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Aiman Batang Ai Resort and Retreat offers the ideal getaway for us seeking serenity, mindfulness and relaxation. Formerly known as the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort managed by Hilton, the resort now is under Planet Borneo Lodge Management starting January 2016 and starts with New Beginnings and Renewed Aspirations. Located on the fringe of the Batang Ai National Park, this 100-room resort offers pristine nature surrounded by nearby tribal communities and wildlife who have made Batang Ai their home. Fashioned in the traditional longhouse design for invigorating sports and activities or simply relaxation and peace. Guest rooms ranging from superior to suites are spacious, air-conditioned and offer complimentary amenities, coffee and tea making facilities, mini fridge, room service and more.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
We stayed here for two nights so we could go and visit the Iban tribe in one of their longhouses. It is about 180 miles from Kuching but our guide provided us with lots of interesting facts along the way.
A nice boat trip across the lake to the resort which comes into view showing off all the accommodation based on the design of the longhouse. Check in was on the slow side but all the guests arrived at the same time - we just took the opportunity to observe the view across the lake.
The accommodation is looking slightly tired due to it all being made of wood and over the years when it was owned by Hilton I don't think they kept on top of the work that needed to be done. That said we weren't expecting the Ritz and we enjoyed our stay here as it was so peaceful and the food was good.
The only thing I would as disappointed with was we had booked a canopy walk one evening and the weather came in bad just at the time we were due to go, the wind got up and it started to rain. This was an activity booked with the hotel - nobody came and told us it had been cancelled due to the weather and we were not offered a refund either which I think they should have at least offered. It wasn't an expensive activity and I doubt we would have taken the refund but it would have been nice to have been offered it.
The hotel is set up a fairly steep hill which would not be ideal for those who have mobility problems but it does give you a great view over the lake.
I hope the new owners can make a go of the hotel and start making repairs and improvements block by block as it is a massive under taking.
All in all we enjoyed our stay here.
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Date of stay: April 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 26 Jun 2018
Dear Woodesclan1, Tabi Basa Ari Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat! (Greetings from the resort in the Iban language) Thank you for leaving a great and honest comment of the resort. My apologies for the late revert and we are glad that you enjoyed your time with us. After taking over the property 2 years ago, the management has planned for upgrading, however this will take some time to be completed. Presently we are fixing and refurbishing certain parts of the resort that needs immediate rectifications in ensuring the safety and comfort guests. I sincerely apologize for the shortcomings that you encountered and rest assured that the management are improving little steps day by day. I look forward to welcoming you back to the resort again and see how the resort have progressed since. Yours truly, Jerry C Sales Manager
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Nice room. Quiet and natural surroundings. Warm swimming pool. A great breakaway who want to have quiet place with no hassle and bustle of urban life. All dine in at resort, no convenience stores available. Activities are limited to tracking, cycling, long house visit.
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Date of stay: March 2016
Value
Rooms
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, General Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 4 Apr 2016
Dear lauhonggee, We are absolutely delighted that you chose Aiman Batang Ai Resort and Retreat for your stay in wonderful Sarawak. It was indeed a great pleasure to serve in true Sarawakian hospitality and style. We take great pleasure in gaining your support and trust that you will spread the positive word on our one of a kind resort which is unique. We do however have a lobby shop that sells simple necessities. Should the occasion arise and you decide to return to Sarawak, we would be delighted to welcome you back to Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat. We wish you a pleasant day and year ahead. Warmest regards, Keith Pointer General Manager
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The resort is a 5 hours drive from Kuching ( 275 kms(. The road is under construction and will be finished by 2023. Shaken, not stirred is the experience of our trip to the resort. But you need to go there as a starting point to the Iban people in the rainforest. From the resort is a 2 hour boat trip by canoe. Sitting in the canoe is good for twenty minutes, but then it is annoying. The hotel needs maintenance, which is not done by the present management. It is clearly visible and that is a pity. location is fabulous. The food is okay, but nothing particular. Staff is however very friendly and helpful.
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Date of stay: May 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Lake views only at the veranda. Not from the rooms where we were located.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Between Kuching and Sibu is more than 400 KM, this is the only place luxury enough for our consideration. We were totally disappointed.
You needed to be at wharf by 5:30 PM, otherwise you will miss the last boat and it will be considered no show. The distance form nearest international airport (Kuching) to Wharf is 260KM. The roads are bad and it would take you at least 4:30 hours to drive without any stop. It means you have to leave Kuching airport at 1 PM and drive no stop and hope not to miss the last boat. Why can’t have a boat at 7:30 PM.
There were only two guests in the whole hotel and they give us the most remote rooms in the resort. We had to walk 5 minutes to get to reception, swimming pool or dinning area. If the hotel is empty, why do not you allow the guests stay close to amenities.
The Wi-Fi only works in the reception and dinning area and there is no mobile phone coverage. The Wi-Fi only works from 7 am until midnight.
We booked two rooms and the rooms were dirty and needed a good freshening up. No Wonder they only had two guests in the holiday season.
I WOULD NOT STAY IN THIS HOTEL EVER AGAIN!!!
