Hotel Al Jafs - Accommodations in KL

Hotel Al Jafs was one of the 6 KL hotels I booked during my last long haul November/December trip; two of them (Beltif Hotel and Sunbow Hotel Residency) I've stayed in before. This hotel is particularly memorable because I found it hard to locate. In fact, as early as my 1st arrival, I already tried looking for this - and failed! The hotel is actually closer to the Alor area, specifically Hotel Radius International. My booking goes: after a night at Hotel Radius, I'd check out and transfer to Hotel Al Jafs where I'd only stay for 7 to 8 hours since I had a flight after midnight. This was like a transit stay.

Upon research, this hotel rates well with guests, and I like the fact that you don't get charged for early arrival like I was charged 50 ringgit for arriving 1 hour too early at the Hotel Radius International which is one hotel I would not recommend for various reasons. I was, of course, curious. True enough, checking in was a breeze, which was a good thing because it took me more than 30 minutes to find the hotel. Funny thing was, I just found it the day before so how could I get very lost again - this time with a very heavy 15-kilogram bag (it was like punishment)!

The girl at the counter was far from being warm, considering the fact that I was the only one there (read: she wasn't busy). That didn't matter to me; I wasn't there to make good friends. I was given my key. I went up the mezzanine floor to find the restaurant (where you get your breakfast that's included in the Agoda booking). The lift is on this floor. I was heading towards the 3rd floor (which should be the 5th level, as per Philippine assignation). There were water jugs on the hallways, and the floor was immaculate. But there was hardly anyone there.

The room wasn't big (though it's bigger than rooms at Le Apple Boutique Hotel). There was a split-type AC, a LCD TV with international channels, a free wifi connection, a kettle for hot water for tea/coffee, hot and cold water, and 2 complimentary bottles of water. The bathroom was dry, clean, and the fixtures looked relatively new. Toiletries were likewise provided. My window had a view of the skyline. Al Jafs has 44 rooms.

The bed was comfortably soft and the sheets smelled clean. On TV was an Indian talent show that had special guest judges - superstar Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, stars of the new Bollywood release, "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" ("As Long as There is Life"). Was it serendipity that I actually went to see this the night before? Figured I had to watch it for a lot of reasons: SRK stars in it; this Indian film is being shown simultaneously all over the world - it was in Manila when I left, it was all over Australia and it's now in Malaysia. I just couldn't miss it. But I was tired that I eventually slept through the results.

TENETS OF GOOD WILL

Sometime before 6 PM, I went out to buy a couple of DVD's I missed buying the night before. By this time, I had some 50 titles with me. This didn't take long. Upon my return to the hotel, I saw a morose guy at the lobby. I nodded, but he stopped me. "You have a room?" he asked. No hellos, no nods, no greeting! "Yes, idiot, I do. Otherwise, I wouldn't get inside." I thought. I raised my keys and hopped away. The odd thing here is, they couldn't even offer a polite "hello" or a smile - any welcoming gesture; why would I offer them any? I didn't know who he was - or was I supposed to greet every Tom, Dick and Harry I see at the lobby? I was a paying guest, I didn't have to, you know. While I understand the security measures they had to uphold, it wouldn't hurt if they showed a little courtesy first. Acknowledging anyone who comes into the front door is key. After all, this business is based on the tenets of good will which is part of what they are selling; not just the rooms.

BELATED HOSPITALITY

A couple of hours later, I was already carrying my bag to check out. I handed my card key. "I'm checking out," I told the counter lady. She dramatically quipped, "Why?" At least she remembered that I just got in a few hours ago. "Because I have a flight to catch?" I replied. Suddenly, the warmth and hospitality that was vaguely there came flooding by. Both from the counter girl and the non-smiling man I met earlier. "Aww, that's too bad," she said, then added, "See you again next time." I chuckled. I had to. It was too funny to feel so welcome only when I was leaving.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Entrance

Front desk

Lobby and waiting room

Hotel Radius International is nearby. Just walk at the end of the street seen here, then turn left at the corner.

Stairs from the mezzanine.

Dining Room: mostly abandoned after breakfast.

Lift

My room at the 3rd floor.

