SITUATED uphill, next to a 33-year-old golf course, the M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur has been the talk of the town since its opening during Merdeka Day this year.
This luxurious family-friendly resort which is nestled in the green belt of Damansara, offers excellent facilities such as a huge beach-like pool area complete with slides, Kids Club and even a spa that offers treatments for parents and their kids!
Its Executive Suites are also one of the most highly demanded guest-rooms out of the 385 units that the hotel boasts, and it's so fortunate that we are able to reserve it for two nights over the weekend.
STAY
One of the perks of booking the Executive Suite is that you don't have to wait in line at the lobby for check-in procedures.
Yes, Club Privileges includes personalised check-in (and check-out) services at the M Lounge which, for families with young children like mine, is a huge convenience!
All the Executive Suites are located on the 8th floor, and you can pick either the golf course, city or pool views - and ours is overlooking the pool, which is an advantage because I get to check out the crowds.
The suite is absolutely spacious too! It gives me the modern studio-home vibe with all the room amenities provided.
There is a free minibar, Nespresso coffee machine and tea making facilities, a dining table, a cosy sofa and coffee table, 50" LED TV and a king bed with plush beddings.
The room also offers modern features such as in-room motion sensors to help with energy saving, universal sockets, USB plug-in ports and many more.
My favourite part of the suite is definitely the bathroom which shouts lux!
It's all black marbles and glass that gives it a classy look and couples will love the two separate marble washbowls complete with LED Touch Screen Smart Lighting Mirror.
While the toilet has its own cubicle, the bath area too is separated and it has a gorgeous bath tub! And… the suite provides luxury bath amenities from L'occitane, a French brand that is committed to developing high quality natural products.
Well, Executive Suites guests will also get the M Lounge perks such as complimentary coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day as well as evening cocktails and Hors D'oeuvres daily from 5.30pm to 7pm.
You can also have the option to have light breakfast at the M Lounge if you'd prefer a more quiet atmosphere.
My one-year-old daughter and I enjoy our breakfast at the lounge on our last day and it's actually very convenient for me as we can skip the big buffet, and just order from the menu.
You can actually order a few dishes, but let me tell you - the portions are huge!
I order eggs benedicts and pancakes, and oh my gosh, we are stuffed up till lunchtime.
EAT
However, the hotel's all day dining restaurant, the Fairway Coffee House, offers a great buffet spread for breakfast if suite guests prefer more variety.
There's plenty of choices and the local cuisine choices are amazing! From the Indian food counter, you have idly, paratha and the dhal taste super good, while the Malay choices such as nasi lemak and its rendang is to look out for.
The international choices are also extensive but what I personally enjoy the most is the pastries and desserts. The croissants are absolutely delicious and freshly made, with few choices of toppings.
The restaurant also offers a weekend hi tea buffet every Saturday and Sunday, which is quite affordable. Well, basically, the choices are as good as you're having lunch!
Unique sections to check out are the roasted beef and lamb, with a variety of sauces; the Salad Bar with freshly greens; the Seafood Bar which offers cold seafood, as well as the Loklok.
The hi tea starts at noon and you'll be free to enjoy the whole buffet until 4pm.
For dinner, the restaurant offers ala-carte menu (similar to in-room dining) and I love the ambience here at the Fairway which is always buzzing with guests, and friendly staff coming to say hello. It feels so welcoming!
If you decide to have dinner (or lunch), I highly recommend the Grilled Grass-fed Chilled Australian Rib Eye served with summer vegetables, chat potatoes and au jus. For just RM120 per dish, you'll get a satisfying steak, perfectly cooked medium as requested!
Of course, being a family-friendly hotel, they have quite a selection of kids menu too and very affordable prices at as low as RM22. The portion is humongous for a kid.
Located just near the pool area is the Hive Bar and Lounge where you can have a drink and snack by the pool.
The bar also serves the TaiTai Afternoon Tea set which is priced at RM138. A lavish set indeed, it comes with a pair of refreshing mocktails, a choice of premium coffee or tea, as well as a set of three tier sweet and savoury snacks.
