Old Hotel but Excellent Amenities
Introduction When this hotel was first built, it must have been the best hotel around for miles. Today, a once-five-star hotel is perhaps a 3.5 star hotel. Amenities are excellent, but room design seems in need of upgrades. The doors in particular seem similar to a low-rent motel--they make a disturbing slamming sound upon exit. In my room, the curtains don't block out an area of incoming light that shines directly onto my pillow area. Worst of all, my WiFi was spotty and would require me to log in whenever my mobile phone's screen locked. (It's possible the system is an older one configured for desktops/laptops, not mobile.) On the plus side, the gym is fantastic. On-site amenities are varied and up to high standards, including a cafe and several restaurants (the Chinese and Japanese themed ones seemed most popular). An executive lounge is on the 21st floor and includes food and drink from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Perhaps my favorite amenity was the swimming pool, which is well-designed. So far, I've stayed in Hilton Garden Inn Jalan Tuanku, which is considered a 3 star hotel and this one (Petaling Jaya), considered a four to five star hotel. I would say if you are looking for a mid-range hotel, you might like Petaling Jaya, but keep your expectations reasonable. (February 2020) Check In As with all Hiltons, you can check in online using the app. If you are a gold member or above, you can go to the 21st floor and check in there to avoid lines in the lobby. Room The rooms themselves are fine, but when guests leave, the doors make a slamming sound that can be heard in adjacent rooms. Dining There are several restaurants on-site, including Japanese (Genji) and Chinese options (Paya Serai). A cafe is also near the lobby area. A spa provides massage. Location The location is urban. KL is a major city, and guests can easily access the Grab app to take them anywhere. Service I had no issues with the service, but the manager told me the concierge would assist me with planning a trip to a local waterfall, and I have yet to hear back from anyone. I suspect like most hotels, communication issues are not always seamless when it comes to special requests. If you are a gold member, I suggest going directly to the executive lounge (located on the 21st floor) for questions and check-in. Overall If you are using points, I would suggest staying here. Because the hotel is an older one, you don't need a lot of points to book a room. If I had to pay the weekend rate out of pocket, I think I would balk and try another hotel, probably the Hilton Kuala Lumpur (Central).