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.

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: 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.

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.

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!

The best sunset view in Kota Kinabalu is hidden at The Magellan Sutera! No crowds, just a whole 'orange sea' sunset waiting for you from a beach lounger – the perfect relaxed holiday vibe ✨. With a pool and private beach all in one, it's great for both families and couples. The only minor downside is that the facilities are a bit dated, but the stunning sea view more than makes up for it.

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!

Sutera Harbour is truly a holiday paradise! It boasts a golf course, tennis courts, and even the trendy pickleball courts. It's a shame I don't play golf or tennis, and didn't even have time to play pickleball with my wife. The Pacific Sutera Hotel has its own small private beach where you can book sunset paddleboarding or go snorkeling (though the water isn't super clear). You can also walk (or take the mini-train) over to The Magellan Sutera Resort's smaller beach and pools. The hotel also has its own jetty, which is where all the tours to nearby islands like Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park depart from. Hotel guests can book these excursions and water activities directly at the jetty. My room didn't include breakfast, but I heard there's usually a queue. We ended up taking a taxi to the city center for dim sum, which was very convenient. I also heard the hotel has a sunset bar that's incredibly picturesque, but unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to experience it. Hopefully, I can come back again someday and just relax for a whole week!