The HOT Magazine team have had the pleasure of staying in many 5-star hotels throughout the Asia Pacific region. Having stayed at several Le Méridien properties we were very much looking forward to our stay at the Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur.
The hotel is conveniently situated right next door to KL Sentral, the nation’s transportation hub. The hotel is easily accessible through a network of integrated rail connections including the LRT, Monorail and KTM trains. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is just a 28-minute ride away via the KLIA Express at 55 MYR. (450 THB) per person.
On our trip to the hotel from the airport, not knowing how close the hotel was to the train station, we chose to travel by taxi. The Friday rush hour trip took about an hour and with tip was 140 MYR (1,150 THB). On the way back to the airport we took the KLIA Express train which was most convenient and enjoyable. The hotel bellman took us via the newly air-conditioned link connecting the hotel to the train station and showed us where to go while handling our luggage.
During our stay we took the subway, again accessed right next to the hotel, to multiple parts of the city. The hotel is extremely well situated.
The hotel had recently gone thru an extensive renovation which included all 420 rooms. Walking into the lobby, which the P.R. person told me they call the “Le Méridien HUB,” I noticed a mix of seating arrangements and styles. There are high and low communal tables for guests to choose from, complemented with electronic devices for Power Point presentations. The HUB further builds on Le Méridien brand’s award-winning ‘Arrival Experience’ and coffee culture, which have both been implemented successfully worldwide. At different locations throughout the hotel, including the lobby and the club lounge they had see-thru lock boxes with charging stations inside so you can charge your hand held device securely as you hold the key to the box. A terrific idea that I had not seen anywhere else.
We had booked their Le Méridien Suite with club floor privileges and I was pleased to see a dedicated broadband data port for fast internet access, a practical, well-lit workstation, a laptop charging portal within the in-room safe and techno-advanced security, along with five-star amenities. The suite was 68 square metres, average in size, but being newly renovated it had a very modern yet elegant feel. Looking out their were stunning views of the city and Lake Gardens. The master bedroom had a king size bed fitted in goose down duvet, which led to wonderful sleeps at night. The cream marble bathroom had a spacious dual sink vanity area, luxurious bathtub and a shower that I rate a 5 out of 5. It had a rain shower overhead, a hand-held sprayer plus two adjustable mid-level spray nozzles. The shower also had a bench seat for when you are enjoying your shower so much you get tired of standing.
The hotel offers 6 room types ranging from the Superior Room at 30 square meters in size to the Presidential Suite at 137 square metres.
Located on the 33rd floor of the hotel is the Le Méridien Club Lounge, exclusively for SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) Platinum members and guests who book rooms inclusive of club lounge access. It is open from 06:30 to 22:00 daily. The club floor is quite large at 420 square metres in size and features a open kitchen complete with a live cooking station.
I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying many club floors over the years and I can honestly say this one was one of the very best. Most evening cocktail hours are two hours in length, theirs was a little more liberal at two and a half hours. What really set them apart however was the food each night, it was outstanding and was provided on a rotational basis by one of their in-house restaurants; PRIME, Favola, Gastro Sentral & Latest Recipe. We were there for 3 nights and every night the food put out was exceptional, as were the drinks. They offered two different reds and whites plus sparkling, two beers on tap plus a plentiful choice of spirits.
On floor 6 the Le Méridien provides an extensive conference and meeting facility. Stylish with a contemporary twist that is timeless, the pillar-less Clarke Ballroom, which accommodates up to 600 guests, features state-of-the-art facilities. The brightness of the ballroom and LCD projectors is easily controlled via an iPad.
Their newly transformed Gallery@8 by the poolside is one of the city’s most sought after spaces for exclusive meetings and functions. With a seating capacity of up to 140 persons, the chic contemporary space can be configured for round table luncheons, a board meeting with conference set up and a classroom-style training session, which is divisible into two.
As mentioned earlier, the Le Meridien offers multiple in-house eateries which we availed ourselves of and cover in depth further in this issue.
On the 8th floor of the Le Méridien you will find the city’s largest free form swimming pool at 120 metres in length with water slides. Here you will also find The Pool Bar & Grill@8 which offers refreshing drinks and interesting food options.
Also on the 8th floor is their fitness facility which rivals the best of any hotel I’ve ever visited anywhere. The Gym features a range of Star Trac and Precor cardio equipment which include treadmills, cycles and upright and recumbent stationary bikes. For weight training they have single machine stations and free weights for a complete workout. Rounding out the facilities you’ll find a Hair and Beauty Salon plus a convenience store.
The Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur ticks every single box for a great hotel experience. You could easily never leave for days, but when you are ready to explore the city, K.L.’s major transportation hub is just a short air-conditioned walk away.
Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur
2 Jalan Stesen Sentral,
Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
Kuala Lumpur, 50470, Malaysia
+60 3 2263 7888
www.lemeridienkualalumpur.com