Sheraton Kuching: Comfortable Stay, Though Not Without Flaws

It’s Peter, Chief Travel Officer at BolehMiles, back with another hotel review. If you are new here, BolehMiles is a blog dedicated to Airmiles. We also cover hotels, where we share unfiltered photos, reviews and value analysis to give you our honest take.

I recently visited Kuching for the first time, a truly underrated city that’s clean, laid-back, and packed with amazing food. It’s a great city for a relaxing staycation. I stayed at Sheraton Kuching and decided to share my experience in this review.

Overview

Highlights	Distinctive curved design and a prime location near the Sarawak River and Kuching Waterfront Esplanade. Nestled in the city’s Golden Triangle, just about 15 minutes from the airport, its highlight is definitely the modern lounge for elite members.
Opening Date	Feb 2024
Rooms	• 378 Rooms and Suites • Rooms: Superior, Deluxe, Premier and Club • Suites: Junior, Executive and Presidential
Lowest Nightly Price	From ~RM420++ / From 13,500 Marriott Points
Location	Jalan Padungan
Levels	Lobby at Level 1; Lounge at Level 22 and rooftop at Level 23
Facilities	☕ Club Lounge 🏊 Infinity Pool overlooking the river 🏋️ Fitness Center 🏢 Ballroom & Event Spaces
Dining	• Nomadic (Ground floor breakfast location) • Gu Jin • The Assembly
Access & Transport	18–25 mins from Kuching International Airport
Overall BolehMiles Rating	Boleh / Macam Boleh / Tak Boleh *Close to Boleh with some improvements

Before booking, I’d already seen a few worrying reviews online. This hotel has a rating of 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor, and 4.3 on Google. There were quite a few comments about the housekeeping issues, as well as the service standards.

So why did I still stay here? Well the choices in Kuching were not many. There are 3 major hotel chains in town: Sheraton (Marriott), Pullman (Accor) and Hilton. Pullman was still under renovation, and Hilton was tempting but I no longer maintain my Elite status there. So Sheraton it was, the perfect chance to put my Marriott perks to good use.

Although I rated it Macam Boleh overall, the hotel is very close to earning a Boleh. I encountered a minor housekeeping issue and a less-than-ideal breakfast experience at Nomadic on the ground floor, but overall, I have no hesitation recommending it for a memorable stay in Kuching. With a few tweaks to address these teething issues, the hotel could easily reach Boleh status.

The Booking

Since this was a family trip, I wanted a suite. I booked the lowest Deluxe Room, hoping for an upgrade. The night before, I saw on the Marriott app that it was only upgraded by one category (R+1) from Deluxe to Superior, which wasn’t what I hoped for.

I called to request a further upgrade, but the staff only said they would “put in the request” without confirming anything. Since I needed a suite, I cancelled the Deluxe room booking right after the call and rebooked a Junior Suite.

It was a peak weekend, and for the Junior Suite that I booked, I paid around RM1,100 per night including an extra bed. I later realized it wasn’t really necessary to pay that much, as their usually practice R+2 for Platinum and R+3 for Titanium members, subject to availability. In other words, I could have just booked a Superior Room and possibly been upgraded to a Junior Suite, though it’s never guaranteed.

Location

The curved Sheraton Kuching stands in the heart of downtown, along Jalan Padungan, offering a convenient location near the Sarawak River. Nearby are Pullman Kuching and Hilton Kuching. With Pullman still under renovation, it’s best to skip it for now. In my opinion, Hilton enjoys a slightly better spot, right beside the river and just a short walk to the Kuching Waterfront Esplanade.

Arrival

Check-in counters are located on the ground floor, with an alternative option at the Level 22 lounge for Marriott Elite members. The lounge was empty when I arrived, and the staff handled my check-in quickly.

I was warmly welcomed at the lounge by the friendly staff, Dayang and Nuz. My room was upgraded to an Executive Suite, one category above my original booking (R+1).

The Suite

The Executive Suite measured 1,098 square feet, a generous size for a suite.

Living Room

The living room was spacious and perfect for family downtime, while the work desk was a nice touch for someone like me who’s almost always on the computer.

The Bedroom

The bedroom was moderately spacious, featuring a king bed, a comfortable recliner, and a small coffee table.

Dining Area

The dining area comes with a rectangular table that seats up to 6 people, perfect for hosting a small dinner. The main difference between the Executive Suite and the Junior Suite lies in this added dining space.

Kitchenette

There’s a compact but functional kitchenette. Great for making drinks, though it doesn’t come with any cooking appliances.

Room Housekeeping

You may have seen some photos online highlighting cleanliness issues in the rooms. Fortunately, I didn’t experience that, my room was clean. However, the staff did forget to provide enough towels on one of the nights.

Club Lounge

The lounge experience was very pleasant for me. There was an evening crowd, but it never felt too packed, unlike some lounges I’ve been to around the world, especially in China and Korea, where guests queue for food like it’s a dinner-time famine.

The lounge staff were attentive, friendly, and always ready for a chat, something you don’t often find in every Marriott lounge.

Pool

The infinity-style pool overlooks the stunning Sarawak River. It can get quite crowded in the evenings, but otherwise, it’s a lovely spot to unwind and soak in the views.

Gym

The gym equipment is still brand new, featuring high-quality Life Fitness benches, machines, and treadmills, something gym bros will definitely appreciate.

Breakfast

For breakfast, elite members can choose to dine either at Nomadic on the ground floor or at the club lounge.

Ground Floor (Nomadic)

My experience at Nomadic was unfortunately not great, mainly due to the chaotic free-seating arrangement.

At the entrance, staff check your room number, and then you’re left to find your own table. It’s just like…a food court. It’s a flawed setup at many 4-star hotels, but surprising to see at Sheraton Kuching. Guests are allowed in even when there are no available seats, which happened to me during a busy weekend, leaving everyone awkwardly hunting for tables.

I had to pull out my food court survival skills at a 5-star hotel. Standing beside tables where guests were almost done. Once it was, I had to throw some tissue packs to “chope” it, Singaporean-style.

This could easily be fixed if the management provided a few “Reserved” markers. Even simple paper ones (like in Hilton), for guests to place on tables would have avoided this.

Aside from the chaotic seating system, the food selection was good and tasted great. You can even enjoy a serving of authentic Sarawak laksa here.

Breakfast at the Club Lounge

If you prefer a more peaceful breakfast, the Club Lounge also serves one. The selection there is smaller compared to Nomadic on the ground floor, but it offers a much calmer dining experience.

Service

I really appreciated how friendly and genuine the staff were throughout my stay. Always taking the time to chat and make guests feel welcome. Shoutout to Patrick, Andrew, Dayang, Ozza, and Nuz for their warm hospitality.

Value Analysis

Should you spend your holiday in Sheraton Kuching?

The base-level room here starts from RM420++. If you’re a Platinum member, you stand a pretty good chance of getting an R+2 upgrade to a Junior Suite, an excellent value for the price.

If you’re comparing across other hotel chains, here’s a quick look at how room prices in Kuching stack up. The rates are fairly close:

Hotel	Starting Price
Sheraton Kuching	RM420+
Hilton Kuching	RM380+
Pullman Kuching	RM350+
Voco Kuching	Coming Soon

Conclusion

As the only Marriott property in Kuching, Sheraton Kuching is a solid choice for anyone visiting the city. While I rated it Macam Boleh, it’s very close to earning a Boleh if management can address a few areas for improvement: the breakfast experience and the housekeeping consistency.

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Until next time.