The Ritz-Carlton, your home in Kuala Lumpur

Stay in The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur and you could shop, dine-out and relax by the swimming pool without stepping outside the confines of the complex.

This 248-room hotel tower is connected by a walkway to the Ritz-Carlton Residence, and then to the Starhill Gallery, Malaysia's newest and most exclusive shopping mall, where the finest brand names in the world are to be found.

The Starhill Gallery also features one of the most luxurious food-courts ever created; indeed this is really a collection of 16 individual restaurants, from Mythai to Jake's Charbroll Steak and Asian cuisines from Indian through to South Korean.

This is a formidable line-up and the Ritz-Carlton has cleverly decided not to compete, and instead the hotel limits itself to the Li Yen award-winning Cantonese restaurant. However, guests may choose to have club facilities in The Ritz-Carlton lounge on the 14th floor with five food and beverage presentations daily, including breakfast.

KL's biggest rooms

Rooms in The Ritz-Carlton are the largest in Kuala Lumpur at 46 square metres, and are decorated in the traditional Ritz-Carlton style with a collection of 19th and 20th century artworks. The marble bathrooms are also typical of the chain with separate showers and full amenities.

But the full butler service is a welcome addition. For club guests the butler service also includes complimentary laundry with next day delivery, and how pleasant to have your soiled garments taken away on arrival. The butler is also on hand to help you pack, and knows how best to squeeze shopping into suitcases from long experience.

The hotel is well located, just 10 minutes away from the Petronas Twin Towers, now the world's second tallest building which has a large shopping mall in its basement, and five minutes away from the Bintang Walk, another popular area for shopping and dining.

If you tire of shopping and eating, then retreat to the hotel's 'Spa Village' with multiple treatment rooms for massage and beauty treatments, and its own exclusive outdoor swimming pool with waterfalls. Or the more energetic can try the 24-hour fitness centre, sauna, Jaccuzi and terrace swimming pool.

Limited sightseeing

It has to be said that cultural attractions in Kuala Lumpur are limited. Our taxi driver claimed that all the main sights could be done in three hours, and even that proved too long. This could clearly be a disadvantage for longer stays.

However, Kuala Lumpur is well blessed with some excellent shopping bargains such as local brand name shoes and handbags; and food is relatively inexpensive and of very high quality; alcohol is available everywhere, even in the street, which is unusual in a Muslim country.

So if you are heading for the 'Malaysia, truly Asia' experience then it would make sense to make yourself as at home as possible by staying in the Ritz-Carlton while you are there.