How to get around KL airports, hotels, etc?

[highdesert]

Hello Malaysia Travelers -

We'll be going through Kuala Lumpur on our way to N. Sulawesi in October. Never been to KL, and we'll be arriving at the Main Terminal on Cathay Pacific at 1230, and out at 0640 the next morning at the LCCT on Air Asia to Manado. I'm looking for some hints on how to get around, decent hotels (nothing fancy, just clean, safe, and moderate price), etc. I've looked at many websites, but there is too much info, and it's hard to know what is good and what is not.

On our return from Manado, we arrive at the LCCT at 1510, and have planned to stay two nights so we can see a little bit of Kuala Lumpur, so we should be closer in to the city center, right? Again, looking for hotels, shuttle info, etc. Our first two choices right now for that day are the towers and Chinatown. Then after our second night, back to Main Terminal.

I don't mind booking our own hotels (I like Hotel Reservation Online: Check Availability Worldwide Hotels, Hotel Reviews by Travelers), but I am unsure what areas to look at for these nights.

Thank you for any help!

 

[broadreach]

KL is kind of spread out, so I understand your difficulty in picking an area to stay at.

I usually just pass through KL, so I can't really recommend a mid-range hotel. Personally, I would look for something around Bukit Bintang where you can find lots of food/shopping and enjoy good connections on the monorail. But there are other areas to choose from. Going mid-range is probably smart as the budget places are usually not very nice.

I think that the Tune Hotel is good value - but it is really bare-bones and you have to pay for every extra amenity (A/C, towel, etc - most would consider these basics not amenities)

For your initial arrival in KLIA: the airport is far from the city and if you arrive on a weekday, you might find yourself sitting in traffic for a long time if you opt for a cab. I think that the train (KLIA Express) is a good deal for a comfortable fast ride into town (28 minutes). It drops you off at KL Sentral, where you can either hop on the monorail or grab a city taxi to your hotel.

For your arrival at LCCT: if you have time and want to save some $$ you can hop on the bus to Sentral. If I remember right the buses are closer to the domestic arrivals at LCCT. They should be really obvious and cost 9 - 10 MYR each way. When you get off the bus you can go up to the top floor at the Sentral terminal and place your diving luggage at the left-luggage counter and then you're free to roam around with lighter bags, hop on the monorail etc.

Final departure: pick up your scuba gear from the Sentral left luggage and take the KLIA Express back to the KLIA terminal.

I hope this helps

 

[highdesert]

broadreach -

Thank you for the great tips! My wife and I were just talking moments ago about finding a place to stash our dive gear whilel in KL. With the distances between the terminals and the city, it will be nice to have things go smoothly.

 

[Arturo]

Just arrived from trip to Sipadan and Borneo and did a stop over in KL.

Broadreach is right, both airports are 80 and 90 Km from downtown KL and it takes quite a while to travel this distance, depending on traffic conditions. Cabs from the airports to any hotel in the golden trangle area cost MR 67.5 (about 20 US$) and would be the best choice since it is a party of two.

I stayed at the Sol Melia Hotel (four stars) and did my reservation through he hotel's own web site. Ended up paying around US$ 65, breakfast included). Excellent location, nearby Bukit Bintang and easy acces to the monorail that takes you to the Petronas and China town.

If I was on your shoes, rather than going to KL, I would consider staying on a new hotel near the international airport upon arrival. It would take at least two or three hours since you land until you check in at the hotel in KL (custom, baggage claim plus traffic). Leaving next morning at 6:40 (stay at least two hour prior to that at the Low Cost terminal) will not have much time to know KL.

 

[highdesert]

Arturo -

On our arrival, you're right, we need to stay near the airport because of the early departure the next day. Seems to be a surprisingly small choice of airport hotels after looking at maybe a half dozen sites. On our return trip, with two nights in KL and a later departure the next day, we'll travel into the city. Thanks for the hotel recommendation; I'll check it out.

 

[chocolate]

Sorry for barging in...
but is China Town much closer to the Sentral station, where the ERL train is, than Bukit Bintang? I said that just because there seemed to be less stops from China town to Sentral.

