The Pullman Kuching offers large rooms and full amenities including a pool, professional gym, spa, bar and restaurant, all at a very low price. You also get a great location and friendly service, making it to see the sights of Sarawak, Borneo. The Executive Lounge is the icing on the cake with nice happy hour and breakfast for a very upscale stay. All of this makes the Pullman Kuching my new go-to hotel in Kuching – read my detailed review for more!
Location: The Pullman Kuching is located one block from the riverfront and within walking distance of lots of restaurants, shops, tourist offices and massage spas, making this a great location to explore Kuching and the surrounding national parks. Kuching Airport is about 20 minutes by taxi. It’ easy to get grab rides from the hotel to anywhere you want to go.
Service: We were welcomed by the bell staff, offered help with luggage and assisted to the front desk. Staff was friendly and professional, checking us in quickly at the reception. As Accor LeClub Platinum member, we were upgraded to a room on the Executive Club level.
Housekeeping made up the room thoroughly each day, in a timely fashion when requested. They replaced towels and amenities appropriately.
The staff at the Executive Lounge was very attentive. They kept the lounge immaculate and even though there were few lounge guests, kept the buffet filled and fresh. They checked on us regularly regarding drinks or food requests and provided assistance as needed.
Room: We had booked a standard King Room and were upgraded to a slightly larger Executive King Room. The room is contemporary and warm, with rich hardwood floors and modern, grey-brown wood furniture. There is little artwork or decoration, making the room a little bland. The King Bed had nice sheets, pillows and comforter and was very comfortable. In the corner by the window is a single, padded chair with ottoman.
Against the wall opposite the bed are a desk with task chair, a cabinet with TV, a luggage bench and a large wardrobe. A mini-fridge, coffee/tea facilities and laptop-size safe are provided, all in good working order. You’ll also find universal power outlets. The free WiFi internet is reliable and fast at an average 3.6Mbps, enough to stream video or get work done.
The bathroom is very large and has a sink-in-countertop in the center. A deep and well shaped soaking tub is on one side. On the other is a large glass-enclosed shower with both a mounted, handheld shower-head and a rainfall shower-head. The toilet is next to it. It’s all held in beige tiles, clean and well maintained, but also a little bland. A full set of Bigelow toiletries, including dental and shaving kit, is provided. The towels are thick and soft.
Restaurant & Amenities: The Pullman Kuching has a large, professional gym on premise that also welcomes external members. It has a large selection of cardio and weight equipment, as well as free weights. The gym offers a few fitness classes, so you should be able to get a full workout during your stay.
Outside the gym is the pool deck, with a small, shallow kids pool and a connected pool large enough to swim lanes. Around the pool are plenty of loungers, chairs and daybeds to relax. The construction next door is unsightly, but didn’t create a lot of noise during our visit.
On the level above the gym is the spa and wellness area. The wellness area offers a jacuzzi tub, sauna and steam as well as a cold bath and is free for hotel guests. It’s well kept and generous in size. We did not try out the spa, but it offers a wide range of treatments. Prices are pretty steep compared to independent spas in town.
Next to the lobby are the main restaurant, as well as a bar. The bar offers life music in the evenings, mostly playing for hotel guests. There are also convention facilities and as one of the top hotels in Kuching, the Pullman was receiving the state’s minister for an event during our stay.
Our favorite place in the Pullman Kuching was the excellent lounge. It’s on the top floor with a great view over Kuching and the river. The lounge is very large with several distinct spaces. Along the windows on each side is seating with lounge style seating as well as bistro style tables and chairs. In the center is a large buffet area that serves snacks and drinks for the evening cocktail hour and breakfast in the morning.
Past the buffet, you’ll find several desks with computers and printers, small conference rooms as well as massage chairs if you don’t feel like working. We were able to print boarding passes without issues, but unfortunately didn’t try the massage chairs.
The buffet breakfast offered a good selection of fruits, bread and pastries, yogurt as well as some hot Western and Asian dishes. Staff will deliver hot and cold drinks to your table and also take orders for egg dishes however you like them. During the cocktail hour, wine, beer and soft drinks were served and a buffet of cold and hot snacks, as well as desserts was available. The selection and quality of drinks and food was good.
Value & Rewards: At a rate of only $49/night, the Pullman Kuching is a bargain. It’s an even better bargain, if you have Accor LeClub Platinum status. We received a room upgrade, a welcome amenity of cookies in the room, a welcome drink and access to the very nice lounge, delivering all the promised perks of elite membership. This is probably the least expensive hotel with a lounge I’ve ever stayed at, delivering a luxurious experience at a low, low price – food and drink for two people would usually cost you more than the price of the room! Given the low price, it’s worth paying for the lounge access as well and upgrading to the Executive Club Room – it changes the stay experience significantly.
Bottomline: The Pullman Kuching offers large rooms and full amenities including the pool, professional gym, spa, bar and restaurant, all at a very low price. You also get a great location and friendly service, making it easy to recommend. The Executive Lounge is the icing on the cake and worth paying for, if you don’t have Accor LeClub status. I preferred the Pullman Kuching over the Hilton Kuching across the street, making the Pullman my new go-to hotel in Kuching and I’d suggest you give it a try! You can find the current price here!