Our little family arrived at the hotel near 9pm and the first thing that surprised me was the tribal pattern on the wall near the reception. Another family came through the door, speaking in the Sarawakian language headed to the lift. I was like, “OK… this is an interesting boutique hotel”. Soon after, I caught sight of some keklapis inside the display fridge near the entrance and that kind of triggered me to have a quick swipe on Instagram and find out more about this hotel.
Apart from its very strategic location, it offers various types of rooms suitable for a family staycation and is priced from as low as RM 100/night. Ours is a Family Room with 2 double beds, and a cute living area with a mini fridge and an ironing board. They provide a safe, body soap and shampoo, a hair dryer and complimentary beverages. The hotel also has FREE WIFI but is only accessible via coupons. We received two coupons for our room. I guess it means that only 2 devices can use the WIFI at one time. It has a lounge area too but we didn’t have time to explore much of it as we were chasing time to go Genting.
Breakfast is provided at the Sugar Bun restaurant next door. It is served as an ala carte meal. You have to make your choices the night before and let the receptionist know. It has a very ‘mak-mak’ vibe to it cause it’s like those breakfasts you have at home where you just eat what your mom cooks for you. The coffee and tea are very basic with only sugar to taste. The cakes are nicely lined up on the plate – the usual bahulu and banana cakes that any Malaysian family would eat in the morning. Even the ‘American breakfast’ meal wasn’t American enough. Haha. The breakfast is fulfilling and decent considering the price you pay for your room. So yeah, not too bad. If you want a fancier breakfast – there are always other options available elsewhere. In fact, at night, this area is lit! There are so many things to see and eat.
We parked at a common parking area nearby the hotel as they don’t have this facility. However, you don’t really need a car to enjoy Chow Kit because the LRT is just around the corner and even on foot, there are so many things you could explore. Overall, the stay was pleasant. Would definitely recommend this place to those who are on a budget but still wants to make the best of their stay in Kuala Lumpur.
This is a very accessible hotel using public transport. I travelled by bus from Melaka Sentral –> TBS (KLIA Transit)–> KL Sentral (Monorail) –> Sheraton (the Medan Tunku station). I had a moment of anxiety about choosing to use a private vehicle like Grab or public transport. I chose the latter. At least I don’t have to make small conversation with the Grab or taxi driver cause they like to ask questions like ‘where do you come from or ‘why are you here?’, ‘do you work’ or anything along those lines?
The fares:
Bus from Melaka Sentral RM14.40 + 0.70
KLIA Transit from TBS to KL Sentral RM6.90
MONORAIL from KL Sentral to Medan Tunku station RM3.40
I departed from Melaka at 1130AM. Reached the hotel (with lunch in between) just after 3 PM. Quill Mall may look like it’s just the opposite of the hotel. The thing is it is not as easy to go to the opposite side by going through the monorail station. There’s just no road passing through. Instead, you’d have to use the pedestrian traffic lights on a very busy road. So, do not be fooled. Plus, apart from the LG level where the food’s at, there isn’t really much to see in the mall. The boutiques are on the meh side. There are the Eco shop and Mr DIY but that’s just it.
The room was very comfortable though. Oh, man.. I really loved the space, the bathroom and the mini closet. It’s really relaxing. I had a workshop on Friday and I had planned earlier to bring my Minci family. Unfortunately, Mr Husband was not up for the idea which means that the kids are not going either. So, I have the room all to myself. I drank my coffee, and my tea, soaked in the bathtub, got naked and donned just the bathrobe instead since I forgot to bring my kaftan. My Deluxe Room with City view rate on Agoda totalled up to RM893.20 for a 3D2N stay. It is on the non-smoking floor with Free WIFI and breakfast.
The pre-conference workshop was great. After that, I was in a dilemma of whether to go to the Spa or enjoy my night at KL. I decided to brave the drizzling rain, in the monorail and head over to the hippest place in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang. Bukit Bintang is where they have the Pavillion, Sephora, Fahrenheit, Lot 10, Sungei Wang Plaza and the viral wagyu sate. Of course, there are loads of places to eat once you get there. It is a very happening and touristy place. It’s where influencers go to show the urban lifestyle. Well.. something like that.
