What your lodging dollar gets you in KL

One of the many questions I field from frens and acquaintances is "how can you afford to travel so much?". I respond that it's necessary to spend for your plane ticket but where you sleep is another matter.

Please keep in mind that most of these frens usually travel "5-star" and that's a foreign concept to a flashpacker. Generally.

So I will begin to write about some of the places that I regularly stay at when I travel. Sometimes I will write about places that I don't usually stay at. For example, I don't usually stay at chain hotels when I travel overseas. Costs waaay too much usually.

That doesn't mean that I'm above treating myself, if the deal is a good one. Here's a recent example. During my last visit to KL where I flew out of the LCCT, I spent three days at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton.

Here's the view from the 24th floor, where my room was

The word "Hilton" here in the states usually means at best, boring and corporate. At worst it means "uneven" and "second choice" for many of my friends who seem to prefer Starwood or smaller boutique chains. The KL Hilton, however, simply means "swish".

This is the hallway to the room! My room has a hallway!!

Nice TV, small desk!

Bed and window and couch. By the window.

Tub in front, shower to the right and all open to the room via sliding doors!

This and the Le Meridian are in separate towers that are part of KL Sentral. The KLIA Ekspres terminates at KL Sentral as well as the LRT and the Monorail (sort of). Besides having a VERY transit friendly location, the bus that takes you to the LCCT boards downstairs on the other side of the building. No muss, no fuss. I've read on the net that the Hilton is nicer than the Meridian, both in service and in facilities. And I could always use the Hilton points! Not bad for US$135/night!

Compare that to when I stayed in Singapore overnight a few months back. I paid US$120. For a room. At a Hotel 81!!! KL has better deals!