I'm about to check out after three nights here (primarily to see the orangutans). Now the Ibis Styles next door has been rebranded S'kan Styles it seems to be the only international brand hotel in the area.

I had booked the cheapest room (a deluxe room) on a discount rate using my Malaysian HSBC credit card so it was RM188 a night (+6% GST but no mention of +10% service so far). Frankly it's a bargain.

I asked beforehand and got a Your24 early check in at 10am and late checkout at 3pm. Checkin staff knew who I was when I arrived. The lounge staff knew who I was without me giving my room number. The breakfast staff knew my room number. It was a bit eerie but quite impressive.

The hotel is a good quality four-star business hotel that is being well maintained (the corridor carpet was steam cleaned while I was there - slightly damp underfoot one day). Location is excellent with beautiful views from the upper rooms and pool across the bay.

But what you want to know about are the Platinum benefits.

I got upgraded to an Executive Suite (daily rate from RM648) on the corner of floor 24 which gave views across the bay and of sunset over the mountains behind Sandakan. So, they do give suite upgrades to Platinums if they have availability. That answers that question.

Breakfast for two at The Eatery (standard Asian and Western buffet); "premium" internet giving 2Mbps up and down; six bottles of water in the room; pressing of two items a day, some grapes dipped in chocolate, 250 bonus points etc.

The big surprise here (for a Four Points and for the rate) is the lounge. Open 10am-10pm with free soft drinks and cookies. Then from 5.30pm-7pm there are snacks, beer and wine. Snacks are sandwiches and a couple of hot and cold canapés. Not really enough to replace an evening meal. Drinks are brought individually which limits consumption in practice to four or five alcoholic drinks maximum (I was the only one maximising this benefit). No complaints about this - I'm surprised there's a lounge at all and that it serves free booze in Malaysia at these rates. Staff very friendly and amenable.

Overall, an impressive and well-managed hotel and a good mattress run (since there's nothing really to come to Sandakan for after you've seen the apes) given the beautiful weather and setting.