Overview
** KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA **
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I had such a lovely time visiting KLCC. Very diverse population, all the folks were so friendly. I felt completely safe wandering the clean streets and even going to luxury stores to browse was never treated poorly by staff. Can’t wait to go back!
The only time I did get odd looks were from white tourists so highly recommended to anyone. Plus the plane ride was full of all brown folks world wide and a white folks were the minority. For once it actually felt wonderful to blend in rather than stand out!
Main reason to go back is to visit more of the sites. I did go to Batu Caves which is an absolute must see.
Kuala Lumpur was the first city I visited in the south East Asian region, and it was not my favorite, but I appreciated it for what it was. It is a very conservative city because of the influence of Muslim culture, so ladies please do dress appropriately because you will get uncomfortable stares from both men and women. From what my Nigerian friend told me, they expect Black women to be dressed formally compared to white/Chinese, because of expectations, which I find to be interesting. The city is pretty easy to navigate, and to get around via transportation. The metro and trains are the most cleanest I’ve ever experienced in my travels. The people are not friendly and it comes down to them being conservative. You may experience some prejudice from fairer skin Malaysians, but it is not to the point where it is uncomfortable.
I highly recommend visiting the Islamic Arts Museum, and it gives a very detailed history of Muslim culture.
https://iamm.org.my
What I did appreciate the most about Kuala Lumpur is that because it is an international and cosmopolitan city, there are so many different restaurants from almost every ethnicity within Asia. I was able to eat various cuisines from different regions of India, Pakistan, Philippines etc., It was really amazing.
Lastly, if you need to renew your passport, the embassy here has amazing staff and the turn around time for processing is really quick.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malasia and is a fun modern city that has Malay Chinese and Arab influences and population, it was interesting to see. I think everyone lives in harmony there. I bought some Arab items from a street vendor and he gave me the biggest smile. It was a nice experience but due to the heat I didnt go out much.
I visited Kuala Lumpur in 2018 on a solo birthday trip. I was surprised at how lit the nightlife was! There is a walkable club strip where you can hop from club to club. There are also many food vendors available. I was totally comfortable being alone there. The same hip hop and r&b that we love in the states is also played in KL. I literally did not want to leave .
Like most countries in Asia you will find that a lot of people will stare at you just because you’re black. This happened to me while in Kuala Lumpur and it was like they thought I was a celebrity or something. People will ask to take pictures with you simply because they are in awe. One guy was on FaceTime to his family and kept trying to sneakily record me in the background to show me to whoever he was talking to….in the end I just walked up to him and said hi to the person- he was shocked haha!
But I untimately I felt very safe in KL. from my experience, they love black people and they definitely embraced me.
Kuala Lumpur is most famous for the Petronas Towers and they are stunning to behold up close. You can buy a cheap wide angle lens from the vendors at the bottom to capture that perfect shot. The Batu Caves are a must visit; you can book a cheap half-day tour via Klook (a site similar to Viator). Climb up the colorful steps to see inside the caves, but beware of the monkeys; they’re known to snatch food and phones.
KL is quite diverse and each ethnic group has its own neighborhood. Petaling Street Market and Central Market (which has cultural performances) are both in Chinatown and great spots to buy souvenirs. For beautiful photos, visit Thean Hou Temple; it’s a colorful Chinese temple and popular IG spot.
Lastly, visit Jalan Alor Street Night Market for a taste of authentic local cuisine, all at cheap prices. KL is a good base for exploring Southeast Asia. I’d recommend a 2-3 day visit.
Why is no one talking about the food in Malaysia? The best I’ve had in asia. Like a mix between chinese, indian and malay. Never had a bad meal and the best thing is its so cheap.
If you like cakes try ondeh ondeh or Sheri muka, they are green cakes made from pandan which can be found in any market. Usually cost around 2 myr which is less than 50p a cake!
Kuala Lumpur is one of mv favorite City in Asia with its modern Skyline at the same time you can visit historical temple few miles from the City. You can find a lot of the 5 star Hotels. I stayed at the Peninsula Hotel during my first visit in 2018 and on my second visiting I stayed at the JW Marriott. I would recommend the JW Marriott because of his location and convenience. Located in the heart of the “Golden Triangle” and adjoining to one of the Best Shopping Mall in the City. You can walk to several amazing restaurants. While in Kuala Lumpur you have to visit the Petronas Towers also known as the Twin Towers. They were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 until they were surpassed by Taipei101. If you love Shopping you must go to Petaling Street and be ready to bargain. One of favorite place to visit was the Batu Caves, it is a limestone hill that has a series of caves. It is one of the most popular Hindu Shrines outside of India. I love the culture. The people were welcoming and friendly. Everything is affordable from hotels to food to shopping. A must see City for the nightlife as well. Visit Changkat Bukit Bintang. This narrow avenue is filled with international restaurants, nightclubs with Cocktail Bars.
