The most worth-staying hotels in Malaysia are these, cheap and comfortable!
I have undergone a clear transformation when it comes to staying in hotels. Initially, I was overly reliant on hotel groups and loved standardization. During that time, I stayed in many places under the Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Shangri-La names, and I also managed to apply for memberships across various major hotel groups.
Later, I began to gradually fall in love with boutique hotels. Brands like Relais & Châteaux, Small Luxury Hotels (SLH), and Leading Hotels of the World became my favorites. Now, I prefer local hotels—those that focus specifically on a destination or a few select destinations. I find that these local hotel brands often have good locations, high cost-performance ratios, and stories to tell.
For example, during my recent trip to Sri Lanka, I stayed at Aman and Relais & Châteaux, but I also experienced local brands like Jetwing and Heritage. While Aman and Relais & Châteaux are indeed excellent in Sri Lanka, Jetwing and Heritage offer much greater value for money. Additionally, local hotel groups often occupy the best locations. For instance, Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle provides an incredible beachfront position.
Similarly, in Thailand, I recommend Anantara and Dusit; in Vietnam, Vinpearl; Bali’s Ayana is quite impressive; and in areas with significant Chinese populations, Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula are always worth staying at. As for Malaysia, it’s obviously YTL Hotels (Yeoh Tiong Lay Hotel Group).
Let’s put it this way: SLH has a total of 9 hotels in Malaysia, with 5 of them being YTL properties, which accounts for more than half. YTL is not only found in Malaysia; they also own hotels like the Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui, the Surin in Phuket, and the hidden Ritz-Carlton in Nanshan Valley.
We have already stayed at 9 YTL hotels (Pangkor Laut, The Majestic, Gaya Island, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur, MO Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands Resort, and The Majestic Malacca), and all of them are in Malaysia. Considering that there are only 12 YTL hotels in total in Malaysia, we have already visited 80% of them. In February, we will also be going to the YTL properties in Koh Samui and Phuket. It’s about time to write a detailed introduction to YTL.
Why choose YTL? First and foremost is the high cost-performance ratio. The three resorts under YTL—Pangkor Laut, The Majestic, and Gaya Island—typically charge around 1000 MYR per day, which includes all meals for one person. All three are part of the SLH as well, making them quite competitive among Southeast Asia’s island resorts. Many hotels are expensive primarily due to brand names.
Secondly, local hotel groups tend to occupy even better locations than international hotel groups. For example, The Majestic Kuala Lumpur is in the super central area, less than 100 meters from the Kuala Lumpur metro station, which you could argue qualifies it as a true Kuala Lumpur metro station.
YTL’s Pangkor Laut Resort, situated on the private island of Pangkor Laut in the Strait of Malacca, features one island, one hotel. This is a 300-acre private island with 148 villas and over 300 staff members on hand.
Gaya Island Resort is located on Gaya Island, which is part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Just think about how phenomenal the surroundings must be.
Moreover, YTL hotels have stories behind them, and I genuinely love hotels that have history. Pangkor Laut is a favorite of Mr. Yeoh Tiong Lay himself, and even now, his children frequently come to the island for vacations. Celebrities like David Beckham and Charlize Theron have vacationed here, and Michelle Yeoh and Li Xinjie celebrated their weddings here.
The Majestic Kuala Lumpur was originally built in 1932 and has now been declared a national historical and cultural heritage site by the Malaysian government. This hotel was symbolic of Malaysia’s prosperity following World War II.
In this article, we will do a simple recap of the 9 YTL hotels we have stayed at. All of these nine are in Malaysia, out of 11 YTL hotels in total. We managed to stay at 9 of them in 2023. Currently, Malaysia has a visa-free policy, so our recommendations are purpose-driven. Perhaps after the New Year, YTL products will emerge.
Let’s start with the two Majestic hotels. When I travel to Southeast Asia, I particularly enjoy staying in hotels that have a sense of history and ceremony. The Majestic brand is rich in historical significance in Malaysia.
The Majestic Kuala Lumpur opened in 1932 and features an English classical design that is a relic from the British colonial period in Malaysia. The hotel consists of a new building and an old building, with the old building being opened in 1932, steeped in British style. Here are some pictures of the rooms in the old building.
The new building opened in 2012 and has rooms that are comparatively boutique. Just look at the quality of this room; it’s truly beautiful. The off-peak price is just over 600 MYR per night. Staying at The Majestic is genuinely a great value in Kuala Lumpur.
The Majestic Kuala Lumpur has an aura of old money, with a barbershop specially targeting gentlemen. The hotel also features a flower-filled afternoon tea bar, showcasing a restaurant overflowing with flowers.
The Majestic Malacca was established in 1929, initially as a private residence for a wealthy Chinese businessman. Since it was converted from a Straits Chinese residence, the entire hotel embodies Peranakan style.
