Very long stopover in Kuala Lumpur - Recommendations please

[admin]

Time for me to ask a question...

Later this month myself and admin+1 are heading off overseas for a couple of weeks. As it turns out we have a really coughpy connection in KL: arrive at 6:15am and then depart at 1:20am the next day!!

Would be interested in what those who know KL would suggest we do for the day. Anything worthwhile seeing in the city or close-by?

Also, will probably check into a hotel for the day. The plan would be to use it as our base for the day (drop off luggage, shower/freshen-up, rest etc.) Any recommendations for a hotel which is well located, reasonably priced, and allows (very) early check-ins?

Thanks for your help

 

[Water]

Hi

I would suggest staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel which adjoins the airport. You can even check-in inside the airport, they then transport you and you luggage on a buggy to the hotel or you can spend 5 minutes and walk.
They allow early check-in and then you just take the bugy back to the airport for flight chek-in. The hotel is really nice, good pool, etc.
Once checked into the hotel then take the airport train into the city and do the same for the return. Spend some time in KL shopping centres if you like that especially the Pavillion.

Have done the above a few times and its just so easy.

Cheers

 

[xt_20]

I second Pan Pacific KLIA -- I had an overnight stopover and stayed there a few months ago, and they are excellent.

Are you arriving and departing from the KL Main terminal (and not the Low cost terminal)? If so, then they are all interconnected. You can even check in to the hotel from the arrivals area of the airport (where you collect your baggage, although you probably would be checking them through).

Shops in KL are generally open 10am - 10pm. If you want to visit a shopping mall, take the train to KL Sentral (~45 mins), then another train or taxi to Mid Valley Megamall (about 10 mins or 1 train stop away) and you'll have enough to fill you in for a day. If you prefer to visit the KL Twin towers or other locations, they are mostly accessible by train (called LRT or Monorail) from KL Sentral.

 

[Mal]

Megamall has interesting shopping, and it's huge.

I'd prob catch a taxi from sentral as the trains were completly packed. Very cheap tho.

Klcc at petronas towers is about 4 stops on the light rail, ok ride and again very cheap.

You can go to the observation floor if you're early enough, but tickets are limited. Opens at 9, closed on Mondays.

I think the communications tower is a better view, but taxi is likely required.

Either way, Klcc has really good upscale shopping and other places in the golden triangle are worth a look.

I find the airport bland and uninteresting. Hotel definitely a good idea.

 

[cmon0005]

Catch the train from the airport (which is the easiest way to get to the city) the trains are great there btw.

I stayed @ the Transit hotel at KLIA although I was only there from 6am -7pm.

Then get a taxi around KL city, KLCC is a must, Petronas towers and then ask the taxi driver to take you to some local sights if you're into that sort of thing.

Malaysia/KL was my first ever Intl stopover many years ago, and left a very good impression on me, nice friendly and clean city.

Enjoy.

 

[kamchatsky]

I just came back from my trip involving KL.

Catch train to KL Sentral and go to Petronas Towers at KLCC, then shop at Suria KLCC.

Then go to Bukit Bintang (esp at Pavillion) for shopping. Try excellent Malaysian food at Madam Kwan's (at Suria KLCC, Pavillion at Bukit Bintang) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madam-Kwans/114374851369, as well as Lot 10 Hutong (at Bukit Bintang) Lot 10 HUTONG.

Chinatown district at KL is actually quite busy and messy compare to Australian Chinatowns, and have a mixture of Chinese/Indians/Arabs. But if you like that kind of stuff do it on day time. There are pick pockets in KL and I was advised by hotel concierge as well as notice boards in subways.

 

[Stephen65]

There are many worthwhile things worth seeing and doing in a day in KL including:

- Petronas Towers

- the Friday Mosque

- the National Museum

- a large park in the inner city that has a giant aviary and a few other things worth seeing

- the central market\

- chinatown

- there's also a large and famous Chinese temple

- Malaysian cuisine

 

[markis10]

Whatever you end up doing, eat the local street food and avoid the beef bacon!

