The Matahari Lodge is one of the coolest, nicest places I’ve stayed at on this trip so far. It’s safe, clean, friendly, and the rooms are excellently decorated, giving it a homely sort of feel. When you first arrive you’ll need to get the lift up to the third floor where you’ll find the reception desk and lobby. Once you’re all checked in you’ll get given your room key for either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd floor, depending on what type of room you’ve booked.
I was in a twin private, and for just under £8, this included two single (comfy) beds, a mirror and a small cupboard, in an immaculately clean and brightly decorated room (I forgot to take a picture though, sorry!). There are about 9 rooms on each floor, with the shared toilets and showers Down at the end of the hallway. The bathroom areas are also kept perfectly clean, although some of the showers just refuse to go hot for some reason which was a little frustrating…a freezing cold shower is never fun!
The best thing about this place though, is the upstairs lounge/reception area, where there are a couple of sofas, two computers (free to use…there is also free wifi throughout the building), a flat screen TV, and a bookshelf full to the brim with books to exchange with your old ones. And in the next room is the small but adequately stocked kitchen, where you can get your free breakfast between the hours of 7:30am and 12pm. This includes free tea, coffee and/or water and free toast, with jam and/or peanut butter…it’s a self serve sort of set-up, so you can pretty much help yourself to as much as you want (within reason, or course), and you can also buy your own food and store it (with your name on) in the fridge.
So all in all, it’s a fantastic place to stay, right in the heart of Chinatown, opposite a central train station, close to the Central Market and within walking distance of a lot of Kuala Lumpur’s main attractions…I would most definitely stay at the Matahari Lodge again!
Dates stayed: 17 – 20 Dec 2011
My Rating:
Overall: 89%
Atmosphere: 85%
Cleanliness: 90%
Location: 87%
Staff: 85%
Safety: 95%
Value for Money: 90%
Roo Around The World 