Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
The Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur is just across the street from the KL Sentral Station, where the KLIA Airport Express is arriving. You could easily walk from the station to the hotel. The lobby of the hotel could be reached by two elevators. In addition there is a driveway for taxis and cars approaching the hotel. The driveway is clearly marked by signs. The hotel is part of a huge building
complex with two high rise buildings, one is the Le Meridien the other one is the Hilton. The Le Meridien seems to be a little bit smaller than the Hilton, having probably some rooms less on each floor than the Hilton.
The lobby of the Le Meridien is on the fourth floor and is big. There are several lounge chairs and a shower fountain in the middle of the lobby. The check in desks are at one side of the lobby, the “Conservatory” Bar and Restaurant is on the other side.
A concierge desk is right aside the main entrance at the driveway. The elevators to the floors are behind the check in desk. One needs the keycard to reach the floors with the rooms.
The gym and the pool are on the 8th floor and shared with the Hilton next door. The pool is a freefrom pool and the biggest in the city (400 foot). A bit hidden in front of the gym is the Jacuzzi. Deck chairs are available and towels are provided to the guests.
The gym is also huge with several state of the art machines, more or less the “derniere cry” in term of work out and training facilities. The gym is open from 06.00 to 23.00 and also available to the public. Peak time is around noon and in the evening, but I have never seen it crowded during my recent visits. The gym hosts also a Spa. Water and towels are provided to the guests.
Staff was friendly and helpful.
The hotel has 11 meeting rooms for up to 600 persons and a business centre.
The hotel has a number of restaurants, which are open either all day or only in the evening. The price level is low in comparison to other destinations, but high in comparison to other restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.
The style of the hotel is more traditional than in the stylish Hilton next door. The interior reminds me a bit at my stay in the Imperial Sheraton or the Renaissance Hotel in Kula Lumpur. It is representative, but nothing special concerning Asian and esp. Chinese Hotels.
The hotel offers an Executive Club on the 33 floor where in the morning breakfast is served and in the evening between 18.00 and 20.00 hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Internet is free in the club lounge but only for a fee in the rooms.
stay 30 May 2007
visited on Pazifikhopping 2007
Arrival Date: 29 May 2007
Departure Date: 30 May 2007
Room type booked: Club Floor Room
Rate Plan: Advanced Purchase Rate
Room Number: 3554
Room Rate: 468.00 MYR
Status of Guest Program: Gold
I had decided to book for my last night in Kuala Lumpur a club floor room in the Le Meridien to compare it with the Hilton.
I arrived around 15.30 in the hotel and approached check in. As they received my booking they told me check in would be done on the Executive Level and I was guided to the executive floor by a bell boy, who also took care of my luggage. Check in in the lounge was fast, I assume because some things were already done on the ground floor like id-check and credit card check.
I was accompanied to my room on the top floor. The top floor was in contrast to the rest of the hotel warmer, thankful only in the public areas and not in the rooms.
My room was of smaller seize and classical layout.
You enter the room and found yourself in the corridor, which is dark. Here the wardrobe along with the ironing board and the safe is placed; the safe is big enough for a laptop. Opposite the wardrobe is the entrance to the bathroom.
The bathroom had a toilet, a sink and a bath, no separate shower stall. A loudspeaker was available in the bathroom. Towels were provided for two persons as well as bathrobes and slippers.
The room features a TV and a desk on the one side together with the minibar. On the other side are the King bed with bedside tables, telephone, alarm clock. A central switch is available to switch on the most lights from the bedside tables. Two reading lamps were placed at the bed.
In contrast to the Hilton, the interior is the classical hotel room interior one could found around the world in upscale hotel. Nothing modern or special, contemporary design this time. However in good condition and I could not find any damages or stains. But the shade at the window was not working properly.
The desk is big enough to work, Internet was available wired and wireless for a fee.
Luggage could be stored easily in the entrance area.
A turndown service was provided in the evening.
The executive lounge is nice and less crowded than at the Hilton. Staff asked me about my impression of the Le Meridien and the Hilton as they discovered that I moved from the Hilton. The advantage of the Le Meridien is the lounge is less crowded and more airy. However Hors d’oeuvres served in the evening are very basic and limited to chicken wings or chicken fries, cheese, spring rolls.
The selection of drinks is also not as good as in the Hilton, but from my impression sufficient. Everything is self service, but staff also serves beverages and is very attentive in cleaning up tables. Afternoon tea is served and though I was late they managed to get me a cucumber sandwich.
I was told they will improve club floor in the next time and told me also that the Hilton has set the level for club lounges in KL very high.
Breakfast is available on the club lounge or downstairs in the restaurant for guest of the club floor rooms. The selection is bigger downstairs, but it’s less crowded and the service more personal in the club lounge. So I decided to have breakfast in the lounge, though this was more a continental breakfast buffet.
Check out was fast again, everything prepared. And since I had asked for a late check out at check in my keycard was programmed till 16.00. It was no problem to remain for another two hours in the lounge and use the free wifi there.
Not a bad hotel, but at least during this stay the fee for club floor is not worth to be paid if you primary reason to book executive level is not the less crowded atmosphere. The good thing is you could choose between breakfast in the restaurant or in the lounge. Though it is a question of comparing room rates which room type to go for. The rooms are nice, but less stylish than in the Hilton. Nevertheless it is not a bad hotel and the room rates are usually lower than the ones at the Hilton. Staff is friendly
in both hotels. I will stay there again, depending on the room rates, but my first choice will be the Hilton next door.
