Hotel Capitol – A Nice Budget Hotel in Bukit Bintang
Recently I booked a few nights at Hotel Capitol in Kuala Lumpur to make this review. Usually I stay over at the nearby Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang but I passed by Hotel Capitol many times. This time I decided to stay at Hotel Capitol so I could check it out and share my thoughts here.
Also while I was checking room rates I saw Hotel Capitol was charging about $60USD a night including taxes on Agoda. So I figured why not check it out for a couple of nights. As it wasn’t that expensive at the time.
Hotel Capitol is listed as a 3 star hotel but there’s no gym or swimming pool. Which is not unusual for budget hotels around Kuala Lumpur.
Hotel Capitol Location
If you want to be in the heart of shopping centers with good mix of Malay, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indian foods, Bukit Bintang will not disappoint you.
Hotel Capitol is located on Jalan Bulan 1, just several minutes walk from the main drag of Jalan Bukit Bintang. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Imbi KL Monorail station.
I never bothered taking a taxi to any hotel I’ve stayed in Bukit Bintang. I’ve always used the KL Monorail system because it’s easy and cheap from KL Sentral station.
If you are not familiar with the area, the best way to find Hotel Capitol is to locate Low Yat Plaza, a popular electronics mall in Bukit Bintang. Low Yat Plaza is directly right across from the hotel.
What’s Nearby
As I already mentioned there are many restaurants near Hotel Capitol especially shopping centers:
Jalan Alor – This very popular street food area is a 5 minute walk from Hotel Capitol and opens during the evening hours. Although Jalan Alor is popular I suggest checking out other restaurants especially local Indian food centers.
Fahrenheit Shopping Center – A shopping center brand name and loca Malay shops as well.
Pavilion Shopping Mall – The is KL’s premier luxury shopping center.
Lot 10 – Not a great selection of shops at Lot 10. But there is a very good food court in the basement level.
Sungwei Plaza – This humongous shopping center is particularly popular with the locals. It’s kind of like the MBK shopping center in Bangkok. You can find a lot of knock off and counterfeit items inside Sungwei Plaza.
Berjaya Times Square – Of all the shopping centers the Berjaya Times Square is the most popular particularly with the locals and foreign tourists. There’s even a small amusement park inside.
Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur Review
Hotel Capitol is not a big hotel with 235 rooms. When I made my booking via Agoda I requested a non smoking room on a high floor. If you can’t stand the stench of cigarettes you best ask for a non-smoking room because in Malaysia a lot of people smoke.
For the first night I had to stay at a smoking room though because there were no non-smoking rooms available when I checked in. Luckily the next day one was available so hotel reception helped me make a room change.
A million dollar view for budget room price at Hotel Capitol…
I specifically requested a high room because I’ve read that you can get a really nice city view of Kuala Lumpur, especially the magnificently lit up Petronas Twin Towers.
And I got a room on the 11th floor which I was happy to find out that the entire floor has non smoking rooms. So you don’t really need to get a room that high up.
Still A Good Budget Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
Hotel Capitol was built in 1997. So it’s an old hotel and it really shows on the room carpets. I am not aware if the hotel has gone through any major renovations but I certainly do see certain repairs and upgrades, at least in the rooms I’ve been in.
I do have a gripe which is I found a few old stains on the bed sheets. I’ve been to many budget hotels in Asia and it’s one thing you just learn to expect.
I have seen some photos of Hotel Capitol’s premium and bigger rooms but those cost 4 times the price of a superior room. To me I can’t justify paying that much for a 3 star hotel.
But if you’re traveling alone and you just need a good clean(ish) hotel to sleep in with many excellent nearby restaurants, shopping and train stations Hotel Capitol is a recommended budget hotel in Bukit Bintang.
For discounts and and to read current guests reviews for Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur click here.
One of my favorite cities in another country to visit from Thailand is Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. It’s just a short flight from Bangkok and then a couple of train rides to a popular tourist hot spot called Bukit Bintang where I always choose a hotel.
Bukit Bintang – A Popular Tourists Destination
And there is a KL Monorail station right in the heart of Bukit Bintang so there’s no need to rely on taxis getting to the airport or anywhere else within KL proper.
That’s the KL Monorail leaving Bukit Bintang station.
I’ve stayed in various hotels all over Bukit Bintang that cost between $40USD to $75USD. On a recent visit to KL, I stayed in Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang for the very first time. This is a budget hotel located on a very quiet corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Bintang.
Today it is evermore
This hotel is super easy to find. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Imbi KL Monorail station. Alternatively, you can get off Bukit Bintang KL Monorail Station too and from there walk west on Jalan Bukit Bintang which requires a 10-minute walk.
