Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a vibrant city and a great springboard to explore South East Asia. The sprawling city, called KL by locals, with more than 7 million people in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area, is a little hard to figure out for first time visitors, when you are trying to find the best hotel in KL by looking at a map. I have visited many times and will give you tips for the best place to stay in Kuala Lumpur matching your travel plans. Fortunately, accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is inexpensive, making it easier to afford and to decide where to stay in KL without spending a fortune!
A KL Sentral hotel – the best place to stay in KL for Asia Explorers!
As the hub of Air Asia, Kuala Lumpur is a great springboard to explore South East Asia on a budget. And KL Sentral is the most convenient area to stay for shorter stopovers, with its non-stop airport train and as a hub for the public transport system. There are a number of brand hotels in walking distance from the train station, including the Le Meridien, Hilton and aloft Sentral. Kuala Lumpur hotels are generally cheaper than the same brands in European or American cities – and these 4 and 5 star hotels are great deals! And if you are looking for a budget hotel in KL, there are a number of them in nearby Brickfields.
Finding the right Bukit Bintang Hotel – shopping central of Malaysia
Bukit Bintang is a paradise for shoppers and staying at a Bukit Bintang hotel will put you in walking distance of countless malls, from the upscale Pavilion Mall to the biggest gadget mall. A hotel near Pavilion KL will also give you easy access to great food, from fine dining to tasty street food! You will find a hotel in Bukit Bintang to be slightly more expensive than Sentral, but still very reasonable. I enjoyed my stay at the Novotel KL and even the Westin or JW Marriott in this area, both considered a luxury hotel Kuala Lumpur, are very good value!
Hotels near KLCC Kuala Lumpur – great for sights and shopping!
The iconic Petronas Towers make for some of the most impressive photos and if you want to combine some sightseeing with shopping, this is the best location to stay in Kuala Lumpur. You will find some of the top hotels in KL here, making it more pricey than other areas.
You won’t find many budget hotels here, but a suite at the Doubletree Kuala Lumpur can still be great value – 5 star hotels in Kuala Lumpur can be had for less than a budget hotel in the US!
Kuala Lumpur on a budget – hotels in Chinatown
If you are looking for places to stay in Kuala Lumpur on a budget, Chinatown is your best bet. It’s a bustling part of the city and you are near the historic Merdeka Square, with plenty of very cheap hostels and food places nearby. I personally haven’t stayed here – I consider 3 or 4 star hotels in Kuala Lumpur the value “sweet spot” and you have to give up a lot to save a little!
Check out the comparison table of some of the best value hotels in Kuala Lumpur below and click on the links for current prices!
| Hotel | Category | Location | Chain/Rewards | Great for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Kuala Lumpur Hotel | 5* | Sentral | Hilton | Luxury, Rewards, Pool, Family, Transport |
| aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral | 4* | Sentral | SPG | Style, Value, Pool, Rewards,Transport |
| Hotel Summer View | 2 1/2 * | Sentral | Budget, Transport | |
| JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur | 5* | Bukit Bintang | Marriott | Luxury, Rewards, Pool, Shop, Eat |
| Novotel Kuala Lumpur | 4* | Bukit Bintang | Accor | Value, Family, Shop, Eat |
| InterContinental Kuala Lumpur | 5* | KLCC | IHG | Luxury, Family, Shop, Sights |
| Doubletree Kuala Lumpur | 4* | KLCC | Hilton | Value, Family, Shop, Sights |
| Holiday Inn Express KLCC | 3 1/2 * | KLCC | IHG | Value, Family, Rewards, Shop, Sights |
What’s your favorite area to stay in Kuala Lumpur? Or your favorite hotel? Do you have suggestions for budget hotels in Chinatown worth adding to the list? Please share in the comments below!
Thank you for a detailed post and I love the way you have specified the points of attraction and the hotels nearby. Are there any homestays nearby as well?
I haven’t tried homestays in KL, but I think Chinatown would be your best bet! And as others have suggested here, it should be a fun area to stay!
Wow, this is truly a great tips. I haven’t been to KL and choosing the best place to stay is somehow a hard thing to do, especially if you’re first time to visit a certain place. Hence, this post is really a great help. I hope to visit KL soon. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
What a great post. I love the Bukit Bintang shopping centre so the Bukit Bintang Hotel is a perfect choice for me.
Wow! I was in Malaysia a few months back and I didn’t know that there are a lot of these good places to stay. Thanks for getting us these detailed information about them. I’ll be sure to check back on your site before I go back to Kuala Lumpur.
I’ve traveled and lived in most of SE.Asia but I’ve yet to explore Malaysia and KL is definitely on my list. This post has given me a greater idea of hotels there 😀 Thank you
When I visited Kuala Lumpur I have actually stayed in Chinatown and loved every moment of it. Every evening the streets were bustling with food markets and the monorail was just a 5 minutes walk away. The local market was full of interesting local shops as well, including a fish spa. I loved it. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience – I will have to try it out. I may skip the fish spa though 😉
I havent been to KL but your list is getting me prepared for it. This is a handy one with budget hotels and I will be sure to look at it when I start planning my stay. China Town does seem like a cultural and fun hub
It is a very good blog indeed. Kuala Lumpur is a very good place. I have been there so many times in the recent years and I am always looking for good budget hotels. Thank You very much for sharing.
It is a nice blog. Thanks for sharing, this is very helpful
Great post! Keep up the amazing content. And thanks for including me.