Visiting Kuala Lumpur from Indonesia

Just a close flight from Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur is the commercial and cultural center of Malayasia. A study in contrasts, KL has mega-buck sky scrapers looming over thatched roof huts on stilts sitting next to Internet cafes. Visitors often discover Kuala Lumpur while attending trade conventions and business meetings and return with their families to share the delights of this exciting city that greets tourist with warm hospitality to their island nation.

See the spectacular view from the Petronas Towers’ famous 41st floor Skybridge or go a 1000 feet higher up the Menara KL Tower with its decorative Islamic design topped with a revolving restaurant and viewing platforms. Nature lovers flock to the lush Kuala Lumpur Bird Park with its tiled walkways to marvel at every species of bird from barn owls to bald eagles. The Aquaria KLCC in the Juala Lumpur Convention Center has fascinating displays of the scalier creatures of land and sea ranging from tiger sharks to boa constrictors. A great way to beat the tropical heat, the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Banar Sunway has hair-raising rides and plenty of ways to get wet. The Batu Caves house sacred relics and the 272 steps to the shrine swarm with mischievous macaque monkeys.

Enjoying the warm sunny climate is even easier when you have booked a cheap hotel room that doesn’t require you to fudge one bit on your comfort zone. Check out these recommendations for cheap hotels in Kuala Lumpur with pools and bargain rooms so you spend less money staying in Kuala Lumpur and more time playing.

Citrus Hotel

This safe modern hotel in the Kuala Lumpur business district is a five-minute drive to the Putra World Trade Center. Contemporary rooms look out over the swimming pool and the restaurant offers free breakfast. In walking distance are thriving local markets, corporate sky scrapers and major hubs for bus lines.

Flamingo Hotel by the Lake

This hotel has a resort atmosphere with the landscaped lake and swimming pool outside and three restaurants to choose from inside. The air conditioned rooms are plugged-in with coffee makers, LCD TVs and free internet access. Popular shopping destinations like the Ampang Point and the Great Eastern Shopping Mall are nearby.

Cube Hotel

Boasting a prime location on Berjaya Times Square steps from the Monorail, this sweet hotel makes the most of their limited space by cleverly designing rooms in a spaceship motif complete with free WiFi and a flat screen TV. Very clean, these air-conditioned hideaways have private bathrooms with hot showers.

Continuing on from Malaysia? Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok is only a two hour flight north.

Photo by: Sham Hardy