Ibis Styles Sepang KLIA — Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia

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We stayed here October 22-24, 2024 ($102 /night with breakfast). We have a website page dedicated to best airport hotels and, sorry, but this property doesn’t make our list. There’s strengths (including the restaurant, bed quality, pool and free airport shuttle) but the weaknesses overwhelm (including the barracks-like design layout, not better than 2-star room touches in a self-descirbed 4-star property, rather weak staff and management practices and the unnecessary excessive use of perfumed air freshener in the public spaces). It’s an ok overnight near the main Malaysian airport but we’ve got no exuberance to return the next time we fly through here. It’s disappointing because it’s a main Asian hub, usually with lower airfares than nearby Singapore and Bangkok.

Bedrock Hotel — Ipoh, Malaysia

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We stayed here in a suite room October 18-22, 2024 ($85/night with breakfast). We met Debbie the owner and suggested she change the name to the Bedrock Boutique Hotel. That’s a no brainer. Beautiful hotel and anytime we are back in Ipoh we will book it! They will soon open an additional building across the street with eight suites - even bigger and better than our room. The hotel is warm and inviting and a great value. It’s got interesting art and a great dedicated long-time staff. Our weekend visit was terrific and we’re glad we came to have a look around. Great food options and very friendly people.

Cameron Fair - Airbnb Apartment — Tanah Rata, Malaysia

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We stayed in a two bedroom airbnb ($58/night property link) in the Tanah Rata area of the Cameron Highlands from October 11-18, 2024. The apartment was underwhelming with a damp smelly problem we mostly erradicated during our stay. But never opened any drawer, cupboard or cabinet because of the mold. It was value-priced but we won’t stay here again. This was our second time in Cameron and we are still looking for the right property. Coming up to the mountains when visiting Malaysia is a wonderful change of pace and climate. We’ll keep looking!

St. Mary's Residence - Airbnb Apartment — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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We stayed in a one bedroom airbnb ($63/night, property link) in central Kuala Lumpur, just a 10 minute walk from the Pavillion shopping area and a 20 minute walk from the iconic Petronis Towers, from September 27 to October 11, 2024. This is a great apartment and we loved everything about it! There’s good, affordable restaurants everywhere! Great location! We’ve already booked a return visit for three weeks in 2025. It feels like home!

Imperio Residence - Seaview Suite Airbnb — Malacca, Malaysia

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We stayed in a waterfront airbnb (2 bedroom, $61/night - property link) on the Malacca Strait from September 19-27, 2024. Since 2008, Malacca’s old town and the striking, distinctly European-looking red-colored buildings have been recognized as UNESCO world heritage sites recognizing the rich history of Porteguese and Dutch colonization in the 16th and 17th centuries. (More history.) What a weird building but we did like the apartment. I doubt we book it again.

Z Hotel — Johor Bahru, Malaysia

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We were here September 15-19, 2024. We decided to start our visit in Malaysia in Johor Bahru just over the border from Singapore. Our hotel is just on the other side of the causeway and we can peek into Singapore from our 20th floor $50 dollar a night room (no breakfast available).

A freind asked, ‘what will you do in Johor for 4 nights? We surprised them and ourselves and stayed busy with very affordable clothes shopping at the nearby City Square shopping center where we found excellent restaurants. We attended an evening dance performance at Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House. We visited these tourist spots: Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple, Johor Ancient Temple, Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum and the Indian Heritage Centre. Recommendations: Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory, TIP - The Ice-Cream Project and Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 at JB City Square. This was most likely a one-time visit for us to Johor.