Hotel Review: Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Traders Hotel is a four-star hotel situated in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It opened in 2006 and went through a recent renovation in 2013. Traders Hotel is part of the luxury hotel chain Shangri-La, and it especially caters to business clients who are looking for a high-end, yet comfortable stay, in the heart of the Financial District.
Views of Petronas Twin Towers from Traders Hotel
I stayed at Traders Hotel for three nights while in Kuala Lumpur (“KL,” for short) in January 2024. Like with Penang, I also had my travel agent, Flâner Travels, book my accommodation here. I chose the Deluxe Twin Towers View Room, which offered unobstructed views of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Many patrons I saw staying at Traders Hotel were those traveling for business, so lots of suits, fancy watches, and talks of money permeated throughout the lobby.
Here’s the breakdown of my stay:
Room: 3.5/5
As I mentioned, I stayed in the Deluxe Twin Towers View Room. It was very spacious at 32 squared meters, with a massive California king bed, a full-size executive desk, and of course, a view of the Petronas Twin Towers and the KLCC Park. Bathroom had both a bathtub and shower, more than enough space to shower and get ready in the morning. Amenities like slippers, lotion, toothbrush, and comb were provided, and conveniently so.
However, my gripe was that the room, while spacious, was quite outdated. Even though the hotel had been refurbished in 2013, the carpeting and window curtains seemed quite old and in definite need of a touch-up. Same went for the TV, phone, and sofas. The toilet also did not flush very well, and it required several flushes for the water to go down. Aside from the lovely views outside, the room didn’t match the poshness I was expecting from a luxury hotel.
Location: 3/5
Traders Hotel is located in the Financial District of KL, with plenty of high-rise buildings and hotels peppered throughout. It is just a few hundred meters from the KL Convention Center, a popular venue for events and businesses. It is also a stone’s throw away from the Petronas Twin Towers, as well as the Suria KLCC, a massive shopping mall with the lovely KLCC Park in front of it for nightly water fountain shows.
However, although the location is decent for your basic needs (e.g. shopping, food, work), it is also quite far from the cultural and historic sites of the city like Little India, Petaling Chinatown, even the Jalan Alor Food Street market. These sites are just far enough in that you would need to take public transport or call a Grab to visit these places. Even in the Financial District, I felt the towering corporate high-rises and hard concrete pavements weren’t very inviting– if anything, it felt pretty soulless. And aside from the Suria KLCC mall, there isn’t much to do in the area.
Inside the Suria KLCC
Service: 4/5
I felt the staff were nice and professional: they checked me in and out in a timely fashion, and they were kind to allow me to exchange currency with them when I was running out of Malaysian ringgits. I also appreciated the security when going through the lobby, even up to the pool-bar area, to ensure the safety of their clients, businessmen or not. While I didn’t feel the staff were overly friendly, nor went above and beyond with service, it was courteous and nothing ill to say about them.
Pool bar area
Value for money: 3.5/5
My travel agent booked Traders Hotel for me, so I did not directly pay for my stay. However, a quick search for prices in January averages about $150 USD/night for my Deluxe Twin Towers View, which is very reasonable by US standards. Considering it is a four-star, Shangri-La hotel, the cost is not bad at all, by any means.
Yet, would I choose to stay here again? Probably not. I think if you are traveling for business, Traders Hotel is a solid choice that offers that balance of comfort and convenience to the KL Convention Center and the rest of the Financial District. But for the casual traveler, I think you could find another hotel elsewhere in KL that is perhaps closer to the cultural and heritage sites with more of a vibrant vibe. That said, I don’t regret staying at Traders Hotel, as I really loved the views of the Petronas Twin Towers from my room– but should I return to KL, I think I would choose to stay somewhere else.
Overall: 14/20
Thanks for reading and have a good day! 🙂
— Rebecca
Rebecca Goes Rendezvous 
Interesting to read your views on Traders Hotel Rebecca as we had considered staying there last year but opted for a hotel nearer to the cultural attractions.
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Thanks, Marion! Traders Hotel is a convenient stay for business folks, so while it may not be for everyone, it is for some. The views can’t be beaten, though!
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Beautiful view of the towers! Thanks for your review. : ) Food reviews separate?