 

[Timba-Jet]

Airport hotel at KLIA is a good option, but also consider the Hilton or Le Meriden located right next to KL Sentral train station. If flying MH, CX or YY, you can check-in baggage at the station.

Or I would book an executive room at Traders hotel and lounge about their rooftop pool/bar looking out to the petronas towers and pop by the executive lounge for all day snacks to get over your jet-lag

Try the local food, exchange rate with the MYR is great value for shopping.

 

[NM]

Whatever you end up doing, eat the local street food and avoid the beef bacon!

And steer clear of the Durian Milkshakes too!

If you want shopping at value prices (especially clothing), then Mid Valley Megamall is the place to be. For knock-offs, head to China Town (Petaling Strret).

For tourist sights, head to Petronoas Towers (get there early to book a ticket for the viewing platform) and KL Tower.

 

[richie9x]

I have done the 6am arrival in KL a few times. Sometimes if hotels have an available room they have let me have it early, but that has usually been for a longer stay. Later this month would be getting close/into Chinese New Year. Which typically means hotels are at high occupancy so might be hard to arrange an early check in.

Close by to KLIA is Putrajaya (sort of Malaysia's version of Canberra) not much to see there except grand buildings.

Something else you could try would be a day trip to Melaka.

But anyway KL...

Shopping in Central KL
Suria KLCC - a large shopping mall in the bottom of the petronis towers. Many international brands on offer.
Pavilion - Located in Bukit Bintang, it has pretty similar shops to KLCC.
Starhill Gallery - the most exclusive shopping mall where you go to buy $300 t-shirts and $500,000 watches. There are some restaurants in the basement that are not too expensive. The toilets in the basement are an experience - they are like an underground cave
Sungwei Plaza/BB Plaza - A rabbit warren of little shops selling mainly clothes. Some quite good bargains.
Low Yat Plaza - great for computers, phones, cameras and gadgets.
Chinatown - good for fake clothes and bags, pirated dvds and roasted chestnuts
Central Market - good for tourist souvenirs, but not much else
Times Square - 13th biggest shopping mall in the world. Mainly locals shop here. Lots of good bargins
Lot 10 and fahrenheit 88 - Two smaller malls in Bukit Bintang, not much more to say about them

Food

Jalan Alor is a street in Bukit Bintang which has many roadside restaurants serving mainly local food. Most of the restaurants are Chinese, not many Malay ones. There is a place that does great chicken wings on the left hand side near at the bottom of the street. Some good seafood restaurants that do a good grilled fish. Just pick the restaurant that has the most locals eating at it.

For Malay food best to head to Kampung Baru. A Malay village right in the centre of KL. An interesting place to wander around. Or if that is too much trouble then there is a food court on the top floor of Suria KLCC that does good local food. There are also two chain restaurants - Madam Kwans and Secret Recipe that have a number of outlets - they both do local dishes as well as western food.

Skybar on the top of Traders hotel has a good view of the city. But it is popular and sometimes they restrict access to hotel guests and prebookings. There is another great rooftop bar called Lunar Bar in Bukit Nanas.

Bangsar (produced Bungsar) is a suburb about a 10-20 minute taxi ride of the central city. It use to be a bit of an expat enclave, but has diversified a bit in recent years. There is an Indian restaurant called Nirvana they are famous for Banana Leaf Curry (indian curries served on a banana leaf). There is a shopping mall called Bansar Village. There is a great winebar called WIP.

Spas

A good way to spend some time espcially if you need a bit of a rest is to go to a spa. There is a good in Starhill Gallery. Most of the hotel ones are pretty good. THere are some cheap ones on Jalan Bintang, but go with ones on the ground level (ones on the first level are typically a bit dodgy).

