LEFT MAY 1, 2010: Sheraton Utama Brunei [Master Thread]
Jan 17, 2009, 5:18 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: SKF, ROP, SPG, SL Golden Circle, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriot
Posts: 464
Tourism is not a very developed sector in Brunei, they do not need tourism revenue.
For nature lovers, Brunei offers a breath taking nature tour, and Brunei does not cut down too much of their jungle. There are river. tours on small motorized boats to the thick tropical rain forest. But I did not notice if they have nice luxurious cruise though
For nature lovers, Brunei offers a breath taking nature tour, and Brunei does not cut down too much of their jungle. There are river. tours on small motorized boats to the thick tropical rain forest. But I did not notice if they have nice luxurious cruise though
Jan 17, 2009, 11:10 am
#17
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,750
How far away is the rain forest? How many hours long is a boat tour? Some of my best trips in remote parts of the world have been by boat, seeing hidden passageways.
Jan 17, 2009, 3:46 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: SKF, ROP, SPG, SL Golden Circle, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriot
Posts: 464
Try this site, typically it's a few hours, as it is a small country. I am sure there are other tours available.
Feb 25, 2009, 8:04 am
#19
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,750
If anyone has an email address for the hotel, would you please PM me?
Also, does the hotel have a club floor? I see several posters on TripAdvisor who say so, but haven't seen reports of it on this thread.
Also, does the hotel have a club floor? I see several posters on TripAdvisor who say so, but haven't seen reports of it on this thread.
Feb 25, 2009, 8:35 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Programs: MR Gold, LH FTL (*S), Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 440
for the club floor, well, when I was there several years ago, they had "executive deluxe rooms" for sale, but no club floor. However, they were busy renovating the top floor at that time, probably installing a club floor. Their hp states now also "Discover another level of comfort on our Club floor, which offers access to the exclusive Signature City Club Lounge." However, as Brunei is a dry country, don't expect alcohol on offer there.
Feb 25, 2009, 4:14 pm
#21
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Feb 27, 2009, 4:19 pm
#22
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,750
We contacted the hotel a day before arrival to book a hotel transfer. Avis handles this for them. A fellow with my name on a sign was awaiting us once we had cleared customs. The cost for the car was 23BND which was put on our hotel bill. It would have been 29BND if we had arrived between 5pm and 8am.
The hotel is a free standing six story building on the edge of the downtown area. It is a block from the Royal Regalia Museum. Otherwise, there doesn't appear to be any shops or restaurants within easy walking.
The hotel treats platinums well. Benefits include:
1. Complimentary upgrade to Suite Room (subject to availability)
2. Breakfast in Tasek Brasserie served between 6.30am to 10.00am
3. Complimentary 24 hours in room high speed broadband internet access
4. Complimentary access to Signature City Club Lounge from 9 am to 12.00 midnight daily
- Evening Hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages in the Club Lounge from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
- All day non-alcoholic beverages
- All day Coffee and Tea
Mind you, the lounge is unstaffed and unremarkable. Further, evening snacks were put out at 7pm not 6:30pm and were sparse.
We were given a suite, which is made from two regular rooms with an unlocked door between. The one room is the living room, with comfortable seating and a small table. The other is the bedroom. Both have small bathrooms.
The hotel lobby is fresh and recently renovated. The suite looks like 80s era decor.
Taxis are spare, expensive, and must be booked in advance. The hotel offers free shuttle service to three shopping areas. We went to one, which looked like a 70s era shopping center. Every teen in town must have been walking around it.
There's not a lot to do and see in Brunei. A four hour sightseeing tour and afternoon tea at the Empire Hotel is about the sum total.
The hotel is a free standing six story building on the edge of the downtown area. It is a block from the Royal Regalia Museum. Otherwise, there doesn't appear to be any shops or restaurants within easy walking.
The hotel treats platinums well. Benefits include:
1. Complimentary upgrade to Suite Room (subject to availability)
2. Breakfast in Tasek Brasserie served between 6.30am to 10.00am
3. Complimentary 24 hours in room high speed broadband internet access
4. Complimentary access to Signature City Club Lounge from 9 am to 12.00 midnight daily
- Evening Hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages in the Club Lounge from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
- All day non-alcoholic beverages
- All day Coffee and Tea
Mind you, the lounge is unstaffed and unremarkable. Further, evening snacks were put out at 7pm not 6:30pm and were sparse.
We were given a suite, which is made from two regular rooms with an unlocked door between. The one room is the living room, with comfortable seating and a small table. The other is the bedroom. Both have small bathrooms.
The hotel lobby is fresh and recently renovated. The suite looks like 80s era decor.
Taxis are spare, expensive, and must be booked in advance. The hotel offers free shuttle service to three shopping areas. We went to one, which looked like a 70s era shopping center. Every teen in town must have been walking around it.
There's not a lot to do and see in Brunei. A four hour sightseeing tour and afternoon tea at the Empire Hotel is about the sum total.
Last edited by SanDiego1K; Feb 27, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Mar 3, 2010, 1:11 am
#23
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 1A
Posts: 1,350
Leaving Starwood on May 1, 2010
Leaving Starwood on May 1, 2010
The Sheraton Utama Brunei Darussalam will be leaving the Starwood system on May 1, 2010. Reservations for dates on or after May 1, 2010, will not be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest membership benefits, award redemption or accrual.
The Sheraton Utama Brunei Darussalam will be leaving the Starwood system on May 1, 2010. Reservations for dates on or after May 1, 2010, will not be eligible for Starwood Preferred Guest membership benefits, award redemption or accrual.
Mar 3, 2010, 1:56 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,401
That said, this hotel was nothing special, although it was a good points/C&P option in expensive Brunei
SanDiego1K, our opinions are very similar. I felt like the whole country was trapped in a 70's time warp.
Mar 3, 2010, 2:38 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
ok, this definitely sucks....i had a reservation here in the first week of june....now this makes 2 properties where i had reservations this summer that will not be part of spg anymore (the first is the le méridien bali)....
Mar 3, 2010, 4:12 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: SKF, ROP, SPG, SL Golden Circle, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriot
Posts: 464
What a pity, there is no SPG hotel in Brunei. If there less SPG hotels, that would make it more difficult for one to accumulate SPG points. There are already no SPG hotels in manila, Karachi, Penang and now Brunei. I would have to consider another hotel chain when certain tipping point is reached.
Last edited by Dendrite; Mar 3, 2010 at 4:39 am
Mar 9, 2010, 1:16 am
#28
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
What a pity, there is no SPG hotel in Brunei. If there less SPG hotels, that would make it more difficult for one to accumulate SPG points. There are already no SPG hotels in manila, Karachi, Penang and now Brunei. I would have to consider another hotel chain when certain tipping point is reached.
The reviewer's wish is granted
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Mar 9, 2010, 1:44 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,682
Doesn't seem to be our fault, seriously.
The reviewer's wish is granted
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
The reviewer's wish is granted
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Mar 9, 2010, 5:18 am
#30
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF Lifetime SG, LH HON, OZ Lifetime Diamond +, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 14,375
Always sad to see an Asia Pacific property leave. But at least we got some notice this time.