Hotel4Real!

Kuala Lumpur is well known for its world-class hospitality, but not exactly known for world-class luxury. This doesn’t mean, however, that the city doesn’t have its version of luxury on offer. The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, was KL’s answer to those asking.

The Ritz-Carlton’s interpretation of luxury has never been the “in your face” kind of vibe. Instead, Ritz properties focus on the understated but timeless elegance. This was on full display from the moment we arrived at the hotel. The hotel had two separate entrances (and in fact, two separate towers), one for regular guests and the other for club guests. The Ritz KL was generous enough to extend club membership to all Titanium elite members and above, which was borderline unheard of in the Ritz-Carlton world, where cash is always king. I was not complaining though, because that also means I was able to enjoy all the club amenities and stay in the exclusive club tower.

Once the doorperson checked my reservation, I was directed to the club lobby to check in. The whole process was very much customized – in fact, it felt more like a conversation than a transaction. The gentleman asked our preferences, and because we showed up quite early, I decided to go with a regular club twin room.

The club tower, and the main tower for that matter, were both very well appointed, tastefully designed and decorated, and very well maintained. I couldn’t help but notice the upscale ambiance whenever I step foot into the building, and the same ambiance very much extended into the guest rooms as well.

Although not the largest room I’ve seen, the room we got was more than large enough for two people. It was, again, well appointed with coordinated colours, upscale furnishing, and extra bells and whistles to make the space feel less mass-produced and more home-like. There was also a massive walk-in closet as well as a gorgeous marble bathroom. Due to the height of the building, the view was not the best, and the small balcony was not accessible, however we did not have any problem getting a healthy dosage of natural light in every morning.

A big part of the Ritz’s club experience is of course the lounge, and we did spend a good amount of time there. The lounge team also did a great job making sure everyone was taken care of at all times. Food was plentiful and high-quality, especially the breakfast – in fact, I rarely prefer lounge breakfasts over restaurants, but after trying both I’d wholeheartedly recommend eating at the lounge instead. The bar menu was also quite interesting, and although it wasn’t extensive, the team would happily make something off menu as long as it wasn’t some made-up stuff. I ordered their signature cocktail, and even though it wasn’t exactly my type of drink, the presentation was stunning.

In addition to lounge access, a big part of the club experience was the on-demand butler that we had. They were able to do a wide variety of things, but my travel partner really appreciated the tea delivery service and the chamomile tea that came with it. Every evening, the butler would also turn down our beds and leave some snacks with an inspirational note.

Overall I had nothing bad to say about the hotel. It delivered everything the Ritz-Carlton brand had promised, and even though the hotel was not too far from needing at least some renovation, it was meticulously maintained and aged very well. Maybe that’s what being timeless is all about?

Oh, did I mention they were selling for sub-CA$200 per night?

RealScore

Service: 9.0

Design and Room Size: 8.0

In-room Amenities: 7

Bathroom Size and Layout: 10

View from (my) Room: 7

Hotel Location: 10

Available Guest Facilities: 10

Food Quality: 7

Food and Beverage Service: 8

Executive Lounge Quality: 9

Final RealScore: 8.50

Final RealRating: AA

Hotel is built/opened: 1997

Total number of rooms: 364

Length of stay: 2 nights

Membership level at check-in: Titanium

Room type experienced: Executive Room