Else Kuala Lumpur — Hotel in Kuala Lumpur

VERY BAD EXPERIENCE. I feel like being cheated. I am writing this review at 2.33am because I couldnt sleep and had to review this before anyone ELSE makes bad decisions to come here. I booked this place to bring my GF here for her birthday celebration.

Room booked: Mantra Standard King Bed Room on 1st Oct 2022 to 2nd Oct 2022. I paid RM 560 for the room with breakfast for 2.

Few points below based on the chronology of events from checking in to sleeping:

1. Carparking facilities: 2/10. There is no on groung parking space and you will need to park your car 100m away from the hotel on a open parking space which sets you back another RM 30 per day. You can however drop off your luggages before driving to the parking space. For a hotel that charges you this much, you shouldve been given a free parking spot or at least a dedicated hotel guests parking IMO.

2. Checking in: 6.5/10. We were received by a helpful belllboy at the ground floor and were escorted to the 1st floor to the check in area. Welcome drinks - orange spritz were served while we wait at the lounge. The staff seems new and it took awhile to get our keys. When we asked where was the room the receptionist just pointed and say "its over there". we were just walking ourselves fumbling to find the room and he followed us from the back. Sorry for nitpicking but shouldnt someone lead us to our room? Maybe i was expecting too much so this was still acceptable. It could be improved though.

3. Room: 2/10. i cant sleep because of these few reasons. -External sound insulation: all windows are actually single glazed windows. There are no double glazed systems. Being next door to Petaling Street you will definitely hear motorcycles/vehicles passing by every minute. -Internal sound insulation: the room door is a basic plywood door which seems to be retrofitted/reused from the old converted building and it is not custom made to the size of the door frame. Therefore there is a gap on the bottom edge of the door where external sounds will permeate into your room. The locking mechanism is flimsy and we had to pull the door till it clicks on the striker plate. Also I blamed it on bad luck that my room is on the 1st floor which is directly above the Raw Kitchen Foodhall (their all day dining restobar) and i am CONSTANTLY pestered by noises from the restaurant below. It was only up till 12am-1am ish that the voices died down. -Blinds/Curtains: The blinds are semi blackout blinds and it was so annoying as the spotlight from the building next door is shining into the room the whole night. I had to switch bed positions with my GF and face away from the windows to sleep. A little grey tinting to the windows/better blinds couldve helped so much. -Bed/sheets/pillow: this was the deal breaker. I am not a person whos has sensetive skin but i constantly woke up due to the itchiness. I suspest it could be bed bugs/unclean sheets. IT WAS SO ITCHY. The pillow they gave us was so thin it felt like there is no neck support at all. I had to put two pillows on top of each other and gathered the cotton beneath to form a proper support to sleep. It was really annoying.

4. Facilities: 6.5/10. Not much to say but the gym equipments were lacking and the rooftop pool is a standard pool with not much a view as it was only 5 stories high.

Overall, I do not recommend this hotel for the price it is charging you. It feels like a decent 3 Star hotel but charges you like a 5 star. The room cost and parking combined will set you back approx RM600.00 per night.

Total worth: Feels like a RM 300 hotel. Value for money is 3/10.

Please for the love of god for RM600 you could go to RuMa Hotel, a 5 Star hotel in Central KL where there are: -automated blinds -double glazed that provides external sound insulation -proper room door with internal sound insulations -Very spacious bedroom with sofa and study table and BETTER Bed and sheets

My partner brought me here for a birthday surprise! The staff are aware it was a bday celebration hence they gave a complimentary chocolate gift. We also had a complimentary drink at the rooftop pool area that day but strangely ONLY between 6-7pm, which was quite a short period of time haha

There was a lady staff (unsure what is her name) but she was the friendliest by far. When we were in the gym room too, she was explaining to us about the equipment. The bell boys were my most favourite. They were really friendly and helpful. They offered us an umbrella before we headed out to walk around KL cos it looked like it was about to rain. I loveeddddd the shampoo and shower gel. Shower was PERFECT. Strong pressure and good hot water.

Unfortunately here are some pointers which I think needs a lot to improve on.

