The Borneo Hotel

We were here for a short trip and would stay again. The hotel is good value, with basic accommodation in small but sufficient rooms for solo travellers or families of three or four. It has three floors, a lift, stairs, parking at the back, a bar, and a breakfast cafe. It’s not a place to expect lots of facilities. The city-centre location towards Tabuan is a real plus, near St Mary school, the old Ting Ting supermarket, and Ceylonese restaurant. Breakfast could be improved if there’s enough demand. There are other options within about 1km, including a cafe right next door at Ting Ting serving local food, as well as local kopitiam, gerai, and cafes within walking distance.

I was happy with my choice and would come back for a short holiday or business stop. It’s good value, and checking in was quick, clear, and efficient. Reception, restaurant staff, and room cleaners were all welcoming. The lobby has a cosy bar, and the design from the entrance to my room was pleasant. Breakfast came with the price. It was decent rather than special, with four dishes, salad, fruit, and bread. The bathroom amenities were provided, the soap smelled good, and both the shower temperature and hot water at the sink were good. Water pressure in the shower could be stronger, but it was satisfactory. There are lots of restaurants and bars in both directions from the hotel. The downsides were humid-smelling corridors with old carpets, and our room layout differed a little from the pictures, though the design was the same. Some parts of the building had leaks in the walls and ceilings, fortunately not in our room. Our window faced the main street, so we could hear passing cars. That didn’t bother us, but it might trouble light sleepers. The lobby door is also a bit heavy to push, and an automatic door could help some people. Great price for a quick, easy stay. I hope they keep up the hotel.

We chose Borneo Hotel for its price and location, just a few minutes’ walk from Carpenter street and Waterfront, and stayed three nights. The refreshed rooms were a nice surprise, as was the quality of the cafe food: Sarawak laksa, chicken satay, and fried rice. A kettle and room makeup service are available on request.

Breakfast was great, and the staff were great too. The room, though, didn’t match the picture. We booked a twin sharing room, but there wasn’t space for our luggage. The bathroom seemed newly renovated, but it was unnecessarily spacious. Water dripped from the AC onto the table, and we caught it before our things got wet. At night, we could hear rats scratching in the ceiling until 4am. The place is nice, but needs some improvements.