AFAIK the brand standard for element is free breakfast for all every day and the free reception for all Monday through Thursday (with some variation depending on the weekend conventions in various regions). I'm surprised that they would try to charge points for a restaurant breakfast versus providing it in the lobby (or wherever they do the reception) for everybody.

Is the walk from the Ampang Park LRT station to the Element longer than the walk to the DoubleTree? How would you compare the two properties with regards to comfort & service? I realise the Element is new and 'cool', but that alone is not enough to decide to stay there!

No, it is in fact nearer and more convenient to walk from Ampang Park LRT station to the Element hotel and less than 5 minutes walk.

I can't compare the DoubleTree in KL as I have never tried this properties yet but the comfort of the Element is definitely above average. Service is in fact better than those full service hotel.

In fact I am coming back for a weekend staycation and missing the heavenly bed :P

Unfortunately, I'm only SPG Gold, and not Plat.

Just got reply from the hotel saying the breakfast is available for RM 70 nett/person. :(

Other Element hotels usually provide complimentary breakfast so this one is anomaly.

Yes, it is strange. According to the Starwood Website (under Restore) Element Hotels provided a complimentary breakfast.

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/eleme...nce/index.html

Well, I've visited two Elements - FRA and NYC. The breakfast provided was very basic. The one in KUL is on par with any of the "full service" brands, so perhaps that is why.

Wow! I'm glad I decided to try this hotel. Breakfast (instead of points) is great. Rooms are also great. View from the 50th floor is quite nice, too.

I will post a review shortly with photos, but wanted to post some initial thoughts:

Pros
1. New build with very good room size, efficient aircon and great facilities.
2. Has a guest laundry, a rarity in Asia, and much needed after two weeks on the road in hot humid weather.
3. Ceilings seem to be high on all floors be it pool, reception and even the room, adding to the spacious feel.
4. Apartments are well equipped in some ways, with a capsule coffee machine, dishwasher, small full size fridge along with toaster, but see cons for the issue.
5. Being KL, 80 USD a night means it’s good value.
6. Bye bye bottled water, love the filter and water in KL is good anyway, pity about the non existent glasses.

Cons
1. No cutlery, plates, cooking utensils, even glasses! All apparently are on request???
2. 4 lifts, hotel not busy yet wait can be long.
3. As mentioned by others, Breakfast is brand standard but not here.
4. For a wellness brand, a lot of promotion of alcohol is evident.
5. Build quality is poor, and my room failed the lobby noise test.

With the exception of the lifts and build quality, I suspect the cons are easily fixed, although I do wonder if the lack of cooking utensils is to discourage actually using the appliances, which may age the room over a short time with smells etc?

Element Kuala Lumpur - Could be great without the penny pinching
 

Check In Checkin is on the fortieth floor and was the usual flurry of paperwork you get in Asia. I was on a prepaid rate and also left a 200 MYR deposit for incidentals.I was luckily upgraded to a one bedroom suite and took the pints rather than breakfast. And here was the first area of penny pinching, an Element hotel that doesn’t offer the brand standard free breakfast. Room Looks can be deceiving!First impression, what a great apartment with all the mod cons and even a heavenly bed. But on closer inspection, some things were missing.My room had a coffee capsule machine, with the wrong power plug, to get it to work someone had used a plastic adaptor which offered no ground which was the standard for Malaysia. The hotel also supplied capsules in two varieties, but just one of each, too bad if you liked one variety and wanted two cups.Speaking of cups, two coffee mugs and two spoons were the entire fit out for the apartment. No knives, forks, spoons or even plates. I enjoyed my duty free wine in my coffee mug. No glasses either, be it in the kitchen or bathroom.

Where is it located? This will determine if the hotel does well or not, esp in downtown KL.

Opposite the IC and just down the road from Ampang Park Station, Double Tree is across a nearby intersection and KLCC is the next station up. It’s about a ten minute ride from Sentral on the train.

a game changer for the SPG brand. They finally have something in the KLCC area

Element KL is very pleasing hotel, especially the bed and views from the room. Indoor pool is nice, though windows in the pool area could be better.
However I doubt I will see a point staying there once I'm Platinum. Sheraton goes for more or less the same price.

Apart from the proximity to the twin towers, the other advantage of the Elements is easy access to the LRT transit system. The Sheraton Imperial has the monorail nearby which is nowhere near as convenient / versatile as the LRT; besides, the Sheraton is a much older property and the age does show.

While I am normally a public transport person and avoid taxis as a waste on money, KL is one of two cities where I will just get the Grab or Uber. Cheap and convenient. While public transportation there is a mess.