Lanai Gurney Corporate Suites

IF YOU'RE BOOKING ALICE'S AIRBNB APARTMENT IN THIS BUILDING, READ THIS: We reserved the apartment a month ahead because the photos, reviews, and advertised location looked good. What we found was nothing like the listing. We cancelled as soon as we entered, then spent three hours sorting it out with Airbnb and the host after an eight-hour trip. It was a stressful end to the day. The host did agree to a full refund after the case was settled, which I appreciate, but accurate photos of the building and neighborhood and a complete description would have helped. Because of this experience we ended up paying for an expensive hotel, cutting our time in KL short, and spending a lot unnecessarily. Our vacation was spoiled. There was dust everywhere and the floor was dirty. Oily marks covered much of the kitchen equipment, and some cupboards had mold. The furniture was old and damaged: the sofa had a gray rug over it rather than the brown leather shown in the photo, tables had cheap plastic covers, and damaged items were left as they were or patched with duct tape. The apartment also seemed to be used for storage. Boxes, including a large piano box, were piled by the entrance; the hallway drawers held assorted junk such as batteries, keys, papers, and light bulbs. There were insect sprays in the kitchen, so I assume insects may be present. As a tourist, I had no use for this clutter. The five windows were thin and did not block sound. Three faced the staircase, so we could hear neighbors arriving; the other two faced a large mosque, and during the roughly three hours we were there, loud singing and prayers continued. The balcony was shared with a neighbor and secured from the apartment only by a small window lock, so we didn't feel safe leaving our things there. The neighborhood and building felt very old and unwelcoming. On the walk from the MRT, locals catcalled us and we saw someone with a substance addiction. My partner and I felt unsafe even in daytime, and I can't imagine walking there at night. The listing said there was a pool, but the apartment information, visible only after payment, said it wasn't working.

There are plenty of places to eat nearby, though the surroundings aren't especially pleasant. The suites are huge, but feel kind of rustic, like something from back in 2000.

This seems to be block E of the Gurney Heights Complex. There are three elevators, which is better than most, and the building is a bit old but still quite functional. With so much wood in the building, the room I visited had issues such as water leaks and pests getting in. Noise from nearby mosques definitely comes through the walls, so there's no escaping that while you're here.

The location is nice and the original planning was good enough that this could live up to the name "corporate suites." Instead, it feels run down, like a post-apocalyptic refuge for the well heeled. This place has potential, but the only reason I come here is for the missus.