Kuala Lumpur is a slick, modern city with a skyline that rivals some of the best in the world. After spending a week relaxing in the tropical Malaysian beach resorts of Langkawi and Pankor, my first glimpse of the buzzing lights of ‘KL’ was an exciting antidote.

I stayed at the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur, located in the heart of the city’s commercial and entertainment district, within easy walking distance of the world famous Petronas Twin Towers - once the world’s tallest buildings.

This five-star hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and fully-equipped fitness centre, which was good for my waistline as the hotel is renowned in the city for its award winning Chinese and Japanese restaurants. Malaysia is a haven for food-lovers, from top-class restaurants to incredible street food in China Town. Home to a diverse mixture of cultures, races and cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Malay and European people, it’s impossible for a visitor’s taste-buds to get bored!

Shopping is unrivalled in KL, with sprawling shopping centres offering everything from designer brands to traditional Malay handicrafts. There is even a Topshop for those missing British high street bargains!

I would advise anyone visiting KL to see the commercial district at night. Thousands of fairy lights illuminate the Petronas Twin Towers, while people dine in candlelight at the open air restaurants scattered around the Golden triangle.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is completely free to go up to the top of the Twin Towers. One tip I would give though, is to arrive before nine in the morning to get your complimentary tickets, as there are only a limited number allocated each day and the queues can get quite long by mid-morning. The views are fantastic and a guide accompanies your group to explain all of the sights. There is also a museum at ground level which is worth a visit.

I really couldn’t have chosen a hotel with a better location than the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur for an holiday in Kuala Lumpur. It really was great on all levels, from service and facilities to the little extras, such as the complementary foot massage - greatly appreciated after a hard days shopping and sightseeing!