Royce Residence KL: Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!
Royce Residence KL: Okay, Unbelievable Luxury? Let's See… (A Thoroughly Unprofessional Review)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from a stay at Royce Residence KL, and… well, the dust is still settling in my brain. "Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!" they crowed. My inner cynic, who is usually in charge, hated that tagline. But, you know, I went in with an open mind (and a healthy dose of skepticism). Honestly? It's a mixed bag. Let's dive in, shall we? And let's see if that “unbelievable” tag holds water. (Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.)
Accessibility: (Gets a B+)
Okay, so, full disclosure: I was traipsing about on two fully functioning legs. BUT, I did make a point to snoop around and see how they're handling things for guests with mobility issues. Royce Residence does claim to have "Facilities for disabled guests," and they seem to be living up to it. Elevator access? Check. I noticed ramps in key areas. Didn't see any wheelchairs whizzing by (maybe a sign of a lack of accessible options?), but the bones seem to be there. My impression? They’re trying. More detailed information is needed, which frankly, I didn't do enough research on.
On-Site Grub & Booze: (A Solid B – With a Few Caveats)
Okay, let's talk food. This is where things get INTERESTING.
- Restaurants: They’ve got a few. Promises of "International cuisine", "Asian cuisine," and yes, even a "Vegetarian restaurant." The names escape me, because honestly, I was still recovering from the jet lag that had me drooling on my pillow. But the vibes were good. The breakfast buffet, (which I’ll get to in a second) was a glorious, slightly chaotic affair.
- Bar/Poolside Bar: Ah yes, the booze. I tried the poolside bar, naturally. Needed to escape the world for a while. The cocktails? Decent. Not life-altering, but adequate. The pool itself was… well, more on that later.
- Coffee Shop: I needed my caffeine fix, and the coffee shop delivered. Not the best coffee in Kuala Lumpur, mind you, but it hit the spot.
- Snack Bar: Didn't try it; I was too busy trying to remember which side of the road I was on.
- Room Service (24-Hour): Now this is luxury. I ordered a burger at 3 AM (judging me? Don't judge me!) and it arrived promptly and with a smile. Which, by the way, I desperately needed at 3 AM.
- Breakfast Buffet/Asian Breakfast/Western Breakfast: This is the crown jewel, people. The Asian options were plentiful and delicious. Honestly, I went back for seconds (and possibly thirds). The Western options were there, too, and were… fine. Pretty standard hotel fare.
My Thoughts On Food: It was all good. Really. All good. I could be having "international cuisine" if I wanted. But I didn't have to walk far to get my fix.
And the Downsides?: Nothing major, just minor things. The service can be a little slow at peak times.
Cleanliness & Safety: (A Solid A+)
Listen, in this post-COVID world, I’m hyper-aware of cleanliness. And Royce Residence KL seems to get it.
- Anti-viral cleaning products? Apparently. Good.
- Daily disinfection in common areas? Check.
- Room sanitization between stays? Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol? They seemed like it, walking around (and sanitizing frequently.)
- Hand sanitizer Everywhere, thank GOD.
- Cashless payment service? Available.
- Individually-wrapped food options? Yup.
- Safe dining setup? Looked reasonable.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services? I assume so.
- Rooms sanitized between stays. Double check.
- Doctor/nurse on call? They claim to have one.
- First aid kit? Present and accounted for.
I felt safe. And in today's world, that’s a HUGE deal. They really went the extra mile.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: (A Mixed Bag, Let's Be Honest.)
- Swimming Pool (Outdoor)/Pool with a View: The pool is… well, it's a pool. Good enough to get wet in, good enough to take pictures of. The "view" was of other buildings. Not exactly paradise, but hey, you're in the city.
- Spa/Spa & Sauna/Steamroom: I dove right into the spa, and it was bliss. They had a lovely aroma in there, I think it was from the eucalyptus. The facilities? Top-notch, including a sauna and steam room, all well-kept. Pure relaxation. Worth it? Absolutely
- Gym/Fitness Center: I peeked in. Looked modern. I did not attempt to work out; I was horizontal for most of the trip. My life.
