• Get around
• Buy
• Drink
• Sleep
• Contact

The dimly lit, surreal kitsch of the First World Plaza indoor theme park-cum-shopping mall

Genting Highlands — pronounced ghen-ting with a hard "G" — is in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.

[edit] Understand

A self-proclaimed City of Entertainment, Genting is Malaysia's low-budget, family-friendly, sanitized attempt at Las Vegas. The primary draw is that Genting is the only place where you can gamble legally in Malaysia, but there's also a theme park to keep the kids amused. As a plus, being located up in the highlands means it's cooler than the steamy lowlands.

[edit] Orientation

Orienting yourself in Genting is simultaneously easy and difficult. There are no "streets" of any kind; instead, all the (gigantic) buildings are connected with a vast warren of linkways, underground tunnels and escalators, all filled with enough signage to stop you from getting lost. Figuring out the fastest route from A to B is not always easy though, because the signage is designed to lead you into the hotels and their casinos!

[edit] Climate

Located at an altitude of 1800 meters, temperatures in Genting are a good 5-10°C lower than in Kuala Lumpur, generally staying in the 15-25°C range. On a clear day, there are stunning views down into the valley — but when it's raining in KL, Genting is swathed in rolling clouds and visibility drops to zero. Thanks to the walkway system, you almost never need to venture outside, but hotel rooms are unheated and can get chilly at night.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Genting Skyway on a misty day

The nearest airport is in Kuala Lumpur. Skybus [1] used to run direct buses, but seems to have stopped; the fastest way is thus to KL Sentral by train (28 min) and then connecting to the bus from there. Alternatively, if you're feeling flush after hitting a jackpot in the casino, Sabah Air (tel. +60-3-62578604) will be happy to charter a helicopter for you (30 min).

[edit] By bus

There are frequent buses from various points in Kuala Lumpur, including the Puduraya bus terminal (every 30 min) and KL Sentral train station (hourly). Booking in advance is advisable as services can sell out, especially on weekends.

All buses take around one hour and cost RM8.30-8.50 one way, with most terminating at the Skyway cable car station, from where it's an 11-minute ride up to Genting (included in bus ticket price). Buses departing after 8 PM head directly to the resort.

Transtar [2] also operates one daily bus direct from Singapore (S$68/57 one-way from/to Singapore).

[edit] By car

Genting Highlands is 40 minutes from Kuala Lumpur on the Karak Highway.

[edit] Get around

All hotels in Genting (except Awana) are connected by sheltered walkways and escalators, so you never actually need to go outside. The entire complex is, theoretically, wheelchair accessible.

[edit] See & Do

[edit] Casinos

Let's face it: if you aren't into theme park rides, the only thing to do in Genting is gamble. There are two casinos open to the general public, both of which are open 24 hours and are limited to non-Muslims over 21. (Non-Malaysian Muslims are welcome.) Table games of choice are roulette, baccarat and Chinese games such as tai sai and pai gow, with poker barely registering. There are also countless slot machines, but many if most require signing up with Genting's WorldCard [3] system if you want to withdraw any winnings.

A notional dress code applies, prohibiting T-shirts, shorts and sandals, and while there are theoretical non-smoking zones here and there, all casinos are wreathed in dense smoke. One final difference to Vegas: not only are there no cocktail waitresses, but you can't even buy a drink inside.

• Casino de Genting, Genting Hotel, [4]. Located in the and connected by walkway to the neighboring Monte Carlo Casino, this is easily the largest of the casinos and you'll probably find your vice of choice in here somewhere — they even have a few video poker machines. Visitors with foreign passports are allowed to enter the "International Room" VIP zone if they agree to sign up to WorldCard.

• StarWorld, First World Hotel, [5]. A smaller-size replica of the Casino de Genting.

[edit] Other

Genting Theme Park

• Genting Theme Park, [6].

• Arena of Stars, [7]. Hosts concerts and shows most weekends, but most feature B-grade Chinese pop stars or Western artists well past their prime.

[edit] Buy

• First World Plaza, in First World Hotel, [8]. Malaysia's self-proclaimed highest shopping mall, this is an ungainly mix of indoor theme park and low-rent shopping mall with replicas of random landmarks from around the world, all covered with a giant metal roof that makes the entire place seem dark and dingy.

[edit] Eat

Food in Genting is generally overpriced and mediocre. Local, Western and fast food are available, but prices are often twice or more what the same meal would cost in Kuala Lumpur. Most restaurants are halal to cater for the large number of Muslim visitors.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

There are a number of fast food chains like Macdonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Marybrown provide you with inexpensive meals yet full of value. One should try Marybrown's Nasi Lemak meal as breakfast, which includes one-piece chicken, a hot tea/coffee, and other Nasi Lemak condiments (~RM10 only).

There are also quite some Chinese restaurants like the Causeway Bay (FW Plaza Second floor) and Shanghai 10 (FW Plaza Main Atrium). They serve good food and a meal for 3 (One main course, side dish and a drink per pax) would not cost you anything more than RM60.

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Drink

Nightlife in Genting is very limited. There are four (4) bars of any description in the entire complex, three of them (Safari, Cloud 9, Sportsbook) in the lower level of the Genting Hotel and one (Patio) on the second floor of the First World Hotel. Expect to pay north of RM20 for a single drink.

• Safari, Genting Hotel (lower level). Tropical jungle theme, spinning R&B.
• Cloud 9, Genting Hotel (lower level). A more relaxing lounge.

There are several cafes around such as Starbucks Coffee and Coffee Beans & Tea Leaf available in the First World Hotel.

[edit] Sleep

The garish towers of the First World Hotel, one of the largest in the world

With 10,000 rooms to choose from, there are usually plenty of beds at Genting. On weekdays in the off-season, rooms can be very cheap indeed (under RM 20), but demand is highly seasonal and the hotels fill up fast in November and December. Note that all rooms are unheated and can thus get chilly at night!

All hotels are run by Genting and share the same reservations center, reachable online or by phone at +60-3-27181118.

• First World Hotel, [9]. Catering towards the masses and the budget conscious, this three-star monolith with gaudy exterior paint is (by some measures) the biggest hotel in the entire world, with 6,118 rooms in two towers. And you aren't likely to forget it: check-in queues often stretch over an hour, room numbers have five digits and the enormous First World Cafe's breakfast buffet has all the charm of a reform school cafeteria. Standard/deluxe rooms are spartan but clean. The main selling point is the price: while rack rate is RM240, advance booking weekday promotions go for as little as RM20.

• Genting Hotel, [10]. One of the earliest to open in the Highlands, this 5-star hotel offers a wide range of entertainment and recreational facilities such as heated indoor swimming pool, 10 restaurants (including the award-winning, The Olive), and a large karaoke center. Rates from RM235 nett (low season).

• Highlands Hotel, [11]. 932 rooms. Open to invited high rollers and Genting WorldCard Silver and above only.

• Resort Hotel, [12]. The Resort is a four-star hotel adjacent to the Genting Hotel with its own section of the Casino and three F&B outlets. Standard low season rates from RM160 nett.

• Theme Park Hotel, [13]. A French-themed castle-village-hotel notionally modeled on the 16th-century village of Colmar in Alsace, France, complete with drawbridge. It ranks as a 3 star hotel, with affordable yet comfy rooms.

[edit] Contact

Both Genting Hotel and First World Plaza have Internet cafes. There is also a post office on the lower level of Genting Hotel.

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