The thing I loved the most with Malaysia was definitely the local food!! The food was sooo affordable and delicious and you could find fresh fruit everywhere. I also loved how the food in more luxurious restaurants was very affordable and delicious. One of the more luxurious restaurants we tried was atmosphere 360, it’s a restaurant on the top the KL-tower which is worlds 6th tallest tower. We ate at the buffet and the price for 2 people was about 220 MYR which is like 52 american dollars. But nothing tops the local street food so I would encourage everyone to not be picky like I am and just try all kinds of street food. The food varies between traditional Malay food , Indian food and Thai food so you will definitely find something in your taste! You could get a portion of noodles or fried rice with chicken for like 1 dollar and freshly cutted mangos for 1-2 dollars.
My first travel in Asia was in Malaysia, it did not disappoint. I was surprised to see all of the modernity and I wasn’t expecting so much cultural mixture.
It was in 2013, so quite a longtime ago but I am sure it’s even more attractive now.
In Kuala Lampur there are so many places so see, of course the Petronas Twin Towers with Bukit buitang mall not very far.
Batu Cave is nice and insta-worthy, but that wasn’t my favorite visit.
I enjoyed visiting little India town (you can shop nice souvenirs there, very good street food and typical restaurants too).
We went to Malacca, even if it was 50 degrees (I was literally burning), it is a charming ancient colonial town called the sultan’s capitol, I recommend this relaxing visit out of town.
The Bird park is beautiful they have multiple varieties of birds.
We also went to the Islamic Art Museum Malaysia, really interesting right next to the amazing Blue mosque (must see). There are sereval restaurants and shops inside and also cheap street food around outside.
On the second part of the trip, we took an internal flight to go to Kuala teranganu (very cheap with Asisa airline less than 25 USD). Redang island is at 1h30 boat from Kuala teranganu. The island is simply gorgeous, perfect place for snorkelling, chrystal blue water with white sand just stunning…
Travelling while black was great, people were very curious about our african origins and culture. We really learned from each other, that’s what travel is about!
hotel in KUALA TERANGANU
https://www.iamm.org.my/
https://www.backpackingmalaysia.com/things-to-do/blue-mosque-in-shah-alam/kuala-lumpur
Malaysia has a mix of everything, history, adventure, religion, nightlife, relaxation, etc. I stayed in The Face Suites in downtown through airbnb and it was an amazing view from the room and the rooftop pool with the Petronas Towers in the back, as seen in the picture. There is also a bar on the roof but I didn’t go there because it did not have enough rhythm for me lol. Kuala Lumpur is very accessible by public transportation and by foot. I visited the Petronas twin towers (there is a huge mall inside), KLCC park outside of the towers thats relaxing, Menara Tower for a view of the whole city, KL Forest Eco Park for a cool forest that is literally in the middle of the city, and Jalon Alor food court for a variety of Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian food. Malaysia is kind of like the America of Asia, there is a mix of cultures but the three dominant ones Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian of course. So, any of the temples and monuments are Indian and Chinese, such as the Batu Caves and Thean Hou temple. Batu Caves is a colorful Indian temple in a cave and Thean Hou temple is a Chinese temple. I definitely did not have a problem traveling while black since Malaysia has such a mix of people, it also has a large population of Africans who attend college there. I ended up going to a club that played hip hop and afrobeats all night, so when I say Malaysia has it all, it has it all!
Malaysia was one of my favorite Asian countries to visit. My very first impression was ” wooow! It’s very clean and nice here. ” I was coming straight from Thailand, which was not so clean lol . I stayed at Mercu Summer Suites in downtown Kuala Lumpur. It was right next to the KL and Twin Towers, which was nice because they were on our list of places to visit.
My friend and I went to have lunch in the KL Tower observation deck. It was rotating while we were seating down, which was so cool. It’s really slow though, so you have to pay close attention. It costed us about $32 for admission, and to get a window seat for lunch . They offered a buffet with a lot of good food options, which was nice. However, if you can afford it, I would recommend having dinner there instead. I feel like it would be so much more beautiful at night.
I also went to a hiking Airbnb experience. It was absolutely amazing and forced to get out of my comfort zone. The tour consisted of hiking to get to two waterfalls that we showered and dove at. The guides packed very delicious lunches, and dropped us off to Batu Caves at the end of the activity. The Batu Caves was really fun to explore. My favorite thing about it was all the cute monkeys that were hanging around . They are very sneaky so I recommend being very careful because they’ll literally snatch anything they see. One monkey tore my friend’s bag, stole my yogurt and ran away lol . Another one stole her water bottle, opened it, and started drinking. I was so chocked but it was so funny to watch .
