Asia - Kuala Lumpur (KL) hotel with convenient airport transport?

Hi,
I will be in Kuala Lumpur for about 2 days. I will arrive at midnight, and will most likely stay at the KL Airside Transit Hotel (anybody have any experiences at this hotel?) the first night.

On the 2nd night, I was hoping to stay somewhere in KL with convenient access to transport to the Kuala Lumpur LCC Terminal. I know there is a train from Sentral that goes to KLIA, as well as a bus service that goes directly to KL LCC Terminal. The issue is that both the Hilton and Le Meridian at KL Sentral are charging about $200 as their lowest, non-refundable rate (I will be staying there on Sunday night of the F1 Formula race, so prices are a bit higher than normal), which is about $100 more than I want to spend.

I am willing to stay somwhere else in town, but would like convenient access to Sentral station, so that I can reach it easily in the morning (I'd have to leave Sentral on the 8AM bus to make my 10:25 AirAsia flight to DPS). Any cheap/moderate hotel options in KL that fit the bill?

Lastly, since I will be in the neighborhood, I decided to purchase a ticket to the F1 event. How crazy does the city get around this weekend? Sounds like fun (even though I will be traveling alone...)

Thanks,
Bostonbali

If you are willing to rough it out, the YMCA http://www.ymcakl.com/hostel.htm is just across the road from Sentral ;).
From the YMCA just cross the main street and walk through the open air carpark and you will see the LCCT buses; probably take 5min to get there, not much longer than from Hilton/LM.

Hi,
I will be in Kuala Lumpur for about 2 days. I will arrive at midnight, and will most likely stay at the KL Airside Transit Hotel (anybody have any experiences at this hotel?) the first night.

On the 2nd night, I was hoping to stay somewhere in KL with convenient access to transport to the Kuala Lumpur LCC Terminal. I know there is a train from Sentral that goes to KLIA, as well as a bus service that goes directly to KL LCC Terminal. The issue is that both the Hilton and Le Meridian at KL Sentral are charging about $200 as their lowest, non-refundable rate (I will be staying there on Sunday night of the F1 Formula race, so prices are a bit higher than normal), which is about $100 more than I want to spend.

I am willing to stay somwhere else in town, but would like convenient access to Sentral station, so that I can reach it easily in the morning (I'd have to leave Sentral on the 8AM bus to make my 10:25 AirAsia flight to DPS). Any cheap/moderate hotel options in KL that fit the bill?

Lastly, since I will be in the neighborhood, I decided to purchase a ticket to the F1 event. How crazy does the city get around this weekend? Sounds like fun (even though I will be traveling alone...)

Thanks,
Bostonbali

Hi Bostonbali,

In 2006 and 2005, I visited KL and stayed at 3 and 4 star hotels in KL for under 100USD/night. You might want to check out the Corus Hotel, which located on Jalan Ampang, within short walking distance to Petronas Towers. From KL Sentral, you can take the Rapid KL LRT to the KLCC station (located across Petronas Towers/Suria KLCC Shopping Center) and walk to the Corus Hotel.

You might also check out Hotel Capital, located in the Bukit Bintang district. You can take KL Monorail from outside KL Sentral (you have to walk through a bazaar to get to the Monorail station but that's fun) and stop at the Bukit Bintang Station. Then walk to the hotel.

Both hotels were reasonable in rates and were within close walking distance to rail transit and massive shopping centers. I am concerned that you are arriving in KL during the race, which may affect hotel prices a bit. Please check out the hotels above and see if it is suitable for you.

Selamat Jalan,

Tonywestsider

Lastly, since I will be in the neighborhood, I decided to purchase a ticket to the F1 event. How crazy does the city get around this weekend? Sounds like fun (even though I will be traveling alone...)

Thanks,
Bostonbali[/QUOTE]


When I was there a couple of years ago, there was a lot of action going on in K.L in terms of nightlife and F1 related promos.

It is gonna be fun.....

Singapore will have the F1 too in 2008.. a Night Street race...
Looking forward to that one...

Cheers!

Have you tried using points at the LM (Cat 2) ?

Thanks for the award suggestion for the LM. Unfortunately, I no longer have any SPG points, and I already have the SPG Amex, so that idea is out.

I am now considering the no-frills Tune Hotel (http://www.tunehotels.com/), which is only a few months old. I'll get a plain, clean room for about $25 per night, kinda hard to beat!
The hotel is located near the Medan Tuanku monorail station. Doesn't seem like it's a huge inconvenience getting there from KL Sentral - certainly worth the $150 I'll be saving.
Any thoughts regarding this location?

I am now considering the no-frills Tune Hotel (http://www.tunehotels.com/), which is only a few months old. I'll get a plain, clean room for about $25 per night, kinda hard to beat!
The hotel is located near the Medan Tuanku monorail station. Doesn't seem like it's a huge inconvenience getting there from KL Sentral - certainly worth the $150 I'll be saving.
Any thoughts regarding this location?

I usually laugh when I see guests rolling their luggage from Tune Hotel to the Medan Tuanku station. You need to cross a busy junction and walk down towards Sheraton Imperial, a good 5-10 min walk. I wonder how much they actually saved by staying at the Tune Hotel :confused:

Locationwise its not too bad, at a busy crossroad with a shopping mall opposite and near a redlight district ;) The building was once a hospital before it was converted to a 3 star hotel (Hotel Grand Centrepoint http://www.ubb.com.my/hotel/) and latter sold to the owner of Air Asia who converted it to a budget hotel :eek:. If you look at pictures of the former hotel it had decent sized windows which are now partially bricked-up, and some rooms apparently do not have any window at all. I also believe the rooms are tiny with bare floor finish and without tv. Also note that the room rates do not include air-conditioning (sold at 5/12hr blocks) nor toilet amenities (towels, shampoo etc)

If you do decide to stay there, do let us know whether the beds are actually "5 star" as Tony would want us to believe ;). Actually he used to say the facilities are "5 star" but have now confined the "5 star" tag to just the beds :D