Sematan Palm Beach Resort, Sematan, Sarawak

My family and I spent a good four days and three nights at Sematan, southwest of Sarawak on 30th May - 2nd June 2008. Sematan is a small fishing town just over an hour's drive from Kuching City. We stayed over at a nice, cosy motel sort of resort called the Sematan Palm Beach Resort. You practically drive up all the way to your doorstep. Well, maybe up to 10 feet from your doorstep, depending on which type of accommodation you're taking up. Here are some photos during our four-day stay there.

For the first two nights we took up the terrace twin room (for 2 pax) which costed RM 180 per night for weekends and public holidays, and RM 153 per night for weekdays. The last night, we stayed at the Quadruplex Chalet, which had the same rate. Basically there are four types of accomodation namely:

Detached Chalet for 4 pax
Quadruplex Chalet for 2 pax
Terrace Twin for 2 pax
Terrace Family for 6 pax

The Terrace Twin room is very cosy, ideal for quiet times of relaxation. There is hardly any of the typical hotel room gadgetry around, e.g. a phone, a fridge, drawers and stuff you never really use. There is hot water available, a small 15" TV (good enough for me) and the very comfortable bed. Plus, for those absolute city-dwelling people, yes, there is air-conditioning. Which I find to be not so necessary. But wife and kid loved it so what to do.

The rates I paid for included breakfast and dinner, which I thought was a pretty good bargain. Food is served buffet-style, and mostly a mixture of both eastern and western cruisine. Food is also very freshly-prepared, and I particularly liked the salad bar they had one evening.

There are none of those hotel-type entertainments around, e.g. karaoke bar, or any other sort of bar with alcoholic drinks, swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, etc. There is just plenty of peace and time for a family (or individual) to enjoy relaxation.

I spent most of my time at the beach with my wife and son. We would be up by 8am, have a quick breakfast and would be hitting the gentle mornig waves by 9.30am. Yup. Did that four days in a row. Plus the late afternoon session at about 5.30pm when it's not so hot. My son Nathan loved the warm waters and getting his chunky body all immersed in the sea. The beach is long, almost flat and has extremely cealn water, to my great surprise. I'm so used to beaches with myriads of wood debris and plastics floating around as you trod on the sand.

I would strongly recommend this place for those of you looking for a good, cheap and peaceful getaway from the City, which is not too far from Kuching.

For more info on the chalets and rates, you may also check this website.

If you want to book, the contact numbers are:

Sematan Palm Beach Resort
Tel: +6082 712388, 711112, 711128

Have a great time at Sematan!