This monorail is an intercity link. Basically, if say I am not keen to shop at Bukit Bintang, I can stop at Imbi station to go to Berjaya Times Square, Hang Tuah station to Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre. Or just head to Nu Sentral.
At Bukit Bintang, I went window shopping at Pavillion. Made a short stop at Book Excess in Fahrenheit. Wanted to get a steak but the restaurants are full (Friday night), so I ate Kyonchon instead. I tapau-ed Krispy Kreme doughnuts so I could bring them back to my Minci family in Melaka.
I checked out on a Saturday and the journey back to Melaka was equally smooth.
I wish I could say I enjoyed my stay. Unfortunately, I didn’t.
I was prepared that the place wouldn’t be as gah as it would have been before the pandemic, but I wasn’t prepared for what ensued. The only commendable thing about the whole experience was the staff. The communication skills were superb, but the service and the facilities/layout, whatever you call it, are slowly going down the drain. It would be pretty sad for all these young skilled staff to go just because the place is unable to serve as an exclusive abode for travellers.
So, what could be improved?
Check-in ritual
Taking into account that the lady could be new, I just feel that there is certain information that must be conveyed automatically to the guest. Which should be included as part of the training if you are to man the check-in counter. Such as the WIFI password, breakfast time, breakfast area and highlights of the hotel such as access to the garden park, pool, and directions to the kids club room. I felt that the lady failed to recognize that I actually booked extra service from the hotel which included the birthday room decor and kids package. It would be helpful to advise guests early regarding payment and such activities.
The rooms
My room is on the ground floor because I chose the garden view. Plus point is that it is near the breakfast cafe. The minus points are that you will be walking through the hallway that has public toilets. If they are cleaned regularly, they will not smell. Otherwise, merasalah kau bau hancing sepanjang jalan menapak ke bilik. You could also feel this damp, musty feeling as you walk through the hallway and also as I entered our room. Macam bilik yang tak pernah dapat cahaya matahari sort of thing. Lembap semacam. It is honestly very uncomfortable. The room lighting is also so malap with the switches macam haywire. Like, OMG.. porque? porque?
Not only that, my room is directly beside an open hall area where activities are held. So, be prepared to have people standing outside your hotel room door during the day. It’s like dah kenapa ko bersidai tepi pintu aku.
I was also very disappointed with the gifts that my kids get from the extra room package thing. I mean, how is a puzzle that has a tank at a dataran picture spells out cute for kids? Even if you give a standard, white embroidered towel with cute animals or flowers, the type that they can bring to the pool pun budak akan suka. But puzzle? Who’s great idea is that?
Thankfully, the birthday room decor was ACCEPTABLE although I was like, why is the Happy Birthday balloon decor in black? What happened to happier colours? I would suggest the fruits to be cut up though. Guest bukannya bawak pisau nak potong epal, oren bagai untuk kongsi dengan semua. Please don’t say something like, boleh gigit kan epal tu.. haih.. hempuk jugak lah.
Husband’s 37th birthday – yep, he is younger than me
Housekeeping
As of most 4 or 5 star hotels, you wouldn’t see a water dispenser anywhere. Hence, you would depend on the complimentary mineral water and kettle in the room for drinks. Can you imagine the horror when you realize that in the room tetiba no remote control for the TV, no kettle and there is only ONE cup to drink your hot beverage. Itu pun, bila tengok supplies tu macam, kau ikhlas ke nak terima aku as guest ni? Seriouslah.. I have never been so pissed. So we called room services and had these problems sorted out.
sedihnya housekeeping macam ni
Room service
Room service is supposed to be convenient. People order room service because they do not want the hassle to leave the room to eat. They are willing to pay extra just so they could attend to their matters in the room while having a nice, hot meal. This hotel does not have the usual hard copy menu in the room. Instead, we have to scan a QR code. Only, they did not tell where the QR code is. Jenuhlah aku mencari dlm laci, at the check in card and all for this QR code. Only later did they say they will send the QR code to the room and to call 0 to place an order.
