Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

It’s not the newest big-time luxury hotel in Kuala Lumpur, but the Shangri-La is not the sort of hotel that rests on novelty for its appeal. Everything that was impressive about this five-star downtown tower when it opened in the mid-Eighties is still impressive today (minor aesthetic and technological adjustments notwithstanding, it’s not like it’s a time capsule or something). The Asia-Pacific mega-luxury formula is still a successful one, even in the (forgive us) post-boutique era.

So. 662 rooms, at least a hundred of which are suites, but all of which, at any size, are comfortable, elegant, spacious enough, and provided with well-elevated city views. The style walks a line which never wavers into corporate blandness or bludgeoning kitschiness — it feels like Kuala Lumpur without also feeling like a presentation from the local Chamber of Commerce. And the key to this sort of hotel is not just the facility, but the service as well — most anything you want is already at your fingertips, but in the rare event it’s not, there’s an army of staffers on hand to make matters right.

Pool, spa, fitness center, restaurants — all the must-haves are present. And they’re far from your only choice. In the time since the Shangri-La opened, its very central location has somehow become even more central — you’ll probably recognize the Petronas Towers, for instance.