Miri Marriott Resort & Spa, Miri > Reviews (1)

We stayed here several times for long weekends from neighbouring Brunei.

The staff are friendly, the service is excellent and the decor is beautiful. It is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city just outside the door and once you pull up to the reception you are instantly far calmer.

Reception is beautifully laid out - a wide, spacious area with lots of seating, a water feature, a lovely view of the ocean and a wonderful array of local plants.

Staff, as usual, cannot do enough for you. We joined their members' club which resulted in some complicated transactions but they were very courteous and sorted it all out quickly.

Rooms are of a good standard. The walk to the rooms is pleasant, the gardens are beautiful and very typical of the area. Views are beautiful - the ocean, the pool (perfect if you have children as they can just run down to the pool from the room, all within view) or the gardens. Rooms are equipped with the usual amenities: bathroom, kettle etc, phone, tv and cots are available on request and of a high quality (not a given in some hotels!). Most rooms have a balcony. The rooms are always clean and housekeeping staff are very happy and friendly.

Room service is no more expensive than at the restaurant and is quick and friendly.

There is a sizeable pool with a swim-up bar which sells drinks and boasts an extensive snack menu. There is a separate shallow pool for young children and there are plenty of sun loungers.

The restaurant is good. Breakfast is a buffet affair which is of an average standard: there is plenty of choice but, as with all breakfast buffets, is not of the highest quality. Still, staff are friendly and helpful.

The hotel bar is cosy and has a wide array of drinks on offer. There is a balcony from which to enjoy the night air and the views of the ocean.

Food is very reasonably priced but drinks are rather more expensive. Not enough to put your off but enough to be classed as 'cheeky'.

One downside is the lack of beach. As I say, we were only coming from over the border, 2 hours away in Brunei, but were I travelling from the UK to Miri as our main destination then I would be rather disappointed to find a hotel right by the ocean so sorely lacking in beach. Walking from the pool, there is a small grassy area (often used for ball games and boasting a few hammocks), a small man-made sandy area and then a concrete promenade along the coast. A low wall separates the guest from the rocky blockade and then the ocean. The promenade does not really 'go' anywhere but is a nice walk if you want a bit of a sea breeze.

Miri itself is a typical border town: many bars, lots of touristy shops, a bustling mall and lots of businessmen relaxing on a weekend. The hotel is not walking distance from the town but taxis are cheap and readily available.

All in all I would highly recommend this hotel. For us (with our members' discount) it was excellent value for money and we always enjoyed our stays here. 4* purely for the price of the drinks and the distance from the town.