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Date of stay: January 2019
Value
Rooms
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place looks like nothing has been done to it since it was built 25 years ago! Including the pool filter! The setting is amazing and it’s such a shame, as the buildings would have been something else in its day. The food was very nice and the staff seem to be trying to be positive.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Place is alright but very tired. Location pretty. We took most of our valuables with us on excursions except a small amount of hidden cash in luggage as there was no safety deposit box in the room. On our return someone had riffled through our stuff found the cash and helped themselves to some thinking we would not notice until too late. I know you should always be careful so felt a bit silly but also annoyed. Management did nothing after we reported it. Good luck!
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Date of stay: October 2016
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, General Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 22 Dec 2016
Dear Ms Nikki, We appreciate your stay at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat and for your feedback. It is indeed regrettable that you had to go through an unpleasant experience while staying at the Resort and no one should have. The Management did, however, made enquiries on the matter and it was resolved without prejudice. We truly hope that the gesture that was extended had made it up to yourself. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Yours Faithfully, Keith Pointer General Manager
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We spent 1 week here aimimg to rest and recuperate and it certainly delivered.The rooms are spread over several long houses and both our rooms (we had to move after 1 night) were clean, comfortable and safe. We enjoyed the balcony and the wildlife ( fruit bats and geckoes) in the communal space. The restaurant had friendly service but the food was of quite variable quality - mostly good, but on 2 days it was disappointingly poor. We tried a few on site activities - the Night walk and the Canopy walk, both with the excellent guide Ramona. We also tried 2 offsite excursions - to the longhouse and to do the Smugglers Trail trek. We enjoyed these but they are expensive and we felt they didn't offer value for money. Finally, we loved swimming in the lake (but NOT when the jet ski party were staying). The staff were very friendly and helpful
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Well worth the 5 hour drive from Kuching, but we did have a few interesting stops on the way there and back. The highlight of the stay was the trip by longboat to the Iban village for the day, it was very special. The canopy walk with a very knowledgeable hotel guide was also very worthwhile.
The resort itself is in a wonderful secluded location on a huge man-made reservoir, (30 minutes by motorboat) it's very peaceful, and has an excellent large swimming pool.
The rooms were comfortable and there are plenty of areas to sit and relax, reasonable WiFi available in the main reception and lounge area.
The food was ok, but the breakfasts were not very inspiring - poor quality ingredients. One night a barbeque meal was provided, meats were ok but accompanying salads etc less so. Dinner on our other night there was from them out menu, which was ok but nothing special.
The resort is in much need of a large investment, it's all a bit tired looking, it could be a wonderful place for a retreat.
The staff were really friendly and helpful, particularly Sulin and Gloria in the restaurant.
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 22 Nov 2018
Dear baxtermurph, Thank you for taking the time to review our property and we are glad that you chosen to enjoyed the rich flora and fauna surrounding the resort. We are sorry on the quality and also selections of our food at the resort and we are actually reviewing and planning for a improved menu for the next quarter. On the up-keeping and maintenance of the resort (after taking over 02 years ago), the Management have planned for upgrading, however this will take some time to be implemented. Currently we have completed few blocks that required urgent attention and the list will continue based on the scheduled timeline. Overall, we looked forward for your return trip and do take care! Yours truly, Jerry C
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 13 Sept 2018
Dear Venimus_vidimus_, Thank you for giving us a perfect rating. I'm sure our entire resort staff enjoyed catering to your needs as much as you enjoyed your stay. Best Regards, Edward M. Gena Head of Operations
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Fabulous location. In its day would have been amazing hotel. However.... Yes I can see its run down and will be eventually be refurbished. I didn't mind and enjoyed been quite a long way from reception, more peaceful. The first night wasn't aware of anyone in our area. Bliss, just enjoy looking at the view and listening and watching nature. The balconies outside the longhouse were dangerous and in a bad way. The gardens that aren't wild need a tidy up. The rooms old, but clean and functional. Enjoyed the rainforest walk, just a few of us. Not easy in parts. Too many people, huge tour group of noisy people. But we managed to avoid them. Food, a good choice. Different menu each day. I would like to visit again, when it's been tidied up. It would make a fabulous eco lodge and hope that's the route they take
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from aimanbatangai, Manager at Aiman Batang Ai Resort & Retreat
Responded 6 Aug 2018
Dear chitchat78, On behalf of the management of the resort, it was a pleasure having you at our resort. Thank you for your feedback and we do agree on the condition of the resort as you had mentioned. At the moment of writing, major renovation at the property is in the planning by the management. This renovation will take some time to be completed. Presently we are fixing and refurbishing certain parts of the resort that needs immediate rectifications in ensuring the safety and security of guests. For instance, we will be inspecting all the balcony at the property and any repair or repainting required will be done accordingly. Please be assured that your other feedback have been taken into account for future improvement. I look forward to welcoming you back to the resort again. Yours truly, Jerry C Sales Manager
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London, United Kingdom410 contributions130 helpful votes
Sorry, we had a package for meals and accommodation, drinks are always expensive in these type of hotels, take your own in luggage (like vodka) and we bought the tonic at the bar with ice.
Hi. Sorry for the late revert.
For the visitation to the Hydro Dam, you will need prior approval from the owner; Batang Ai Power Generation Sdn Bhd (operated by Sarawak Energy Berhad).
You may contact them at 083 584 166 for further advise.
Regards.
There are more places to choose from in the Lubok Antu area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
batang ai longhouse resort, managed by hilton hotel kuching, hilton international kuching, hilton kuching, kuching hilton
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Batang Ai Longhouse Resort, Managed by Hilton
LOCATION
MalaysiaSarawakLubok Antu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
100
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