Kuala Lumpur - first timer tips and advice

[bigjobs]

Hi. Flying to KL from Singapore next weekend. Get in about 9pm local time Saturday night.

Ive not been to KL previously. After any info or tips u think might be helpful ...

i will use a taxi from airport to hotel. Are taxis ok in KL to use? Do they take a credit card as simply as our taxis in Australia?

Staying at Aloft Sentral. This seems like a sort of main areas of KL ... is it?

When leaving I have a flight at about 1900-1930 hrs and will finish work about 1700. Is that enough time to get to airport (KUL) for flight back to Singapore ...?

anything else worth knowing. I'll have Sunday to wander around before work on Monday


Thanks in advance for info.

 

[mmchow]

If you are staying in Aloft Central, I would recommend you taking the KLIA Express from the airport to KL Sentral Station. Aloft is opposite the station and the train takes 28 mins from KLIA (RM100 for a return ticket). Check the site out.

If you are planning on taking taxi, you will need to get a taxi voucher from one of the booth after baggage (if I'm not mistaken). From there, just head out to the taxi rank and you'll be directed to one of the taxi. Takes approximately 40-60 mins depending on traffic (should be okay on Sat evening). Not 100% sure if credit card is accepted if you hail one in the city - best to ask them before getting in.

For your return, I would suggest you to leave no later than 3:30pm for a 7pm flight (depending on where is your office). Reason for this is that traffic during peak hours can be an absolute nightmare. Different story if with KLIA Express.

KL Sentral is not the main area of KL but you are not far away. There's a monorail in KL Sentral station that will take you to the city centre (Golden Triangle, KLCC etc). For breakfast/ brunch, I'll recommend ICC Pudu for local hawker fare - and the Hainanese Coffee at Ah Weng Koh Coffee Shop is a must. It is a must visit for me every time I'm back home.

 

[moa999]

As well as the monorail, you now have the new MRT which will take you from Muzium Negara (connected via walkway to Sentral) to Bukit Bintang.

The area around Bukit Bintang and KLCC is probably the centre being the most well known malls and eateries. (Golden triangle)

Agree that it is generally quicker (and cheaper) to take the airport train versus taxi.

From memory most taxis are cash only. Uber and Grab also operate in KL. The airport train will take credit cards

 

[Himeno]

Last time I had a stop over in KUL, I booked the KLIA Express VIP service to get to my hotel. https://www.kliaekspres.com/vipservice/ Was quite helpful getting out of the airport and to the hotel after a long flight.
Used metro back to the airport via the express train after the stay.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Am doing almost exactly the same trip at the end of the month, same flights, same hotel. I would recommend the train from KLIA as it'll get you direct into Sentral and you'll be able to walk to the hotel. The train ticket can be purchased at the airport using your Australian credit card.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

anything else worth knowing. I'll have Sunday to wander around before work on Monday

Be prepared that KL is more like Bangkok or Manila than Singapore.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Some excellent advice here. +1 for using the train instead of taxi. Uber & Grab are also very cheap and legal in Malaysia. Make sure you buy KLIA express ticket at a machine or using the app. Talking to a real person will cost you 10% more.

 

[flyingfan]

Yet another vote for the KL 'Ekspres' especially as it appears your lodgings are right at the doorstep of the train station.

KL taxis are hit and miss, just like those in Australia IMHO. Some are great and some will refuse to take you because they don't reckon the fare is lucrative enough. Cash only AFAIK.

You probably can't go wrong wandering around Petaling Street and the Bukit Bintang shopping precinct. Do try the street food (even if you have to get it at a shopping centre food court - better than nothing), you'd be mad to miss it.

 

[mmchow]

More local fare in Bukit Bintang area:
Jalan Alor - famous street food in Kuala Lumpur. Best to visit after the sun goes i.e. dinner.
Lot 10 Hutong. Lot 10 is a shopping centre and on the basement lies an indoor air-conditioned food court. Do try the Hokkien Mee @ Kim Lian Kee and the Oyster Omelette @ Kong Tai

 

[OZDUCK]

If you like Indian Food, then Brickfields is a very good place to visit - and it is basically right outside Sentral. IT is KL's version of Little India.

