Imperial Palace Hotel Miri

If you are looking for a stay-cation hotel in Miri at a wallet-friendly price, then this hotel may just be perfect for you. The Imperial Palace Hotel certainly wow-ed us during our brief stay here a couple of weeks ago.

Through Agoda.com, I managed to secure a standard king room at RM175 nett, which is inclusive of breakfast for 2 adults. Being 2km away from Bintang Mall, it is close enough to shopping area minus the headache of looking for parking space. By the way, parking is complimentary for stay-in guests.

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The king-sized bed

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The bed from another angle

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The entryway

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The mini fridge

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The beverage station

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
Safe box

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
Toiletries come in standard packaging

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The bathroom comes with a bathtub

The hotel pays attention-to-details when you see a bath mat folded into a ribbon such as in the photo below:

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
Marble floor in the bathroom

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The view of the room from one angle

Since it was a stay-cation trip, we decided to try out their jacuzzi-styled swimming pool. The kids loved it, and I did too, to a certain extent. I thought the pool needs cleaning because there bottom felt slimy and there were dead insects in the pool. Sorry, no photo of the swimming pool since we did not bring our phone down.

Imperial Palace Hotel Miri
The view of the hotel corridor

Lastly, we loved the buffet breakfast at Menawan Restaurant. They have quite a selection suited for the adults and kids. Their nasi lemak is served with generous selection of dishes and their rice congee is really delicious. We ended up over-stuffing ourselves, LOL!

Overall, I recommend this hotel for both single or family travellers looking for value-for-money hotel :)

Rating: 8/10

Grand Borneo Hotel, Kota Kinabalu Sabah

Coming down from Kundasang, we decided to spend the rest of the day shopping at 1Borneo Mall before going back the next day. This time, I chose Booking.com to book the Grand Borneo Hotel which is adjacent to the shopping mall. 

We booked a Gallery Twin Room for RM140++, which is appointed with twin beds as the name implies. It was quite affordable considering its location and the fact that it was a new hotel with modern decor and facilities.

I am impressed with the modern contemporary black and white hotel design despite its really tiny and fully maximised space. It is certainly a good value for money as guests are mostly people looking for a place to crash after a busy day shopping at the mall next door.

My only fault with the hotel is their limited parking. However, being next to a mall means that guests can also park at the mall's parking. Still, the hotel's reception is fast and friendly, and the room comes with free WiFi, which is increasingly becoming an essential service in a hotel.

Grand Borneo Hotel,
The room comes with two single beds

Grand Borneo Hotel
Modern wallpaper encased the flat plasma TV

Grand Borneo Hotel
The beds from another angle

Grand Borneo Hotel
The work desk

Grand Borneo Hotel
Tea-making facilities complete with complimentary instant beverages

Grand Borneo Hotel
Classic black-and-white bathroom

Grand Borneo Hotel
Shower area

Grand Borneo Hotel
Sink area

Grand Borneo Hotel
The really basic toiletries provided

I think the hotel hits the right target i.e. shoppers who are here for the shopping and really not so much for the hotel stay. Despite that, they still ensure that their services are excellent and the rooms satisfactory. Really worth the money spent.

Rating: 8/10

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa

We went to Kundasang, Sabah last March for a mini vacation and it was really a last-minute arrangement. Thanks to Agoda.com, we were able to book a room at Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa. There are two types of accommodation at this hotel - a chalet and a regular hotel room. We booked a family suite room at RM370++ per night. The room could easily accommodate 3 adults and 2 kids. It has one bedroom and one living room with sofa bed, two TVs, a small fridge and a bathroom with a bathtub.

The journey from the airport to Kundasang took about 2 hours more or less. Luckily our kids fell asleep during the ride and only woke up when we reached there. The hotel's direction was quite unclear and we ended up lost and had to U-turn before we finally found the route to this hotel. It was situated on top of a small hill. From the roundabout, take the third exit (3 o'clock direction) and proceeded to drive up a winding route before reaching the hotel.

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
Photo courtesy of: Agoda.com

We reached the hotel at 12pm and were told that check-in is only at 2pm (due to school holiday season). The staff at the reception counter was not very friendly and only replied to our queries in a curt manner with hardly a smile.  

Anyway, luckily the hotel room made up for the lack of hospitality. Although the hotel's name implied a resort-like experience, I certainly do not recommend this hotel if you are seeking for a stay-cation. The spa was even closed on Sunday (seriously, and they call themselves a resort & spa hotel??) much to my disappointment. This hotel is great if you are only looking for a comfortable sleeping place.

