3-Starhotels in Sabah, Malaysia

Room is clean and comfortable.walking distance to shopping mall and eateries..very convenient

I had an amazing experience at this hotel. The rooms were spotless and very comfortable, expect the toilet is sharing and it's very dirty!. The staff were friendly, helpful, and always ready to assist with anything I needed. The location was perfect, and the view from my room was absolutely stunning — one of the highlights of my stay. Everything about this hotel felt high-quality, and I would definitely come back again. Highly recommend!

This place is great, mainly because of its super convenient location. It's really close to Gaya Street and just a short walk to Suria Sabah shopping mall. Basically, all those trendy spots you see on Xiaohongshu are just a stone's throw away. Other reviews mentioned it being noisy at night, but I stayed for 5 days and didn't experience that at all. Uh, the room was also quite clean. Housekeeping was prompt with tidying up and replenishing amenities. There's a convenience store right downstairs too.

The room has a very vintage feel, and given the price we paid, we didn’t set high expectations. However, we were truly surprised by the location — the balcony faces directly towards Mount Kinabalu, offering a breathtaking view! The room itself is quite basic, with only essential amenities like towels, a hot water heater, hangers, a kettle, and a hairdryer. But what truly made our stay memorable was the owners, a lovely couple who treated us like family. Their warmth and hospitality were beyond expectations, and they were always ready to help with any inquiries about Kundasang. They also mentioned that the place will be undergoing renovations soon after nearly 30 years. I am really looking forward to returning. Because honestly, their hospitality won my heart! ❤️

Every time I visit Kota Kinabalu for a business trip, I choose Gaya Centre Hotel. The staff are very welcoming, and the bellhop helps with luggage. The hotel facilities are excellent, and the staff are friendly. This is my fourth time booking this hotel, and it's really great.

I rarely give such a bad review for a hotel, but I really have to get this off my chest. As soon as you step out of the elevator, the entire floor smells musty and damp. I guess it had been raining in Kota Kinabalu for a few days, so the water from guests' umbrellas and shoes got onto the carpet, making it smell really bad. I thought opening the room would be better. Of course, I knew I booked a windowless room, but I never expected a public restroom smell to hit me. The shower gel and shampoo in the bathroom were a 2-in-1... and as you can see from the pictures, it just looked unappealing. When I looked up while showering, I saw the moldy wall in picture three. The hardware was one thing, but the soft service wasn't good either. We got soaked from our island trip, and I called twice asking for more hangers, but no one bothered to respond. Later, I genuinely got angry and called them a third time, and they finally brought them over. Also, their hairdryer is wall-mounted, which is very inconvenient, especially for an island hotel where you often need to dry clothes. I asked if they had a portable hairdryer, and they said they'd check, but then never got back to me. The service was absolutely terrible. The only convenient thing is that it's a two-minute walk from Gaya Street. Other than that, there's really nothing... You decide for yourselves.

It's a little out of town but I chose it for the close proximity to the beach and swimming ,which is about a 10min walk from the hotel. There are street food and drinks stalls available from about 3pm . Tanjung Aru beach is beautiful, uncrowded and the beach shelves away gently making it a safe swimming area. However, the beach had rubbish washed up and maintenance isn't a priority I guess. I swam everyday and didn't get sick ,that's a bonus. The room ( the whole place)was tired looking, it could do with a lick of paint and maintenance. Room was clean when I got there but I strongly doubt it was cleaned in the entire time I was there for five days. Often had to ask for toilet paper , shampoo and shower gel , and coffee sachets etc ,basics to be stocked whenever housekeeping does their cleaning. Air con worked for me although the settings couldn't be altered ! The bed springs creak and you feel the springs when you sit on the bed but I slept ok only because I was usually exhausted from the day's activities . The beds and mattresses definitely need renewing though. The fridge was mouldy and smelly , what a blooming shame : / The safe was broken - hallelujah! I kept my room door locked at all times only because Reception staff hardly looked up to see who comes and goes- they sit very low,almost out of view at their front desk. I wasn't convinced about their perception of safety especially as I'm a solo female traveller and I need to be alert and take great caution. Casuarina Hotel are you taking note? Reception is helpful but that depends who is present. Lifts work fine without too much of a wait. The cafe on ground level serves an American breakfast but I couldn't tell you whether that's worth your while. It looked like Mary Celeste everytime I peeped in there so wasn't convinced about getting fed or a service. Therefore, I had fruit and snacks as standby .. There's a lovely restaurant a few yards from the hotel called the Yolo Seafood Restaurant which tends to open from 11.30am- delicious and inexpensive with friendly staff. Grab taxi fare to city centre varies from MYR 7- 25 Ringgit ,the higher tariff if returning during commuter rush hours from city centre which is a 15- 25 min ride . Would I stay here again ? I would actually knowing all its idiosyncrasis compared to so many awful or simplly mediocre accommodation charging an arm and a leg , I think Casuarina is just ok . Value for money? I don't think so .

