Asia - Shangrila or Mandarin Oriental in KL?

Cant decide between the two, I like the location of the latter, right next to the Petronas Towers, but apparently Shangrila is not bad location wise either. Can anyone help me decide?
I have found prices are pretty much the same, well maybe a few dollars extra per night so price is not a concern for this time. Thanks for any opinions,

D.

The Mandarin is IMHO the superior hotel, and generally has prices to reflect it. If you prefer its location (I don't), the choice should be obvious.

The more basic rooms at the Shangri-la are rather cramped, and not particularly good value for K-L.

Cant decide between the two, I like the location of the latter, right next to the Petronas Towers, but apparently Shangrila is not bad location wise either. Can anyone help me decide?
I have found prices are pretty much the same, well maybe a few dollars extra per night so price is not a concern for this time. Thanks for any opinions,

D.

I am going to KL in Feb. I have asked many people and checked many sites and I have narrowed it down to the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, and the Regent. They basically are all about the same price and are well located. I will probably go for the Ritz or Regent based on recommendations that I have received.

I am going to KL in Feb. I have asked many people and checked many sites and I have narrowed it down to the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, and the Regent. They basically are all about the same price and are well located. I will probably go for the Ritz or Regent based on recommendations that I have received.

Fleur_de-lys, will you post here or send me a pm letting me know what you decide, and also after Feb, how it was like? I am going late Mar, so I do have plenty of time.

Thanks,

D.

"Cant decide between the two, I like the location of the latter, right next to the Petronas Towers"

I stayed at the KL Mandarin Oriental for a few nights last May. Although I'm not a first-class type of traveler, this was well worth the splurge, and is the best hotel that I've seen. My cost was about $105 per night U.S. using the most-discounted option on their website.

Room was large and fancy with a nice direct view of the Petronas Tower. The hotel staff is perfectly polite and helpful. The hotel is right next to a huge shopping mall and park. The buffet lunch is outstanding with lots of Malaysian and Chinese food choices. The hair salon gave me the best haircut I had in my life for about $25.

Fleur_de-lys, will you post here or send me a pm letting me know what you decide, and also after Feb, how it was like? I am going late Mar, so I do have plenty of time.

Thanks,

D.

Just make sure you're not in town March 17-20. Many hotels are showing sold out and others have hiked their proces dramatically because of the Formula 1 race...

I have narrowed it down to the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, and the Regent. They basically are all about the same price and are well located.

I wouldnt describe the Ritz Carlton as "well located". Infact I may even describe the neighbourhood (Imbi) as "dodgy" eventhough its just behind the shopping district of Bukit Bintang where the Regent is located.

Locationwise (for a tourist), I would choose the Mandarin Oriental.

The MO and the Shang are located on the same street (Jln P Ramlee) perpendicular to the main drag (Jln Sultan Ismail). You can walk from one to the other in 10 mins (5 if you want to break a sweat in the heat! :)). The MO is above a subway station and the Shang is close to a Monorail station. The MO is also next to the city's premier shopping mall - Suria KLCC. The variety and quality of restaurants in the Shang is better than the MO but the mall makes up for that. In between the MO and the Shang, you'll find (one of) KL's nightclub zone.

If you are choosing strictly based on location, the choice is less obvious seeing that they are not very far apart. But if it's also based on quality, the MO is a better bet, IMHO as someone who's lived there and visited many times.


Cant decide between the two, I like the location of the latter, right next to the Petronas Towers, but apparently Shangrila is not bad location wise either. Can anyone help me decide?
I have found prices are pretty much the same, well maybe a few dollars extra per night so price is not a concern for this time. Thanks for any opinions,

D.

I wouldnt describe the Ritz Carlton as "well located". Infact I may even describe the neighbourhood (Imbi) as "dodgy" eventhough its just behind the shopping district of Bukit Bintang where the Regent is located.

Locationwise (for a tourist), I would choose the Mandarin Oriental.

I am glad to know this, as I haven't actually booked this yet. Is this neighbourhood unsafe and too far to walk to the areas that a tourist might be interested in? Any thoughts or comments on the Regent. They do not seem to be a big hotel chain, but their property in Beverly Hills is certainly nice.

It's neither unsafe nor too far to walk.
This (http://www.ytlcommunity.com/jwmarriottkl/locationmap.asp) is a good map. Jalan Imbi (on the left) can be a little dodgy but you'll be spending most of your time along Bintang Walk (tourist street) and up Jalan Bukit Bintang (major thoroughfare, bottom of the screen). Jalan Sultan Ismail (on the right) is the main drag of KL. They are currently building The Residences at the RC|KL between the RC hotel and the JW Marriott so construction noise and dirt will be a factor.

The Regent KL is across Jl Bukit Bintang from the JW Marriott (refer to map). Both the Regent in Beverly Hills and the one in KL are managed by the Four Seasons. However, the Regent in KL is nowhere near as nice as the one in Beverly Hills. The RC is a better choice when compared with the Regent.

Starhill is nicer than Lot 10 as far as malls are concerned. Across Jl Sultan Ismail from Lot 10 is Sungei Wang Plaza and BB Plaza. You'll find cheap electronics there. The Monorail station is between Lot 10 and Sungei Wang Plaza. It might seem like a short distance to walk from the RC to the Monorail station but in the heat and humidity, everything is far away! ;)

Location-wise, it almost makes no difference whether you pick the RC/Regent area (Bukit Bintang) or the Shang/MO area (KLCC). They are both on the same long street and are connected by the Monorail and the subway/light-rail transit system. Nonetheless, I agree with mario33, the MO is the best situated for tourists IMHO.


I am glad to know this, as I haven't actually booked this yet. Is this neighbourhood unsafe and too far to walk to the areas that a tourist might be interested in? Any thoughts or comments on the Regent. They do not seem to be a big hotel chain, but their property in Beverly Hills is certainly nice.