South East Asia has a wave of modern hotels designed by leading architects and interior design firms. It's a fascinating time to be reviewing these new properties. I've stayed in Marriotts in KL, Singapore, and Jakarta many years ago and they were all outdated, boring buildings. Business travelers may care only about location and points but those of us who love the hospitality business will look elsewhere.
Starhill is owned by YTL Group which has their own hotel and resort chain which won tonnes of accolades throughout the years, including The famous Pangkor Laut Resort, The Majestic Hotel and The Tanjung Jara Resort, The Cameron Highlands Resort, this JW Marriott might be treated as the 'step son' by the group as they have their best source including the manpower to be distributed to their own hotels and resorts, under the umbrella of YTL Hotels.
Yes I’ve reviewed one of their other hotels on the channel and had an equally underwhelming experience there as well… but didn’t want to get into that in the video 😅 Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
A coffee shop that is not open in the morning - whats the point, and basically a food court. They have huge competition coming with 6 new hotels opening in the next 12 months. Great again, thank you.
Kevin, fellow Singapore resident and subscriber here. I agree with your review 100%. As a Titanium member, I just use the hotel as an overnight when prices are good. The exec lounge (close to ground level) is pretty nice so it works out very well. But compared to other JW Marriotts, this one is a bit soulless.
Bukit Bintang means Star Hill in Behasa Malaysia. Your description of the dining options being like a cruise ship without windows tickled me pink 😂 if you hadn't told me, I would never have guessed that was a JW.
When I saw in your previous video that your next hotel was here, first thought that occurred to me - "he won't like it". I haven't seen this video yet, but judging by the comments, I think I am not far off. I am Malaysian, visited this hotel more than 10 years ago and felt guest room felt 'old' and needed refurbishing. There are few other newer 5-star hotels in KLCC area (i.e. W, EQ, 4 Seasons, etc) that you can consider instead!
Any plans for reviewing the Sheraton Imperial in KL? I had a very strange experience with an expat front desk staff there a few days ago (made even stranger by the fact that I was talking to his female coworker and he pushed himself into that conversation with gusto by introducing an unrelated topic obviously close to his heart) and it's made me curious about the property. I'm not suggesting it's not a good hotel nor am I holding a grudge now, I'm really just curious.
Stayed there twice in 2017 and 2019, not very good. First time had an air conditioning issue, second time bedbugs. Nowadays, only MO or Shangri la in KL
That's such a small room for that property. I still recall they charged me USD4 for a bucket of ice. Never came back since there are plenty of othér Marriott hotels in KL.
Prior to the reno the basement area at least had a good number of interesting dining options, sadly now endless glitzy corridor space going nowhere. Did you notice the starhill mall attached? Awful... Sorry.
You are absolutely, RIGHT!!! Truly, underwhelming hotel. Too much Hype as the happening hotel. This hotel is a franchised hotel by YTL group. It is something that Marriott need to look into.
The JW Mariott in downtown Miami makes this one look like The Dorchester or George V. I'm not into trashing companies on the internet but I wouldn't bother with that brand again. Ever.
Underwhelming indeed and it looks very soulless… Not one dining option with some daylight let alone a view, as you put it….in a basement… it would really put me off. It looked like a food court in a mall somewhere in the US… Thank you for the video! 🙏🏼
Haha yes I didn’t even think about that but it does have the feeling of a newer mall, with all of the restaurants just separated by the half wall. But, oh well. You’ll never know what’s extraordinary if you don’t have a few disappointments every once in a while! Thanks as always for the support 🙏🏻
have you checked out the ritz next door? I stayed on my corporate rate for about 100 a day working NYC remote hours- sure, it lacked culture, but I accumulated more marriott points than God and drowned in bougie
I stayed at the RC many years ago before starting the channel. Feel like I could put this video’s narration over a review of the RC and it would probably all still make sense 😅. For $100 a night though, sure I’d have no problems staying there. But the JW pushing $200 is a bit of a joke. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Starhill Star (English) = Bintang (Bahasa Melayu/Bahasa Indonesia languange) Hill (English) = Bukit (Bahasa Melayu/Bahasa Indonesia languange) Starhill = Bukit Bintang