Finally, I recommend that anybody who visit KL should go Petaling Street and Central Market Kuala Lumpur. You can find almost anything you are looking for soooooooo cheap. I bought some clothing items, jewelry, accessories, and souvenir as well . Central Market is indoors , which is nice because it’s air conditioned. Malaysia can be really hot and it can be really uncomfortable when walking around for hours looking for stuff in Petaling Street.
One last thing, if you are in KL try to stop by Bukit Bintang. They have amazing fresh street food, as well as street musicians. One night, my friends and I hung out with a bunch of Blues musicians that were performing outside of 7 eleven. We bought packs of beers and were just drinking while they took turns singing their hearts out until morning. It was honestly the highlight of my time in KL.
I had a 48 hour layover in KL, what an amazing place. I took my partner with me and the first night we went for street food and lots of drinks. One of our favourite spots with an amazing view was Vertigo Bar. We also visited the batu Caves (make sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and legs other wise you won’t be able to enter ) amazing for photos, lots of monkeys there too! We also visited a few temples, make sure to wear shoes that are easy to take off if you want to enter the temples. I would of loved to spend more time there as. Believe there is a lot more to do!
There are so many things to do in KL. First on the list are the towers. They are most beautiful at night, but it’s good to see them in both day and night. I recommend going to the top floor of the W to get the best shot of you and the towers. It’s free to go up to the W and take pics. You have to go before midnight though because the lights go off midnight sharp.
Next on the list are the Batu Caves. It wasn’t very busy when I went around 2pm but it’s always best to go to earlier to avoid congestion. It’s free to walk see the caves and walk around the temples. If you’re wearing something short, revealing or too tight, you’ll have to buy a sarong before you can go up the Batu Caves stairs and get to the temples a sarong is 5 ringgit which is less than a $1.50 usd. You get 3 ringgit back for returning the sarong.
I also recommend the Central Market and Chinatown also known as Petaling Street (side by side about 5 minutes walk apart). Great for buying gifts and souvenirs really cheap. You can also bargain and buy wholesale should u choose.
The Museum of Illusions KL is also another spot you should definitely visit. Tickets are $35 ringgit if you buy them in advance on Klook. That’s less than $9 us.
Make sure you visit the night Market (Jalan Alor) for some tasty streets including coconut ice cream, boiled peanuts and lots more:
I stayed in WP hotel, a 10 minutes drive from KL hot spots and had a great, comfortable stay. The Concierge was really helpful with cab and city tours arrangements.
I spent 3 days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as a solo Black Traveler, last February. Despite the 35 degrees Celsius, I discovered in Kuala Lumpur a flourishing, dynamic and effervescent metropolis. The futuristic skyscrapers and the multicultural corners that populate the streets make me discover a multicultural Malaysia:Muslim, Hindu or Christian, with a mixture of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Western cuisines.
I stayed in the city of Kuala Lumpur (KL) to visit, among others, the Royal Palace, the National Mosque, a chocolate factory, a batik factory and above all! the famous PETRONAS TOURS, symbol of KL with, around, a multitude of shopping centers for shopping, shopping and shopping!!
Despite its modern appearance, Kuala lumpur remains a beautiful, quiet town to visit.
Kuala Lumpur is a very nice and clean city. We went here right after a two week Thailand trip and right before we went to Singapore. After coming for Thailand, I personally felt that the people wasn’t really that friendly and two asked to take pictures of us from what I’m guessing because we were black. But other then that we had a great time.
We stayed next in the KLCC area next to the Petronas Towers. Very nice are and at night they have a water show in the park. Right under the towers there is a very nice high end mall. There’s also another mall across the street for that mall too. There’s malls all over the place.
-The Central Market is a good place to buy souvenirs.
-Petaling Street (Chinatown) is another place to get souvenirs but I that area is more busier and I felt they try harder to hustle you more. (I respect the hustle but it got annoying)
-Batu Caves is a must see. We took the MRT there and back and I believe it was about 4 dollars USD round trip.
-Changkat Bukit Bintang is the area where all the bars and clubs are.
-Jalan Alor is probably one of the best night food markets I’ve been too! If you love food, this is a must and all super cheap.
Kuala Lumpur is such a beautiful city and is really affordable. For transportation I used an app called grab which is basically the same as Uber. I’ve visited Batu Caves, Thean Hou temple, selfie museum!!!! Jalan Alor street art, the Petronas towers and sky deck kl tower. I got all those activities done in 5 days. For my hotel I stayed at expressionz which is in the city and is a close drive to the activities/mall. The hotel has a stunning rooftop infinity pool that has views of the city.
