Retail Therapy in Kuala Lumpur

One Utama

A major suburban retail therapy centre in KL, the area has been a bit tricky to reach previously by public transport, if you were not a local.  Ikea [at The Curve nearby] had their own feeder buses, but more development in the area has meant better public transport - mostly buses.

It is a big mall, with now two major areas - the old original and the newer stage 2.  Large corridors, plenty of shops,  but a bit flat in terms of the shops available.  More directed at local Malaysian customers probably, rather than tourists.  There are a few international upmarket brand shops, and Tangs from Singapore, but the experience with sales staff was not good.  Not focussed on wooing tourists to open their wallets is my view.

On most weekdays, it is reasonably empty, a distinct difference to KLCC, Mid Valley MegaMall or areas around Bukit Bingtang, where bustling might be a good term to use to describe them.

Think it is a bit flat overall, but it would depend on whether there was a focus on doing some shopping [with some specific needs] or not and whether there was much doing in the "sales" themes.

KLCC

Definitely a good shopping location, with major Malaysian, Japanese and Singaporean department stores - Parksons, Isetan, Tangs, and most of the name brands synonomous with high end high quality retail.  Particularly for women - LV, Prada, Burberry, Coach, Gucc, Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Sony, HTC, Samsung and the list could go on.  There are about 6 or 7 levels of shops, and easily accessed using the rail network with a MRT station directly below the centre.

 

Think the options for eating are modest, but with such good local food available in other locations around KL it is hardly an issue.  Most eateries are for western food, so I guess for locals, that is a bit different.  Several coffee chains - Dome and Starbucks among them.

You can access the Petronas Towers from this area, but sometimes it is difficult to get access that same day, if it is busy.  You need to go and check as it was not possible to book otherwise when last checked out.

It is a worthwhile experience to go up and cross the skybridge. [ Remember the movie with Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones??]

Sungei Wang Plaza

Used to be the go to place for all sorts of shopping, especially electronics, illicit movies and software, and with a wide range of smaller shops selling many different items and plenty of eateries.  Also has a Parkson department store.

Sungei Wang Plaza is now 35 years old and very tired.  As an offering against many others - The Pavilion and Lot 10, Times Square - all very close by, it is now awful.  Run down and at times a bit grubby.  That said there are some bargains to be had, if you wander around.  Pirated DVDs and software are more difficult to obtain.  BUT - a big renovation is underway, and will continue through 2013 and into 2014.  Hard to tell so far on whether it will "come back", but it certainly lacks some features now more common in newer centres eg SWP has quite low ceilings, whereas newer places are more "öpen".  Time will tell.

But do get of the monorail at Bukit Bintang.......lots to do around that area, and you can get to both The Pavilion and Lot 10 from that stop.

Kuala Lumpur Public Transport - Getting Around

Access to the train system around the Kuala Lumpur greater urban area used to be horrible, with multiple operators and multiple ticketing systems meaning journeys involving multiple operators required multiple tickets. 

A few years ago, that started to change, and finally a single touch’n’go preloaded touch card was introduced which not only provided access to the train services, it could be used for toll roads, fuel, and other services.  Improvements have continued, with more recent changes seeing the introduction of use of the card on many of the public buses in KL.

Prior to that, the local bus service was a bit of a magical mystery tour.  Information on routes and pricing was difficult to negotiate and even find in some cases.  Buses were at best pretty crappy, and mostly non air-conditioned although windows did open, and very crowded.

Now that the touch’n’go cards are being used it is easier, although getting route details is not always any better.  More improvements to the bus system are planned.

The trains within the near city area can be crowded – and getting back from MegaMall on a Sunday afternoon can be a very crowded experience, with one train we were on once so over full that occupants were not sure it would move between the Mid Valley station one stop back to KL Sentral. [Yes, you can get to and from Mid Valley MegaMall by train easily].

Finding information from hotels is not always easy either.  Many people only know the route numbers they use regularly and as far as is known no comprehensive guide is available.  But a few hardy souls are sussing out some of the more useful ones for tourists……….including us intrepid old fartz.

With around 4 million people in KL, many using public transport regularly, there has to be some logic in the system.  That is the start point!!

 

Touch'N'Go cards can be purchased at KL Sentral, as well as many train station and a few other locations, and are topped up at ticket windows at many train stations.  You need to pay a small deposit or fee for the card, and the balance on the card is valid for up to 12 months.  Some old cards are no longer operational due to some access changes,  and can be redeemed at a special ticket centre at KL Sentral.  A bitof a hassle if it happens to you, but is fixable.

Definitely an easy way to move around the city, and they operate on all city trains and many buses.  Easy access to many of the shopping and tourist areas in the main city areas can be achieved via one of the train systems of public transport, if you want to be a bit adventurous.

Test it out..........the trains work just fine.