Best value hotels in Kuala Lumpur for a budget-friendly holiday in Malaysia

The rooftop swimming pool is the perfect vantage point to see Kuala Lumpur’s skyline and landmarks beginning with the Petronas Twin Towers which are literally facing directly across from Traders Hotel.

Also on the rooftop of the city’s top-rated four-star is theSPA; a luxury spa with all treatments imaginable, a sauna, and steam bath, and the open-air SkyBar; lauded as Malaysia’s best bar and the best place in the city to see the Petronas Towers by night. And guests looking to reach their “daily steps goal” will put the 1.3 km jogging trail around KLCC Park to good use, being that it’s right at the hotel’s doorstep.

The infinity-edge pool is bordered by tropical gardens and is set against a backdrop that’s unmatched at any other five-star in the city. Other leisure activities at the Mandarin include indoor golf, holistic spa treatments, and a saunarium (sauna & steam room) plus Jacuzzi.

Like at Traders, the Mandarin is right beside the KLCC Park and the Petronas Twin Towers. As at any Mandarin hotel, guests can expect the utmost in elegance and comfort in all rooms. All rooms have spectacular city views, large bathrooms, and are serviced by housekeeping twice daily.

You probably don’t think you’d be able to afford a five star – so let us tell you right now, you can! Talking about this luxury hotel, guests have said highlights include the outdoor pool (where you’ll get a great view of the city), stunning art deco style furnishings, the spacious rooms, and the welcoming staff. A 15-minute walk from KL Sentral Station in one direction and a 15-minute walk to the KLCC in the other, the hotel couldn’t be in a better location.

The hotel is ideal for high-flying couples for whom a hotel is an integral part of the travel experience. As far as in-hotel attractions go, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur has it all – from a luxury spa to a cigar room. Extra special for the gents is the luxury barbershop Truefitt & Hill. The best-value room is the Deluxe Room, sporting top views of KL’s skyline.

Must-try dining experiences are the Afternoon Tea at the Orchid Conservatory (decked out in all species of orchid), and dinner at the fine-dining Colonial Cafe where you can order authentic Hainanese food alongside racks of lamb and be serenaded by live jazz for dessert.

Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur is not your typical highway-side hotel. Guests highlight the outdoor pool (separate children’s pool), the view of the Petronas Towers, the tasty and varied breakfast buffet.

Highly recommended are the Premium Rooms for their perks including express check-in/out, gym access, and quietness being that they’re on higher floors. The option of early breakfast (starts at 6:30 AM) for those that want a bite before they catch their no-frills flight back home.

Guests speak highly of the 2nd-floor pool deck that consists of a main pool, separate children’s pool, and Jacuzzi, the food served at Warisan Cafe, particularly of the breakfast served from 6:30 AM till 10:30 AM, and the above-and-beyond service.

All rooms at Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur have rain showers and the option for guests to choose their type of pillow from the pillow menu. Like the other hotels, there’s a Jacuzzi and gym.

While centrally located, the hotel looks out onto the vast green Royal Selangor Golf Club. It’s a five-minute walk to the popular Pavilion shopping centre and the shopping/entertainment district of Bukit Bintang.

Take the quality that’s gained from this five-star hotel brand, its world-renowned recognition and sprinkle in Malaysian hospitality and you’ve got the fail-proof Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. And the award for the most oasis-like outdoor swimming pool in the city centre goes to… Nestled among lush foliage that obscures the buildings that surround, you’ll truly forget you’re smack-dab in the middle of the city while taking a dip.

If you’re responsible for booking your family’s vacations know that there are interconnecting rooms available and that when booking a Deluxe Room that you can opt for a KL Tower View Room. In their reviews of the hotel, guests have highlighted the huge Deluxe Room, breakfast at Essence, and the fact the trendiest cafe street lies directly beyond the hotel’s walls. Like the other hotels, there’s also a spa and fitness centre.

The outdoor pool, similar to that of the Sheraton, is a free form pool set in a landscaped, tropical garden. The best value for families given that there’s free breakfast and no extra guest charge for children under 12 years old sharing their parents’ room.

On top of that, there’s the option for kids to join a kid’s club that caters to their age range (0-3, 3-6, or 6-12). Rooms range from deluxe to two-bedroom apartments (some are equipped with bunk beds for the kiddos). Bathrooms are stocked with bath gels from the top-end skincare product line C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries.

Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel and Residences has a spa and several restaurants to choose from. Ramadan buffet dinners, Sunday grills by the hotel terrace pool that include shish kebab meats, fine-dining Japanese, and gourmet dim sum… Yum!

Perfect for solo travellers given the studio room size option, this “boutique urban resort” is located right across from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and the Suria KLCC shopping mall. A must-try is the indoor, heated hydrotherapy pool. Of the Goldilocks’ school of thought, the Maya Kuala Lumpur gives guests the option to select from a wide range of hotel room and also type of pillow so each guest finds their perfect fit. If you’re in town for the weekend, enjoy High Tea on both Saturday and Sunday at Maya Brasserie.

A unique feature of Maya Kuala Lumpur is the nightly offering of complimentary coffee, tea and petit fours at the “Night-Cap” hosted at the Sky Lounge, the guests-only 13-floor lounge. Another highlight of this fully serviced hotel is that there’s no pork in any of their dishes, perfect for anyone with dietary restrictions.

It’s no wonder the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur is ideal for families as it’s been a fixture of Kuala Lumpur since its opening in 1985. From beneath your warm duvet, slip your clothes back on (or just put a blazer over that sleepwear that’s so in vogue right now) and re-assume your bar-side, cocktail-sipping position at Arthur’s Bar and Grill. Then head back to Zipangu and relive the best mouth-dissolving sashimi experience you’ve had this year.

Un-dry yourself in a Jacuzzi at the Health Club followed by a Shang Touch massage treatment that’s a combination of Malay and Swedish techniques. Check back into your Deluxe Room and draw back the curtains so that you’re surprised all over again by the views of The Petronas Towers. Finally, enjoy a spot of breakfast tea at the Lobby Lounge while you wait to be checked-in. Did our description of this hotel make it to your list of favourite reverse chronology stories?