels around Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Bukit Bintang areas are good pads.

For the extra days, you should consider these destinations which are roughly 2-3 hrs bus ride from KL ....

1. Cameron Highlands (highland farmland)
2. Ipoh (rainforest, tribal villages, cave temples)
3. Taiping (historical sites)
4. Malacca (historical sites)
5. Pangkor island (fishing villages and sandy white beaches)

Take a look at these if you need some visual feasts ....

1. Pangkor http://malaysiaupclose.wordpress.com...angkor-island/
2. Cameron http://malaysiaupclose.wordpress.com...eron-highland/
3. Ipoh http://malaysiaupclose.wordpress.com/category/map-ipoh/

Happy planning!

Hi,
Hi thanks for the replies, they are really helpful. I just want a hotel that is clean with it's own toilet and shower (prefferably 3 star or above) that is centrally located. Would I be better to go to bangkok, Phuket or somewhere else for a few days. I like the city life and a pub here and there.

Thanks again
Cheers
Jeff

If you like cities, Bangkok is hard to beat. Bangkok is also less expensive than KL. Lots to see and do in Bangkok - you won't get bored.

Phuket is an international beach destination. The weather isn't very good in late October, in fact October is a difficult month for Thai beaches.

As Kathie had already said, October is difficult in choosing Thai Islands. What about a few days in KL and then budget flight ( Air Asia ) perhaps to Bangkok and then down to Phuket and back to KL, that gives you KL plus Bangkok and then some beach days, alhtough low season Phuket has busy side i.e Patong, even rainy there are restaurants, bars, rock clubs etc etc all busy even though low season, and that time is year well cheap.
I have just mentioned to another poster that rates in AU$ particular cheap, AU$ 35-50 will get you a perfectly ok nice a/c room in a 3 star range resort hotel with swimming pool etc etc, and that is not going down-budget in comfort, for that a perfectly 'nice' average hotel. If you appreciate that it could be sunshine, could be a little rain, or you could wade back at night through the 'water' and get back drenched through, if you appreciate that you'd be fine.

Using Air Asia you can, if you book soon, get cheap flight KL to Bangkok, then down to Phuket and back through KL, that gives you 2 very different Asia cities plus a beach/island.

In KL use the airport express to/from downtown,
http://www.kliaekspres.com/
I am no expert of KL hotels as others know more but I have used Federal Hotel and that should cost you about AU$ 85 from Asiaoz though there are cheaper, it's ok 4 star pool etc, but I used it often when I went down a lot.

We don't know where you are flying out of but do also check with Malaysia Airlines for a fare that say includes BKK or Phuket, they may also let you fly AUS-KL-BKK and return Phuket-KL-AUS and ensure that fare permits stopover in KL, that 'could' work out cheaper than a KL return flight and then adding on Air Asia.
Do check that, the difference could mean a big saving, then all you would need to do if buy a scetor online for BKK-Phuket.

If by any chance you are in QLD Air Asia X flies from Gold Coast/Coolangatta budget flights to KL several times a week, cheap.
www.airasia.com
www.jetstar.com.au

If you decide against KL and go for BKK then you have Jetstar options, if from SYD you could do a SYD-BKK sector, plus a Phuket (HKT)-SYD sector and again, just add on a budget flight BKK-Phuket

Also note that Singapore Airlines 'usually' would allow you to fly to BKK and return 'from' Phuket, they should do that, I know for sure that flying down to Australia you can fly into one place and return from another on cheap fares, no worries. This all save you back-tracking and keeps the fare costs down.

Thanks for the replies everyone, you have really been helpful.

Jeff

Jeff you can get some cheap flights to Hanoi from KL, flying time is 2 1/2 hours. Check out Air Asia.

Best area to stay in KL is the Bukit Bintang area. Plenty of accommodation around, just look up the internet.

Since you're alone, the fastest & cheapest way to get to the city from airport is via KLIA express train, RM35 one way. You would have to get down at Sentral station, then catch a taxi to your hotel.

Alternatively, buy a taxi coupon at the airport counter (just before you step out to the arrival hall). Rates between RM70-100 for budget taxi, depending on your hotel location in KL.

12 days would be too long to spend only in KL. Besides the existing suggestions, do consider Langkawi island or even East Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak).

If you're worried about getting bored, you can stay at guesthouses/hostels where there're plenty of fellow tourists to meet & share experiences with.

Any other questions, email [email protected]

I like Traders in KL, it's right behind SuriKLCC Shopping Mall, has great Sky Bar and I also like the Mandarin Oriental right next to Suri KLCC, great service and location. Best way into the city is by the airport shuttle train, takes about 30 minutes.

Traders will be way out of Jeff's price point, I'm afraid.