Only here for 8 hours of which most of it is in a bed so not much to review on.

A midnight check-in with one staff member at the desk took a good 5 minutes – not sure why but he kept on disappearing into the back office. Finally got our key and went up to our room on the 7th out of 13 floors. Note to myself this was not an Executive floor which would be standard for Platinum HHonors members. Perhaps the hotel was full?

The room, though small compared to the ones we usually receive, is well appointed with a River View, albeit slightly outdated. But this is all we need to sleep. Happy to see a letter from the hotel welcoming me back to Hilton with a mini fruit basket and small chocolate box.

I get up at around 6.30am and check out the gym and pool and am disappointed the steam room and sauna is not open until 10am – it would have been a great battery-charge for the day.

We decide to go to the main restaurant for breakfast (complimentary for Diamond members) and check at the desk where it is. The same guy who checked us in, looking much more ‘sleepy’ now, informs us that we can only eat in the Executive Lounge. When I tell him how unusual that is as at all other Hiltons Diamonds can eat in the main restaurant, another perhaps more senior receptionist swiftly comes over with a smile and tells us of course we can eat there. As it turns out it is a lovely restaurant with an abundance of tasty treats and friendly staff.

This is the only taste of Kuching we are getting on this trip as our focus is Batang Ai. But I already love the city and will be back!