I absolutely LOVED KL! I will agree with most people that it should not be your main country to visit, but think of it as a appetizer or dessert. Kuala Lumpur was my ‘dessert’. I stayed 4 days there after my trip to Thailand. I would highly recommend adding it to another country, especially if you are traveling +10 hours away. I’m a photographer, so 90% of my travel consist of finding “Instagram beauties” to capture. My mission in KL was finding things to do/photography places. Here is a list of places I visited:
Transportation: I used Grab. Get it, and use it. It’s great and cheap. You can pay with cash or link your card.
Where I stayed: I am a budget traveler, like.. budget budget. I stayed at a hostel. There was nothing special about the hostel expect that they’re located near KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers, next to a monorail station and across the street from the prestigious Lot10 shopping centre. This small hostel offers personal attention to each guest, with ‘wonderful staff that really took the time to give advice in what to do and see, where to eat and where to go at night.
Name of the hostel: Sunshine Bedz ($30 for 4 nights)
Thean Tou Temple: The temple is a is a 6-tiered temple to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. This temple is gorgeous with bright red and yellow colors. I had an amazing time taking pictures here. I don’t like strangers in my pictures, so get there early to beat the crowds.
Twin Towers: They are the tallest twin towers in the world. I think the best time to take pictures is at night. There will be men selling a ‘fish eye’ lens, get it and have THEM take your picture. Trust me, they know that they are doing and if you want the “Instragram” shot, you need the fish eye lens. The lens should cost $10, don’t buy it for more than that. There are so many people selling them, so someone will give it to you for $10. A friend said it wasn’t worth going inside, so I just took places and wandered around.
Lakes Garden Perdana: This place is extremely beautiful! It’s a park and botanical garden connected together. The atmosphere was amazing! As you walk around, you see families having a picnic and children playing. If you are into photography, then this place is great or if you and bae want to have a nice stroll away from the ‘city’.
Wilayan Masjask (HIGHLY recommend): An interesting fact about this mosque is each architectural aspect of the religious structure has taken on many different styles from the most noteworthy of mosques from around the world. The Islamic designs throughout the religious structure are arguably some of the most stunning of all the mosques in the city, with motifs and architecture hailing from Iran, Morocco, Turkey, and India. I took a free tour around the mosque with a lovely guide, her name was Rayiha, please ask for her if you visit.
High Tea at the Grand Hyatt: KL has some of the best High Tea locations, but I chose High Tea at the Grand Hyatt because it’s a buffet AND they offer unlimited tea and finger food. I went when they first started serving food so it was nice and quiet ($40).
Dinner on a Plane (HIGHLY recommend): I wanted to do something unique so I came across Dinner in the Sky, the reviews weren’t that good and I think I’ll save this expereince for Dubai. Well, this same company also offered Dinner on a Plane; they build a Boeing 737 plane in the city and renovated it into a restaurant! This was a really cool experience. You also get the chance to walk on the wigs of the plane and sit in the cockpit. You do have to book as a pair and the cost was $80 per person.
Heli bar(HIGHLY recommend): This place was awesome! Helipad was once an old helicopter pad, it was renovated and it functions as a rooftop bar. I went on a Wednesday evening so it wasn’t crowded and there was not a minimal spending limit. The Helilounge is located on the 34th floor. There is a wide variety of cocktails which all cost 30 MYR. You can order a large beer for 30 MYR. If you don’t drink alcohol, there are fruit juices available for 25 MYR and get there early because sitting is limited.
I DID explore the Bantu Caves. There was a huge Hindu festival going on at the time, but there were too many people to fully taking the experience. Overall, I really enjoyed KL and everything it had to offer.
Kuala Lumpur is a MUST SEE when your in Malaysia. KL is a kaleidoscope of color and culture. The city is filled with temples, shrines, mosque and museums. Visit the Batu Caves which features 277 colorful steps that lead you to one of the most gorgeous views of Malaysia. Visit the Batu Caves for the most wonderful experience.
This place was really fun and I enjoyed my stay. I went to visit the Bantu Caves and right outside of the Bantu Caves, I got henna and ice cream. It was June when I was here and it was extremely hot. If you’re planning to go here, be prepared to sweat a lot! One thing I could not find, was hair lol I should’ve stayed overnight.
KL haS beautiful architectures- all the buildings are beautiful, cool shapes and look like sky scrapers . On the other has KL is very lush and green. Very beautiful
City … as far as affordability I
Found it to be extremely cheap! Souvenirs at Central Market were so cheap I felt like I was stealing them. Scarves , lounge pants , food everything cost only a couple US dollars. Hotel accommodations for a nice basic place cost less than $60 usd.