Indian Superstar Shahrukh Khan comments about a contestant who sang one of his earlier songs.

Window view

Notice the detail on the wall.

From this corner stop, you could see Hotel Radius International.

Hotel Al Jafs is located at No. 17-19 Jalan Bedara, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (behind Hotel Istana). Call them at 03 - 21433700. Emai them at info@hotelaljafs.com.

For more information, updates, rates and location, visit their website: http://www.hotelaljafs.com

Sunbow Hotel Residency - Accommodations in KL

The building itself is behemoth, with a green base and four red-and-yellow towers rising several stories from it. Sunbow Hotel Residency is perfectly located in the heart of Bukit Bintang. In fact, if you like roaming around the spiffy Pavilion and the more affordable Berjaya Times Square, this is the best place for you to stay. Berjaya is literally at its back; two buildings to its right is Low Yat Plaza (the IT arcade). There's a Chinese restaurant close to Low Yat which serves roast pork with rice at just 5.50 ringgit (and you can choose all-roast or a combination with pork BBQ). What's better is, it has an amorous Pinay waitress serving you ("Naku, maraming Pinoy, mayayabang, 'di namamansin."). And there are several restaurants more - cheap and otherwise around this area. There's also a 24-hour internet shop/convenience store nearby (which can print and photocopy).

The lobby of the hotel is located at the 10th floor so you have to take the elevator - there are three elevators which are always full (and slow); make sure you take the one in the middle because it passes by the 10th floor. This boutique hotel has 38 rooms. Since it's relatively new, everything here glistens, from the very clean floors to the modern, glass-interiored bathroom. My twin room at 152, at the extreme end of the hallway didn't have a window - so they hang a brown curtain on the wall. What's particularly likable here is how comfortable (and fragrant-smelling) the bed is. In fact, once my head hit the fluffy pillows (two of them per bed), I was taken straight to dreamland.

Your Agoda booking doesn't include breakfast, but options abound in the area. In fact, just outside the building is an inexpensive restaurant (if you're not picky). Unlike most hotels, Sunbow doesn't offer complimentary bottled water which is standard for most hotels all over Asia. Even the cheapest guesthouses have them. Not here. They also ask for a refundable 50-ringgit deposit per room. At the lobby, there's a brochure that peddles trips (70-ringgit for Batu Caves and, I think, 350-ringgit for Cameron Highlands) but you're really better off with DIY-journeys.

You will meet a lot of Pinoys and other expats (Indians, Africans, Arabs) at the lobby, since the higher floors (red-and-yellow buildings) are residential units. Your entrance at the ground floor is through a nondescript lobby punctuated by a huge shop selling Chinese products and, right across it, is an entertainment bar of sorts featuring Chinese acts. Just head straight to the elevator. Sunbow isn't directly beside Bukit Bintang (street), but slightly tucked away from the main tourist lane. It is midway between Jalan Pudu and Low Yat Plaza.

They have a Facebook page that doesn't seem to reply to queries.  http://www.facebook.com/sunbowhotelresidency

How do you get to Sunbow Hotel from KLIA or LCCT? Get yourself to Bukit Bintang (taxi, train or bus), find Low Yat Plaza and you are nearby. I had to transfer from Le Apple Hotel to get to Sunbow. Lovely place for a base around KL.

This is the Eye in the Sky.

Facing the Sunbow Hotel is Sky Hotel. The street facing that pink building is Bukit Bintang already.

Hotel's front desk. Elevator directly opens to this through mirrored wall. 

Very comfortable beds.

Behind the curtain is not a window, but plywood.

Empty refrigerator, relatively new AC, desk...

Television

Through a sliding door is this very clean bathroom. The shower room is demarcated by glass walls.

Nice faucet.

From my room at the end of the hallway...

Other options, if budget is tight:

- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/03/accommodations-in-kuala-lumpur-part-1.html
- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/03/accommodations-in-kuala-lumpur-part-2.html
- http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/04/backpack-accommodation-in-kl-part-3.html

Building lobby where you find an entertainment center. Proceed to the middle elevator. The one at the sides only reach the 9th floor so you have to take the stairs to get to the 10th or wait for the center elevator again (a long wait mostly) to get to 10th.