Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur has one of the best addresses in the city: it stands right beside the Petronas Twin Towers, overlooking the landscaped KLCC Park and next to the Suria KLCC mall and the convention centre. For travellers who want a classic luxury hotel with the city's most famous landmark on the doorstep, it is hard to beat, and it is a long-standing favourite for business travellers, couples and families alike.

The hotel is large, with 570 rooms, 20 suites with separate living rooms and 39 executive apartments for longer stays. Rooms facing the towers or the park are the ones to request, and they are worth the supplement if your budget allows. The leisure facilities are a real strength. The outdoor infinity-edge pool looks out over KLCC Park, with poolside cabanas and a separate children's pool, and there are two outdoor tennis courts, which are rare in central Kuala Lumpur. The spa has single and couple treatment rooms, heat and water facilities and a relaxation lounge, and there is a fitness centre with personal training, a Mind and Body studio for yoga and Pilates, and a hair and beauty salon.

Dining is varied enough that you could happily eat in for a few days. Lai Po Heen serves Cantonese cuisine, while the Mandarin Grill is the hotel's grill restaurant. Mosaic is the all-day dining room, AQUA Restaurant and Bar sits by the pool, Lounge on the Park overlooks the gardens, MO Bar is the hotel bar, and The Mandarin Cake Shop sells pastries and cakes to take away. With two ballrooms and thirteen function rooms, the hotel is also a major venue for weddings and conferences, so public areas can be busy on event days.

Book directly with the hotel for the most flexible rates and to ask about room upgrades or packages. Families will appreciate the children's pool and the park on the doorstep, while couples may prefer a park-view room and a spa treatment. The location makes it easy to see the Petronas Twin Towers early in the morning before the crowds, and Aquaria KLCC is a short walk away.

The nearest rail station is KLCC on the LRT, reached through the Suria KLCC mall. Bukit Bintang is a short taxi ride away, and the airport is about an hour away by car depending on traffic.