 

[NM]

Personally I would not bother win hopping at the up-market places like KLCC, Pavilion and Starhill. Yes, the name brands are all there, but the prices are not great. For bargains, get away from the up-market centers and head to the places locals shop rather the places the locals go to be seen. I have found great value shopping for clothing at places like Mid Valley Megamall.

Oh yes, Low Yat plaza is the place for phones, cameras, computers and accessories. Its close to Bukit Bintan, and you can walk through BB Plaza and Sungei Wang Paza where you can find locals shopping or clothes etc.

 

[kpc]

As someone who has lived in KL for over 10 years, and visits 1-2x per year, I agree with a lot of the suggestions made above. Most of the shops In KL don't open til 1030-11am so I suggest checkin to a hotel that allows early checkin be it the Pan Pacific at the airport or KL Hilton / Le Meridien at KL Sentral station, and have a sleep / rest til about 12 noon or so. The express train takes just 28 mins between airport and KL Sentral. From KL Sentral to most of the places mentioned above is just a short light rail / monorail ride away but if you are not familiar with the area, I would just take a taxi. It will be VERY hot and humid in KL, and along with sleep deprivation, I suggest you just choose 1-2 areas to visit to shop / sight see / eat etc, and take it easy and not rush around too much. If you still have your hotel room / access to an airport lounge, you will NEED a shower again prior to your flight out as you will be really hot and bothered by then!

An advantage of a hotel say at KL Sentral (as oppoesd to airport) is that you can drop back during the afternoon say before dinner for a short rest / shower before going out again. Because of the humidity, I tend to shower 2-3x per day when I'm in KL!

 

[samillionaire]

Might I suggest once you've landed from KLIA to take the KLIA express train [the express train ride to KL sentral. (close to the Mid Valley Megamall approximately 3.3km but will probably take longer than the 7 minute drive as advertised by google.maps due to heavy traffic.

Once you stop at KL Sentral hilton is walking distance and its where I'd suggest to check in being that its convenient, did some dummy bookings will probably cost $130-$180 AU depending which date end of Jan. Another advantage is that on departure you can your bags check in at KL Sentral instead of KLIA so that you wont have to lug it back i think the time frame must be 3 hours prior to departure or something close to.

Opposite KL sentral is the Monorail which goes direct to the shopping malls mentioned ie. Pavillion KLCC etc. and the possibility of things to do i guess is pretty much up to you. Richie9x's / kpcs list is pretty extensive

My would do's is to cover Midvalley/Pavillion/ Bukit Bintang area. & Sky Bar

KLIA Express trains go to Kuala Lumpur Sentral station from the airport in 28 minutes. The train runs every 15 minutes during rush hours (5am-9am and 5pm-12am) and 20 minutes at other times (9am-5pm).

 

[admin]

Thanks for all your suggestions - much appreciated. This will be the first time I'll be in KL, so its all really useful. Have booked a room at Pan Pacific - they will allow a 6am check-in, with a checkout at 11pm same day. I'll let you know what we end up doing for the day. Thanks again!

 

[admin]

Reporting back on our stop-over in KL:

We did get a very early check-in at the Pan Pacific. Checked in at 7am, and checked out at 10pm that night. They only charged us for one day, although in a jet-lagged state it seemed like much longer! The hotel is right at the airport, had a nap for a couple of hours on arrival, and then took the express train into the city. Had lunch at Secret Recipe at KL Central Station. Great inexpensive food. Then took a cab to Times Square where we spent the rest of the afternoon. Really cheap electrical goods and other stuff. Bought a pair of genuine Ray Ban sunglasses at about half the Australian price. Then tried the mono-rail back to KL Central. Due to the heavy traffic in KL it was actually quicker than the cab and really easy. 30 minutes later we were back at the hotel. The hotel have a great pool/spa where we indulged for about an hour, before taking another nap. Checked out, took the 2 minute buggy-car from the hotel to the terminal, checked-in and were on our way.

As you can see we made good use of your tips and recommendations. What I thought was going to be the stop-over from hell turned out to be a great experience. Thanks for all the advice. We really are a great community!!