Points of Interest Around Sky Hotel
One of the reasons why I like staying around Bukit Bintang is because there are lots of malls. Ironically I’m not a shopper. But I just like walking around and checking stuff out. Okay, occasionally I’ll splurge and buy a little something.
There’s the posh Pavillion Mall where you can find a lot of high-end fashion clothes, jewelry, and many sorts of goods and services. I usually chill out at a cafe called Coffee Coffea on the top floor almost every day. This mall is about a 15-minute walk due east on Jalan Bukit Bintang from Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang.
Pavillion Mall, a posh mall in Bukit Bintang area, just minutes away on foot from Piccolo Hotel…
Then there’s Sungwei Plaza. It’s kind of the MBK Mall in Bangkok where you find all sorts of odds and ends. Clothing, luggage, electronics, watches, and mobile phones are all there mashed into one giant shopping center. This mall is about a 10-minute walk to Sky Hotel and has a station connection to Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station.
Lot 10 is a medium-sized mall with brand names such as Zara and H&M. There is also an Isetan inside but as of writing, it’s undergoing major renovation. The upper floors of Lot 10 seem quiet with most of the big-name shops occupying the street level. Be sure to check out the food courts in the basement level where you will discover a lot of Malaysian good eats. Lot 10 is directly across Sungwei Plaza.
I forgot what this was called, but it was damn good…
Low Yat Plaza is the mall to go for gadgets and techs. I don’t know if the prices for computers, cell phones, and cameras inside are good or not but seems like a good place to go for those items.
Finally, there’s Berjaya Times Square. It’s the mother of all malls in the Bukit Bintang area. And it’s only a 5-minute walk to Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang. It’s all the malls I mentioned above combined into one. That’s how big it is. There’s even a small amusement park on the upper floor and you’ll also find a movie theater inside as well.
The Hotel Review
So now you know what’s around the hotel’s area. Sky Hotel is listed as a 3-star hotel. I rate it in the 2-star category. 2 stars is not a bad thing though. I booked a room with no windows for around $35USD a night with taxes included. No breakfast, however, but I don’t even think this hotel serves food anyhow.
18 square meter studio king room…
Upon check-in, I was given a choice of whether I wanted to stay on the lower floor or the higher floor.
I asked the receptionist which was better?
The answer was the lower floor rooms were in better shape. So I said okay I’ll stay on the lower floor.
Not a lot of channels on the television but what it had counts. There was the BBC and some Fox movie channels. A couple of bottled waters are complimentary every night and there is an electric kettle to make tea.
I’m guessing that’s where a refrigerator should go… but where is it?A nice decent bathroom…
When I got to my room it was what I expected. There’s no window but I knew that already before I booked it. There is a room safe in the closet with decent space and the bathroom was spacious too. Not bad though there were minor flaws in the room I’m not the type to go off about it.
The bum gun… out of order?
For example, on some nights my towels looked grey and passed its prime with old blotches of brown stains. A quick call to reception and the towels were replaced. The bum gun looked like it was missing an important piece. But I could live without the bum gun. You can’t complain because the room costs $35 a night. At least the bed was clean and comfortable.
Fitness Room
There’s a tiny room with 3 new-looking cardio machines. It looks way too tight inside but I have to give them an A for effort.
One big gripe that I have with the hotel however is the doors that join rooms together. Those doors were really thin. You could even hear the TV in the other room on. For a couple of nights, at least three guys were staying next to my room talking loudly. One of them even laughed like a hyena. No seriously, a hyena.
This is the entrance to Jalan Alor, a popular hawker food area in KL… a very short walk from Sky Hotel
The hotel should bulk up those doors for better soundproofing. I asked reception if I could move to another room but that was the only room type I booked that was available. Though reception offered to speak to the guests in the next room on my behalf I said it was okay as I found out they were checking out the next day. I could put up with the hyena for one more night.
The Verdict
Overall, Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang was satisfactory and certainly one of the better-budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Though I know that there are many hotels in the area that if you pay a little bit more you’ll get an even better quality room. But if I can’t get a good rate elsewhere I would certainly stay at this hotel again.
Because the Sky Hotel is certainly in a very good area, close to two KL Monorail stations of Imbi and Bukit Bintang. And there are so many restaurants nearby that are cheap and taste so good from Chinese to Indian cuisine.
The studio no window room I stayed in at the time cost about $ 35 USD a night. If you want a window room but the same 18 square meter size you will have to pay about $8USD to $12USD more. Still not a bad deal at all.
Read more guests reviews and find discounts for Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang here.
Kuala Lumpur: One of My Favorite City to Visit Again and Again
Kuala Lumpur has a lot of unique districts but I always like to stay in an area called Bukit Bintang. It’s the city’s shopping and entertainment district so like me, many travelers choose to find a hotel in Bukit Bintang.