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Thanks, Rebecca! I have a separate post on Malaysian cuisine to be published at a later date, so stay tuned!
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Looking forward to it, I know it will be tasty!
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It looks a solid option for a stay. And being in KL right now, I’m definitely heading to the rooftop bar for those views! It’s a shame the rooms need updating, as you say you expect better from a luxury hotel!
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Definitely! What perfect timing for this post to drop as you’re in KL right now! Traders Hotel was all right, and I really loved the views, but I would opt to stay elsewhere should I return 🙂
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That bathroom benchtop is pretty interesting! Seems like the usual business travel type of accommodation but for a luxury hotel, I’d expect the usual things like plumbing to be more standard. Lovely views though!
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Yes, lots of bathroom counter space! Traders Hotel was comfortable enough, even if imperfect, and I’m glad I had the experience. Thanks for stopping by!
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I love reading your hotel reviews! Those unobstructed views of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers are staggering, Rebecca, but as travellers, we also need a hotel in a prime central location which would be near tourist attractions as this way we get to maximise our time in the city. That’s why I always double-check all the reviews and the distance to my chosen attractions. While I am not particularly fussy about hotels, if I can see that it is a horrible outdated worn hotel badly in need of an upgrade I stay away! Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Insightful thoughts, Aiva! To be honest, I think I chose to stay at Traders Hotel for the views and nothing else. I think if I were to return to KL, I would choose to stay more central to the touristy sites, such as Petaling Chinatown. While I might not get as gorgeous views of the city, it would be more convenient to get around! Have a wonderful day 🙂
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The city views from your room look amazing. Too bad it was in need of sprucing up. I’m looking forward to hearing more about your time in KL at some point.
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I was surprised, too! Given that the hotel was renovated in 2013, I would assume it’d be a bit more up-to-date…any case, it was a decent stay, and my posts on KL will be up in a couple of months!
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I always appreciate an honest review! It is surprising how outdated the room is, especially if it’s mostly business people and they are used to staying in updated hotels around the world. The view is great though and the price seems very reasonable although I only have comparisons for Europe and the US.
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Yes, I was surprised, too! Considering that Traders Hotel was renovated in 2013, I would’ve assumed it’d be more modernized. All the same, prices are really affordable in Malaysia, including hotels, and you can really live like a king (or queen) there!
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I understand that this hotel would be good for business travelers. We’ve been to KL more than a decade ago, and I don’t remember much activity we’ve done around the Petronas Towers area other than dining and shopping. If we were to return, we’d probably stay closer to other tourist attractions.
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Traders Hotel is a solid accommodation for businesspeople, but perhaps not for the casual traveler. Not only that, but it’s also not close to touristy sites. While I’m glad to have stayed there for the gorgeous views, I’d choose to stay elsewhere should I return. Thanks for reading and agreeing with me!
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Look how far you’ve come, Rebecca! I remember when you were a budget traveler!
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Haha, thanks! I’m still a budget traveler, to some extent, but I sometimes find ways to stay in more-posh accommodations (via travel agents). Hope to enjoy more of the “lavish life” in due course! 😉
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Nice review Rebecca. As someone who rarely has a bath in the places I’ve rented these part few years I think that would be the bit that would excite me most. The views are indeed great, though it’s a pity that everything felt a bit shabby. Certainly not what you would expect from such a prestigious establishment and with the recent refurb. The location sounded a bit flawed from the start, but hey that pool bar looks amazing.
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Thanks, Leighton! I rarely take baths, but sometimes, it’s good to indulge! Traders Hotel was a nice opportunity, even though I wouldn’t choose to stay there again…I’d try somewhere more-central next time!
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Agreed… sometimes a great view isn’t enough!
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Thanks for concurring!
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The point is the view of the Twin Towers. I don’t know where I’d base myself if I went to KL, but I’d think about it.
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Yes, staying at the Traders Hotel is for the views of the Petronas Twin Towers. I’m glad I got to stay there, but for future trips to KL, I think I’ll stay elsewhere.
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Sounds nice but not close to the attractions.
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Yes, that was the trade-off! Glad I got to experience Traders Hotel regardless 🙂
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