Tune Hotel - Waterfront Kuching is a 3-star budget hotel operated by the Tune Hotels chain, a no-frills brand with properties across Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Japan built around a simple promise: pay for the room, not for extras you may not use. The Kuching property carries that model into Sarawak's capital, spreading 140 rooms across 4 floors on Jalan Borneo, just off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuching City Center. Its defining feature is its address: the hotel sits within walking distance of the Kuching Waterfront promenade along the Sarawak River, putting the city's most photographed stretch of riverfront, its old bazaar streets, and its cluster of cafes and heritage buildings within easy reach on foot. Guests on Traveloka have rated the property 8.1 out of 10 overall from 2,770 reviews, with location standing out as the strongest score at 8.7. As part of the wider Tune Hotels network, the Waterfront Kuching branch follows the same room philosophy as its sister properties elsewhere in Malaysia: compact, air-conditioned rooms with the essentials covered, and optional extras handled separately at the front desk rather than bundled into the room rate by default.
Tune Hotels' room ladder is built around simple, clearly tiered categories, and the Waterfront Kuching property follows the same structure used across the brand's Malaysian portfolio. Presented here bottom-up, from the most compact option to the most spacious:
The entry-level category, designed for solo travellers. It comes with one single bed on a King Koil mattress and sleeps up to 2 adults plus one child under 5, with a footprint of roughly 9 to 11 square metres. It is the most compact room in the property but includes the same core in-room set-up as the rest of the hotel.
Fitted with two single beds (King Koil), the Twin Room is aimed at friends or colleagues travelling together who prefer separate beds over one shared bed, while still accommodating up to 2 adults and a child under 5.
The standard double-occupancy option, furnished with a queen-size King Koil bed, suited to couples or a parent travelling with a young child (up to 2 adults plus one child under 5).
A step up from the standard Twin, the Deluxe Twin measures approximately 11 square metres and comes with two single beds, plus the brand's signature waterfront-facing outlook in select units, since Deluxe-tier rooms at this property are positioned to take advantage of river views where available.
Matching the Deluxe Twin in size at roughly 11 square metres, this room swaps the twin configuration for a queen bed, again with river views in select units, and comfortably houses 2 adults with one child under 5.
The top of the ladder and the most flexible category, configured for 2 to 3 adults or 2 adults with 2 children under 5. It combines a queen bed with a bunk bed or a super single plus single beds, depending on the exact configuration assigned, making it the room type best suited to small families or small groups travelling together.
Across every category, rooms typically include air conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower; see the current listing for the specific per-room amenity set, since exact in-room inclusions can vary by unit within each category.
As a budget-tier property, Tune Hotel - Waterfront Kuching keeps its shared facilities focused on practical essentials rather than resort-style extras:
A cash or debit-card deposit and Sarawak's standard per-room tourism tax apply at check-in, in line with the modest, transparent pricing structure the Tune Hotels brand is built around — guests should expect a modest deposit and standard tourism tax rather than a large upfront charge.
The hotel's address on Jalan Borneo, off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, places it firmly inside Kuching City Center, within walking distance of the Kuching Waterfront and the Sarawak River promenade that anchors most visitors' itineraries in the city. From here, Kuching's old town — its heritage shophouses, the Main Bazaar strip, and the network of markets and cultural sites along the riverbank — is reachable on foot rather than requiring a taxi. For visitors arriving from further afield, Kuching International Airport is roughly 10 kilometres from the property, translating to an approximate 30 to 60 minute taxi ride depending on traffic, and travellers piecing together a Sarawak itinerary from elsewhere in Malaysia or overseas can check flight options to Kuching on Traveloka before locking in hotel dates. The Sarawak Convention & Exhibition Centre sits about 8 kilometres away, useful context for guests visiting Kuching for business or events, while destinations further out like the Santubong Peninsula and its cultural village are around 35 kilometres from the hotel and best reached by taxi or an arranged day tour.
The property's own restaurant handles breakfast service on-site, giving guests a straightforward option before heading out for the day. Because the hotel sits so close to the Waterfront, though, most guests end up eating beyond the hotel: Kuching's riverside promenade and the surrounding old town are lined with hawker stalls, kopitiams (traditional coffee shops), and restaurants serving Sarawakian specialities like laksa Sarawak and kolo mee, all within easy walking distance. For visitors who want to build a fuller day around the area's food scene, cultural sites, and river cruises, it's worth browsing things to do around Kuching on Traveloka to line up activities alongside meals.
The case for this property is straightforward: it puts guests inside walking distance of Kuching's signature waterfront district at a budget price point, without asking travellers to pay for facilities they may not use. The 8.7 location score from the hotel's 2,770 Traveloka reviews backs this up, and the room ladder — from the compact Single up to the Family Room — gives solo travellers, couples, and small families a clear, appropriately-sized option rather than a one-size-fits-all room type. It suits travellers who prioritise proximity to Kuching's old town and riverfront over in-house resort amenities. Guests weighing up alternatives in the same neighbourhood can also compare other hotels in Kuching City Center on Traveloka before deciding.
Because Tune Hotels' model separates the base room rate from extras, it's worth checking exactly what's included in your selected room type before booking — items like breakfast or late check-out may be offered as add-ons rather than bundled by default. Bring a form of ID and be prepared for a modest cash or debit-card deposit and Sarawak's standard tourism tax at check-in, both routine at Malaysian hotels in this tier. Since the hotel's biggest draw is its walking-distance access to the Waterfront, travellers who plan to explore the old town on foot should book a Deluxe-tier room where river views may be available, while budget-focused solo travellers can save further with the Single Room. Whichever tier you choose, you can start planning the rest of your Sarawak trip from the Traveloka homepage.
As announced by Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Tourism Tax is imposed starting 1 January 2023 for all hotel guests that are non-Malaysian or non-permanent Residents of Malaysia. Please expect that hotel will collect the Tourism Tax from you during check-in at the hotel. The Tourism Tax rate is 10 RM per room per night.
Popular Facilities | AC, Restaurant, 24-Hour Front Desk, Parking, Elevator, WiFi |
Check-In / Check-Out Time | From 14:00 - to 11:00 |
Breakfast Availability | Yes, hotel has room that provide breakfast |
Available rooms at Tune Hotel - Waterfront Kuching | 140 |
Number of floors in Tune Hotel - Waterfront Kuching | 4 |
Another facilities in Tune Hotel - Waterfront Kuching | Breakfast, Limited parking, Secure parking, Free WiFi, Connecting rooms |
