Day 1: Arriving in Sarawak
Trip Start
Jul 13, 2011
1
9
Trip End
Jul 21, 2011
Where I stayed
360 Urban Resort Hotel, Tower A
What I did
Fly from Singapore to Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I leave home at 1:05pm, take bus 105 (5 mins) to Jurong East MRT station. At Tanah Merah station (ride takes 45 min), I transfer across the platform to the train to Changi International Airport (7 min) where I check-in on Air Asia flight AK 6676 Kuching (5:35pm - 7:10pm).
Air fare: Singapore SGD 60 (USD 48.90) plus SGD 18 (USD 14.70) for 20kg check-in baggage
Kuching:
As Canadian citizen, I get a 90-day visa upon arrival. The Immigration staff are courteous and welcome passengers to their State with a smile - something that I feel other countries should follow, to give the first impression to visitors.
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The airport is modern, well-lit, with bright marble tiles, ample baggage carts wide drive-in for vehicles. Taxis are abundant and many are the latest models of cars. I meet my travel-mate flying in from Johor, Peninsula Malaysia at McDonalds on the ground floor, we have a quick meal and walk out to catch a cab to the hotel. The ride takes 20 min.
360 Urban Resort Hotel's Towers A & B flank the shorter Hock Lee Shopping Podium with several stores on 3 floors and basement - a great convenience for the guests. The Podium closes at 9:00pm. The complex is on Jalan Datuk Abang Rahim. Phone +60 82 484888, www.360kuching.com. Suggestion: It's cheaper to book online with the hotel than through hotel agencies.
Our room, Executive Deluxe Twin 2-Double, RM 164 (USD 54.55), with breakfast, is on 12th floor and it provides a good view Sarawak River which bends and flows parallel to the way to came. It is spacious, modern, clean and has phone, large flat screen TV, phone, classy and ample furnishing, large, clean bathroom with all the toiletries one needs. There are several electrical sockets (240V), stainless steal kettle, free coffee, tea, cream & sugar, complementary basket of fruits, ironing board and iron free internet cable in room and free wifi in the lobby.
My buddy is on a busy work schedule, so he sets up his computer and works till midnight. The room has free broadband internet cable connection. There is also free Wifi at the lobby.
The hotel provides free shuttle service to the city center at from 9:00am to 8:00pm and return from 9:15am to 8:15pm. Airport transfer service is at RM 5.99 (USD 2.00), hotel to airport from 7:15am to 7:15pm and airport to hotel at 7:30am to 7:30pm.
There are several hotels in the vicinity. This one has good ratings; good the value for the money. Suggestion: The 3-storey shopping arcade & the restaurants close before 9:00pm and there is store nearby. So stock up snacks for the night.
Note to smokers: Non-smoking hotel, ash-trays outside the hotel..
