“Pelagus resort is no longer operating since Jan 2012”

Please be informed that this resort is no longer operating since Jan 2012

“Remote resort- OK (if overpriced) for one night, but don't spend longer”

This resort seems to be on the edge of the world. When you stand (in the cloud of mosquitoes) on your balcony in the early morning and see the fog over the jungle and the rapids, and hear the gibbons calling in the distance, you really do feel that you are in the heart of Borneo. It is delight... more

This resort seems to be on the edge of the world. When you stand (in the cloud of mosquitoes) on your balcony in the early morning and see the fog over the jungle and the rapids, and hear the gibbons calling in the distance, you really do feel that you are in the heart of Borneo. It is delightfully remote. But too remote to spend more than one night! We brought two kids here for three nights and it was far too long. We spent more than we have ever spent at a hotel (about $200/per person/ per night) and it was not good value for the money. The rooms have mosquitos in them, and no mosquito coils. The power goes off for most of the day, so there's no a/c during the day. (This didn't bother us--but it's worth noting.) The longhouse trip is a little odd- you see their private rooms and the longhouse, but that's about it. There are not many trails, since the resort has to maintain them themselves. We saw far more wildlife in Bako National Park than here. And the pool is completely unsuited for children; there are steps, and then it's 6 feet deep. The food is nothing to write home about. The menu is too long and over-ambitious, and most food comes out of a can or frozen. We would have preferred more local, fresh ingredients and a more limited menu. (For breakfast, you get a choice of eggs and then two small pieces of watermelon and a small banana. Not really USD$200 worth of food, especially in Sarawak.) Here this is probably not the fault of the manager, but of the hotel chain managing it. The staff are lovely, as others have commented. The problems with this hotel are structural: the rooms are getting run-down, the menus are covered with stains and finger prints, and the staff seems a bit dispirited. Rightly so, since no one is here. We were the only ones here for most of our time. An earlier reviewer commented, correctly, on the problems with the outside management. The problem is that the outside managing company has nothing at stake. I had to call the resort directly to make a reservation. The managing company did not reply to any of my inquiries. The managing company is strangling this resort, which is a pity. I recommend stopping here in the rainy season or just after the rainy season, so that you can go on to Belaga. It's not possible to go to Belaga from Pelagus in the rainy season. If I had to do it again, I would go to a local longhouse operator, or else go to the Hilton Batang Ai. We felt terrible about spending too much money and not having supported the local economy.

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“A location that must be visited, but wouldn’t endear a return.”

The Regency Pelagus Resort Sarawak is best described as a location that must be visited, but wouldn’t endear a return. It appears to be lacking support from the agencies that are supposedly entrusted to allow the local indigenous people the opportunity to find paid employment and cease working i... more

The Regency Pelagus Resort Sarawak is best described as a location that must be visited, but wouldn’t endear a return. It appears to be lacking support from the agencies that are supposedly entrusted to allow the local indigenous people the opportunity to find paid employment and cease working in the logging industry. This place is, as we in Oz say ‘out in the sticks’ and the accommodation, facilities are great, but no one stays there!!! It was really difficult to book. We emailed the Regency Hotel group via their web site, but got no reply. I telephoned the Pelugus resort , and was able to make a direct booking, but was asked to phone again a couple of days before we were to arrive to organise the transfers and reconfirm. The phone at the resort is unreliable and the Regency Group who I believe manage the property must get their management fee from a Government Department that covers their costs, because my perception of them is they don’t care if it’s empty. Pelagus Resort needs to get more of us to visit, stay a few days, learn about their culture and be supporting this community. We have visited Sarawak before and for this trip decided to get out in the jungle and experience something different. It is different. To walk along pathways that are enclosed by massive trees and vegetation, a leech or two for company, a river that is the freeway to everywhere, the fisherman who toils from dawn to dusk, the local barge that gets the passengers to disembark and gets them to walk around the corner cause it’s safer than staying on the boat whilst getting through the rapids BUT best of all, you are part of this magnificent place. Half the fun is the adventure of getting there. We flew from Kuching to Sibu, got a taxi from the airport to the wharf and brought a ticket on the passenger boat to Kapit.(there are plenty and run about every ½ hour or so) The trip is about 3 easy hours so grab a bit of food at the local café/shops. We paid the extra $2 and went First Class. If staying at the Pelagus the transfers from Kapit are part of the deal and takes about another hour. We were met at Kapit by our hosts, and it’s not hard in Kapit to pick the tourist. You will need to get some cash to pay the bill at the resort because the efpos facility is very unreliable. There are ATM’s in Kapit. The Australian dollar is not very popular to exchange in banks locally so the ATM or American Dollars are handy. The room we stayed in was clean, air conditioned, had a balcony that overlooked the river. The pool is refreshing and a good place to hide in the afternoon with a book, and the staff (about 5) need more guests to enhance their hospitality skills. The food is included in the price but stick to the local items on the menu because cold defrosted chips etc are pretty awful. Take a few bottles of wine and plonk into the backpack with you, but and beer is obtainable at the restaurant. Go visit the Pelagus Resort and enjoy this wonderful location for yourself. The locals will get employment, the trees will enjoy standing tall for years to come, and maybe we can fill the many empty rooms screaming out for company. ( But if you have limited time, Go to Mulu National Park instead …….) PS Not suitable for people with mobility difficulities

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