For a few years Bukit Bintang is undergoing a massive MRT subway construction project. Pavements and roads are being torn up and shredded to make way for progress as KL is growing at a rapid pace. And I believe the new subway line will be completed in a few more years. It’s a city that is fastly expanding and competing against other Southeast Asian nations.
Lots of construction around in Bukit Bintang…
So as of writing, Bukit Bintang’s a central portion of the area is under huge construction. But there are plenty of safety barriers to direct and protect pedestrian walkways.
Plenty of places to eat around Bukit Bintang. One particular restaurant I go to is called Arraaziq. You’ll find it right across the street from Low Yat Plaza. There are many Indian/Arab restaurants located all over KL. Sometimes it can seem intimidating going into one of these restaurants. But people inside can speak English and they are quite friendly and polite in helping customers choose what they want to eat.
After filling up on some hearty food I usually go to the Pavillion Mall for coffee. I always go to a cafe called Coffea Coffee on the 6th floor. Their coffee is quite good and the free Wi-Fi is quite fast and reliable. It’s the perfect place to compose a post for this blog or just chill out for a bit.
Hot Latte at Coffea Coffee
What else do I do in KL? There is Chinatown which is not far from Bukit Bintang via the KL Monorail. It’s a great place to take in some street photos.
But I also head down to KL’s Chinatown because there is a temple or an association rather dedicated to the Chan clan, my family name. Way back when a Chan came over to Malaysia and did super well. Eventually the temple was built to welcome more Chans from China.
It’s called the Green Temple. As you can see on photos below it’s green. Namewise it’s called Chan She Shu Yuen Temple.
I suppose that’s why I drop by the Green Temple every time I’m in the area. Its got my family name and generations of Chans possibly came through those very same doors, eyes wide open in the hopes of a brighter future and a new life in Malaysia.
But Malaysia is not just all about the Chinese. There are local Malays and Indians too of course. And with that comes different religions of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. In this crazy world where everyone is different in most parts, everyone gets along pretty well in Malaysia. There are flare ups of tensions between ethnicities but tell me which country doesn’t have that problem.
Anyways, this blog isn’t about politics. How about some photos of cute kitties?
On this trip I also had an opportunity to spend a few hours with Robin Wong, a local Malay photo blogger with an encyclopedia wealth of knowledge on Olympus micro 4/3 camera systems.
Robin Wong, one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met…
On a Saturday morning Robin took me to an area I’ve never been to before but heard about. It’s the Chow Kit Market. It’s a dry/wet market that is common in most Asian countries where locals go to buy groceries. With so many local interactions in Chow Kit it was no wonder why it’s one of Robin’s favorite areas to go on one of his shutter therapy sessions.
I have to admit, I haven’t been too adventurous when it comes to exploring more local areas in KL. So I was very appreciative to Robin for showing me around Chow Kit. Now that I know how to get there I can feel comfortable exploring that area alone some time.
But the places that I do discover on my own are usually a real treat. For instance while exploring parts of Little India I came across Sin Sze Ya Temple. It’s a Taoist Temple located in Pudu, which is also just a 3 minute walk from Jalan Petaling Street.
A little history of this charming temple…
After checking out the history of Sin Sze Ya Temple I learned it’s where students go before big exams. Even though there’s a greater history to this temple. That’s what I like about Malaysia, or pretty much wherever I travel to around Asia. Lots and lots of fascinating history.
Inside the temple you can certainly feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It was a Sunday I came to visit Sin Sze Ya Temple so surprisingly it wasn’t very busy and crowded. And I liked it. There are some benches you can sit on and just take in the interior. Up above on the base of the roof are these open windows that really helps circulate the air.
A beautiful shaft of light above temple altar…
I remember going to temples such as this back in NYC with my mom…
Just beautiful natural lighting all around Sin Sze Ya Temple…
Certainly a temple with a lot of character…
But if you’re inside when the sun is high and bright you’ll be treated to a beautiful light show. I’m sure the architect of Sin Sze Ya Temple planned to place a window above the altar so a beautiful stream of light would surround worshippers offering burning incense.
You often hear that many cities in Asia are fastly developing towards the future with many skyscrapers and modern transportation systems being built or at least planned for the near future. So a lot of the older historical buildings get knocked down to make way for progress. This is certainly the case in Thailand.
Looks like a fancy hotel being built across Pavillion Mall…
It’s also happening in Malaysia as well it seems. But progress also benefits the local citizens as well. And shiny new skyscrapers attract foreign investments which in turn spur jobs and growth. There are quite a lot of train systems with new ones being developed. And it’s great for travelers as well too in a way for exploring more of this wonderful country.
