The Empire Hotel & Country Clu

It had been ages since we stayed here. Everything still looks the same. We had a complimentary one night stay. We started our day in the late afternoon by swimming and snorkelling in the open pool where kayaking and paddle boarding were also there. We finished the night dining at Pantai. The chicken rice was not that great but the vegetable and mushroom noodles was good. The teh tarik was good, too, complimented with a couple of biscuits. The next morning I walked and jogged around the area for about 6km followed by a 3km bicycle ride. I had a great time! The breakfast buffet at the Atrium was superb! The choices were so much better than they were then. My husband and I enjoyed the food very much.

This resort is somewhat of an empty suit. Looks nice from the outside, but lacking the details of a five star hotel. I drove up to reception and waiting for a valet to come and take my car, none ever came. There is a nearby parking lot so I headed over there. Found a ramp down to underground parking so drove down and parked. Could not find the elevator that goes up to the lobby and with not a soul around had no option but to haul my suitcase up a lengthy flight of stairs. Reaching the top, a member of staff asked if they can help me with my bag. Don't need it now I said. Was shown to my room and was told that everything in the minibar fridge was complementary. Once the staff member left I thought that I could really go for a cold one so happily cruised over the the fridge and found it to contain in its entirety, two bottles of water...that's it...no sodas, no juices, just two bottles of water. Brunei or is a dry country so wasn't expecting any alcohol but come on. My room was large, bed comfortable, ocean view from my balcony lovely. Odd thing with the bathroom, the lights automatically turn on when you enter but stay on for thirty minutes after you leave so if you wake up in the middle of the night you have to close the bathroom door so as to not flood your room with light. Why? The resort grounds are well kept and the pool areas attractive. They have oversized golf carts to shuttle you around the grounds. Overall, it's a nice looking facility. Before staying here someone told me it's a seven star hotel. I wish I could run into them again and say, no it isn't, it's not even a five star.

I spent two nights at the Empire end of May. The hotel is huge, the driver told me above 500 rooms. Of these, maybe 30 or so were occupied which gives you a little bit of a Shining feeling (some of the hotel areas were completely closed). My room was very nice, had a view of the ocean though relatively far away. I wanted to spend some time on the beach so I asked for one of the sunbeds to be carried there. Was beautiful. But afterwards I was told that the hotel does not advice to do so as there are crocodiles in the water :-) Breakfast was very good, dinner less so.