We bought iced coffee for less than .60 cent. Download the grab app (uber) for inexpensive rides. I had a lovely time there visiting the batu caves, petronas towers, the 6 story mall, and eating at Betel leaf and Indian restaurant in KL .. absolutely delicious- make sure to go grub there!
Malaysia was never on my to visit list however I am so happy I made a stop there on my way to Bali. Surprisingly it was a refreshing experience. It surpassed my non expectations ?
First download Grab app . It is the Uber version of Southeast Asia but way cheaper and you pay cash when your trip is completed.
I visited;
– Central Market …lots of gifts and souvenirs
– Bukit Bintang street…lots of street art great for instagram pics
– Masjid Jamek…one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur
– KLCC Petronas towers … the tallest twin towers in the world…there is an inside mall and park around the towers
– Sri mahariamman temple (hindu)
– Guan di temple (buddha)
– Petaling street also known as China town where you can find all the knock off brands cheap cheap cheap
– River of life
– Merderka square
– Batu Caves… So colourful… A must see!!!!
I traveled solo to Kuala Lumpur this past summer. I poked a nice Airbnb condo over looking the city of course with an infamous infinity pool with a grand view of the Petronas Towers. It was raining season but i was able to maneuver around between showers. There wasn’t much to do for me but view the Towers and drive to the Bantu Caves. I did roam the streets a lil n walked through Chinatown but because it was a holiday it was full of labor men. I will go back to go to other parts of Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur was different from other places in se Asia. there wasn’t much to do there but it was still pretty fun. We stayed in an amazinggg Airbnb at “the regalia” that had a rooftop pool with a Crazy view of the city. It was so picturesque. I recommend looking up things to do at withlocals.com. It’s a site that has local tour guides to drive you and give you tours of different landmarks. Our guide peter took us to the batu caves, kaching waterfalls, and to hot springs. It was a great time!!
I went back the Kuala Lumpur for the second time this year as the first time around I didn’t get a chance to take in much of the sights and I probably won’t visit again. KL is definitely not my favourite city you can probably see all the city has to offer with a day or 2. We visited the Petronas Twin Towers and wondered around the mall inside. The national mosque is also something I would recommend, check the tourist visiting hours before going if you are a non Muslim. Batu caves is also worth a visit although once you climb the steps there isn’t really much to see at the top, be warned the monkeys will try and steal from you. Don’t just visit KL if your going to Malaysia, as a country it has so much more to offer than KL.
The Petronas Towers has been on my bucket lists for some time so I had to make a pit stop in KL on my way to Bali. The malls are huge and the food was great. Accommodations in KL are fairly cheap and there are also great Air bnb options. I stayed at the Aloft KL Sentral. Being of West Indian decent I was thrilled with the roti and curry options for breakfast. I did visit the Batu Caves and the Central market. I went at the beginning of Monsoon season so we were not able to do the firefly dinner due to rain. KL has a great nightlife. We partied in Trek. There are a least 5 spots in there. The city seems fairly safe as we walked quite a bit at night. Download Grab which is their version of Uber.
Kuala Lumpur is most vibrant and fast-growing cities in Asia. With fascinating places to see along, prestigious hotels and state-of-the-art facilities, this city has something that caters to everyone. Thean Hou Temple is a must see in Kuala Lumpur. Experience the diversity of Malaysia through the elements of religion incorporated into the architecture at Thean Hou Temple. This temple offers a nice break from the busy city and there is no entry fee. This is the perfect place to spend time in silence, take in the beauty and the sense of peace surrounding the temple. Make sure to climb to the top and enjoy the view of the city as well as the dragon sculptures on the top of the ceilings. The location is off the beaten path and is not accessible without a car or a cab but well worth the visit.
If you like partying, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia must be on your bucket list. I had no idea that there was such a party culture in KL, but let me just say I had many 5, 6, 7 am nights/mornings while visiting there.
If you’re able to visit Kuala Lumpur on there National Day holiday (their Independence Day), you’ll be in for a treat! There’s a huge parade, concerts in the park, and a stunning fireworks show at midnight. I did not make it to the parade, but I did accidentally stumble into the park to see the water fountain light show and concerts on my way to Sky Bar to see the spectacular fireworks show. The city was full of country flags and high, energetic spirits during this time of celebration.
All the tourists go to Changkat to party since it’s lined with bars making bar hopping super easy. I received the warmest welcome at Bar Fiam after telling an employee there that I was from the state where Jack Daniels is made. The employee made sure the DJ gave me, the TN girl, a shout out as I walked in, and he surprised me and my travel friend with Jack and Gingers and joined us for a shot!
If you want to get away from the craziness of Changkat, try Pisco Bar which is around the corner. The atmosphere was great and the DJs were smooth. While there I heard the sounds of Prince’s Kiss, Stevie Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours, and many more classics.
