Pros

  • Opposite KL Sentral and 28-minute express train to the airport
  • Restaurants, malls, offices, and Little India nearby
  • Practical rooms have flat-screen TVs, AC, and hairdryers
  • Triple and Suite rooms available, and some have city views
  • Free buffet breakfast serving Asian, Indian, and Western options
  • On-site bar and restaurant with pleasant al fresco terrace
  • 24/7 front desk and security, plus two meeting rooms
  • Free parking and property-wide Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • Immediate streets can feel sketchy
  • Although largely up-to-date, rooms are bland
  • Entry-level rooms lack windows
  • Room complaints include noise issues, foul odors, and worn furnishings
  • Reports of weak AC and Wi-Fi
  • No gym
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Bottom Line

The lower-middle-range Hotel Sentral offers 232 low-frills, though contemporary, rooms right by KL Sentral. A wealth of transport networks are virtually right outside the hotel, and they draw a largely transit presence of budget-conscious business or leisure travelers. Rooms are small and spartan, but kettles, mini-fridges, desks, and safes offer comforts. Ecxpress Rooms lack windows though, and much like the on-site bar and restaurant, decor is underwhelming. Free varied breakfasts are provided, and parking and meeting rooms are bonuses. Rooms are more attractive at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, but rates here are higher.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Sentral

Scene

Budget hotel with low-frills spaces but good location

A strategic location one block from KL Sentral's transport hub is the biggest draw here, attracting both business and leisure travelers on a budget. One of the few high-rise buildings in the area, the hotel's 15 sandstone stories stand out, although like many commuter locations, the area is a bit sketchy at times. Noise from the monorail or nearby mosque prayer calls are also drawbacks. Like rooms, the straightforward lobby is bland aside from the colorful mural behind the front desk that portrays Malaysian culture -- including dancer and dragon images, plus the city's iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Citywide offerings mostly lure guests out of the hotel during the day, although many remain on-site for free breakfasts. The earth-toned restaurant is underwhelming, however a pleasant outdoor terrace with city views is furnished with potted plants. The bar's angled bookcases and chunky white booths have touches of class from old-school photography, but it's largely impersonal, as is the overall vibe here.

See More Scene

Location

Right by KL Sentral, and near malls, offices, and eateries

The hotel sits a one-minute walk from KL Sentral, which is the city's biggest transport hub. A multitude of commuter, subway, and express trains, trams, busses, and monorails here will take travelers virtually anywhere in the region. Immediate surrounds can feel a bit sketchy, but busy streets are packed with restaurants, cafes, and the nearby eight-story Nu Sentral Mall (seven minutes on foot). Big-name tech and finance offices are within a 10-minute walk, as is Little India, with Chinatown a few minutes farther. Taxis are available, although monorails are the most popular transport for Berjaya Times Square, Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Center, and shopping mecca, Butik Bintang. Journeys take 10 to 38 minutes for all of the above. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is 28 minutes away by express train.

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Rooms

Basic rooms with modern bathrooms, but expect noise

Functional rooms have spartan decor, but practical and largely contemporary designs. They're on the small side, spanning 161 to 215 square feet (15 to 20 square meters). Categories range from modern Express Rooms with fresh paintwork, laminate floors, and orange accent walls, to less contemporary Superior, Deluxe, and Suite Categories. Express Rooms lack windows though, and rooms on lower floors suffer noise from monorails, plus mosque prayer calls (back-facing rooms are the hardest hit here). Higher-category units have decor that's largely contemporary, though bland, due to gray-striped carpeting, wood-accented headboards, and beige walls, drapes, and chairs. Compact bathrooms are modern though, and come with white bowl sinks, small showers, toiletries, and hairdryers.

Phones, desks, tea- and coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges with bottled water, safes, crib fittings, and room service come standard. Wi-Fi and AC are also free, but they can be unreliable. Triple Rooms offer a third bed, and top-floor Executive Suites offer city views. Suites have character from shelved ceramics and wall art, but fabrics are worn. Note, past guests have complained of unsavory and cigarette odors.

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Features

Average dining, and no pool or gym

Limited features reflect the budget rate, though they're generally sufficient for a short-term stay, plus the location is central. All-you-can-eat breakfasts with Asian noodles, Indian specialities, Western options, tea, coffee, and juice are free. However, like the restaurant's local and international buffet meals, breakfasts are average. Meals are served in the Starmint Coffee House restaurant, which is a large, cafeteria-like room with burnt-orange and mosaic-tiled walls, black chairs, basic tables, and a brighter area with floor-to-ceiling windows. Its adjoining al fresco terrace has city views, lightweight dining furniture, yellow hanging lamps, and potted greenery. Given the wealth of nearby eateries though, both the restaurant and white-adorned Sentro Lounge are mostly abandoned. The bar serves a range of beverages all day.