The KL monorail is not an extensive line, however there are many train lines in the city…
I’ve been to Malaysia, specifically Kuala Lumpur numerous times. And I can tell you it never gets boring. And I can’t wait to explore more of this wonderful country.
One of the most majestic skyscrapers in the world, the Petronas Towers…
I’ll be heading over to Malaysia in a few weeks. Every year when I have to head out to do a Visa run I usually head over to Kuala Lumpur. It’s also a perfect excuse to get out and eat all that awesome Malay cuisine. Plus I’ve always enjoyed visiting Malaysia. Downside is I’ll be going back to Thailand a kilo heavier from eating all the good food.
I always stop by this temple on the way to the Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown…
Even though Malaysia is so close to Thailand the vibe is different despite there are so many similarities. Malaysia and Thailand both have some sort of Chinese roots. But With Malaysia it seems to run a little deeper. At least that’s how I feel. But I love how Malay and Indian plus Chinese culture are intertwined.
A little outdoor market I stumbled on parallel to Jalan Petaling…
Malaysia to me also has a very laid back feel. Nobody seems to be in a rush. It used to be like that in Bangkok too but these days most people seem to be walking just a notch faster.
I’ve walked around KL, specifically in the Sentral KL area. There are loads of historical sights and I remember there was a Hop on Hop off bus tour that takes you to most tourists attractions in the city. I went a 4 years ago but this time I might take the tour again, who knows there might be something new this time around.
Whenever I get asked where is a good place to stay in Kuala Lumpur I always suggest an area called Bukit Bintang. I’ve stayed in a couple of hotels in that area but the one I frequently stay at is called the Piccolo Hotel (called ANSA Kuala Lumpur Hotel today).
The Piccolo was built back in 2008. Yeah, it sounds old but it’s remarkably well kept. And although I’m not a 100% sure there must’ve been some renovation done sometime ago to look the way it looks.
ANSA Hotel superior room are about 30 square meters…
I always choose the superior rooms and for some reason on Agoda.com you get two rates, one cheaper and the other more expensive. So of course I book the cheaper ones which cost about $65USD.
I’ve booked at deluxe room a couple of times at the ANSA Hotel but to me there is not much difference in terms of quality between the two room grades. There’s free in room Wi-Fi internet access too.
Last time I went a superior room at Piccolo cost about $65USD per night with taxes included…
The bathrooms layout could be a little bit weird because the toilet and the shower is not in a separate room. There’s just glass separating those two facilities from the rest of the room. I suppose that’s fine if you’re staying with your spouse or close family but if you’re bunking with a friend it might be kinda uncomfortable due to limited privacy. Or maybe that’s just me.
Toilet and shower stalls in room…
So what’s so good about the ANSA Hotel?
It’s one of the hotels closest to the Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station. I always take the buses from KLIA2 because I fly in from Air Asia. I also take the SkyBus which is Air Asia’s official bus to KL Sentral where I take the KL Monorail line to Bukit Bintang. The SkyBus fare is only RM9.50 and the bus trip takes about 1 hour. A single journey fare from KL Sentral to Bukit Bintang cost RM2.10, very cheap.
At KL Sentral you’ll see it’s a major travel hub with trains and buses that go all over Malaysia. There is also a big mall attached to KL Sentral. Follow the signs through the mall and you’ll find the entrance to the KL Monorail. As I recall the station platforms are on the second floor.
And you’ll find a lot of shopping malls adjacent to ANSA KL Hotel:
Lot 10 Mall – Cool food court in the basement.
Sungei Wang Shopping Plaza – This place is kind of like the MBK Mall of Kuala Lumpur.
Farenheit – A mix of luxury shops and local businesses.
Pavillion Mall – A high end posh mall in the heart of Bukit Bintang.
There are a lot of other malls too just a bit further away like the Berjaya Times Square. You can walk there in about 10 or 15 minutes.
A huge plate of food at Food Republic in Pavillion Mall, with a drink it cost about $5.50USD…
Bukit Bintang is also a gem of an area for food. Indian, Arab, Chinese, you name it you’ll find it or a combination of it. It’s a wonderful food paradise. But because Bukit is a tourist area food prices are higher but still manageable.
I forgot to mention, you can also walk to Kuala Lumpur’s most famous landmark, the Petronas Towers in about 30 minutes. The Piccolo is a good hotel for exploring Kuala Lumpur. There’s a KL Hop on Hop Off tour bus that stops right in front of the hotel sidewalk.
Read guests reviews and find current discounts for ANSA Kuala Lumpur. (Note- On Agoda ANSA is rated as a 4 star hotel. Personally I think it’s a 3 at best, which is still good.)
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