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Review: The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is a luxurious sanctuary in Malaysia
Find respite from the hustle and bustle of Malaysia with a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is quietly gaining recognition as being the perfect destination for a holiday, given the troubles in other parts of the world. This country in Southeast Asia boasts some of the best food on the planet and it is more developed than many of its more rugged neighbours – yet it is less overrun with tourists than, say, Bali and parts of Thailand. Weather-wise, it's nearly always above 30°C, and any rain showers that come along during your stay offer welcome relief from the heat.
So, it's not hard to see why Malaysia has become a popular choice for international travellers at a time when many countries feel unsafe to visit. It's easy to fly directly to Malaysia from Britain, which means there's no need to brave flying over the Middle East, and it's also a less worrisome alternative than locations such as Cape Verde and Cyprus.
In addition, it's a very affordable destination and – perhaps similar to South Africa – it has that wonderful blend of city life and beaches, plus an abundance of exotic wildlife. While Malaysia doesn't have the vineyards of South Africa, it does have a spectacular food scene, mixing Malay, Chinese and Indian influences with sizzling results.
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A trip to Malaysia is best started in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, in order to get a feel for this diverse country. The city is exciting and hectic, so if you've just landed after a 13-hour flight and you are adjusting to the seven-hour time difference, you'll want to pick your hotel carefully.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is a fine choice. It has comfortable, elegant rooms, first-class service and a spa, gym and swimming pool. I stayed with my husband and two children, and our two-bedroom suite on the 20th floor was luxurious and spacious.
The double-aspect windows gave us a commanding view of downtown Kuala Lumpur. All-you-can-eat durian buffets jostled with hotels, offices and shopping centres, with the KL Tower glittering against the skyline.
My nine-year-old son was thrilled to see Merdeka 118 from his bedroom, the world's second-tallest building at 2,227 feet (more than twice the height of London's Shard).
The Ritz-Carlton, which opened in 1997, has 251 rooms, 110 suites and four penthouses – three of which have private swimming pools. The hotel is located Kuala Lumpur in the Golden Triangle business district, which makes it ideal for exploring the city.
For anything a bit further away – or perhaps you'd just like to rest your legs and cool down (very sensible given the humidity) – you can grab a “Grab”. This is Southeast Asia's answer to Uber and, in fact, Uber is Grab's largest shareholder.
A deluxe room at the Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
(Image credit: Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur)
Where to eat at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
As for restaurants, The Ritz-Carlton has some excellent dining options. The variety at breakfast is eye-popping – dim sum, noodle soup, baba ganoush, guava smoothies, nasi lemak and much more. Of course, there are the usual cereals, pastries and fresh fruit, but make sure you try the roti canai with dhal. My seven-year-old daughter impressed the staff by happily eating three of them one morning.
Come evening, you can enjoy authentic Chinese classics at Michelin-selected restaurant Li Yen or, at the weekend, indulge in the “Ritzy Weekend Feast”.
The latter is a buffet serving up bold, smoky flavours from the heart of Malaysia. My husband loved the lamb biryani and the chilli pomelo salad, while I swooned over a gorgeous slow-cooked beef rendang.
My daughter has a peanut allergy and this had made us nervous about our trip. But the staff did a sterling job of accommodating her and she was able to try most food items. As the band played (a mix of modern pop, plus some classics), the children were most impressed with the enormous dessert table, complete with chocolate fountain.
A highlight was the pandan crème brûlée, but I'm afraid durian – that stinky fruit nicknamed “king of fruits” by Malaysian devotees – was not for us, so it was “no” to the durian donuts.
Afternoon tea: a very British affair
(Image credit: Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur)
The Ritz-Carlton is your home away from home
The Ritz-Carlton also offers afternoon tea. A very British affair, this is a must if you're homesick, but I'd also recommend it for the cool and calm environment, making it a welcome break from busy Kuala Lumpur.
The scones and cakes really hit the mark if you've been overdosing on rice and noodles. The tea selection is also large, ranging from English breakfast and Darjeeling to fragrant herbal blends and a popular “Irish Whiskey cream” variety.
To work off the food, you can head to the 24-hour gym or swim laps in the outdoor swimming pool. Those with children can pop into the kids' room for books and games, while there are organised activities every afternoon, such as decorating eggs, origami and playing Congkak, which is a popular board game in Malaysia.
We were all rather sad to leave this peaceful sanctuary of a hotel when it was time to check out. The rest of our two-week Malaysian adventure involved visiting Bukit Merah Orang Utan, also known as Orangutan Island; making sandcastles on the beach in Langkawi and appreciating the street art in Penang.
I'm sure we'll return to this vibrant country one day, and when we do, I know where we will rest our weary heads when we're back in Kuala Lumpur.
Ruth was a guest of YTL Hotels at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Rooms start from around £141 a night for a Deluxe room. Visit ritzcarlton.com for details.
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Ruth is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 15 years' experience of working on national newspapers, websites and specialist magazines.
She is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times.
A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service.
Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, while also serving as a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.
