We will arrive 10:30am in KUL for a 21h layover prior to a flight to DPS. What's your suggestion for this layover? Driving into the city or to stay at a airport hotel? Which Hotels would you suggest?

Consider your energy levels, interests, and the time you have available when making your decision.

KLIA is approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the city center. Depending on traffic, the journey to the city can take around 1 to 1.5 hours each way.

If you prefer a more relaxed layover or have limited time due to your next flight, staying at an airport hotel might be a convenient option for you. You may check these hotels within the airport or just a short shuttle ride away:

Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA - This hotel is connected to KLIA via a covered sky bridge, making it very convenient for a short layover
Tune Hotel KLIA2 - If you are arriving or departing from KLIA2, this hotel is located within the terminal complex
Capsule Transit Hotel - Located in the Satellite Building of KLIA, this hotel offers compact rooms ideal for short stays

What's the pricing like?

Are there any Marriotts, Hyatts, Hiltons, or IHGs near KUL?

google will help you

I would jump on the KLIA Express and get a hotel around KL Sentral. I've previously stayed at the Aloft KL Sentral - its a decent midrange property and has a rooftop pool.

If I'm doing a mileage run, the KLIA fee will add up really quick! Unless the KUL hotels are about as expensive as the Aloft, I would prefer to stay near KUL. Plus, I'll save some time.

I agree, the KLIA Express rail fare at MYR90 a person is not as good value as it used to be. It's probably cheaper than a taxi and less liable for a traffic jam.

But with a 21hr layover I figured the OP wasn't short on time, and might want to be able to venture into KL rather than being stuck in an airport in the middle of nowhere near the airport. The OP would need to check the timings of their outbound flight which is guess is quite early the next morning and assure themselves that they can get to the airport in time.

I know the airport isn't close to KL, but the train ride is something like 45 minutes from KL Sentral as it stops along the way.

i think you might have taken the KLIA transit, stopping at intermediate stations.

KLIA Express runs three trains an hour most of the time and it takes under 30 minutes, non-stop, to get between the airport and Sentral. But it's pricey (at least in Malaysian terms), I think MYR100 (around EUR20) return. KLIA Transit's fare to Sentral is the same, but it is much cheaper to the intermediate stops.

Bus is a great deal cheaper but some 45+ minutes. There's a rather complicated but very cheap way into the city using KLIA Transit to Putrajaya, then transferring to the new MRT line.


For the OP it's a choice of on airport, off airport or in the city.

On airport the main Sama Sama is comfortable but expensive. There are cheaper options, but most require shifting to Terminal 2. I've used the Tune hotel there, and it was fine for an overnight.

Off airport there are quite a number of hotels near Salak Tingi, the first stop on the KLIA Transit train (fare something around MYR5). I can't vouch for any of them, just noted their presence, and outside F1 season I imagine they are low cost options. There are lots of smarter hotels around Putrajaya (administrative capital of Malaysia), second stop on the Transit line.

If i were the OP, with no particular interest in Kuala Lumpur, I'd splurge on the Sama Sama and get a good rest before the trip home. The hotel's got a pool, gym etc and there's the airport food court over in the terminal to save on meal costs.

I'm curious about the details. Is there a possibility of traffic delays? Is this method reliable? What would the total cost be?

Any Marriott, Hilton, IHG, or Hyatt near Putrajaya?

What is typical pricing at Sama Sama like?

It's a perfectly reliable method but just a little clunky because of switching between lines at Putrajaya Sentral, and the bother about ticketing (for those without a card). It involves taking the KLIA Transit line to Putrajaya, then the MRT into KL. The MRT doesn't go to KL Sentral but covers other stations in the city (e.g. Ampang Park for the Doubletree, Intercontinental and others): you could use interchange stations to get to other places with MRT/LRT. The cash fare would be MYR12 or so, less if you travel cashless.

As for hotels, I know Putrajaya has a Doubletree. You could look on Agoda etc to see what else is available. Sama Sama should top EUR 100, but again, it's best to look for prices online. There's a Lite/Express version of the hotel.

I'm trying to avoid the bus even if it's cheaper due to potential traffic.

With regards to your instructions, I'm assuming that's coming from the direction of KUL? So buy a ticket at KUL to go to Putrajaya, get off, and then take the MRT? Which line is this? I do have a TNG card with a balance so I can tap and go the minute I arrive. So it's 12 MYR to go from KUL to the IC or Doubletree in KL from KUL? Whoa? That's he'll of a lot cheaper than to take the KL Express from KL Sentral if I remember correctly. What's the time difference between the two methods?

I would take the airport express train to the final station, Sentral. Pre-book Le Meridien Hotel (or next door Hilton). Get off the train and follow signage to hotel. You have plenty of time to see some part of the city. If you don't feel like exploring the city, you can certainly relax in a resort type pool/spa complex.

I suggest you check the prices on the booking site and compare. It's cheaper than the direct website or direct booking in the hotel.

The new MRT is the Putrajaya (PY) line, which starts north-west of the city, then drifts through the centre to end up in Putrajaya. It's the second MRT line.

Travelling from, say, Ampang Park by LRT (or taxi) to Sentral would add a time penalty to the KLIA Express route, but I reckon it would still be marginally faster than the MRT route. The MRT+Transit trip should take about an hour, LRT+Express maybe a few minutes less. But that's counting on perfect connections for both trajectories, which seldom happen

For origins not on the PY line, there'd need to be a second connection at an interchange station, so you'd need more time to complete the journey But the price difference is significant, and yes you could use your TNG and benefit from cashless fares.