Hotels With bar 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!

I chose this hotel for a one-night stay before heading to the overwater bungalow the next day. Although the room facilities were a bit old, they were very clean. There's a convenience store right downstairs, and it's very close to the pier. The sea breeze was a bit loud at night, but the breakfast was excellent and plentiful.

I had a pleasant stay at Sutera Mantanani Island Resort and would recommend it to those looking for a relaxing island getaway. The resort offers beautiful ocean views and a clean, well-maintained beach, making it a great place to unwind and enjoy nature. The staff were consistently friendly, helpful, and welcoming throughout the stay. I also appreciated the clear directional signs around the property, which made it easy to locate facilities and navigate the resort. The overall atmosphere was peaceful, relaxing, and perfect for a short escape from the city. For areas of improvement, it would be great if the resort could provide more indoor activities, especially during periods of bad weather when outdoor activities are limited. Additional board games, karaoke sessions, movie nights, or other entertainment options would help keep guests occupied. I also noticed that there were no visible lifeguards or safety personnel around the beachfront and resort areas. Having dedicated safety staff on-site would provide greater peace of mind for guests, particularly families with children. In addition, given the resort’s remote island location, it would be reassuring to know what medical emergency support is available. Clear information about emergency response procedures, first-aid facilities, or access to medical assistance would help guests feel more secure during their stay. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and appreciate the warm hospitality of the staff. With a few enhancements to guest activities and safety measures, the resort could offer an even better experience for future visitors.

Due to a last-minute change in plans, I ended up in Kota Kinabalu. Many popular hotels were fully booked, so I had no choice but to stay at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, which is quite far from the city center. However, it turned out to be a really worthwhile stay. First off, the hotel provides a shuttle service. The bus stop is right next to Ba Wang Cha Ji at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, and the shuttle was always on time. The hotel itself is expansive, featuring a large golf course. Upon arrival at the reception, the staff were very welcoming and even rang a gong, which I assume was a welcome gesture. After checking in, a buggy was waiting to take us around. There are two pools: one at the Garden Wing and one at the Ocean Wing. The Garden Wing pool has a waterslide, which the kids loved. The room was quite spacious, and the balcony even had a large plunge pool with stunning views, especially at sunset when the 'burning clouds' created a spectacular scene. The staff primarily spoke English, so communication was in English. Breakfast was excellent, especially the rice vermicelli, and you could also request custom-made fried eggs. One day, my little one wasn't in the mood to go down for breakfast, and the staff kindly packed a portion for us to take away. Nearby restaurants are about a kilometer away, so we relied on Grab every day to get around, setting our location to the Ocean Wing. The hotel offers many activities, but we didn't participate in any of them. In summary: The location is a bit secluded, but the price is reasonable. The hotel has its own beach, and the service is warm and attentive. They also have a mini-program for communicating with staff. There are seafood restaurants nearby, and a shuttle service to the airport and city center, running three times a day, so be sure to note the schedule. With plenty of activities, it's an excellent choice for a family leisure trip with children.

Location is strategic , rooms are big enough.Aircon is good and cool enough. Overall ok just have some weaknesses for example the cleanliness. A lot of ants on table. Washing machine not functioning. Hair dryer got sparks when turn on Car park provided.

The room offers a great sea view, and breakfast is decent, with all the standard amenities like a gym and swimming pool. The location is super convenient, surrounded by popular foodie spots, and the pier is right across the street – plus, there's plenty of durian available! My only slight complaint is that we were given a connecting room, and it seemed like Chinese guests were generally assigned to lower floors, which I don't quite understand… Other than that, everything else was good.

The front desk staff at this hotel were absolutely wonderful! Initially, they gave us the wrong room type, but they still allowed us to check in and rest. They managed to switch us to the correct room before 6 PM. I'd recommend double-checking your room type with the front desk to avoid any mix-ups. The hotel's cleanliness was excellent, and the pool view was absolutely stunning! It's also just about a ten-minute walk from the pier.

Excellent hotel, surrounded by lush greenery, and there's even a monitor lizard on the premises. We had a ground-floor room with a stunning sea view. The room was large and felt fresh, likely one of those that had been renovated. Breakfast was excellent, with a huge selection of both European and Asian cuisine. You could order eggs cooked to your liking, make soup, try Indian-style roti, and there was plenty of fruit and vegetables, yogurt, and even Gouda and Parmesan cheeses, delicious croissants, and a coffee machine. Overall, highly recommended!

Got you — I’ll keep it balanced and honest, like a real guest who had both good and not-so-good moments. ⸻ I recently stayed at Lintas Platinum Hotel for 5 days, and overall it was a decent stay with a few hiccups along the way. On the first day, check-in was smooth, but unfortunately the first room assigned to me had no air-conditioning and no power. After informing the staff, they arranged a room change. The switch was handled fairly quickly, which I appreciated, and the new room was functioning properly. For the rest of the stay, the room was generally comfortable. The bed was good, WiFi was stable, and air-conditioning worked well (very important in Kota Kinabalu’s weather). Daily housekeeping ensured that water bottles and basic amenities were replenished consistently, which I appreciated. However, there were a few issues during the stay. For the last few days, the bathroom phone kept ringing every evening around 6:29pm. I was quite busy in the mornings and only managed to report it on the last day. The staff checked but couldn’t find any issue. It was a bit strange and slightly disturbing, though thankfully it didn’t escalate beyond that. I also noticed that the towels provided were a bit old, and the housekeeping floor cleanliness could be improved. While the room was generally maintained, the floor didn’t always feel properly cleaned. That said, the staff were polite and helpful throughout my stay. Despite a few inconveniences, the overall experience was still reasonably comfortable. With some improvements in maintenance and housekeeping quality control, the hotel could definitely provide a much better experience. Overall, a decent stay with room for improvement.