Bestow Boutique Hotel

I made two visits, first for four nights from 19-23 March, then for two nights from 1-2 April. The capsule was a bargain at around RM23-28 a night. On my second visit I spent one night in a deluxe single room for RM56 plus RM10 foreigner tax, then switched back to a capsule for the next night. The place has a small, cozy layout and a charming vintage feel. There are two pools, an indoor one that resembles an old Spanish courtyard and a rooftop pool. Staff were welcoming and very helpful. The Arab guy on the night reception shift was especially kind and always ready to help. The cleaners did a great job, cleaning several times each day. The lobby cafe gives out free iced tea daily if you tell them your room number, and the food prices are reasonable for Kuala Lumpur. Getting around is easy. It's behind Times Square and about a ten-minute walk to Bukit Bintang, or just two minutes to Imbi monorail station. From there it's a few stops to KL Sentral and one stop to bukit bintang. You can buy a ticket at the station counter or use a Touch ‘n Go card, sold at 7-Eleven. There's a KK Mart about 100 meters away, a cheap Indian/Pakistani restaurant next door, and more food choices around Bukit Bintang and Times Square. A few things could be better. Some guests washed underwear in the shared bathroom sinks more than once, which was unpleasant. The capsule area sometimes smelled because so many people were staying there. I also got paint on my new pants from a light blue lobby chair; reception apologized and said they'd look into it. I had a good stay and would recommend it to budget travelers, with some room for improvement around guest behavior and minor maintenance.

Right beside the huge Berjaya times square is this old, grand beauty. The architecture has a historic look that makes it feel like stepping back to medieval times. The staff and the support they give are what really make the experience, though. Five stars for the guest experience.

I came after seeing the hotel on TikTok, but found it overhyped. The location is handy, with LRT access nearby and Berjaya Time Square very close. The receptionist was respectful and not rude, and service was good, though sometimes I couldn't understand the receptionist and they didn't always understand me. A Malay receptionist on the day shift would help, since Bahasa Melayu is needed everywhere. I have no comment on the tourism tax; I just paid 20 ringgit. My main complaint is that the pictures don't show the different room types clearly. I expected a private bathroom and toilet, but had to share, and the room was tiny. The toilets are tiny too, and I think men's and women's toilets should be separate. This is a hotel, not a simple hostel, so that feels basic. The jacuzzi is awkwardly placed in front of everyone's rooms with no privacy. People may feel uncomfortable using it while others walk past, and honestly I don't think anyone wants to use it there, despite online endorsements mentioning a jacuzzi. The room ventilation was decent, but the fabric felt sticky and the table was so small it was only useful for a bag. At night lots of people hang around talking outside the hotel. That could bother some guests, but I was okay with it. If you're going for the vintage look, it doesn't live up to the hype. It may work if you're just staying one night and leaving.

The pool, with its great view and jacuzzi, was the highlight for us during our three nights. We also got complimentary welcome drinks each day. Our room was very clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful the whole time. For what we paid, the stay was well worth it. We couldn't have asked for more.