Among the bites served are Lobster Roll, Smoked Salmon and Sour Cream Sandwich, Wild Mushroom Puff, Scones with Chantilly Cream served with homemade raspberry jam and strawberry jam, caramel choux, brownies magnum, mont blanc tart and many more.
The poolside bar opens until midnight.
DO
What to do here? For families, there are plenty of things you can do with your children, I promise you.
Well, no holiday is complete without a dip in the pool, right? The property has a free-form swimming pool which can be enjoyed by both kids and adults, including a hive-shaped water slide that is guaranteed to give the young ones a kick of adrenaline rush.
It does feel like you are not really in the city, thanks to its huge beach-like pool, and although the area is crowded with guests, there's plenty of space to swim and dip for everyone.
For me, my favourite place to bring my child is definitely the Kids Club that offers an abundance of fun interactive activities to keep the little ones occupied and entertained.
The space is huge! And my little one really enjoys playing on the slides that go into a pool of colourful balls!
There's also the walls of animal magnets that Aamina enjoys playing with, as she tries to search for her favourite animals - whales, dolphins, horses, rabbits, lions and more.
The complex that houses the Kids Club also has a 24-hour fitness centre furnished with a variety of the most advanced Technogym equipment as well as great changing facilities on the ground floor complete with sauna.
For a more luxurious and pampering experience, head to the M Spa, a space inspired by and in reverence to nature.
The spa menu employs wellness treatments that are fused with indigenous and natural local ingredients. The spa offers therapy for not only body and facial, but also nail and hair services too!
And, there's a menu for the young. Yes, you heard me, you can take your kids to the spa and let them enjoy it too.
The mini massage for the kids (age 4-12 years old) is priced at RM60 and the Grooming Special which is an hour treatment (RM60) you can pick either cut & wash, mini manicure, mini pedicure or nail colour for hands and feet.
Want to enjoy it as a family, the spa offers M Family Spa packages, which is a two hours and 40 minutes treatment where you can recharge your energy as a family and make the most of your time with minimal distractions and maximum memories.
The RM768 package includes foot ritual, mani and pedi as well as a choice of Balinese massage or fancy food work for the parents, and for the young ones (two kids), they will get aromatherapy floral bath and either shoulder massage or nail polish treatment.
Since my kid is still a toddler, I don't get the chance to experience this package with her but I have the M Resort Signature Massage which is a 90 minutes treatment well loved by many guests.
Unlike any other spa treatments that give you robes to change, here at M Spa, ladies are provided with a brown flowy kaftan to wear in the spa.
But before that, you will be given a cold towel that smells so fresh as it is infused with lemongrass and peppermint essential oils.
I came 20 minutes early to enjoy the himalayan salt sauna which basically helps you to boost energy as well as your breathing and blood circulation. Indeed, the 15 minutes timer in the soft ambience is definitely relaxing and soothing, a great way to kick off the treatment.
The treatment continues with a foot ritual while you enjoy a hot cup of lemongrass signature tea.
Starting with soaking in tea tree and eucalyptus warm water, my therapist Alice then scrubs my foot with ginger scrub to detox the toxic.
After the ritual, I lie face down on the therapy bed and try to relax. Alice then rings a soothing bell five times which is surprisingly very relaxing.
The massage begins with an intense massage technique which really helps to relieve muscle tensions and followed by a hot herbal compress that helps enhance circulation and before ending it with a relaxing oil massage to restore balance.
GO
Golfers might love the hotel as it is located just next to Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia (KGPA).
The hotel is also not too far from a few popular malls such as 1 Utama Shopping Centre and The Curve (5km), Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall (6.4km) as well as the city centre is just 11km away.
If you like to hike, Taman Tugu Forest Trail is located 5km from the hotel.
VERDICTS
HIGHS Aside from the family-friendly facilities, the parking is free!
LOWS Personally, the location is quite a distance from Kuala Lumpur city centre. But, if you don't mind staying a little bit beyond the city limits, why not?
FAST FACTS
M RESORT & HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR
No.1, Jalan KGPA, Bukit Kiara, 60000, Kuala Lumpur
TEL 03 7932 6582
EMAIL info@mresort-hotel.com.my
WEBSITE www.mresort-hotel.com.my
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