I am going to BOM at the end of next month,returning in early February. I am flying Malaysian airlines and am doing a 2 day stopover in Kuala Lumpur on the way home. Any recommendations on accomodation and activities, gay nightlife etc. I will be there on a Sat/Sun night. I have done some research on hotels, which by the way have some incredibly good rates. The ones that look good are The Regent, Ritz Carlton, Renaissance, Mandarin Oriental and Pan Pacific. Does anyone have any experience with any of these. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks for any info/advice.

I can recommend shopping in the Golden Triangle, the area of town by Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jln Sultan Ismail. I think the names of the best shopping are Lot 10 and Sungei Wang Plaza. But there are many other shopping malls in KL. As for going out, my info is kinda dated, so I'd take a look at www.fridae.com or elsewhere for more current info.
Hotels: Be careful of the Renaissance, since it's actually two hotels in one: The New World and the Renaissance. The cheaper wing, while still allowing you to use the great pool, etc, is really a dump and is to be avoided. I stayed at the Pan Pacific a few years ago, and unless it's been really upgraded since, I'd stay away even if it is cheap.
The Regent is nice and has a great location.
Just about 2 blocks from the Regent, though, is my favorite hotel in KL: The $33 per night Hotel Capitol, which is in good shape, in an excellent location, and near good breakfast choices (there is an Au Bon Pain around the corner).
So you could save probably $65 per night over the Regent.
The Shangri-La is also quite nice, but in a location more appropriate for business.
Have a great time!

The Regent is quite old but it is well kept and has a GREAT location, literally right in the middle of shopping zone. Haven't said that, shopping means overpriced clothes, electronics and stuff that you can get in other asian cities. The back door (!?!) to the Regent leads to a carpark that has a very friendly DVD dealer, TopMan Sauna(for bottoms and oil massage by burmese byos too) and Blueboy bar (good for meeting friendly Malays and singing your hearts out).

For something more upscale, try the Mandarin Oriental. You can't beat being next to the Petronas Towers and the mall for sheer convenience without the traffic. The pool is excellent (and cruisy) and nice decent modern rooms. For a good and civilised Sat, slip over to the concert hall in the Petronas Tower and catch one of the best orchestras in all of Asia in their home ground.

Hotels in KL are GREAT bargains esp for club floors. They really overload their club lounges with free cocktails and wine, free snacks and appetisers (enough to last you through dinner). Most club lounges stay open all day too for extra value.

As for the scene check Fridae but on the whole, the saunas and bars in KL pale in comparison to Singapore and Bangkok. Saunas: OTOT seems to be foreigner-friendly. Clubs: Liquid is still the most happening place to be on a sat night. Also try Zouk KL who has gay nights.

Enjoy!

Can't recommend any activities, but highly recommend the Ritz. You should be able to get it for well under RM450, which is a steal!

I'll be there in 3 weeks again myself.

Frangipani for dinner (or before midnight) - gay crowd and expensive. It's in the Bukit Bintang area but hard to find. Get address, and ask for directions.

Fri/Sat @ Liquid (LRT: Pasar Seni). Int'l/mixed crowd.

Sun @ Bliss/Atmosphere (Bliss Boys) at TwelveSI (Jalan Sultan Ismail/Jalan P. Ramlee aka Nightclub Zone - down the street from the Mandarin Oriental). Dress code - no sandals, no shorts, no t-shirts.

Also check out the new Zouk KL (also near the Mandarin Oriental) which, like its bigger sister in Singapore, has gay-themed nights at Velvet Underground.

I adore the Mandarin Oriental. The Shangri-La is also close to the Nightclub Zone. Regent and Ritz (also Westin and JW Marriott) are both in the Bukit Bintang area a little further down. And Renaissance is further up. And if you have SPG status, the Sheraton Imperial is even further up. All of these hotels are on (or slightly off) the same main drag - Jalan Sultan Ismail. I wouldn't go with the Pan Pac for such a short stay because of its inconvenient location.

If you haven't been to KL and you'd like a bird's eye view, take a cab to Menara KL/KL Tower and go up. The view is spectacular (on a clear day). Also check out the Petronas Twin Towers; amazing architecture. As in Bangkok, almost no one walks outside for an extended period of time (it's unpleasantly hot and humid). Luckily, the subway/light rail/monorail system takes you everywhere but use cabs (very cheap) when necessary.

Go to Bangsar (cab) for expat bars/clubs and some good local restaurants serving hawker-style food (open 24 hours). Everything is located on two parallel streets and the atmosphere is a blast. Check out hotel restaurants for high-end dining: Shanghai/Third Floor @ JW Marriott, Lai Po Heen @ MO, etc.

High-end shopping is great at Lot 10/Star Hill in the Bukit Bintang area and Suria KLCC at the base of the Twin Towers (next to the MO). Local crafts and cheaper stuff can be had at Central Market and the night bazaar in Chinatown/Petaling St.

Everything in KL is dirt cheap coming from the US, more so coming from the Euro-zone! Enjoy your stay!

thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I am looking forward to my visit.

I stayed on the club floor of the Regent last new year and found it to be very good value . The club floor balcony is a great plce to see the New Year fireworks ( esp having taken advantage of the well stocked complimentary bar) before going out fo rthe night to gay bars in the vincinity.

KLCC is also a good are to stay in , but the Regent is closer I believe to all the gay bars et c.

Have a wonderful time!!

For Location / Rooms would you recommend the Mandarin Oriental or the Ritz

Here are the rates:

Ritz $97
MO $120

Many Thanks

Probably the MO for that price. Honestly, the MO, Ritz, and even the Hilton are all great.