- Massage: I did get one! And it hit the spot.
- Body Scrub/Body Wrap: Didn't indulge in these, but the option is there!
Internet… (I’m looking at you, Royce Residence KL, I’m looking at YOU…)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise the Wi-Fi gods!
- Internet access – wireless & Internet access – LAN: Both options exist.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Apparently.
- Internet services: Available.
The Wi-Fi was mostly solid. I had a few hiccups (isn't that always the way?), but for the most part, I could actually work (sort of).
Rooms & Amenities: (Pretty Darn Good)
Okay, let's get specific. This is where the "luxury" claim starts to feel real.
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
- Additional toilet: Didn't personally have the honor.
- Soundproofing: Worked really well.
- Non-smoking rooms: Yes. Thank heavens.
- Room decorations: Nice, clean, not overly fussy.
- Blackout curtains? Crucial for beating jet lag.
The rooms themselves were… well, let’s just say I could live there for a while. They were spacious, well-appointed, and the beds? Divine. Seriously, I could have slept for a week. The bathrooms were elegant and clean. It was all very… comfortable. My big takeaway? The bed. Oh, the bed.
Services & Conveniences: (They've Got It All, Pretty Much.)
- Air conditioning in public area?: Yes.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events?: It appears so.
- Business facilities: Yes, including a business center.
- Cash withdrawal: Present and accounted for.
- Concierge: They were helpful and friendly.
- Contactless check-in/out: Available, helpful.
- Convenience store: A godsend for late-night snack attacks.
- Currency exchange: Helpful.
- Daily housekeeping: Spot on!
- Doorman: Helpful as well.
- Dry cleaning: Yes (but I didn't need it).
- Elevator: Crucial.
- Essential condiments: I don’t know about this, I never needed to cook though.
- Facilities for disabled guests: They claim to have them. See my comments above.
- Food delivery: Yes. (And I used it, obviously.)
- Gift/souvenir shop: Good for last-minute presents (I got a coffee mug).
- Indoor venue for special events: They claim to have those.
- Ironing service: Available.
- Laundry service: Yes, but I didn't use it during this trip.
- Luggage storage: Super helpful.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Present, in case you need to arrange a corporate retreat
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is…my attempt at surviving Kuala Lumpur in style (read: with a decent amount of air conditioning and the ever-present hope of finding REALLY GOOD coffee). We're starting at the Royce Residence, because, hey, a little luxury never hurt anyone prepping for a potential heatstroke.
The Messy, Gloriously Imperfect KL Adventure: Royce Residence to… Everywhere (Probably)
Day 1: Arrival & "Oh My God, It's Hot!"
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Royce Residence. Okay, first impressions. The lobby? Gorgeous. Smells faintly of jasmine and money (mostly money, let's be honest). The receptionist? Ridiculously polite. Already, I feel like a total tourist. Quick check-in, pretend I know how to operate the elevator (still not sure), and finally collapse into my room. Air con blasting. Blessed relief. The view isn’t half bad; maybe a glimpse of a Petronas Tower – can’t quite tell from the 17th floor… blurry… dehydration setting in.
- 2:00 PM: Attempt to unpack. Fail spectacularly. Suitcase exploded, clothes everywhere. Decide to just… leave it. Priorities. Hydration first.
- 2:30 PM: First foray into the "real world." Walk to the nearest 7-Eleven. Okay, the heat. It’s a thing. You know, the kind of thing that slaps you in the face like an ill-mannered monkey. Buy a bottle of water and a suspiciously bright green sports drink. Immediate regret. This is a terrible idea.
- 3:00 PM: Back in the blessed air con. Regret the green drink. Start researching "best laksa in KL." This is crucial research.
- 5:00 PM: Found a place called "Madam Kwan's" (everyone raves about it). Decide to brave the afternoon heat and go. Walked to the restaurant.
- The Madam Kwan's Debacle: The place was packed. Like, sardines in a tin-can packed. The smell of deliciousness, though… oh man. Worth the wait. Found a table after a torturous 20-minute wait. Ordered the Nasi Lemak. It arrived, and… well, it was good. But the chilli sauce! My mouth is still slightly on fire. Worth it, though. Absolutely. But next time, I'm sneaking in a bottle of milk. This is my one huge experience of the day.