I contacted the hotel via WhatsApp 3 days before check-in, and they replied very quickly. They even called me back, and the communication was very smooth. The boat departs from the jetty at 1:30 PM, but when we arrived at 12:30 PM, the boat was already waiting. Someone helped us with our luggage when we boarded. Later, we found out they weren't hotel staff, so we tipped each of them RM5. The hotel's check-out time is 10 AM, and the latest guests can leave by boat is 11 AM because the boat cannot sail after low tide. So, no late check-outs are possible. On the way there, it was high tide, and the boat sailed over shallow waters. The 'jelly sea' was absolutely stunning. My initial apprehension instantly turned into pure delight – it was so worth it! We were 6 adults and 3 children. We originally booked one triple fan room and one quintuple fan room. Because I didn't want a corner room, and the quintuple room was in the westernmost corner, and since there weren't many guests during the off-peak season (we practically had the place to ourselves, which was a pleasant surprise!), the hotel generously gave us an additional triple room and upgraded all our rooms to air-conditioned ones. Another great surprise! Actually, the sea breeze was strong, and opening the window with a fan was already very comfortable, so we didn't really need the air conditioning. In fact, after snorkeling, we found it too cold in the room, so we promptly turned off the AC. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations. The quintuple room was newer, while the two triple rooms were smaller and older. However, the sea view was so beautiful, and given the great value for money, these minor issues were acceptable. The hotel owner was also very accommodating and gave us keys to a few rooms, letting us choose which ones we wanted. Since the quintuple room was on the western side, the sunset views were spectacular. My friends even saw sea turtles twice from their room at night. After watching the sunrise, we walked to the easternmost part of the hotel. There's a bridge there that's perfect for photos, and we kept seeing sea turtles, which was such an amazing surprise! We saw about 7-8 sea turtles intermittently, and they were huge! It might have been the start of low tide, and they were all swimming towards the deep sea. This must be a common path for them, and it was the biggest highlight of our trip. The hotel has Wi-Fi and accepts TNG for payment. The round-trip boat ticket costs RM100, and children ride for free. Life jackets are RM5, and swimming rings are RM10 (no time limit). The hotel's snorkeling masks were broken and unavailable for rent, so it's best to bring your own. The sea has lots of corals, starfish, and fish, making it excellent for snorkeling. Bring extra bread to feed the fish. The hotel doesn't provide bottled water or hair dryers, but there's hot water and tea bags. Dinner was local Malay food, which might not suit everyone's palate, but we found it quite good, and the fish was cooked tenderly. The simple breakfast included delicious fried rice noodles. We also brought some chocolates and instant cereal/drink mixes to prepare with the hotel's hot water. There's also free karaoke and Lami mahjong, though they can only be used until 11 PM. The karaoke is a new facility, only 4 months old, and the sound system is excellent. The Lami mahjong set was brand new. In summary: Although the hotel is a bit old, the sea is incredibly beautiful, and we even saw sea turtles. For the price, it offers great value. Overall, I highly recommend it.

The Lighthouse Hotel Semporna boasts an excellent location, directly facing the jetty for boat excursions. It's within walking distance of island hopping meeting points and seafood restaurants, making it incredibly convenient for getting around and finding food. Opened in 2023, the rooms are spacious and clean, with separate wet and dry areas in the bathroom. The rooftop pool offers sea views, and the overall environment is quiet and peaceful. The front desk service is thoughtful, and they support WeChat communication, offering great value for money. The only downsides are that the breakfast selection is simple and the facilities are quite basic. If you're looking for a luxurious experience, you might want to consider other options. However, it's perfect for travelers primarily focused on island hopping who prioritize convenient accommodation.

first is the floor, it is sticky, it is sticky in the room and also at the gathering or public area where we take our meals. Next is the issue with the toilet, the shower head is broken, it's leaking and the water is too strong and thin, it is hurting me when i try to bathe. Thirdly, the floor mat is dirty and too thin, it is not absorbing water as it should. Fourth, the floor also has a lot of dust and sand. Fifth, the hotel does not have enough electrical plug, we only have two plugs and it is on the most left of the bed, it is better if it is in the middle of both beds. Sixth, the air conditioner is too weak for a room with 3 people, it is hot even at night. Seventh, the music is too loud, i cannot even rest properly at night, you can prepare earplugs at least. Eighth, the gathering or public area is too hot because there is no fan, please prepare some ceiling fans so guests can dine properly. Ninth, should have a table for a big room at least. the floor is wide enough, but it is so dirty that we do not dare to sit on the floor to play games or cards, we also do not want to play games or cards at the gathering or public area because it is too hot and loud. Tenth, rubbish in the sea or hotel area, i saw a huge pile of rubbish such as bottled water, food container, plastic bag just floating in the sea in the resort. Here are some good things about the hotel, first, very nice scenery, the water is nice and clean in the morning. Secondly, the balcony area for each room is nice because we can look at the scenery while sitting on the chair and resting. Thirdly, the staff is very friendly and very responsible, they do their work fast, they carry our luggage, refill food fast, and are very nice. Fourthly, the overall atmosphere of the hotel is very comfortable. Fifth, the food is ok, breakfast is ok, it is not the best but it is edible, the dinner is the best, and the seafood is a very nice touch. Sixth, we can dry our wet cloth on the balcony too. Overall i give it a 2 out of 5 stars. The price of your hotel does not match the pros and cons of your hotel. I would not want to stay in the hotel another day if the problems still stay the same. Please do your best to improve better. This is my honest review as a Malaysian.