Aloft, Kuala Lumpur

I would say that the hotel is well endowed as it has countless facilities for guests to enjoy. Its 8 meeting spaces, restaurant, 2 bars and fitness centre are all architecturally impressive and beautifully furbished. In one of the days, I got the chance to use the fitness centre and here is my take on it.

Picture courtesy of http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/photos

The design of the gym and space can hardly be rivalled by other hotels. The Aloft fitness centre boasts treadmills, ellipticals, yoga balls and numerous machines. Towels are even provided free of charge to encourage guests to keep the equipment clean of sweat and dirt for the next user. Guests are able to get a nice view of pretty flowers and nearby buildings as fitness centre is encased by floor to ceiling glass windows. This witty design also allows for more natural light to fill and brighten the gym and also makes the gym feel more spacious and comfortable to be in. However, the main issue with the fitness centre is that even with machines, any frequent gym-goer would know that a gym isn’t complete without free weights. Yes, Aloft KL’s fitness centre did not have any dumbells or barbells at all! It could be that the hotel is new and that’s why the fitness centre is still slightly lacking, but other than this, I must say I had an enjoyable experience working out there.

Moving on, I paid a visit to the Splash pool, one of the favourite places for guests to hang out. The pool area looks classy but also never fails to provide a sanctuary for guests to have a good swim, sunbathe or even just hang out.

Picture courtesy of http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/photos/index.html?propertyID=3758

As shown in the picture, the pool comes with rather nice views which can be seen from almost all corners of the area. The chairs and their colours add vibrancy and life to the entire area. However, due to the popularity of the Splash pool amongst guests, this area tends to be a tad crowded especially during peak hours such as in the evening. During this time, it would be hard to get a sit or to have a proper swim in the pool.  However, if the timing is right and there is no crowd, guests at the pool will feel as though they have been transported into a tranquil utopia and it will definitely be a peaceful time of relaxation.

As Aloft brands itself as a lifestyle hotel that encourages mingling between guests, I would be doing a disservice if I do not talk about the top hang out place in the hotel – the Mai Bar.

Picture courtesy of http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/photos/index.html?propertyID=3758

The Mai bar is a very special bar, as it has many lounge areas with different themes, each transporting you into a place with varying settings. Generally, the main area of the bar is dimly lit with heavy usage of neon lights and somehow, this adds a classy and somewhat romantic touch to it. The bar is very club-like and stepping into it just makes you want to socialize and have fun at that area. The food there was rather tasty and the staff, like all other hotel staff, were extremely polite, courteous and willing to serve. This just enhances guests experience at the bar. With this, Aloft has definitely made it one step closer in encouraging guests to mingle with one another and make new friends instead of boarding oneself in the room.

Aloft KL is a very nice hotel to stay in and many youngsters and socialites would be attracted to it. The high service standards, comfortable rooms and well designed facilities make it a pleasure to reside in the hotel. However, I must say that in trying to encourage guests to mingle in public areas, Aloft has made an oversight in room design. Perhaps the rooms were designed with too much simplicity and it seemed like they were trying to fit many amenities into the room and yet keep it simple, so much so that some of the furniture or amenities have lost their practicality (such as the sofa I mentioned before).

This hotel would be very suitable for extroverted young traveller, or for the shopaholics who seek a fun and exciting place to stay at. Businessmen who do not mind the modern, trendy feel of the hotel can try lodging at Aloft too for its close proximity and convenience to the new KL CBD. However, older people who may not exactly be supportive of the ‘night-life’ lifestyle might not find the architecture, décor, design and facilities of this hotel appealing. Even so, the price of a room is relatively affordable and with such a great location and wonderful facilities, I would say it is worth a try staying here!

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