dear people,
13-16 february me & my wife will stop over in KL for 3 nights. We prefer a hotel (usd 75 - 125) with nice pool area, in walking distance from excellent food opportunities. Any good suggestions?
What about Traders and Sheraton?
Many thanks!

On our last visit we found a great Internet deal on the Mandarin Oriental - £60 a night for two, which included a huge buffet breakfast. When you consider what a stay at an MO costs elsewhere, this is an astonishing bargain.

The hotel itself is a beauty with a lovely infinity pool and some of the most welcoming and pleasant staff I've ever come across.

The location is right next door to the Petronas Twin Towers complex, which includes a vast shopping mall and, around the back, quite a number of bars and restaurants which look out into the KLCC park; a great place to spend an evening.

I too plan several 1 night ayovers in Kuala Lumpur. However, my budget is not nearly as extravagant as $75/night. Anyone have recommendations fr more budget minded layovers in KL?

Mark-

On a budget, try the Federal or the Melia.

There are lots of very nice hotels around $100 in KL. I kind of like the New World, which has great views of the towers, plus a huge health club and pool.

Thanks!
Graham, were can I find your Internet deal on the Mandarin Oriental?

The MO's own website offers a great deal for their Chinese New Year package for your dates.

Chinese New Year Package
Each category features the following value-added benefits:
- Complimentary daily breakfast for one or two persons at Biba's Cafe
- Complimentary fortune telling at Lai Po Heen from 3rd - 15th day of Chinese New Year (on first-come-first-served basis)
- Complimentary extra bed for a child under 12 sharing the same room
- Daily turn down amenities and Chinese New Year Amenities.
- Late check out until 6.00pm subject to availability
- 20% discount for in-room massage (from Vitality Club)

Rates are quoted are in Malaysian Ringgit and are subject to 10% service charge and 5% government tax per room per night.

Deluxe City View Room MYR 489/night

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur/

Book it right there, credit card guarantee but no prepaying necessary.

Even better, www.asiabesthotel.com offers room/breakfast/tax included for US $132.00 for Deluxe City View rooms. They are a reliable agent, a very large Singapore based travel agency.

For Feb 13th to 16th there wre quite a lot available still, 4 star Corus USD 65, Federal USD 61, Le Meridien USD 95, Equatorial USD 88, swiss garden USD 57, they are on the Ratestogo last minute hotel rooms on www.asiaoz.com , they are good for within 20 days, you just opay about 12% deposit plus I think about USD 6, balance yo pay at the hotel, so good for last minute deals.

My Malaysian business associates tell me KL is deserted during CNY. That's why you get the good rates.

Hi

My wife and I went to KL in March last year. We stayed at friends this time but I did use Federal a few years back and that was OK. But Traders looks nice and new...but does it have a pool. Oriental is very nice...just stopped by to have a glass of wine one night. I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/malaysia_kuala_lumpur.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there

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

Martin,

Sorry I haven't got back to you sooner, but I see someone else has pointed you in the direction of the MO's own website, which is also where I found our deal. Enjoy your trip, it's a fabulous city.

We have stayed at the Mandarin, Ritz Carlton and the Sheraton-"Luxury Collection", not the regular one if they have one, in the last 5 years.
We would rank the Mandarin and Luxury Sheraton about equal. We were surprised as well.
The rates as I remember, 25% less at the Luxury Sheraton and has a good location but not the towers. The rooms were excellent and the best service. The Ritz would be at the bottom of iour list.
We used sawadee.com that offers good rates as does asiahotels.com. The nearest to $125 is the Sheraton at about $170, I think, dfor a Deluxe Room. A Stanard is probably $130. The breakfast at the Sheraton, all include breakfast we thought was the best but that's a matter of taste.
If you can hire a guide driver and are willing to travel 5 hours RT you must go to the Camerron Highlands. They are spectacular with miles of tea plantations, nomadic people and luch scenery. It is a 10 hour day. Leaving at 8 AM-6PM. The trip to and back is mostly highway unfortunately not very interesting but the Highlands are well worth the trip, in our opinion.
Do not go through the hotel it will cost double. Call from classified phone book or other source (not just a taxi, just verify if they have been a driver/guide service for at least 3-4 years and type of car. You need a Corolla or bigger and ask if it would be a 2002 or newer just for reliability. It could cost $150 for 2. Take a pass on Frazier Hill ( or add 2 hours to the Highlands trip, but I think that is too much. You can go on a small group tour if it will hit most of the sights in the city and immediate suburbs that your guide book suggests. For that I would use the hotels suggestion. The Towers are beautiful but all you need in my opinion is look at them for a few minutes in the light and at night. A tour of it would waste precious time in 3 days.

hi all, thanks for a great first Fodor's experience!

Kim, Asiabest had a usd138 grand room offer for the KL Hilton. As design addicts we couldn't resist this one. Next time we'll try MO. Gard, your KL trip report is a perfect summary we'll definitely use.
We've used Sawadee before (best experience: Mariott Resort & Spa BKK), rates are always very competetive.