Make sure to pace your partying so you can actually get out and see the city. While there I visited the Batu Caves and the Petronas Towers which are an absolute must! Make sure you wear your walking shoes to the Batu Caves because you’ll need to climb 272 steps to get to the cave entrance. The statue at the base of the stairs is huge and magnificent. The Petronas Towers are currently the tallest twin towers in the world and the views from the 86th floor are awesome! For a lover of architecture, the towers are a modern wonder that has to be visited. To make my way around the city, I took a private tour using Get Your Guide. Other notable stops on my tour were the National Monument and the Royal Palace. You’ll definitely want to check out both of you can.
And don’t forget about food. Jalan Alor is a major food street that is a stone’s throw from Changkat. You’ll likely be overwhelmed by all the options, but just pick one and sample the food. I tried spicy crab, pork ribs, sting ray, and rice with Skol beer to wash it all down. Loved every bite. Also if you’re in the mood to try something different, there are several places to buy Durian which is the national fruit.
Now where to stay? I stayed at The Face Suites. I absolutely loved my apartment on the 19th floor. The view was beautiful, the space was stylish, and I had all the comforts of home including a washer/dryer which came in handy since I was doing a 6 month around the world trip. If you decide to stay at The Face, you have to go to the pool. It has one of the best views of the city and includes views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower. If you have any questions about my AirBnB booking at The Face Suites or my stay in KL, send me a message on Instagram at NoRiskNoRewardBlog.
Kuala Lumpur is where we stayed for our trip to Malaysia. This trip was one of the most affordable trips we had ever been on. We spent around 300 for the five days that we were in KL but that’s mainly because of the amazing night life. Kuala Lumpur had charming locals, glimmering skyscrapers, colonial architecture (our fav), and a myriad of restaurants serving diverse delicacies.
Once we got to KL, we checked into our hotel at The Face Suites (highly recommend). We had an amazing room on the 26 floor for about 40/night. After checking in we explored the nightlife in Bukit Bintang, which was crazy amazing! Drinks and food in KL is dirt cheap. We each ordered a plate of fried noodles and a drink totaling to 8 USD. This was the total of our meal every day and we enjoyed it!
Things we recommend checking out if you’re ever in KL:
1. Petronas Towers
2. Batu Caves
3. Bukit Bintang (Clubs in that area range from EDM-Hip Hop)
4. Download Couchsurfing and check out events around the city because there’s always something
5. Stay at The Face Suites and enjoy the stunning view from their rooftop infinity pool
6. Dinner in the Sky
Kuala Lumper was my home for nearly 3 years and such a great chapter! This city has so much to offer, it’s a great fusion of old historical Malaysia and the modern world. You can choose to have a traditional breakfast at a “mamak” for about $1.50 or go to a fancy brunch with unlimited mimosas depending on your mood. If you’re looking to out and party there are tons of speakeasys, clubs like the Trek area ( its a bit more upscale) versus Changkat, which is tons of different bars ( think more shirt/shorts/flip flops) if you have enough time don’t miss the Batu Caves, eating nasi lemak and escaping to some of the most beautiful beaches.
This city is entirely affordable in comparison to a US city. There’s really no need to go outside the downtown area unless you live there. Everything you want and need as a tourist is an Uber/Grab/Lyft ride away. Oh and the shopping is non-stop! They have some of the best malls
There’s a huge African community in Malaysia and often times I was discriminated against because Malaysians don’t like them being in the country. Not to say it makes it better but once they realize you’re from America or England they praise you and want to chat your ear off.
Kuala Lumpur can be a city where if you don’t know someone you won’t get be best of it. Just remember: Jalan Alor/ Changkat/ Trek/ Batu Caves/ Pavillion, you can’t go wrong.
Of all the cities I’ve traveled to, I would say Kuala Lumpur was the most adorable. I did so many things there without breaking the bank. I used Uber to get around from place to place which was super cheap (less than $7 per ride). A lot of the main attractions in Kuala Lumpur are free to see. Some of my favorite free things were The Bath Caves, The Petronas towers, Thean Hou temple and , Istana Negra (note: you can’t go inside here but you can get some good photos from the outside). Food is very affordable in KL as well. Average meal will run you less than $8 and you receive large portions. My favorite meal I had was at a vegetarian restaurant in Little India (cosy about $6). Another thing I loved here was the massages. You can get an hour massage for around $20. Lastly my accomadtion here was very affordable and it had a beautiful infinity pool over looking the towers and all of KL. I rented a nice sized studio apartment in Regalia Suites for 2 nights and my total was $100. It was clean and cozy and I would stay there again. I highly recommend KL for anyone who wants to get a bit of luxury while having their wallet thank them.
