Hideout at a central location
Despite its size, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel has a warm homely feel, writes Zalina Mohd Som
IHAVE never wished to stay in this hotel. I was never curious about the rooms or how a weekend stay would feel . Why? From its two enormous towers, I have always assumed the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel is just a business hotel at a junction.
And the roads — Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang — are notorious for their peak hour bumper to bumper crawl.
But the five-star hotel proves me wrong, though not instantly.
MY ROOM, MY HOME
My bearing is confused with its East and West Wings — access to parking is one wing, the reception is at the other wing; the breakfast is served in one wing but the room is in another. It takes me a while to learn the routes in and around the huge hotel.
Then while waiting for my turn to approach the front office counter, I learn that the hotel is running on high capacity for there are a few MICE groups staying in for the weekend. Not a good start but I tell myself to give the hotel time to prove itself. However, that time comes right after I come out of the lift to Level 25, one of the Renaissance Club Levels that occupies the top floors of the West Wing.
It is like I’ve just been transported to a different hotel, the executive floor — if it’s a woman — is smart and elegant, and quiet, calm and warm.
Dressed elegantly in shades of neutral colour, my floor has smart use of light, shadows and lines. My room takes a different mood. It’s a pop of bright earth tones that give a warm homely feeling. It’s super spacious too. There are a king-size bed, a day bed that can work as an extra bed, a work table and a huge bathroom.
The things that remind me that it’s a hotel room are the king-size bed with luxurious white linen and the view of KL Tower. But, if this is my home for the weekend, I’m loving it!
TOWERING RESORT
I love that my room is on the same floor as the Club Lounge. This gives me quick access to the lounge’s offerings — round the clock (well, almost) food and beverage.
The lounge serves breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktail and late evening snacks to guests staying at the Club Levels. There’s an all-day selection of coffee, tea, soft drinks and fruit juices.
But since I am a fan of hotel buffet breakfast, I breakfast at TEMPTationS, the all-day dining restaurant on the ground floor of the East Wing. The extra effort pays off.
As much as I love taking my own sweet time to enjoy my huge breakfast, I have to cut it short to join a yoga session at the pool side. “Well, I can always go back to the Club Lounge for more food,” I pacify myself.
The moment I step outside the tower building to the pool side, a relaxed resort feeling welcomes me.
It’s so quiet and peaceful that I feel like I’m at an island resort. It is as if the high towers block the city noise.
The peaceful Sunday morning at the pool reaches its height with a two-hour aromatherapy massage at Mandara Spa.
And with that, there’s nothing not to like about this huge hotel.