3-Starhotels in Sabah, Malaysia

I request room near lift and near receptionist no corner room unfortunately I get room far from lift and receptionist and get corner room. Air bertakung di dalam bilik, jadi kurang selesa 😢

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!

Overall, it was great. The room was spacious, clean, and the facilities weren't outdated, offering excellent value for money at this price point. The only downside was the noise. The soundproofing between rooms and from the hallway was good, but the air conditioning was very loud. When I turned off the AC at night, the street noise from motorbikes was incredibly loud, so I had to wear earplugs every night to sleep. The upside is that it's very convenient to get everywhere – the pier, shopping malls, and restaurants are all easily accessible.

All good! We chose a room with plenty of single beds. There were 5 beds, haha, perfect for families, friends, or even a honeymoon. The room was really spacious too. Just a heads-up about the water heater, you can't adjust the temperature; the water gets super hot! You have to mix in cold water to get it lukewarm. Overall, it was great. There's a kettle and a water dispenser right outside the room door. And the views? Right at Mount Kinabalu itself!

The hygiene was good, I didn't find any obvious issues. It's really convenient for getting around. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It's a shame the facilities are a bit old. If you're not too picky, it's a good option to consider. The view from outside is quite nice.

Clean, quiet, and comfortable. The only thing is that the outlets were only on the TV side, not by the head of the bed. Overall, it's a decent option for the price. There are shops and cafes nearby.

This hotel is good, right by the beach. The room is large and spacious, with all the amenities. The slightly worn bathroom door isn't something I'd consider a drawback. There were no insects. I really think this is the place to stay, especially since it's close to the airport. I couldn't find anywhere to buy food nearby, though. You can take a taxi to the central market or the Filipino market. I also liked that they checked me in in the morning, despite my early arrival. In Kuala Lumpur, I had to wait around until 2 PM to check in.

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.