City Inn Hotel

Getting around KL from here was easy, and the WiFi was fast and steady. But we couldn't make the room work for us. We were in triple room 303, and it felt cramped. The shower and bidet were both broken, and the sheets smelled used, like they hadn't been changed. We borrowed a spare sheet because it smelled less bad. There’s no lift, so we had to carry our bags by hand. After only a few hours, we found another place near KL Sentral, Hotel Sentral, and checked out. If you're looking around Chinatown, I'd check other hotels first. There are several nearby that are better and still fairly cheap.

Chinatown, the night market, Chinese food stalls, the train station, the airport bus stop and the free bus terminal were all easy to reach from City Inn. We arrived late, having booked through agoda only two hours earlier. The staff member was surprised to see the reservation, then checked it. When he asked if I’d stay longer, I said yes if we could keep the same rate. He checked and laughed in surprise, saying no. The last-minute special was good: I found a room listed at $20 for half that, $10 USD. It was small but clean and comfortable, with a window, TV, WiFi, nightstand, double bed and private bathroom with a shower and Western toilet. We were on the first floor down the hall from reception, in what looked like an older, possibly historic building. I don’t recall seeing an elevator, and Western safety standards may not be in place. The staff were pleasant enough, though surprised by the late booking. It’s a bit pricey for this location, and a deal like ours probably won’t be available to budget travelers very often.

For 200MYR we got four nights, and the place was quiet, clean and close to everything we wanted to see in KL on foot. The air con worked really well. The shower was hot enough, though more warm than hot, and the bed mat was in good shape, so we slept well. A great spot for a short stay in Kuala Lumpur.

For the price, I think this is one of the better hotels in KL. The rooms are clean and the WiFi is pretty good and fast. There’s free water, and you can use a fridge at reception. Some furniture can be broken, especially in the toilet, so check your room.