A Fresh Look at the Wyndham Grand Bangsar Kuala Lumpur: My Recent Stay
Traveling from Shah Alam, I recently made my way to Bangsar for a stay at a hotel under the Wyndham brand. This property is conveniently situated right by the Federal Highway. I actually visited this hotel back in May 2021 when it was known as the Pullman Bangsar, but it was acquired by Wyndham in November 2023. Through the Trip.com app, I booked a Deluxe King room for RM252.61, a rate that thoughtfully included breakfast for two and all applicable taxes.
I arrived at the hotel around 12:25 PM and headed straight for the lobby, located on the ground floor. The lobby is quite spacious, and upon entering, I noticed that not much seemed to have changed despite the change in ownership to Wyndham. There were quite a few guests waiting, so I proceeded with the check-in process even though my room wasn't ready yet. The official check-in time is 3:00 PM. The process itself was swift. Since my room wasn't available, I decided to head to Mid Valley Megamall via Grab.
Returning to the hotel at 3:00 PM, I went straight to the counter. After receiving my access card, I took one of the six elevators up to my room on the 22nd floor. The wait for an elevator was minimal. The Deluxe room, spanning 376 square feet, felt remarkably spacious.
A Closer Look at the Deluxe King Room
Upon entering the room, I found a sliding-door wardrobe to the left. It was a generous size and contained an iron, ironing board, and a safe. Next to the wardrobe was a cabinet housing the mini-fridge, with amenities for making hot beverages placed on top.
In the sleeping area, alongside a comfortable king-sized bed, there was a small sofa to the right. In the far right corner of the bed, a stylish vanity desk with a mirror and a chair provided a dedicated workspace. A bedside lamp and a telephone were also on the desk. Directly opposite the bed was a long table, topped with a 40-inch television. The room offered a lovely view, directly overlooking the Federal Highway.
The Ensuite Bathroom Experience
The bathroom, located to the right of the entrance, was also quite roomy. It featured a sink, toilet, and a shower area. The hotel thoughtfully provided a bidet spray next to the toilet. The shower area offered two types of showerheads. The shower space was enclosed by fully transparent glass and felt a little on the snug side. Despite it being a Deluxe room, it boasted a generously sized bathtub.
An interesting design choice was the transparent glass wall separating the bathroom from the bedroom, offering a view of the bed. However, this could be easily screened off with a blind from inside.
Hotel Amenities and Services
The hotel boasts a swimming pool located on the 4th floor. The pool itself is on the smaller side, with a separate children's pool available. The pool area, I felt, could have benefited from more landscaping; it appeared rather bare. The pool is open from 7 AM to 10 PM, though the lighting at night made the area feel quite dark.
A gymnasium is also available on the same level, but I wasn't sure of its operating hours. The hotel offers complimentary, fast Wi-Fi, with speeds reaching an impressive 95mbps. For mobile connectivity, CelcomDigi offered speeds of 481mbps, and Tune Talk clocked in at 265mbps.
The hotel provides a wide array of free TV channels, but I found the broadcast quality to be rather poor, with many channels being unclear or unwatchable at times. While the water pressure in the bathroom was strong, the shower area experienced some water pooling due to slow drainage.
Dining and Value
Breakfast is served at the restaurant located in the lobby. This area is quite expansive and offers a very diverse breakfast menu. I sampled a few dishes, and they were quite delicious. I must commend the staff for their efficiency, especially considering how busy the restaurant was during my breakfast. The hotel also offers in-room dining until 12:30 AM, but the prices are on the higher side. For instance, Nasi Goreng Kampung was priced at RM53, and a fruit juice cost RM25.
Parking is available and free for hotel guests.
Reflections on the Wyndham Grand Bangsar
My primary reason for revisiting this hotel was to observe any changes and differences since its transition from Pullman to Wyndham. I must admit I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of significant alterations. The lobby and rooms felt very much the same as they did four years ago. Both the hotel and its rooms are starting to show their age. If the current condition of the hotel doesn't deter you, it might still be worth considering due to its attractive pricing. Rooms without breakfast are around RM200, offering spacious accommodation and a bathtub. In terms of location, it's a mere 2.6 km to Mid Valley Megamall. For those relying on public transport, the Universiti LRT Station is just 1 km away.
Personally, I don't mind older hotels, but they must be well-maintained. I've stayed in many hotels that, despite operating for decades, are kept in excellent condition. Sadly, the maintenance at this hotel didn't quite meet that standard. The bathroom had a drainage issue, and the pool area also had standing water after rain. The air conditioning in the room was cold, but the fan was quite noisy. It seems high time for a major refurbishment to make the hotel more appealing to guests.
As always, I've included some photos from my stay. If you'd like to read my reviews of previous hotels, please visit my space in this group. To follow my staycation adventures in more detail, please follow me on Facebook. Thank you for taking the time to read!