 

[romney]

Jalan Alor - famous street food in Kuala Lumpur. Best to visit after the sun goes i.e. dinner.

I second this! The food here is the first thing I think of when we visit KL

If you are looking for a nice bar, head to the top floor of Traders Hotel and watch the sunset with a great view of the Petronas Towers.

 

[Flying Fox]

Never exchange currency at banks etc. Only change money at the little back street shops or in little shopping centres which are generally run by Indian men - you get the best rates that way.

 

[JMEL]

Just got back from KL a few weeks ago.

Grab and Uber are very cheap there. From the airport, Grab offers a flat rate fare of RM 65 (excluding tolls), so I chose Grab both ways and was very happy. Grab also runs a points program; by the time I left KL, I had enough points to redeem a small discount off my ride back to the airport.

Heading to the airport, I recommend to allow as much time as you can. Immigration queues at KLIA can get very long!

For an unusual bar with a fantastic view, my local connections recommend the Heli Lounge Bar, which is a helipad by day and a bar by night.

 

[timbervolt]

If you want to save a ton of money, take the airport coaches. It is a long trip but only costs a few dollars. The coaches are comfortable enough.
KLIA express is much quicker but you pay for it. At 9pm at night, you may prefer this.

Definitely try have 12-24 skewers of satay chicken or beef or a even a mix! When it costs only 10 cents a stick, you can indulge! The stalls open in the evenings only. Follow your nose or ask around. And the sauce is much tastier than anything in Australia, though Mamak in Sydney and Melb is very good also.

 

[bigjobs]

gosh, some solid advice in this thread. thanks to all of you. sounds like the train is the way to go for getting to the hotel and to the airport. the work I am doing is basically in the hotel and that's where I will be (Aloft Sentral) on the final afternoon. flight out is at 1925 and I reckon I'll take the train to get back to the airport as per the advice here.

I love a bit of street food and a good wander around a new city, so I'll note down these recommendations and do a food/pub crawl - getting hungry just thinking about it all now.

we really like Bangkok as a city to wander and explore, so if it's like that I'm gonna be a happy camper for the day I have to myself there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...

we really like Bangkok as a city to wander and explore, so if it's like that I'm gonna be a happy camper for the day I have to myself there.

It's like Bangkok or Manila in terms of how the city runs... it's not clean like SIN. But it's a very different vibe to Bangkok. KUL is a popular destination for middle eastern holiday makers.

 

[SeatBackForward]

gosh, some solid advice in this thread. thanks to all of you. sounds like the train is the way to go for getting to the hotel and to the airport. the work I am doing is basically in the hotel and that's where I will be (Aloft Sentral) on the final afternoon. flight out is at 1925 and I reckon I'll take the train to get back to the airport as per the advice here.

I love a bit of street food and a good wander around a new city, so I'll note down these recommendations and do a food/pub crawl - getting hungry just thinking about it all now.

we really like Bangkok as a city to wander and explore, so if it's like that I'm gonna be a happy camper for the day I have to myself there.

I'd be interested in your feedback on Aloft. As I wrote above, doing almost exactly the same as you - attending an event being held there. I usually stay at the Doubletree in KL, but this will be first time at Aloft.

 

[bigjobs]

I'd be interested in your feedback on Aloft. As I wrote above, doing almost exactly the same as you - attending an event being held there. I usually stay at the Doubletree in KL, but this will be first time at Aloft.

Yep easy. I'll post my experience here in this thread for you.

 

[moa999]

I stayed in the Aloft KL when it first opened and regular at DT.
DT is definitely more upmarket in terms of room size, design, amenities but you'd expect that given the brand positioning
The Aloft pool is great and the Tiki themed bar is pretty cool as well

 

[ChrisDPom]

They have a hop on-hop off open top bus tour in KL which we enjoyed last year. Lots of old KL is now gone with all the new apartment blocks.

Remember, the afternoons can often get a tropical storm, so be prepared for them.

And totally agree on the satay