After a horror night stay at a hotel I shall not name, we checked out the next day and moved straight to The Waterfront Hotel for our next 2 nights.
A huge upgrade.
As we drove towards The Waterfront from afar, we were delighted that it was just across the road from the Darul Hana Bridge (or do they call it the Golden Anniversary Bridge?), highlight of the Sarawak River. As we turned right after The Old Courthouse, we were welcomed by a simple water fountain followed by the hotel cat sleeping by the entrance. The hotel does look a bit aged, with a small lobby but tall ceiling.
We were then received by the hotel staff, friendly and helpful.
Quick Hotel Rating
PROS
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The room itself was clean, bright and spacious! To my delight, it doesn’t have that mouldy smell that some hotels have because of the humid climate. And with ample lighting, the brightness allows us to relax and chit chat comfortably.
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Comfy bed with plushy pillows and soft clean covers make for a good night’s rest.
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Spacious bathroom! Feels like you can lay a mat and do yoga in it. The bathroom is clean and well maintained.
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Spoiled for choice from an assortment of toiletries, more like the shower stuff; body wash, shampoo, facial cleanser (yeah!) from Atomy. I loved the fact that the hotel supplied facial cleanser and it smelled great.
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Appreciated the touch of hospitality at the lobby with the cold lemon basil drink which was a nice pick-me-up and cookies.
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Great view from the swimming pool on the 4th floor, overlooking the Darul Hana Bridge. A pity we didn’t have the time to enjoy a drink from the poolside bar at night to admire the changing lights on the bridge and the night scenery. Right next to the mall, Plaza Merdeka! Extremely convenient. From Starbucks, to MacDonald’s, Gloria Jeans to H&M, Esprit, and many other shops.Located next to 2 famous old streets, the Carpenter Street & India Street where you can find many local food, local shops, artsy shops, even bars and cafes at night.
CONS
- The lobby reeked of the public bathroom, maybe because just adjacent to the lift lobby, separated by the sliding glass doors, are the “premium restrooms”... Doesn't change the fact that they are toilets facing the hotel lobby.
- You need to give the room door a really strong push in order for it to open. Too strong a magnetic strip perhaps?
- Our room was facing the rooftop of the mall. Maybe The Waterfront Hotel can get creative with hotel upgrading and turning the rooftop into some rooftop garden themed cafe with a greenhouse or something, since they branded themselves as “the Artrageous hotel”.
- Either soundproofing didn’t quite work or the Lion’s Dance troupes’ kids were just too absorbed with their drumming practice past midnight. And girls screaming and running along the hallway on the floor we were on clearly disturbed our peace. Perhaps the management can look into installing video cameras along hallways and security should really tighten up and act fast to ensure guests have a comfortable stay.
- The tap in the room needs fixing, the base seems detached.
- Breakfast? Disappointing. The spread is limited, fruits were left uncovered (not too hygienic), lack of food warmers.
The Waterfront Hotel must have been around for years because the interior definitely doesn’t look brand new or very well maintained. Time to bring that “Artrageousness” back to life!
However, the staff made a difference; they made us feel welcomed and at home with their friendliness and helpfulness. A shout out to Nurul who helped us with our booking! Thank you for being so patient, professional, friendly and helpful.
I enjoyed my stay and look forward to another stay with a view of the Darul Hana Bridge the next time!
You can find the above review on TripAdvisor.
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