Why I Hated Kuala Lumpur: A Solo Female Traveler’s Raw Review
Welcome to She Thrives with Stef Barti, a podcast dedicated to empowering women to live their best lives and thrive unapologetically.
This blog post is based on Episode 42 of my podcast, She Thrives with Stef Barti. If you prefer to listen, you can check out the original podcast episode
Traveling solo can be an incredible, life-changing experience, filled with new discoveries, connections, and personal growth.
As someone who thrives on adventure and exploration, I’ve had my fair share of beautiful moments in cities around the world.
But let me tell you about one place that was not on my list of top destinations: Kuala Lumpur.
I recently had the chance to travel to this Malaysian metropolis, and while I usually leave a place with at least one redeeming quality, Kuala Lumpur was the rare exception.
In this post, I’m diving deep into why I hated my experience in Kuala Lumpur—and why I won’t be going back.
If you’re thinking about traveling there, or if you’ve been there and didn’t quite get the vibes, this might resonate with you.
The internet gets so mad whenever someone goes against the grain and say that they did not like a certain travel place.
But I think it is so important to share all the stories, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Traveling is more than pretty Instagram pictures and especially as a solo female traveller, it’s important to share our less glamorous travel stories.
A Rough Start
First of all, I’ll admit: I didn’t initially plan on visiting Kuala Lumpur. My flight had a 12-hour layover, and I was already tired and exhausted from my travels.
Instead of staying in the airport, I decided to step out and explore, thinking, “Why not give it a shot?”
Big mistake. 😩
From the moment I stepped out of the airport, the energy was off.
The city felt… well, depressing.
I had been to other places with overcast skies and rain—London comes to mind—but the gloomy weather in Kuala Lumpur felt different. It wasn’t just the rain.
It was the vibe.
The energy felt low, and the city itself didn’t give off the welcoming, vibrant atmosphere I was craving.
Food Disappointment
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I was excited to sample Kuala Lumpur’s famed Southeast Asian cuisine.
But sadly, the food did not live up to the hype.
It wasn’t terrible, but it was certainly meh. Considering this region is known for delicious street food, I expected more, but nothing stood out as particularly exciting.
If you’ve traveled in Southeast Asia, you know how important food culture is.
Sadly, Kuala Lumpur didn’t deliver on this front.
Rude Locals
Now, let’s talk about the number one thing that really ruined my experience: the rude locals.
I mean, it was bad. I’m not the type to be offended by minor cultural differences or a lack of southern hospitality, but there’s a basic level of decency that should be universal—greeting people, showing common courtesy, a smile or nod.
And let me tell you, this was missing in Kuala Lumpur.
The taxi drivers didn’t say a word to me. No “hello,” no “good morning,” nothing. It’s almost as if they were too busy scrolling through their phones to acknowledge another human being.
I’ve traveled to a lot of countries and experienced different levels of politeness, but this was on another level of indifference.
I thought, Is this a cultural thing? Having traveled to many Muslim-majority countries, including Palestine and the UAE, I was used to different social norms.
But this felt like something else entirely.
One moment that stuck with me: I was struggling with my bags at a taxi stop, and not a single driver offered help.
They just opened the trunk, waited for me to load my luggage, and went back to scrolling through their phones.
When one driver did finally say “good morning,” I was so shocked that I didn’t even know how to respond right away!
Lack of Courtesy Everywhere
And don’t even get me started on the lack of courtesy. I noticed this everywhere—at restaurants, in taxis, even in public spaces.
People would sit at tables in restaurants scrolling through TikTok on full volume, completely oblivious to the others around them.
I confronted a couple of girls about this behavior, and while I wasn’t exactly polite about it, I felt like I had no choice. It just wasn’t something I could ignore anymore.
I get it; we all love a good scroll, but there’s something incredibly jarring about loud, obnoxious videos in a public setting. It felt inconsiderate and intrusive.
Cultural Differences or Something Deeper?
Was there something deeper at play? Could it have been a mix of racism or sexism, maybe?
While I didn’t experience overt racism, I did notice subtle undertones of both sexism and colorism, particularly in the products I saw in stores.
Almost every lotion had a “whitening” agent in it, reinforcing the notion that lighter skin is more desirable.
And as much as I wanted to dismiss it, I couldn’t ignore it. This kind of post-colonial mindset is still pervasive in many parts of the world, and it was so sad to witness.
Things to Do (Or Not Do) in Kuala Lumpur
Now, I’m not here just to complain. 🤭
I’d rather offer some advice if you find yourself in Kuala Lumpur and want to make the best of your experience.
Transport
Stick to services like Grab (the Southeast Asian version of Uber).
I know it might sound like I’m exaggerating, but trust me—when the locals aren’t engaging with you, it’s easier to stick to a service where you don’t have to interact with anyone.
It is what it is! 🤷🏽♀️
Skip the Food Tours
There’s a popular food tour on TripAdvisor, but after looking at the photos, I’d say skip it.
If you’re a foodie like me, you want authentic, tasty meals—and the food scene in Kuala Lumpur didn’t meet my standards.
Visit Batu Caves
If you find yourself in Kuala Lumpur, I’d say the Batu Caves are probably the best thing to see.
The caves and temples inside were pretty cool, though they didn’t completely blow me away. But still, it’s a worth a visit if you’re there.
Skip the Petronas Towers ( or see them from afar)
Unless you’re a fan of skyscrapers, this landmark didn’t do much for me. As someone who’s seen countless skyscrapers, the Petronas Towers didn’t feel particularly unique.
Final Thoughts: Not All Travel Experiences Are Perfect
To wrap it up, I just want to remind you all that not every travel experience is going to be magical.
We need to normalize this. And they still make for a great learning experience and self discovery.
While I usually leave a place with at least one good memory, Kuala Lumpur just wasn’t for me.
It’s okay to share your honest experiences—whether they’re positive or negative.
Not every city or country will resonate with you, and that’s completely valid.
I’m not here to discourage anyone from visiting Kuala Lumpur, but I am here to share my truth.
I truly believe that travel is about feeling a place—the energy, the vibe, the soul—and Kuala Lumpur just didn’t give me the connection I was looking for.
Also please note that your travel experience might be totally different from mine. And you might end up having the best time of your life. That’s the beauty of traveling 🫶🏾
Stef Barti
Host of She Thrives with Stef Barti Podcast
Feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit from it. And remember, you are a unique, beautiful creation, worthy of love and joy every day of the year.
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