Cheap but chic, sleeping with €35 in Kuala Lumpur

One of the errors I often hear/read is to think that the chains such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG are synonymous with luxury and expensive hotels. There is nothing more wrong. All these chains have a portfolio with dozens of different signs From the cheapest to six-star hotels.

I recently spent two nights in Kuala Lumpur. In Malaysia's interesting capital city, I decided to try two opposite hotels: a five-star hotel like the Mandarin Oriental And this Fairfield, Marriott family hotel.

Reservation

Chain hotels should be booked always and only through official channels, because this is the only way to obtain the benefits provided by the status, accumulate points and maintain/renew the level in the loyalty program.

These facilities also have a serious Best Price Guarantee program which allows you, in case you find the same room at a lower price online, to get additional benefits in terms of price and treatment. So always book on app and then search Trivago for any cheaper rates.

This reservation, however served me as a mattress run, that is, I made it to sleep one night but to do multiple qualifying nights, without actually using the facility.

While I was looking for a hotel to stay in Malaysia's capital city, I noticed this hotel that was bookable at a very negligible price: 35€ per night. In the end for my stay I had opted for the Mandarin Oriental, spectacular hotel overlooking the Petronas Towers.

However, I decided to stay one night, booking 6 in total, also in the Marriott chain hotel. Sure, you could see it as a waste of about 180€, but the motive was really to get several qualifying nights while spending as little as possible to move up from Platinum to Titanium

Location

This hotel is located slightly outside the tourist center of the city. We are located towards Chinatown in an area where there are also other hotels, but mostly where you can experience the real life of the Malaysian metropolis.

The main advantage is that the skytrain stop that allows people to travel from one side of this chaotic city to the other is less than 5 minutes from the hotel door.

Check-in and room

Upon my arrival I was greeted with the classic Thanks for Loyalty to Marriott, a common practice in all hotel chains. A kind of litany that receptionists are expected to recite like a mantra dozens of times a day.

Apart from this digression, all very quick. I also activated through the app the digital key so that I don't have to worry about carrying around the room card all the time.

When I can, I always try to have the digital key on my phone: I always have that on my back and it's very convenient.

The status also gave me a free upgrade to the maximum level available in this hotel And I have to say that my room was for all intents and purposes spatial.

Not only was it huge, with an equally generous bathroom, but it had a spectacular view of the city skyline.

Hidden between the bedroom and the bathroom was also the a make-up table, really unexpected in a hotel of this category.

Let's say it could easily belong to decidedly cooler Marriott insignia such as Aloft or Moxy, but at the end of the day it's better that way because Fairfield stands for competitive price and solid service. There is no real closet, which would drive Chef Barbieri crazy, but there is a small desk and a comfortable sofa for relaxing without throwing yourself on the bed.

The bathroom as mentioned is huge: there is double sink and walk-in shower with double bathtub. Everything really beautiful.

Of course unfailing mega TV and nearly 100mb wi-fi.

Services

On the second floor is the restaurant where breakfast is served and a small gym. Small but certainly appropriate for the size of the hotel and the guests at this facility.

The floor will hold the classic partry that many hotels offer around the world: a small self-service area to grab a sandwich, soda, or beer. Because it is good to rememberlo: There is no bar or catering here, excluding breakfast.

In conclusion

Of course, you can spend hundreds of euros per night, Or spend less than two hundred to stay almost a week. I would not exclude this hotel from the options if I were to return, especially because of the proximity to the subway, which is essential not to spend hours in line or spend hundreds of euros with Uber and similar sites if the room, elsewhere, is sold for less.

• Bonvoy
• mattress run