There are no fitness or pool facilities. Laundry services are available from the 24-hour reception, although the coin-operated laundromat across the street is more popular. Pets aren't allowed. Two meeting rooms, security, and an adjoining travel desk and basic spa (both independent) are also available. Free parking and Wi-Fi complete amenities.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Sentral

Scene

Budget hotel with low-frills spaces but good location

A strategic location one block from KL Sentral's transport hub is the biggest draw here, attracting both business and leisure travelers on a budget. One of the few high-rise buildings in the area, the hotel's 15 sandstone stories stand out, although like many commuter locations, the area is a bit sketchy at times. Noise from the monorail or nearby mosque prayer calls are also drawbacks. Like rooms, the straightforward lobby is bland aside from the colorful mural behind the front desk that portrays Malaysian culture -- including dancer and dragon images, plus the city's iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Citywide offerings mostly lure guests out of the hotel during the day, although many remain on-site for free breakfasts. The earth-toned restaurant is underwhelming, however a pleasant outdoor terrace with city views is furnished with potted plants. The bar's angled bookcases and chunky white booths have touches of class from old-school photography, but it's largely impersonal, as is the overall vibe here.

See More Scene

Location

Right by KL Sentral, and near malls, offices, and eateries

The hotel sits a one-minute walk from KL Sentral, which is the city's biggest transport hub. A multitude of commuter, subway, and express trains, trams, busses, and monorails here will take travelers virtually anywhere in the region. Immediate surrounds can feel a bit sketchy, but busy streets are packed with restaurants, cafes, and the nearby eight-story Nu Sentral Mall (seven minutes on foot). Big-name tech and finance offices are within a 10-minute walk, as is Little India, with Chinatown a few minutes farther. Taxis are available, although monorails are the most popular transport for Berjaya Times Square, Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Center, and shopping mecca, Butik Bintang. Journeys take 10 to 38 minutes for all of the above. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is 28 minutes away by express train.

See More Location

Rooms

Basic rooms with modern bathrooms, but expect noise

Functional rooms have spartan decor, but practical and largely contemporary designs. They're on the small side, spanning 161 to 215 square feet (15 to 20 square meters). Categories range from modern Express Rooms with fresh paintwork, laminate floors, and orange accent walls, to less contemporary Superior, Deluxe, and Suite Categories. Express Rooms lack windows though, and rooms on lower floors suffer noise from monorails, plus mosque prayer calls (back-facing rooms are the hardest hit here). Higher-category units have decor that's largely contemporary, though bland, due to gray-striped carpeting, wood-accented headboards, and beige walls, drapes, and chairs. Compact bathrooms are modern though, and come with white bowl sinks, small showers, toiletries, and hairdryers.

Phones, desks, tea- and coffee-making facilities, mini-fridges with bottled water, safes, crib fittings, and room service come standard. Wi-Fi and AC are also free, but they can be unreliable. Triple Rooms offer a third bed, and top-floor Executive Suites offer city views. Suites have character from shelved ceramics and wall art, but fabrics are worn. Note, past guests have complained of unsavory and cigarette odors.

See More Rooms

Features

Average dining, and no pool or gym

Limited features reflect the budget rate, though they're generally sufficient for a short-term stay, plus the location is central. All-you-can-eat breakfasts with Asian noodles, Indian specialities, Western options, tea, coffee, and juice are free. However, like the restaurant's local and international buffet meals, breakfasts are average. Meals are served in the Starmint Coffee House restaurant, which is a large, cafeteria-like room with burnt-orange and mosaic-tiled walls, black chairs, basic tables, and a brighter area with floor-to-ceiling windows. Its adjoining al fresco terrace has city views, lightweight dining furniture, yellow hanging lamps, and potted greenery. Given the wealth of nearby eateries though, both the restaurant and white-adorned Sentro Lounge are mostly abandoned. The bar serves a range of beverages all day.

There are no fitness or pool facilities. Laundry services are available from the 24-hour reception, although the coin-operated laundromat across the street is more popular. Pets aren't allowed. Two meeting rooms, security, and an adjoining travel desk and basic spa (both independent) are also available. Free parking and Wi-Fi complete amenities.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Basic Television

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Room Service

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.