Parking Unlike usual hotels, we had to park in a public parking space and bear our own cost.

Staff Alot could be improved a lot more in terms of their friendliness and readiness. My partner seemed confused when he was told where was the room by a male attendant instead of him guiding us there. Afterward, he did guide us there but there seemed to be just a small confusion which can be avoided if there was a proper SOP of the person just assisting us with our luggage and just directing us to our room instead.

Room With the price of RM560, we were hoping there would be at least a small sofa or a study table. It think it’s important cos usually after checking in, we don’t want our dirty self to be on the bed yet and usually we would rest on the sofa or study table first. I believe it’s the first hotel we have been to that has no sofa or study table.

We slept quite early but he had trouble sleeping due to the noises from the ground floor of people eating and from the outside window hearing noises of the cars and motorcycles.

The bed was very comfortable for me but unfortunately my partner was very unhappy with the pillows, cos it was too soft and sinking it. He has to use 2 pillows and a bit of his blanket to make it fluffier. In the end I offered him one more of my pillow (which means 3 pillows) to make it more comfortable

Food No comments on the dinner food, only the breakfast as we had complimentary breakfast with our room. I was quite disappointed with that cos I was looking forward to a buffet breakfast (again, it is because of the price we are paying vs other hotels we have been to) It is ala-carte based where we have fruits, starters, mains and drinks. The fruit platter was really sad .

The Exceptional Retreats in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown

It is good to be back in Kuala Lumpur! After many considerations about where to stay, my first pick is to stay at this iconic conserved Lee Rubber Building in Chinatown. It is a boutique hotel, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It’s ELSE Kuala Lumpur.

This serene wellness hotel with deco detailing and modern interiors has caught my attention. ELSE has a calm vibe with a modern tropical touch.

What makes this property attractive?

Be located in the heart of Chinatown. It is very close to the Central Market. It takes only a 5-minute walk to the nearest LRT Train Station - Pasar Seni, not to mention the infamous Petaling Street to explore the local favorite. ELSE is surrounded by many vibrant neighborhoods with attractive places, such as restaurants, cafes, bars, hawkers, famous flower stores, and temples.

The Reception Lobby

The reception lobby has a contemporary style on level 1, aesthetically pleasing. I might say it is the insta-worthy reception lobby, and It is full of curated artwork. It is not big but very comfortable.

I had a smooth check-in at the reception lobby and got a tasty welcome drink. Thank you to Arissa at the reception lobby for explaining the property very well.

The Facility

There is an outdoor pool on level 4. It has a magnificent view of the city’s hustle and bustle. The pool is not big, but it is enough for the boutique hotel. ELSE has a Gym Room and Float Studio on level 3, and although the equipment is limited, it is still acceptable, but it is not suitable for the gym freak. If you are not into exercise, you may visit the Library, situated on level 2. It has relaxing vibes while enjoying some selected books to read.

The Service

Upon my arrival, one of the concierge teams on the ground floor assisted me to level 1. Thanks to Jimmie of the concierge team. You helped me with my missing suitcase from the airport, so I went back and forth from the hotel to the airport. You have done a great job, indeed.

The team had prepared complete welcome amenities, including a complimentary cake, a fruit basket, traditional Malaysian snacks, and a personalized card welcoming me with a good decoration on my bed. It’s very thoughtful of them to prepare it for me on my special occasion.

Undoubtedly, ELSE Kuala Lumpur's services and hospitalities are unparalleled at a top-notch level. Thank you for the utmost effort given to me. The staff are attentive, well-trained, enthusiastic, and sincere. The services and hospitalities they shared with me were personalized and beyond my expectations. Kudos to Mr. Spencer Han, the General Manager. You had such a solid team. Bravo!

All in all, I had a remarkable stay at ELSE Kuala Lumpur. I can not wait to stay again! I will recommend my colleagues, friends, and family to stay here, indeed.

Additional credit goes to Ryan and Amirun. Thank you for the help during my stay at ELSE.

PS: If you are a Malaysian resident, please avoid bringing the vehicle. It is better to use public transportation. So no need to worry about parking your cars.

Tips: Pick a room with a terrace. You can enjoy the view of the hustle and bustle...