Extra Photo Gallery: Room | Pool | Restaurant

LOCATION:
At Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in downtown Kuching Selatan. Within walking distance from the Kuching Waterfront. Taxi journey from Kuching International Airport (KCH) takes about 15-20 minutes depending on the traffic and costs about RM20 per way.

DESCRIPTION:
Holiday Inn Kuching is located within the tourist belt of the popular Kuching Waterfront. In fact, the hotel can proudly claim to be the only and truly "riverside" hotel in the city because it borders right along the bank of the Sarawak River. The hotel is owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) which also has Crowne Plaza Riverside Hotel, Holiday Inn Damai Lagoon Resort and Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resort in its stable. It is not uncommon to see these hotels and resorts being promoted together.

In general, the hotel looks somewhat unappealing from the outside, due to its old design. Nonetheless, its interiors have been renovated in recent years, with timber-strip walls, meandering alley ways, large chandeliers, comfortable lounge and nice reception counter. The hotel hosts 305 guest rooms (Standard and Deluxe), including suites and Executive Club floor. Each room is equipped with either double or king-size beds, mini bar, satellite TV, IDD telephone, individually-controlled air conditioner, built-in wardrobe, working desk, coffee maker, bathrobe, hair dryer, etc.

I stayed in a Deluxe room with city view (most people would opt for the waterfront view). Nonetheless, the room that I stayed in was very nice. The design is simple, with no elaborate decorations, but the interior colour scheme blends really well with the overall room condition. There are also two reading chairs provided by the glass window, while the bathroom is considered to be of average size with standard furnishing. Overall, I liked the room.

Anyway, the swimming pool at the hotel is really mediocre. I could make peace with the on-going construction by the city authority to enlarge the Kuching Waterfront area which practically blocked the view of the Sarawak River from the pool deck, but the pool itself is very small and cramped. Also, by installing metal-zinc awnings by the poolside, it effectively cheapens the look of the swimming pool. Nonetheless, I reckon that upon the completion of the Kuching Waterfront extension, the overall ambience from the hotel pool can be further enhanced.

The hotel hosts three main eateries, namely the Serapi Restaurant specialising in fresh seafood and char-grilled steaks, the Meisan Chinese Restaurant offering Szechuan and Cantonese delights and the Orchid Garden Coffee House which is the outlet for all-day dining options. Other than that, the hotel has a pastry shop, live band performance at Tribes Music Restaurant & Bar, a poolside bar called the Anchor Riverview Deck and finally the Rajang Lobby Lounge which is at the main reception counter.

REVIEWED ON:
September 2006

MY VERDICT:
The room was pretty good. The rest were just average.

MY RATING: