Espira Kinrara Review: A Resort Feel Near Puchong
My journey took me from Bangsar over to Puchong for another hotel stay. This place, in my opinion, leans more towards a resort feel due to its structure of several two-story building blocks. Each block houses multiple rooms. According to my online search, this resort opened back in 2014, meaning it has been operating for 11 years now.
I booked my stay using the Trip.com application, opting for a Standard room priced at RM205.37. This price conveniently included taxes and breakfast for two people.
Arrival and Check-in Experience
The resort is situated right next to a golf course (Golf Club). I arrived around 2:10 PM and proceeded straight to the lobby, which is small and located at the front entrance. After checking in, since my room wasn't ready, I spent some time wandering around the resort taking pictures. At 2:30 PM, a staff member informed me my room was ready. For reference, the official check-in time for this resort is 3:00 PM.
Room Location and Layout
The resort blocks are named alphabetically, ranging from A to K. I was assigned a room in Block C, known as 'Cinta'. This block was the closest to the lobby. My room was on the upper floor, and unfortunately, there are no elevators provided; guests staying upstairs must use the stairs.
The Standard room category is quite spacious at 419 square feet. The unit I stayed in featured one king bed and one single bed. Upon entering, there was an open area on the right side for luggage storage. This area also contained hanging space for clothes and a safety deposit box. An iron and ironing board were also provided in this section.
In-Room Amenities
Along the wall opposite the wardrobe, there is a long desk. On the far right end of this desk sits a mini-fridge with beverage-making equipment placed on top. The far left end has a chair, allowing guests to handle office work there. A 32-inch TV is mounted directly above this long desk, facing the foot of the beds. As mentioned, having both a king and a single bed made the room feel a bit cramped.
Balcony and Bath Facilities
All resort rooms come with a balcony. Mine faced the back area, while the front typically overlooks the swimming pool. The view from the balcony was pleasant, featuring views of trees and other building blocks. The balcony itself was equipped with two lounge chairs and a small round table for relaxing.
The sink area is located outside the main bathroom, to the left of the entrance. The shower stall is to the left of the sink, and the toilet is directly opposite. Both sections can be closed and locked. The shower only offers a single overhead (rain) showerhead, and the toilet area includes a convenient toilet paper roll holder. The resort does not provide full toiletries; they only supply bath towels, shower gel, and shampoo.
Resort Highlights: The Pool and Dining
The main attraction and outstanding feature of this resort is its large swimming pool. It is centrally located among the building blocks and is genuinely expansive. Beside the adult pool, there is also a dedicated children's pool in another central area of the resort. Pool operating hours are from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM. The resort also has a gymnasium located in the lobby building, though I am unsure of its operating hours.
Breakfast is served at the restaurant in the main building, situated behind the lobby. The restaurant is not overly large, and while the menu selection isn't extensive, the food I tasted was delicious. I also had dinner there, trying Tom Yam, mushroom soup, and Pisang Pengat (banana compote). All the dishes were good, especially the banana dessert, which was excellent. Prices were reasonable, falling between RM20 and RM30.
Connectivity and Final Verdict
The complimentary in-room Wi-Fi speeds were decent: 47mbps download and 48mbps upload. For mobile data, CelcomDigi reached 302mbps, and Tune Talk achieved 273mbps. The room's TV is small, and the reception was slightly blurry despite having a decent number of channels. Water pressure in the bathroom was strong, but I wasn't a fan of the showerhead type provided.
This resort is certainly popular among families and is highly recommended for those traveling with children. Its main draw is the vast swimming pool and relatively affordable pricing. Furthermore, its location in Kinrara means a short drive for visitors from Kuala Lumpur. The surroundings are beautiful with greenery, especially at night, although I found the rooms themselves to be just average.
Despite being open for over 11 years, it is maintained reasonably well. However, the rooms lack sufficient power sockets for charging mobile phones or laptops. Another point of improvement would be the pool hours; operating from 8 AM to 7 PM is quite restrictive, especially since the pool is the primary reason many guests choose this resort. Extending hours from perhaps 7 AM to 10 PM would be ideal.
Location and Future Plans
In terms of location, the resort is 4.6 km from Pavilion Bukit Jalil and 5.3 km from IOI Mall. For public transport users, the nearest LRT station, Kinrara LRT Station, is 4.6 km away. The resort offers free open-air parking on the side of the property. I plan to return someday and try staying in one of their villas, which includes a 2-bedroom unit with a private pool.
As usual, I have included photos taken during my stay. If readers wish to see my reviews of other hotels, please visit my group page. To follow my staycation journey, you can follow me on Facebook. Thank you for reading! 😎
