Hello everyone

Since there's no thread on this, I decided to start a new one. I've been staying here for only one night so far (more to come), but already I have too much to write about it for it to fit in the „Post your experiences“ thread.

Before the stay

I initially booked 2 separate nights at the Pullman Kuching, about one week apart from each other in January.

Usually I send a quick email after a booking, to inquire/inform them about check-in times and, oh so subtly, ask them about Platinum benefits - so I know what to expert. The first email to the Pullman Kuching got no reply, a second mail a few weeks later was answered swiftly though. There I was kindly informed that I would get an automatic upgrade to a suite room upon check in and showing my membership card. This would include lounge benefits. I was happy enough and left it at that.

Getting to the hotel from the airport

Getting to the property was no problem. There's a fix rate for taxis from the airport (26 MYR, about 7 USD), and they knew immediately what I was talking about when mentioning the Pullman. So far so good. The ride took about 10 minutes or so.

Check In

The hotel lobby is big and kept in mainly white tones. This makes it look very "modern", but a bit sterile...
When approaching the accor priority check in, they pointed to another free check in desk because the priority check-in person was just about to go, no problem with that. However, that's when it went downhill a bit.
After a lot of typing and fondling, I was informed that my requested room "high up" (I assumed that was the suite mentioned in the email) was not available, only "twin bed rooms high up". I accepted the lower floor, since I'd rather have a big bed than a good view.
I was then informed of breakfast in the restaurant, and that's it. My question for where the lounge was at was answered with a hesitant "22nd floor...".

The Superior Rooms

When getting to my room on 7th floor, it was quite obvious that this wasn't particularly well prepared for me - my fault I guessed, since I asked for the king bed lower down rather than a twin higher up... However, the patch of water on the safe and the lack of any kind of stationary did make me a bit suspicious. Also, the minibar was empty. The bathroom was spacious though with pullman-branded amenities, shower and bathtub.

From the size of the room it became very clear, that this was a superior room, the lowest room class. At around 38sqm (according to the website) they were still spacious enough. I took it the other rooms were indeed all booked, so obviously an upgrade would fall flat. No biggie.

A note on the internet: You need your room number and an individual password to log in to the internet …. and you only get 500 MB per day (renewed at 2pm every day). Once you run out of data volume, you can buy more (25 MYR for 2gb, 50MYR for 5gb). Internet in the lounge is free and unlimited though. More on that later on..

Then I got a call…

…From the reception (not from the receptionist that checked me in though). I was informed that I was apparently a platinum member (as if the card I handed to them at check in wasn’t a good enough indicator…) and had lounge privileges. Someone would come up to bring me new room key which would allow me to access the lounge on 22nd floor and have cocktails and breakfast up there. I should’ve gotten slightly suspicious at that point, but I was just impressed that this was noticed and swiftly rectified .
The new room cards that were brought to me also included a welcome drink voucher for 2 pax (for „mocktails“ though, so I didn’t use them).

The Lounge

Evening cocktails are from 6pm to 7:30pm. I ventured to the lounge and was rather impressed. The lounge area is huge, the buffet nicely stocked with some warm bites, fruits, salad and dessert. And it was empty. Somewhere hidden in there was an attendant who sprang to action when he saw me. When he heard my room number on the 7th floor, he seemed a bit surprised, but still asked me to sit down somewhere and enjoy the buffet.  for that, he’d rather make a guest feel at home than appearing suspicious. He checked and probably noticed that I was indeed granted lounge access and brought me the drinks card. On it were the usual spirits (gin, vodka, johnny walker black and others) and softdrinks/juices. There was no list of mixed drinks, but my requested G&T was quickly brought to my table. 
Here some impressions from the food. The meatballs were lovely, if a bit dry. The croquettes were great as well. Since I’m a chocolate lover, the dessert part of the buffet was particularly nice for me. Especially that huge warm chocolate cake with chocolate sauce next to it… my oh my  

The buffet seemed untouched when I arrived there around 6:20pm, and during my 1 hour stay in there, only one other guest came in. Hardly noticeable since the lounge is so huge and she sat down somewhere on the other end.











… *droool*



Worth mentioning is the lounge attendant. He had that rare quality of being very personable yet totally unintrusive. He was almost not to be seen while eating, but whenever my glass got down to about 1/5th full, he would appear at my side to ask if I needed more. Great guy .

Lounge breakfast review will follow…..

When I got back to my room in the evening it was just as I left it - in other words: no turndown service here.

Breakfast in the Downstairs Restaurant

Due to a bad experience considering breakfast-spread in another pullman (restaurant breakfast choices huge, lounge breakfast very sad selection), I opted to eat in the downstairs restaurant on the first day. Breakfast buffet was nice with everything you’d expect from such a hotel. Egg station, Noodle station, bread, some warm dishes (sausages, beef bacon, baked beans fried rice etc.). Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about. Will try lounge breakfast tomorrow. 

Room change

The next morning I decided to stay another night since there was more to see and do in the city, and thanks to the private sale, room prices were really low. I went to reception and inquired about the possibility of a new room, I might have even mentioned the word upgrade…. I was informed that my room booked for the end of the week was already upgraded to a deluxe room (so maybe that’s what was meant in the email) and that she would check if there was a room ready for me to upgrade immediately. When I asked if they were rather full the night before, it hit me: „No, very low occupancy“… pardon?! She didn’t seem to get the hint that I was a bit surprised not to have gotten a room upgrade then, but I was given an executive deluxe room on 21st floor. I also inquired if the internet was still limited to 500MB. She said that it indeed was, but just to give reception a call when I run out and they’d reset it. Now that’s what I expect! 


So, I didn’t complain further since I did get what I wanted and should be granted due to status, but it did make me curious. The check in lady who greeted me this time seemed generally more professional than the check in lady from the day before. When googling for Pullman Kuching and her name, I found that I wasn’t the only person having had an unpleasant experience with this lady. 

Now, I’m not one to mention names, but if you find yourself in the Pullman Kuching and being checked in by someone named after a recently split African country, be wary, and ask for a supervisor if necessary. She was friendly, but clearly had no clue and/or no interest in granting status pax any other experience than non-status pax. Not very nice. I wouldn’t have minded asking for an upgrade myself rather than it being automatic, but informing me that there were no other rooms available with a king size other than in the lower floors was clearly indicative of a fully booked hotel, wouldn’t you agree? IF there was anything better available, I would’ve expected to be informed about that considering my status. 

Executive Deluxe Room

The deluxe room was much much nicer, with a sofa, bigger bathroom and bois d’orange amenities. Also, the internet from the lounge could be used, so no restriction anymore and no need to call reception once I run out. Lovely! And they actually had pens in the room - and there was stuff in the minibar! I didn’t bother making pictures of the superior room, but here are some from the deluxe room:











I got a call again from reception, just to make sure I liked my new room. Now that was a nice touch. There ARE great receptionists at this hotel, just not all of them.

First impressions..

Clearly not off to a very good start but slowly redeeming itself. I haven’t yet had anything like a personal welcome letter, or any other platinum goodies in the room itself apart from the welcome mocktails. I also haven’t yet really had the sense that anyone felt even slightly sorry about a platinum member being treated like that. I don’t want to sound like a DYKWIA and I’m not feeling personally offended or too bothered by anything here (especially considering I got the rooms during a private sale for a very low price), but I think from a pullman one could and should expect more. 

With that said, the rooms seem generally ok with even the lowest room category feeling quite spacious, everything is clean and the lounge is really good.

Sorry for the incoherent rambling at times, but I hope you get a sense of what to expect :=)