Living It Up In Kuala Lumpur

There’s plenty to be discovered in the evolving Malaysian capital, both in and out of the spa.

- Pete Wong

Like most dynamic Asian capitals, Kuala Lumpur is in a constant state of change. In recent years, a mass rapid transit rail system was installed; the last ruling party governing the country since its independence was replaced; and new skyscrapers emerged, transforming the city skyline.

In the heart of the city, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur debuted as the world’s third tallest hotel; Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, just over a year old, expanded by launching Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur; while W Kuala Lumpur launched and redefined the hotel experience with bold design and colours.

The city is more vibrant in the evening when temperature drops and the nightlife heats up. Locals and visitors step out in droves to shop, eat, drink, party, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere, especially around the Bukit Bintang shopping belt. Bars usually stay open until the wee hours of the morning. The area is multiracial and multicultural resulting in a smorgasbord of varied culinary delights. Some of the finest restaurants are located within the hotels but if you care to venture out, there are more gastronomic delights to be discovered.

With an exchange rate that weighs in favour compared to most foreign currencies, Kuala Lumpur is one of the most affordable cities in the region to indulge. Hoteliers find it easy convincinng jetsetters to include the city in their travel plans, and business has mostly been good for established brands. “A junior suite here starts at just US$430 and that’s a bargain for some of our regular globetrotting guests,” says Rosemarie Wee, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur’s director of public & community relations.

Unlike other big cities, Kuala Lumpur is relatively free of pollution and natural calamities like earthquakes and typhoons. Weather is generally good year-round with harmless, although heavy, rains from October through February.