Beach Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

The hotel itself is fine, with excellent facilities and services. However, some parts of the hotel are currently under renovation, and it seems they intentionally place guests who book lower-tier rooms in these renovated areas. Knowing in advance that some of the hotel's beachfront areas were under renovation, I specifically booked a garden-view room a month ago. Upon arrival, the hotel informed us that all garden-view rooms were full. They then 'upgraded' us to a sea-view room (which was in the renovated section). Although they offered a discount as compensation, we repeatedly stated that we didn't want to stay there. The staff (somewhat threateningly) said that all other rooms in the hotel were full, and these were the only ones left, implying we'd have no room if we didn't take it (their attitude was quite arrogant). They also insisted that we could only switch to this specific (renovated) room type and no other. Since we'd never encountered such a situation before and didn't know how to handle it, we reluctantly accepted. Later, I checked online and found that our situation of being switched rooms was not an isolated incident; many Chinese tourists were 'forced' into 'upgrading' to sea-view rooms. (Some even suggested they only do this to Chinese tourists). The hotel did not proactively offer compensation after we checked out. We only received it after complaining to Ctrip's customer service. I'm very grateful to Ctrip's customer service for their help; they advised us that in similar future situations, we should not deal with the front desk privately but instead let Ctrip customer service handle it. I rarely post reviews, but I'm sharing this to prevent fellow Chinese travelers from being scammed. If you encounter such issues, contact Ctrip directly.

The water in the hotel's area is heavily polluted; it's so dirty that snorkeling is completely out of the question! The front desk staff were very perfunctory with guest requests and didn't follow through on promises. In the morning, we requested a private boat tour for island hopping and snorkeling. We discussed the time and itinerary with the dive center staff and finalized the price with the front desk. We even altered our subsequent travel plans for this. However, by 4 PM, we still hadn't received confirmation. When we called the front desk, they told us they couldn't arrange it. We asked several people, and got different explanations: first they said there were no boats, then that other guests had already been arranged for island hopping, and then that there would be a storm the next day (which turned out to be perfectly calm). I suggest the hotel improve its island hopping service. For those looking to dive, definitely don't consider this hotel! Also, the beach is incredibly tiny, barely palm-sized!

This is a standard hotel with a doorman who helps open doors and carry luggage. The front desk staff are very welcoming. Check-in starts at 2:00 PM; early check-in incurs a half-day room charge. Across the street is a shopping mall with a McDonald's on the first floor, open until 2:00 AM, making dining very convenient. The mall also has many shopping and dining options. There's also an affordable large supermarket nearby. The beach is just a 2-minute walk away, which is incredibly convenient.

We stayed in the Ocean Wing. The room was very spacious, but the facilities were a bit old. The plunge pool on the balcony was large, but a bit dirty. Both the swimming pool and the beach were great. The restaurants require advance reservations, which felt a bit like a 'scarcity marketing' tactic. The Italian restaurant wasn't good and the environment wasn't clean. Breakfast was just average, and so was the service. In contrast, the Japanese teppanyaki was excellent, with warm service and good food. The free airport shuttle was a nice touch, but it only runs twice a day, in the morning and evening. The front desk service was very enthusiastic, and they even gave us a local specialty necklace and welcome drinks. Overall, it's a good place for a vacation.

📍 Location: Strategic gila. Walking distance ke Pantai Tanjung Aru – memang terbaik kalau nak tengok sunset tanpa perlu drive. Sangat recommended untuk kaki sunset 🌅 🧹 Cleanliness: Standard hotel lama, tapi masih bersih dan selesa. Overall okay dan berbaloi dengan harga yang dibayar. 🤝 Service: Recommended. Staff helpful dan responsive. Iron & iron board pun terus dihantar ke bilik bila request – very convenient. 🏨 Amenities: Semua basic amenities lengkap dan berfungsi dengan baik. Cuma tiada bidet dalam tandas.

I stayed at two hotels in Kota Kinabalu this time, and surprisingly, the one that left the deepest impression was this older Hyatt. To be honest, I was a bit worried it might be dated at first, but it turned out to be a fantastic stay. The room was spacious. With two adults and one child, we could easily spread out our luggage without feeling cramped. The bedding was just right – soft enough to sink into, but with good support. I slept in naturally for all three nights. The absolute highlight was the sea view – a vast expanse of blue outside the window. Sitting there watching the sunset transform from golden hues to pinkish-purple, without having to brave the crowds at Tanjung Aru, was an absolute win. The location couldn't be better. Merdeka Shopping Mall is just a two-minute walk downstairs, super convenient for currency exchange and buying snacks. Another five-minute stroll takes you to Gaya Street, with eateries like Yee Fung Laksa and Fook Yuen Toast all within walking distance. We barely took any taxis during our stay, saving enough money for at least two extra seafood meals. I felt like a local just strolling around. The pool is right next to the elevator, with separate sections for adults and children. My kid grabbed a life vest and had a blast, while I relaxed on a nearby sun lounger and even caught another sunset. As for breakfast, the variety wasn't extensive, but the ingredients were fresh, and the Malaysian-style dishes were all delicious, especially the Roti Canai with curry sauce – I devoured three pieces! There were also noodle stations with both chicken and beef broth, which my kid said were very flavorful. If it's your first time in Kota Kinabalu and you don't want to waste time on transportation, this older Hyatt is truly top-notch. While the facilities show their age a bit, it's clean, comfortable, convenient, and offers incredible value for money. I'd definitely choose it again if I come back to Kota Kinabalu – truly a no-regrets choice! 😉

Had a fantastic vacation experience at this hotel! While the location is a bit secluded, it boasts a huge beach and a wide array of activities. Both the pool and the ocean water were incredibly clean. You can even surf and play tennis right at the hotel, which kept both the kids and adults thoroughly entertained. For dining, I highly recommend the burger at the Sunset Bar – it's massive and delicious! The hotel also has great wildlife, with many small animals that the kids absolutely loved.

Our trip was absolutely delightful! We arrived in Kota Kinabalu from Hangzhou at 2 AM, and everything from immigration to check-in went incredibly smoothly. The front desk staff were so kind; they upgraded us to a suite, which was spacious and conveniently close to the pool. The hotel's common areas are beautiful, and getting a taxi was a breeze. The kids didn't want to leave!

A fantastic stay and a perfect resort and team. Only issues are 1) plastic from sea, nothing they can do about it but it affects enjoyment, 2) we had a minor issue with housekeeping not coming and then coming when it was dark and letting a lots of bugs in the room (we had been careful to avoid that). Honestly amazing value and a great time though!

The Pacific Sutera Hotel boasts an excellent location, making island-hopping very convenient. It's also the meeting point for the Mantanani Island tours, which is fantastic when you're traveling with kids – no need to wake up super early, and you can still catch the sunset right from the beach. However, the service was only average. We took the hotel's life jackets to snorkel at their beach, but due to the strong waves that day, we decided to move to the Magellan hotel's beach. We were stopped by staff there and told to remove the life jackets. On another windy day, after swimming in the hotel pool, I grabbed a towel to head back to my room, but was stopped again and told that towels couldn't be taken to the rooms. For a resort hotel, I believe they could do better in these aspects.