What can I say, Malaysia met and surpassed all expectation! During my month-long trip to Asia, I spent the least amount of time in Malaysia, only 4 days. I honestly wish I had more time because the city was beyond beautiful. A hidden modern gem, Malaysia bragged all aspects of a perfect vacation. Beautiful beaches, amazing nightlife, monuments galore, Malaysia had it all. We stayed at the Regalia Residence which I highly recommend. It had breathtaking views of the entire city with the Petron Towers gracing the backdrop of the infinity pool. We visited a wide variety of sites including; Batu Cave, Petron Towers and Thean Hou temple. We spent approximately $150 during our entire trip including Airbnb, food, and transportation. Not bad for 4 days!
I have been to Kuala Lumpur.
Great city. Things are far from each other but that gets one to enjoy the city scenery and beauty.
I have been to the batu cave. Which is an hour and few minutes from the airport. You can use your card or cash to book one from the airport or your hotel. One can also use the* grab* app to book a taxi if wanting to pay with card. Make certain you click on the card option.
From the batu cave I went to the personas towers, checked out the mall near that area, went down the train station for the atmosphere, then headed to the China town which isn’t far from the towers.
Love the city the food, and I had a driver that toured me around in one day.
I will add on his info momentarily.
Rarely do I say…..”I’ll never go back” but I’m willing to say it in this case. I spent 5 days and 6 nights in Kuala Lumpur and my experience was less than inviting. The people seemed very cold and shrewd but Muslims are often stern faced so it can be hard to tell when they like you and when they don’t. I walked into several stores and owners and employees all acted like I was bothering them by even being there. Now, I have to preface this by saying that I live in Thailand “The land of smiles” so I may be jaded when it comes to customer service and making the customer feel welcomed but I didn’t feel wanted or appreciated the whole time I was there. I won’t go back to Kuala Lumpur but I will go back to other parts of Malaysia.
I didn’t know what to expect when I got to Kuala Lumpur. I was only able to spend one day there, as I was just passing thru on my way from Thailand to Bali. I must say Malaysia surprised me! It’s a very busy and beautiful city. If you’re looking for an amazing view with an infinity edge pool that has views of the Petronas Towers, book a night at the Face Suites. Google it, the view won’t disappoint. Batu Caves is another popular activity. Probably the most amazing thing about Malaysia is the food. It’s like they took all the best things from each country in Asia and put them in Malaysia. I had a dish with naturally blue rice. It’s a Foodie heaven!
Malaysia is one of the hidden gems in Asia. There’s literally something for everyone. If you like nature there are many mountains and beaches. If you like nightlife and city scenes Kuala Lumpur is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Asia. Something you would never expect to find in Southeast Asia and it is a huge travel hub. Meaning, to travel to and from Malaysia you can find amazing deals since it is the biggest airport in Southeast Asia. The food is amazing and the prices are absolutely affordable. I would highly recommend Genting Highlands, Batu Caves, Petronas Towers, Perhentian Islands, Tioman Islands, Penang, Langkawi, Bukit Tabur and Putra Mosque for visitors. The prices are very cheap and make sure you download Grab, which is Malaysia’s version of Uber.
Malaysia is the most underrated country in Southeast Asia. For starters, it has Kuala Lumpur which is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia. Something you would never expect to find in Southeast Asia and it is a huge travel hub. Meaning, to travel to and from Malaysia you can find amazing deals since it is the biggest airport in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has everything from beaches to mountains to cities to nightlife. It’s truly a hidden gem of Asia. The food is amazing and the prices are absolutely affordable. I’d recommend Bukit Tabur, Batu Caves, Putra Mosque and China town
Malaysia is a very busy city with beautiful architecture. The Petronas Twin Towers are amazing. Batu caves is a limestone hill and very rich in history!
The Malaysian capital is a perfect destination to travel to if you are looking to explore the rest of South East Asia without breaking the bank. I stayed at the Dorsett in Kuala Lumpur for three days ($250) which was centrally located in the Bukit Bintang district. There were a lot of shopping malls and plenty of local authentic staples to indulge in the district. The street food in Kuala Lumpur is just amazing!! Heard over to Alor Street for some finger licking Malay cuisine. “Nasi Lemak” was my go to for breakfast and “chicken satay with peanut sauce” was typically my lunch option. Overall, from accommodation to transportation and food, KL is an embodiment of a city where you get more bang for your buck. My advice to anyone who is looking to visit KL soon is, if you want to eat through Asia, definitely start in Malaysia!!
