Kuala Lumpur is the melting pot of Asia. A young city with a blend of old and new, of chaotic alleys and sophisticated modern skycrapers. A city where many Asians immigrants call home, where foreign tourists feel at ease.
But is it a place for families? Emphatically, yes.
For those travelling with kids, here's our pick of where to stay and where to avoid.
Where to Stay – KLCC
Let's face it. When it comes to staying in Kuala Lumpur, the closer you are to the 88-storey KLCC Twin Towers, the better. The area has a posh mall, a number of good restaurants, a kid museum, a world class aquarium and a huge park to relax.
From the many hotels in the area, try the Traders. It is just 10 minutes walking distance to the metallic skyscraper and has a free tram service for those who do not wish to walk.
Owned by the Shang-Ri-La hotel, the 4 star Traders is not only a hit among family, it is also a favorite among business traveler because it is so close to the city center.
Erected away from the major roads, the hotel is also very quiet, has beautiful KLCC Tower view and offers a vast spread of breakfast options – ranging from Western and Japanese to Malaysian food for you to sample.
In front of the hotel is the massive KLCC Park – an awesome place to let your kids loose or jog in the evening. The park also has a wading pool for your little ones and a huge playground area for your kids to enjoy in the afternoon.
If you are visiting KL, this hotel should be the first that comes to your mind.
Where to Avoid – Chinatown
Those with little ones should avoid staying around the Chinatown area. There are a number of budget hotels in the area, and most backpackers love to hang around the street but it is definitely not suitable for kids.
Chinatown is dirty, noisy, crowded and is surrounded by massive traffic. Although you won't have problem finding good and tasty Chinese food around the area, the place lack greeneries and is chaotic.
At night, Chinatown will be filled to the brim with Chinese traders selling X-rated DVDs and street vendors hawking imitation wares and clothings. The night market will start from 4 in the afternoon to 3 o'clock in the morning. It is like being in a stadium during Superbowl.
Some people like to stay around the Bukit Bintang area because it is full of malls and it is easy to get around the city with the 2 train stations in the area.
But it is also very pricey and noisy because of the pubs and traffic around the major roads. As such, the best place for families to stay when visiting Kuala Lumpur is definitely around the KLCC area.
Martin Wynn