Also, which area is exactly the "Golden Triangle"? I heard that most shopping, etc are in that area.

Thanks.

 

[Wisnu]

Highdessert
On arrival you can stay at KLIA transit hotel; or other hotels within 20 minutes from LCCT are Pan Pacific Hotel (pricey), concorde, empress and de palma. Although I am quite often traveling to KL but never stay there.
For Hotel in KL, I have good experience with the following hotels - I stayed there within 2 years
For biz trip. always stay at Imperial KL, a bit pricey but who care as long not from my pocket, meals are superb specially breakfast, located near MRT station; easy access to KL central, bukit bintang, low yat, Imbi shopping area.
There's 3 nice hotels in mid valley mega mall - Cititel (small room but cheap, boulevard and garden hotel (most luxurious) - my family choice as all have direct access to the biggest shopiing mall in malaysia; excelent food, plenty restaurant and food court in the mall.
Corus KL, within walking distance to KLCC and subway; old hotel, not very clean but good service.
Hotel Istana - located at Bukit bintang shgopping area; 5* at affordable rate;
Coronade hotel in bukit bintang, very close to bukit bintang and sungei wang plaza; small room; food just okay.
Hotel Impiana - still within walking distance to KLCC but not very close. luxury but not expensive.

The Zon suite KL - 2 or 3 bedrooms suite; very inexpensive; within walking distance to KLCC but I have bad experience with this hotel particularly with the security and security guards - http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/malaysia-singapore/266254-beware-klcc-area-if-you-overnight-kl.html
I don't say KL is not safe - just keep allert; KL is big city like other big city in this region; steep social gap increase crimes. Lock the door when using taxi paricularly in traffic light; be carefull when crossing the street; use back-pack not hand bag.

cheers

 

[gee13]

What would be the best way to get to Bukit Bintang from LCCT on a Sat night - Late interconnect flight from Tawau? Im transiting for 2 nights in KL after Sipadan. Im arriving on the Air Asia flight that arrives at 8.45pm. Without haveing to take a costly taxifare - it is faster by taxi? What about Bus and Train options?

 

[highdesert]

Wisnu, thank you for all of your great information! I'll follow up on each suggestion of yours.

 

[MartianBeerPig]

For the short arrival stay, you may also consider booking a hotel in Putrajaya or Cyberjaya if you can't find anything at the airport itself. Cyberjaya/Putrajaya are about half an hour from the airport. Some suggestions:

Putrajaya Marriott Hotel: Hotel deals, rates and availability in Kuala Lumpur
Putrajaya Hotel | Official Site Putrajaya Shangri-La | Luxury Putrajaya Hotel
Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, Cyberjaya. MALAYSIA

These are fairly upmarket by Malaysian standards but compare well to North American prices. Or you can try one of these:

www.lcct.com.my >> Hotels Around LCCT

While you can get a buss to the LCCT, I would go straight for the taxi option. Easier to tote gear around than on a bus - you're on holiday!
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For your two night stay, near KLCC is a good option. I used to stay at the Darby Park which is a five minute walk from the towers and close to the Ampang Park LRT (light rail) station. You can catch a train from that station to Masjid Jamek to get to Chinatown for a bit of a shop.

Alternatively, you can stay near the KL Sentral train station. This might be good if you have an early flight. You're near the station so getting into town is easy. I used to cab into town from that area - the cost was MYR7. But that was a few years ago and I was being charged local rates - the cabbies have an uncanny knack of knowing the difference between a tourist and an expat. Tourists generally attract a higher fee.

Have dinner down on Jalan Alor. It's in the Bukit Bintang area. I recommend the barbecued 'chicken fish'.

I am not sure of teh best way to get into town from the LCCT. I like the KLIA Ekspress from the the main KLIA terminal. But that's not so straight forward from the LCCT. You may have to catch a taxi from the LCCT to KLIA. By the time you factor in other costs, it may just be easier to get a cab all the way into town. However when it's time to go home, I would catch the KLIA Ekspress (Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (375839 H) Official Website) to the airport. Cathay allows you to check your luggage in at KL Sentral. You need to do it about two hours before the flight. But once it's checked, you can get the train to the airport at your leisure.