- 7:00 PM: Back to the Royce. Stumble into the pool. The chlorine is bliss. Feel my soul slowly rehydrate, my past sins of the day wash away.
- 8:00 PM: Consider going out for the night but I’m exhausted.
- 9:00 PM: Crumpled in bed, watching something mediocre on Netflix. Success! Day One survived.
Day 2: Culture Shock and Street Food Struggles
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. Sore from the heat from yesterday. Coffee! (Important note: I'm on a quest for the perfect Malaysian coffee. It's a serious pursuit.) Royce Residence’s in-room coffee…meh.
- 9:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Continental. Adequate. Wish they had dim sum.
- 10:30 AM: The Batu Caves. Oh. My. God. The steps. The heat. The monkeys. It was an experience. And by “experience,” I mean a sweaty, slightly terrifying ascent to what felt like the top of the world. The views were incredible, though. Totally worth it. But those monkeys… they're like furry little gangsters. One nearly stole my bag.
- 12:30 PM: Descend the monstrous stairs and immediately start to search for food. Found a little stall that was the perfect place for street food.
- Street Food Adventures: Okay, let’s talk about street food. It’s a minefield of deliciousness. First bite was delicious. Then the heat hit. I started to sweat like a Christmas ham. But the flavours… Oh, the flavours. This is how I ended up with some noodles that were so spicy my entire mouth was numb for a while, but I was still happily eating. I felt like a local! For about 10 minutes..
- 2:00 PM: Head back to the hotel: Pool again, thank goodness!
- 4:00 PM: Explore Bukit Bintang - supposedly the heart of KL.
- 6:00 PM: Exhausted and craving dessert. Find a cute little cafe from Instagram. Overpriced, underwhelming. Another dose of disappointment.
- 8:00 PM: Finally, return to the hotel after trying to hail a cab for 30 minutes in the rain.
- 9:00 PM: Decide eating in is a good idea. Order room service. It arrives quickly. Happy tummy!
Day 3: Twin Towers & Packing Panic
- 8:00 AM: Wake up with an extreme sense of dread. Departure day.
- 9:00 AM: Had some food and coffee, and attempted to write the last entry. It will be great.
- 11:00 AM: Visit the Petronas Twin Towers. Booked the ticket weeks in advance. So worth it. Standing below them is incredible. And from the sky bridge… breathtaking. My camera battery died just as I reached the top. Typical. Still, the view is imprinted in my memory.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a restaurant. Still feeling the after-effects of that street food the other day. Ordering the plain rice and asking for water.
- 2:00 PM: Packing. Packing. Packing. It's always the worst part. Stuffing everything back into my suitcase.
- 3:00 PM: Last dip in the pool. Soak it all in.
- 4:00 PM: Check out. Bye, Royce Residence!
- 5:00 PM: Taxi to airport. Praying for a smooth flight.
- 6:00 PM: Airport. Plane. Departure.
Final Thoughts:
KL. You're a chaotic, beautiful, delicious, and overwhelmingly hot city. I’m leaving sweaty, slightly broke from all those taxi fares, and with a burning desire to return. I’ll be back, KL. I’ll be back. And next time, maybe I'll actually learn some basic Malay. And bring more sunscreen. And maybe a bodyguard for the monkeys.
Escape to Paradise: Hotel Novella Uno's Serbian Seclusion
So, what *is* this all about? Like, what are we even talking about?
Alright, so, let's get the vague part out of the way first. This… is about *life*. (Gasp!) Kidding! (Mostly.) Specifically, it's about all the things that make life, well, LIFE. The messy bits, the amazing bits, the "what the heck just happened?" bits. The good, the bad, and the slightly-too-much-cheese-on-the-pizza kind of ugly. I'm talking about experiences, opinions, and maybe a few embarrassing stories I probably shouldn't share. But hey, someone’s gotta suffer, right?
Okay, fine. But why are you doing this? What's the point?
