This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Petaling Jaya.
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, is a satellite city in Selangor, next to the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Colloquially known as PJ to the local communities that live around the area, it is an important business and commercial districts, with numerous shopping malls and multinational businesses based in and around the area. Tech giants such as IBM and Paypal have their Malaysian headquarters here, as well as companies such as Mondelez International.
Like the rest of Malaysia, PJ's weather hovers around the thirty-three degrees Celsius mark (ninety degrees Fahrenheit) across the whole year. Public transport in and around the area is relatively good, with the existing light rail transit (LRT) a convenient way to travel downtown to Kuala Lumpur, and improving with the Klang Valley mass rail transit (MRT) line linking Sungai Buloh to Kajang (traversing many Petaling Jaya landmarks to central Kuala Lumpur) launched recently. As a result, PJ is a burgeoning middle class area with a diverse range of food and consumer services available. Some of the notable shopping malls in the area include One Utama (the world's sixth-largest shopping mall), The Curve, Paradigm Mall, Starling, Atria, and Sunway Pyramid. One of the two IKEAs surrounding the Kuala Lumpur area is also located here, in Mutiara Damansara.
Shared Petaling Jaya, Malaysia hostels are not as common as cheap hotels and homestays; but you can find a few Petaling Jaya, Malaysia hostels in the older districts of SS2 and PJ Old State. Most locals do not like shared accommodation, and if you do find a Petaling Jaya, Malaysia hostel advertised in English, they tend to differentiate themselves as art projects or hipster collectives. On the other end of the spectrum, some shared hostels in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, are only accessible if you speak a local dialect or language, such as Malay or Chinese, and cater mostly for longer-staying guests who have moved to the area to work or study. You will find these advertised in local newspapers or online forums.
Written by local enthusiast for Petaling Jaya hostels
Steph