Malaysia is a huge country full of hikes and adventures not to mention historical places. You can visit Melaka which is a Portuguese inhabited town, Kuala Lumpur is a must see to visit the Petrona Towers not to mention they have a mall with a theme park inside, Taman Negara is a rainforest full of camping and multi day treks, Cameron Highlands where you’ll catch some more stunning views , Langkwai is a island with a adventure theme park and Georgetown which is a funky town full of things to do you won’t want to miss!
We visited Kuala Lumpur in Autumn (September-October) 2017 and it was AMAZING… Admittedly, I am slightly biased about this city as my aunty now lives there as an expat so things were a lot easier for us. We didn’t pay for accommodation for the above reasons; but did look into the price of hotels in other regions which were moderately priced. As with most of southeast Asia; food is DIRT cheap… And tasty TOO! The people are very friendly – ALTHOUGH; due to immigration issues with ovetstayers (particularly from the West African demographic) police MAY (I speak from personal experience) be a little harsh with you… The solution to the problem is to walk with your passport EVERYWHERE, and they return to being friendly.
A highlight of this trip was definitely visiting the Genting Highlands, they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and the temples are plastered with images of the BLACK Buddha… It’s also a lot less “commercial/touristy” than the Batu Caves – although still crowded – so you get to meet a lot of locals. You are also able to catch a cable car from the top of the mountain to take in the views which is a MUST. Nightlife was fun, we visited Sky Bar in Traders hotel just before we left and had a blast… They usually have nightly specials and it was far cheaper to buy a bottle of Smirnoff than drinks by the glass. Staff were also VERY accommodating and rolled out the red carpet.
Overall, I give KL a 8.5/10… There is still a LOT more to see; and we will update the review after our next visit.
Super clean and such a beautiful country with incredible people!! I wasn’t there for long as i had a long layover and decided I leave the airport to explore. You can easily take the metro from the airport directly into the city of kuala lampura.
I stayed at Regalia Residence (AirBnB). On the top floor they have an infinity pool with an amazing view. The street food was amazing. If you love ice cream like I do please try the coconut and mango ice cream that is served in half of a coconut. The weather is pretty warm. Midnight is around 75-80 degrees. Very rich culture!
Kuala Lumpur is an amazing place to travel to, i would recommend staying there for 2-3 nights its the perfect destination for quick fun filled stop overs. You can get a feel for the culture and explore most of what the city has to offer within that time frame. Everything is super cheap, money will certainly not be an issue in Malaysia, some of the things you can do are visit the KUL tower, The Iconic petronas Towers, And the Batu caves are a must. The Thean Hou temples are also extremely beautiful and are a go to if you have time. Kuala Lumpur malaysia has the most amazing Asian food, try the street food and stop at Banana leaf bangasar for an authentic Malay meal.
My 3 day stay in Kuala Lumpur was incredible. I used airbnb and rented out a beautiful apartment with a rooftop infinity pool on the 45th floor! The view of the city was amazing (check out my IG @mrvandevere to see pictures of the view I had). Chinatown in KL is one of the best/most authentic in the world. The streets are lined with shops selling all the latest knock offs Rolex, Gucci, LV etc… and a ton of great street food (I tried mangosteen for the first time there). The Batu Caves are a must see and they are a short Grab ride from downtown (Grab is like Uber for most of southeast Asia). After climbing all the steps to the entrence of the cave, you go in and discover one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. Along the way in you’ll run into monkeys so bring banana’s if you want a good photo op! It’s easy to get around the city with Grab or even the public transportation system. If you are planning a trip to SE Asia I would definitely recommend adding KL to your list of stops.
We went to several places in Malaysia and our first stop was Kuala Lumpur, which is a typical, business oriented city, or least that area we stayed. We visited the Batu Cave, which I highly recommend. We then headed to Langkawi soon after, which is a more relaxed vibe. We stayed in a villa on the beach, which was spectacular. The water was so calming and peaceful and the sound of the ocean in the morning made me not want to leave the island. We were not there long enough to explore the dining life, so we just went to the main area and had dinner there. The food was mediocre and seemed repetitive (our fault, but we were very hungry). We then flew to Penang, which is known for welcoming expats, so things were a little more developed than it was in Langkawi. We really liked the food in Penang and would like to visit there again.
I stayed in the luxury FACE Suites for only $70 USD a night! The “room” was more like a one bedroom apartment with gorgeous views of the city. On top of the 56th floor, was an infinity rooftop pool with an unreal presentation of Kuala Lumpur’s landscape. I also stayed in a hostel for a night which was around $8 USD. Taxies were also cheap. My one hour ride from the airport was around $13. Unfortunately, some drivers will try and take advantage of you. Ask them to turn on the meter as soon as you get in. We had one driver refuse to turn his on. We kindly asked to get out, because he was acting very suspicious.