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
View of the bedroom

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
The living room comes with sofa bed and a TV

The room does not have an aircond as the weather outside gave natural air-conditioning temperature. It was similar to being in Cameron Highland except that in Cameron Highland, you still get night activities where else in Kundasang, by night-time all the shops were close and it was really dark outside!

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
The work desk and a small fridge

As usual, my two kids were super excited to stumble upon a bath tub, and wanted to take a bath immediately. We soon discovered that the little rubber sealant was missing. I then decided to use one of the hotel glass to create a sort of vacuum to cover the hole to stop the water from draining. So all was well again.

Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
Bathtub with hand-held shower

The next day we woke up early and was rewarded with the clear view of Mount Kinabalu peak. It was really breathtaking.


Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa
The view of Mount Kinabalu peak from our room

Overall, the hotel does not fall into the category of a resort hotel judging by the level of service they offered. To me, it is just an average 3-star hotel with really good potential except that the management needs to look into upgrading their services, refurbishing their room and perhaps, hospitality training for their front-desk staff. 

Rating: 5/10

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching

While en-route to my hometown via Kuching, I took the opportunity to try Four Points by Sheraton.

Located just 5 minutes away from the airport, I could understand why it was a favourite place to stay amongst business travellers.

From the outside I was impressed by the modern exterior of the hotel. Considering that few hotels in Sarawak are modern enough or refurbished to adopt the modern decor, I quite liked Four Points for its modern contemporary design. There is no musty odour of old carpet, or lumpy mattresses that haven't been changed for a decade.

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
View of the room from the entrance

Warm wood colors dominate the room, while yellow lighting creates relaxing ambience to soothe business travelers after a long day at work.

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
The room is appointed with a queen-sized bed

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Modern contemporary design rules while still maintaining the full functionality of the hotel room

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
The TV cabinet also accommodates a minibar and tea-making facility

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Four Points by Sheraton Kuching declares itself as a non-smoking hotel

I am impressed by the non-smoking stance taken by the hotel in their efforts to promote eco friendly practices. 

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Lipton tea and Nescafe 3-in-1 for caffeine addicts who enjoy a cuppa first thing in the morning


Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Marble tiles at the entrance

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
From another angle of the room

Green frosted glass that separates the bedroom and the bathroom keeps one's privacy while also adhering to the open concept which is becoming more common in modern hotel design.


Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Simple yet modern bathroom design


Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
Love the colorful packaging of the toiletries

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
The bathtub sadly is missing one handle despite the hotel being relatively new compared to others

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
From another angle

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
The shower cubicle with ceiling mount rain showerhead and hand-held shower

Four Points by Sheraton, Kuching
In the wardrobe

Sadly, the hotel service is rather woeful. From the moment I arrived to the minute when I left, the service was such a letdown that I doubted if I should stay here again.

My arrival was greeted by a tired and aloof reception staff who was not interested to find out why the hotel is still charging service charge despite the recent announcement by the Government instructing all hotel and restaurant establishments to cease service charge.

Upon reaching my room, I discovered that the housekeeping staff had forgotten to replenish shower cap and dental kits. So I rang them to request for those items to be brought up. I did not even finish my sentence before the staff hung up on me leaving me fuming on the other end. Around 15 minutes later, a staff knocked on my door and delivered only the dental kits. I was exhausted since it was quite late so I decided not to make a fuss out of it.

Similarly, when I called for room service as I was feeling peck-ish, my calls went unanswered. A staff eventually returned my call but the way he entertained the call made me wonder whether he had ever attended customer service training.

Lastly, I was stressed out during check-out because the staff took ages trying to swipe my credit card despite knowing that I was rushing to catch a connecting flight to my hometown.

There was no sense of urgency or apology offered knowing that I was distressed and kept looking at my watch. Finally after I asked her if it was absolutely necessary for the transaction to go through, she finally asked me to sign an offline version for billing later on. 

It was quite a shame to see such a fine establishment but lacking of trained customer service.

Overall, I may consider to stay here again during family trip (just because the room itself is modern and nicer compared to other older hotels) but staying here as a business traveler may not be the experience I wish to have.

Rating: 6/10

Update: After a brief operation period, Four Points by Sheraton Kuching has now been closed.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Have you ever stepped into a hotel and felt like you never wanted to leave, ever?

Well, I did when I stayed at The Majestic Hotel late last year. From the moment I checked in until the moment we left, everything was simply heavenly.