Oh, that's a good question! I have no idea. Seriously. But if I HAD to pinpoint the genesis of this whole shebang, I'd say it's a mix of boredom, caffeine, and a deep-seated fear of being normal. I'm guessing a healthy dose of procrastination is involved too. Let's be real, it's a lot easier to ramble about stuff than, y'know, actually do the thing I'm supposed to be doing. Plus, it's cathartic. Like screaming into a pillow, but the pillow is made of the internet.
Who are you, exactly? Are you some kind of AI?
Whoa, hold on a sec! AI? Nope! I'm about as AI as a rusty spoon. I'm human. Flawed, opinionated, and prone to rambling. Consider me a slightly-above-average, slightly-neurotic human who just happens to be typing. You've been warned.
Is this going to be, like, professional or something?
Absolutely not. Run! Run far away if you want professionalism. I'm going for "authentic disaster." My grammar might occasionally take a vacation. My train of thought may derail from time to time. And I'm probably going to tell you way more than you ever wanted to know about my questionable life choices. Consider yourself warned a second time.
Are you going to talk about, like... relationships?
Ooooh, relationships! Buckle up, because this is a deep well of potential awkwardness and oversharing. I've had more relationship disasters than I've had hot dinners (and that's saying something because I *love* dinner). Expect tales of disastrous dates, friendships that imploded spectacularly, and my own, often delusional, interpretations of human behavior. For example, there was this *one* time… okay, maybe I'll save that for later. It's a doozy. Basically, yes. Expect relationships. Expect cringe. A LOT of cringe.
Will you talk about work and money? That's kinda important, right?
Ugh, work and money. The bane of my existence, and probably yours too. Yes, I will. I've shuffled through more jobs than I care to admit, from soul-crushing office gigs to the wonderfully weird. I'll share my thoughts on career, the crushing weight of student loans (seriously, it's a heavy burden), and my ongoing quest to become fabulously, ridiculously wealthy. (A girl can dream, right?) Let’s just say my financial wisdom is… evolving. Slowly.
What about travel? Do you have any cool travel stories?
Travel! Yes! Okay, so I’m no Anthony Bourdain, but I've seen some stuff. Or rather, I've *experienced* some stuff while seeing some stuff. I once got locked in a public restroom in Rome. For *hours*. That's a story. And, yeah, travel-related things will absolutely sneak their way in. Expect tales of missed flights, questionable food choices, and the time I accidentally offended an entire village. (Don't ask.) And the things you learn! Like, *never* underestimate the power of a good phrasebook (or at least a vaguely accurate Google Translate). Travel is my passion! And my favorite way to embarrass myself.
Politics? Are you going to get all political on us?
Politics? Ugh. Look, I'll be honest, I have opinions. Strong ones. But this isn't going to be a political rant-fest. I'm not here to convert anyone. I’ll probably touch on current events, but I’m more interested in how these things *affect* us, the everyday humans. Prepare for some thoughts, and maybe some eye-rolling. But I'm aiming for a discussion, not a debate… mostly.
What about hobbies and interests? What are you into?
Oh, the fun stuff! I am a lover of books, mostly fantasy and sci-fi, but I'm willing to dabble in the classics and memoirs, (and the occasional really, really trashy romance novel). I also love (and am terrible at) video games, and the only thing I love more than video games is complaining about video games! Cooking is a chaotic joy, and baking is even more chaotic. Let's just say I'm more of a "throw it together and hope for the best" kind of cook. And music! MUSIC! Okay I'll spare you the concert stories. I’m also trying to learn to play guitar, despite having the coordination of a newborn giraffe. Basically, I have a lot of interests, and I’m not very good at most of them. But hey, you gotta try, right?
What about food? Gonna talk about food?
Heck YES to food! I eat food. I love food. I dream about food. Food is great. This might get a little obsessive. Expect restaurant reviews (probably with an emphasis on the cheap and delicious), recipe fails (I once burned water), and a general appreciation for all things edible. My diet consists of caffeine, cheese, and existential dread, in varying proportions. Sometimes I even throw in a vegetable. We'll see how that goes.
Okay, but what if I disagree with something you saySmart Traveller Inns