Eh.
Might as well you give me the physical menu and take my order at the door, kan? Tapi takpe.. I will take that QR code, call O and place the order before 930pm. Now, a wait of 30 to 40 mins to me is acceptable but to wait for nearly an hour – is just ridiculous. Lebih me-ridiculouskan is that the staff said they are still busy with the buffet. Well lady, I don’t give a shit. I have kids who is having trouble to stay awake but hungry at the same time.
The food finally came. My initial order was a set of chicken briyani, honey bbq club sandwich, tomato arabiatta from the kids menu, 2 cans of Sprite and 2 additional bottled mineral water. They did not provide me with the mineral water, reason being, there’s already water in the room (masalahnya aku nak extra, and I am paying for it, part mana yg tak faham tu?) My problem with the meal was the spaghetti. They should put a chilli picture next to the menu to indicate the level of spiciness. Since it was under the kids menu, mestilah kita tak expect it wouldn’t be THAT spicy kan? Well no, it was damn spicy. Thankfully, the briyani saved the day.
Final verdict
This hotel has a really nice location. The garden park is wonderful. Cuma tuhlah.
I can imagine it’s majestic reputation at one point in time. I believe it could be what it was once again with time and a bit of improvement to the facility and service. You’ve already got the people. Until it buckles up, I have to say, it is not an option for my hotel stay in the future.
We checked in at 8pm, after hadap terrible traffic on the highway for hours, and I had imagined a night where everything is in place. I imagined a night where I could take my hot shower, hair in a turban, sipping hot coffee at the desk while eating my hot meal and watching TV. I’d imagined the kids be sleeping restfully after the meal while my husband and I have a chat. But no, it did not happen. Room service was so lambat that the kids were already asleep.
ntah berapa kali aku angkat tepon, call for this, call for that.. haih.. stress sangat. I am not paying for 280 per night taw.
I am paying RM360/night with an additional RM120 for decor (&cake) and RM125 for room service meals. Can you sense the disappointment?
In short, don’t waste your money here until you read a better review this year.
I don’t know how Mr Husband finds these cool hotels but so far his choices for bookings are not disappointing. This hotel is new. It would be popular in the new future as it has a nice exterior with eating hubs sprouting nearby. You take away the hot Malaysian weather, it looked like a place overseas in photographs.
Our room has two double beds, and the usual mini fridge with complimentary beverages. There’s a hot shower with nice smelling bath gels. I think the restaurant has yet to be open so we had our breakfast outside. There’s a nearby Mamak but since it’s Eid, the joint is closed. So we had Mcdonald’s instead.
Bangi Wonderland, the theme park is within walking distance. So is Tesco/Lotus. And when you have Lotus, that means you have every other shop under its roof too like a Mr Diy or Guardian, at least. I would definitely book this hotel again in the future if it is still around. Not quite sure how many stars this hotel is but it sure looks like an easy 4 to 5 star to me.
I am in the middle of editing my Eid videos for Youtube – it will be kind of the 14th episode for Season 4 of my life on the channel. This means I am still hovering over episode 13. I had to reshoot my videos for ep13 because the film came out dark. Like a Batman movie and no amount of Brightness setting could fix it.
It was a mini celebration for the kid’s birthdays. To be honest, I still feel lemau and not up to socializing but for the fam – I will fight No Mood and get on with it. As a Youtube amateur, I managed to create more than 1 video for 2021. I was aiming for 10 but it was harder than what I perceived. The motivation needs to be there on top of great organization skills.
Afterwards, I need to get a pen and paper to sort my thoughts. The brain cells are a bit chaotic up there. I decluttered the blog’s followers the other day. I discovered that most of them seemed like bot accounts, a few were inactive and some appeared dodgy. So, I am back to nil followers today and see if the content I put in writing here is worth new subscribers in the upcoming months.
Minci Moss 