We were there for a one-day stay-cation to sample the famous The Majestic Hotel. True to its name, guests were given the royal treatment right from the arrival to the departure. When our taxi stopped in front of the hotel's impressive entrance, a smartly-dressed doorman in colonial-era uniform courteously opened the door and with the efficiency of a valet from the bygones era, helped us to unload our luggage. We stepped in to be greeted by the sight of a swanky-looking lobby with a gigantic Christmas tree adding sparkle to the already dazzling marble floor which befits the hotel name - majestic.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The hotel lobby

Check in was a breeze and in no time at all, we were sent on our way to the Junior Suite at the Tower Wing. The moment we opened the door, my nose picked up the sweet scent of room fragrance gently floating in the air, welcoming us to the room. Ah, bliss...

My girls wasted no time running around squealing and shrieking in joy to see such a luxurious and spacious room awaiting us. It is the ideal urban sanctuary for newlyweds on honeymoon and those seeking mental and physical rejuvenation with luxury amenities:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur The room is gorgeous and simply oozes the elegance of the yester-years during the Colonial time

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
A round dining table with four upholstered chairs allow guests to feel like dining at home minus the hassle of cooking and cleaning up

In one corner of the room, there is a spacious work desk complete with all the amenities required including electrical sockets to charge the many devices one carries nowadays.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
You can work away comfortably as the amenities are completely provided

There is also a vanity area which can also double up as a second work desk:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The vanity area which is privately tucked away in a corner can also double up as the second work desk

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The entrance

The suite comes appointed a four-poster bed. There is something about four-poster bed that is so romantic and alluring. I immediately fell in love with the luxurious bed with its fluffy pillow and pristine white sheet which is cool to the touch and soft as a feather. When I lie down on the bed, my mind just drifts off in peaceful nothingness - such is the effect of the super comfortable mattress on the bed!

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Perfect for snuggles under the duvet

Since it was to be a stay-cation, I armed myself with a good book to read while lounging on this sofa:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Escaping into the story's plot while on this sofa.

Meanwhile, the kids loved watching cartoon channel while taking a bath. The 42-inch tv is also available in the bedroom:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
A wide plasma TV adorned the wall above a cabinet where tea-making amenities are kept

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
From another angle.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The view of the bathroom next to an armchair

Our room featured an 'open' concept bathroom that incorporate contemporary design. The result is a classy bathroom appointed with oval, stand-alone bathtub, separate toilet and shower cubicles, and white bowl-shaped sinks facing gleaming mirrors.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
You can choose to soak up in the bathtub while watching TV which is hung on the wall oppsite the bathtub

As I am an avid collector of hotel toiletries, I was thrilled to find that the hotel does not provide generic toiletries - instead, their toiletries come in generous size and attractive, colourful packaging under the brand 'Mangosteen'. The scent is refreshing and certainly worth to add to my growing collection:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The hotel offers Mangosteen brand toiletries in colourful and cute packaging

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The bar soap

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The other toiletries in boxes packaging

Those who like to soak up in the bath will be delighted with the complimentary mineral salt to treat and rejuvenate one's tired body:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Mineral / bath salt to scrub away dead skin cells

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
A weighing scale is beginnng to be part of hotels' standard amenity

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The shower cubicle encased in clear transparent glass

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The toilet cubicle

The rest of the amenities are as expected of any reputable hotels:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
In the cupboard

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Mini safe box is also available

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Non-woven laundry bags

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The minibar is stocked with canned beverages

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The tea-making amenities

I took the opportunity to sample their in-room dining menu which noticeably have fewer selections compared to other hotels I stayed in before. Nevertheless, I ended up ordering their Nasi Goreng which arrives in their trademarked tiffin box:

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Their in-room dining service is well-known to use tiffin box akin to past years' dining experience

Their nasi goreng was not so bad but not the best I've come across either. However, I like their presentation.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Goreng with fried egg

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Beautiful flowers that accompanied my lunch

The next day, we had our breakfast at Contango, an open concept restaurant located at the ground floor. Thankfully, they have more variety for breakfast ranging from American breakfast to Continental as well as local delicacies.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The menu caters to everyone including fussy little girls like mine

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Khayla only wanted peeled orange slices and milk

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Breakfast

Overall, I had really great experience staying at The Majestic. The only fault is they do not have any entertainment for children (for example, The Westin has Kids' Room for young guests), although they have plenty of classic entertainment rooms for the gentlemen (Cigar Room for those who want to enjoy social banters over expensive cigars, Card Room for guests who want to engage in social card games or bridge, Screening Room showing classic Black and White movies of bygones era, to name a few others). Perhaps my only regret was not trying their Afternoon Tea at their Orchid Conservatory, as I read rave reviews on their delectable menu.

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The Orchid Conservatory which I am sure will make my mom swoon


Rating: 10/10