The hotel is located along the banks of the Malacca River, right in the city center, making it very convenient for guests. The hotel even provides its own Malacca travel map, and most attractions are within walking distance.
The restaurant serves authentic Peranakan cuisine.
The Majestic Malacca is quite affordable too, with basic rooms including breakfast frequently going for just over 600 MYR a night, which is excellent value. I personally like this hotel’s rooms a great deal.
Next, let’s talk about the three island resorts under YTL that I visited last year.
Pangkor Laut Resort is Malaysia’s first island resort (opened in 1985 and renovated in 2013), far earlier than the now-famous Sipadan. The resort has preserved the tropical rainforest, which is over 2 million years old, by only developing 30% of the island for hotel use. This water villa offers exceptional value.
Pangkor Laut offers a high level of privacy; non-resident guests are not allowed on the island, nor can they snorkel nearby. Opened in 1985, it has hosted numerous legendary figures over the years, including David Beckham, Prince William, and Parvati. Michelle Yeoh and Li Xinjie’s weddings also took place here.
The value for money at this resort is high—taking the Hill Villas as an example, a promotional package was about 3000 MYR for three nights per person, including all meals, round-trip transport from Kuala Lumpur, and activities like yoga, tennis, and swimming. We have recommended it before.
The architectural design of the resort is inspired by traditional Malaysian wooden stilt houses, with standalone villas hidden in the tropical forest, allowing trees to grow freely through the open corridors. The rooms here are also quite nice.
Pangkor Laut even features water villas.
The Shadow of the Moon Resort is located in the southern part of Terengganu State, boasting a crescent-shaped golden beach. To preserve the ecological integrity of the area, the architecture was designed to yield to nature. The entire resort is modeled after a 17th-century Malaysian Sultan’s palace, with the buildings having traditional wooden stilt house features, cloaked in rainforests and resembling local villages.
The resort’s private beach faces the vast South China Sea and is only accessible to hotel guests. A few lounge chairs and open beds are placed strategically for relaxation and perfect photo opportunities.
The hotel has a proper sea turtle breeding facility. If your visit coincides with turtle nesting and hatching season, you might just witness baby turtles hatching and making their way back to the ocean as guided by the staff.
Regarding accommodations, the basic room at The Shadow of the Moon Resort has an area of 55 square meters, making it spacious. All rooms come equipped with a small bed that serves both as a lounge chair and as suitable sleeping arrangements for a family of three. This is a thoughtful touch.
However, since the resort opened in 1993, even though it has been continuously updated, some rooms may feel somewhat dated, perhaps because facilities like air conditioning, fans, and locks still resemble older designs to maintain historical authenticity.
Gaya Island is the largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. It is not one island, one hotel; three hotels are located on Gaya Island: Gaya Island Resort, the Jesselton Hotel, and the Pacific Sutera Hotel. This is also a private island, where non-hotel guests are not permitted.
Gaya Island features wildlife and marine centers that not only provide marine knowledge but also focus on protecting and rescuing sea turtles.
The accommodations on Gaya Island are also villa-style, hidden within the tropical jungle.
For these three island resorts under YTL, I recommend opting for an all-inclusive model that includes meals and transport; otherwise, you won’t find other dining options on the island.
YTL also has a resort in Cameron Highlands, aptly named Cameron Highlands Resort, which is also part of SLH. Cameron Highlands is often referred to as “Little England” in Malaysia, standing at an elevation of 1500 meters, with an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, resembling non-winter England somewhat.
Cameron Highlands is about a 3.5-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, making it easy to visit alongside a trip to Kuala Lumpur.
The hotel is an expansion of a cottage from the 1930s, featuring architecture that dates back to the 1070s. The interior décor is filled with glory, romance, and nostalgia, exuding traditional English charm.
This place really feels very English, resembling an English estate. It has its own golf course and offers opportunities to explore the mysterious paths of Jim Thompson with a butler.
The hotel boasts just over 50 rooms, all in British colonial style.
Additionally, we visited three YTL city hotels in Kuala Lumpur: the Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and MO Hotel. These are urban-type hotels and quite nice, but if I had to choose, I would pick The Majestic Kuala Lumpur because I dislike the uniformity of many hotel chains.
At the end of February, I will be visiting the YTL properties in Koh Samui and Phuket as well, so I will save that for my next article.
If you travel to Malaysia, I recommend placing special consideration on YTL properties. For example, The Majestic Kuala Lumpur and The Majestic Malacca are well-located hotels with a unique feel, usually priced at 600 MYR or more. The island resorts also generally charge around 1000 MYR per person, which includes meals and transfers, providing excellent value.
Related reading:
YTL Hotels official website: www.ytlhotels.com
