Review: Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The room was totally upstaged by the view out the window. We had arrived late at night and the softly-lit room seemed to form a path that led us to the dazzling, glittery lights outside. For framed in the window were the two most famous towers in Malaysia; if we had any doubts about where we had landed it was settled now.

The Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur is perfectly positioned across a park from the Petronas Towers. Not a single obstruction stands in the way between the twinkly towers and the hotel windows. From our room on the 26^th floor we had a direct view of the full length of the towers, and a strategically positioned chaise and armchair near the window meant we could simply sit back and stare at them.

The 26^th floor is also home to the hotel’s health club though, so if you are feeling more active the aerobics studio offers the unique opportunity to work out whilst admiring the city skyline. The gym is well equipped with fancy machines that come with individual TV screens and IPod connectors, so it’s a pleasure to pass the time here.

And you may be needing a good workout after sampling the hotel’s breakfast buffet. After doing several laps of the restaurant I noted that the following were just some of the things on offer:

Omelettes, curry, sushi, sausage, pancakes, waffles, French toast, cereal, fruit, salad, samosas, soups, cakes, muffins, gluten free cookies AND a chocolate fountain.

Yes, just when you think this breakfast buffet couldn’t get any more diverse, you find yourself in a queue to dip marshmallows in molten chocolate.

Back at the table they have a clever little system to make sure your table isn’t cleared or given to someone else while you are busy at the buffet. You are given these double backed cards to indicate what stage your belly is at. Not before long we flipped it to full and grabbed a takeaway coffee to help us on the way.

Of an evening it’s all about the Skybar. The hotel’s top floor swimming pool is one of the cities most popular bars of an evening. With cushioned window seats that look out over the city it is not hard to see why (tip: book these in advance with the bar earlier on in the day). There is waiter service, cheesy tunes and lanterns that bob on the surface of the pool and reflect off the glass roof. Beers start from just £4 and the mixed satay appetizer is delicious. What’s more – once you are done with your night out, home is just a 2-minute journey in the lift for us lucky hotel guests.

Back in the room, housekeeping had left us slippers by the bed, a lollipop on the towel and a note wishing us a good nights sleep. One of the things I love about hotels in Asia, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint, is the little complimentary extras they leave in the room. Bottled water and a fruit platter go a long way to make a guest feel comfortable and free Wi-Fi is a huge plus point in my book!

The next day, as we left for our flight to Vietnam in the wee hours of the morning, revellers from the Skybar were still waiting for the valet to bring their Porches and Mercedes around to the front of the building. That’s the type of classy joint this is.

Rates at The Traders Hotel start from just £80 per night. Visit Asiarooms.com for more information and to book.