Tim Roxborogh checks into the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Vibe: Downton Abbey in the tropics.
Facilities: The Majestic has a plush Drawing Room, Reading Room and even a Cigar Room where you're provided with what the hotel describes as "classic and luxurious smoking jackets". Other favourites are the Screening Room (showing Golden Age Hollywood black-and-white films) and the Orchid Conservatory where you take high tea among hundreds of blooming orchids. There are also several gorgeous restaurants and cafes of a suitably 1930s-ambiance, two swimming pools, a gym, a spa and a barber shop.
History: Built in 1932, the Majestic was the most opulent of all Kuala Lumpur's colonial-era hotels (Malaysia became independent in 1957). Other than a period of being hijacked by Japanese officials during WWII, the Majestic stayed open until competition from newer 5-star hotels forced a closure in the 80s. After a dozen years as an art gallery, the property lay dormant until a multimillion-dollar refurbishment between 2008-2012 saw the Majestic re-emerge as one of Southeast Asia's definitive historic hotels.
The property: The original 1932 structure (called the "Majestic Wing") has 47 rooms, while the 10-year old, 15-storey tower ("Tower Wing") has 253 rooms. Crucially, the Tower Wing was designed to match the pre-WWII glamour of the Majestic Wing. The main lobby is in the Tower Wing but with its old-world chandeliers, marble floors and grand columns, many guests are fooled into thinking it must've been part of the original hotel.
