Kuala Lumpur is a shopping paradise with an eclectic spectrum of retail opportunities, from air-conditioned mega malls right through to the frenetic street markets. Prices are excellent in both and haggling is the norm in the street markets and even in some of the malls, where bulk discounts are also on offer. The city overflows with malls, the scale of which is impressive – bowling alleys, discos, cinemas (even a canal in one of them) add a surreal element to the shopping experience.
Many of the malls are located on Jalan Bukit Bintang and are marketed under the umbrella term of
Bintang Walk, now part of Star Hill (website:
www.bintangwalk.com). Here visitors can pick up electrical goods in
Bukit Bintang Plaza, a wide range of clothing and footwear in
Lot 10, designer bargains at
Star Hill Shopping Center or explore the boutiques in
Kuala Lumpur Plaza. Elsewhere, high fashion blends with one of the world’s highest buildings at the
Suria KLCC Shopping Center, tucked away in the basement of the
Petronas Twin Towers. On offer are big designer names, such as
Hugo Boss,
Laura Ashley and
Karl Seeger. Another mall,
Times Square, opened in 2003 on the fringes of Bintang Walk.
KLIA often feels more like a shopping mall than an international airport and now boasts over 70 retail outlets, with first-rate duty-free shopping.
A galaxy away from the malls are the night markets.
Vision KL Magazine publishes a regular update on where and when the best markets are, with the only constant remaining the nightly Jalan Petaling. This Chinatown bulwark peddles CDs, electrical equipment, perfume, watches and clothing, as well as some of the city’s best hawker fare. The best souvenirs are traditional handicrafts like pewterware.
The factory outlet of Kuala Lumpur’s own distinctive
Royal Selangor Pewter (website:
www.royalselangor.com), 4 Jalan Ushawan Enam, offers free guided tours preceding access to the factory outlet and the world’s largest tankard, which is on display. Batik (Indonesian dyed cloth) may have its roots across the Malacca Straits in Indonesia but today Kuala Lumpur offers some excellent quality batik. A range of batik is found at
Central or in
Kompleks Budaya Kraf, Jalan Conlay.
Most shops are open 0900-1700 daily, with the malls open later from 1000-2200. Some shops close on Sundays but all of the malls are open. Sales tax is generally around 10%, although some products are taxed at 5% or 15%, or are exempt from sales tax. Tax-free shopping is available; if notified before payment, the shop will give the visitor a form, which can be presented at the airport for refund upon departure.
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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