This hotel can only be reached by boat and is built in the style of an Iban longhouse, which means each block (of which there are 11) consists of a row of rooms in front of which is a long 'communal area' before you rech the outside. A little unusual to say the least and not the best use of space. In order to accommodate cost effective numbers 11 blocks were needed which meant some blocks were a good few minutes walk from the main buildings. Fortunately we were in the block on the hillside immediately behind the pool area which was not far away. The whole hotel was built of local red hardwood and, whilst a little dark did add to the atmosphere of the place. The bedrooms had windows out onto the 'communal area' and didn't let in much light when the shutters were opened.
Food and drink were not cheap but had to be brought in by boat so this adds to the cost, they also had a captive audience. Food was of average quality and we had to send back an uncooked creme brulee - not a prety sight.
The pool was way too warm to swim any distance but was great for a cool off. There were not many beds and brolleys round the pool and I wondered what it might be like in high season.
The bats swooping around in and out of the dining room and bar each evening might be helping to keep bugs at bay but could be alarming for some.

If the words 'Hilton' and 'Resort' is what brought you to this hotel then it may not be the place for you because Batang Ai is unlike any hotel you've ever stayed in. My husband and I had previously stayed here for two nights as part of an escorted tour we took with the Travel Collection (now Kuoni Smart) and promised ourselves we'd return for a longer stay. We spent 9 nights here over Christmas & New Year 2011 and it lived up to our expectations completely. I won't repeat the descriptions that other people have already given just to comment on our experiences. We upgraded to a suite - the advanced booking rate made this very good value indeed. The extra room in the sitting area made a big difference. The restaurant is very good the food is well cooked and varied and despite the low visitor numbers over Christmas there was a large selection. On our previous visit we had taken most of the trips on offer so this time we took two river trips - one to the waterfall and the other to the pebble beach for lunch. On both occasions the guides were extremely knowledgeable and great company - the food was superb and the traditional cooking methods fascinating. The rest of time we spent either totally chilling out or taking walks around the hotel area. As it was the wet season when we visited we spent each evening on the hotel deck watching the amazing sunsets and waiting for the nightly deluge to arrive. IIf you are looking for a complete escape from the rat race, to totally relax and experience a unique culture then you won't find better than this. If you are looking for a spa and Michelin restaurants go to the Banyan Tree. Batang Ai is comfortable but it is not marketing itself to the spa crowd. A final note on the staff - what a fabulous bunch they are, everyone was really helpful and pleasant and really couldn't do enough for us.

Its a long drive to get there (around 4 hours or so with 2 stops) which I believe can be organised by the hilton in Kuching, although our transport was organised as part of our tour with Page & Moy so I can't comment on the hiltons transport... We were lucky to have an air conditioned coach and made stops at Serian, a pepper farm and to see some carnivorous plants by the road side.

You arrive at a small building where they have toilet facilities, which is the waiting area for the jetty... The view from here is beautiful but its not until you walk down the hill to the jetty that you get to see the huge man made lake and the dam to your left. Its a gorgeous view and you have around 30 minutes if I remember rightly on a boat to soak it all in. On arrival at the hotel there are a lot of steep steps to climb and the porters do take your bags from half way up... and when you get to the top you are atleast greeted by a lovely cold welcome drink!

There are a number of the long house style sets of rooms around the main building, and thankfully ours was the closest one! For some of them there was quite a walk, which we wouldn't have minded but I can see that it might be a little far for some of the older visitors. As you walk down the communal corridors there are a lot of geckos and fruit bats... I have heard a lot of complaints about this on here but to be honest I think it added a lot of charm (surely from a trip to the jungle you'd want things such as this), the place wasn't exactly over run with animals and the staff there certainly do their best to keep on top of keeping everything clear of droppings.

When we got to the room it was very comfortable and you get a lot of space. The rooms look a little old in terms of facilities and decoration, and the whole place looks very colonial... However the rooms are well kept and maintained and we were very happy with ours.

The swimming pool here is brilliant and along with this there are so many things to do at very reasonable prices. Some of the activities we went on included:

The jungle trek - This walk is not all that long and took around 1 hour through the jungle at the back of the hotel. There are sections which are quite steep and some people on our tour did struggle, but we loved it and were happy that it really was a jungle trek as opposed to a walk in the woods. At the end there is a canopy walk which is 100 foot high (if I remember rightly)... It looks quite rickety but it is a very secure way to get a beautiful view of the area.

Long house visit - Going to the Iban long house was a brilliant experience. We were worried that it would be uncomfortable but everyone seemed very happy for us to be there and many of them looked like they enjoyed themselves as much as we did... They don't mind having their photos taken and will be happy to be in a picture with you, but please ask before taking photos of kids. Also bring some gifts such as sweets, pencils, paper, toothpaste etc they REALLY appreciated it, and we took ours in a hessian type bag for life which was a big hit!

We only had time for the 2 activities but there is a lot more to do as well including fishing, games, ping pong, longer walks etc. Also we made our own activities in the evening by wandering around the grounds with a torch to find some of the local amphibians... I would certainly recommend some after dark walks around the hotel!

The food here is served as a buffet which was 75RM per person when we went, and to be honest I thought this was reasonable for the location of the hotel and the quality of the food (+ it also includes a desert buffet)... There is also an a la carte option which we did not try. Drinks cost between 15 to 25RM in most cases and I would certainly recommend their house cocktails (the one with Tuak in was delicious).

Only take a bag to last you a few days (if you are also staying at hitlon kuching I believe you can leave your bags with them)... It will make the stairs a lot easier and there is only limited space on the boat.

I cannot think of any negative points about the hotel, and everyone there was very polite and helpful... The girl who took us on our walk, Ramona I think was her name, was very good. If you get the chance to go here please don't let it pass you by! If we get the chance we will certainly be back one day.

My husband and I stayed for one night at the Batang Ai resort in July 2011. We were accompanied by a terrific tour guide and driver as part of the Kunoni Borneo Adventure. This had to be the highlight of the whole holiday. On the long trip to the resort, we stopped for lunch and to load up with goods to give to the chief of the longhouse we were to visit the next day.

We totally fell in love with the rural setting of this hotel, the rooms were immaculate, comfortable and spacious. And we loved the whole design of the the hotel (like a long house). We were told a buffet dinner was included but as there was only about 18 guests staying in the hotel our meal was upgraded to al carte and was lovely. The staff in the hotel were so welcoming and couldnt do enough for you.

The next-day we visited a local longhouse, this trip was fantastic as we were taken by boat to meet the families and the chief in the longhouse there was countless photo opps. The longhouse families provided us with both dance and drinks and we learnt lots about their culture. we also got the opportunity to have a go on the blow pipe before we left.

yes its a long trip to the resort but it really is worth the trip, it was the highlight of our Borneo adventure.