Beach Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

This is the first time I've experienced ”wasting time” not as a derogatory term. Here, both your mind and the days slow down, not just because Tanjung Aru boasts the most beautiful sunsets, but because of every plant, every service within the hotel, and the meeting of the ocean with Shangri-La, which collectively created an unforgettable experience for us. I highly recommend the ground floor patio rooms, where the balcony leads directly to the lawn! You can witness one of the world's top three sunsets and the iconic Sunset Bar. I loved the peaceful mornings here, listening to the sea breeze on a lounge chair and watching seagulls glide over the ocean. In the evenings, there's none of the hustle and bustle of the public beach, only melodious songs, paired with a margarita, truly allowing time to slow down. I suggest staying for at least 5 nights; if you're lucky, you might even catch a unique event. The hotel's Chinese restaurant is highly recommended; it leans towards Cantonese cuisine, with prices being mid-to-high, but it definitely satisfies Chinese palates.

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!

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.

📍Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu | A Thorough Review, Pros and Cons Included First, the conclusion: This is a typical 'lie-flat' resort for Westerners. Most Chinese tourists have packed itineraries and busy schedules, so choose this hotel with caution. ❌ Cons (The Honest Truth) 1️⃣ **Remote Location.** It's an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu city center, and traffic in KK is often bad. This makes island hopping and snorkeling trips inconvenient. 2️⃣ **Beach Not Swimmable.** A red flag was up every day, prohibiting swimming in the sea. If you're looking to swim, you'll be stuck with the pool. Those hoping for ocean swimming will be disappointed. 3️⃣ **No Chinese Service.** Communication relies mainly on English, which isn't ideal for families with young children. 4️⃣ **Service Lapses.** After room cleaning, they forgot to replenish our 3 bottles of drinking water. Every time I ordered online, I requested 'no chili,' but it always arrived with chili, making it impossible for my child to eat (I didn't complain again to the restaurant, just a heads-up for others). 5️⃣ **Inflexible Policy.** The hotel does not allow early check-out with a refund. Any changes to your itinerary will leave you in a difficult position; it's not very accommodating. 6️⃣ **Outdated Facilities.** In my room, two out of three power strips on the desk were broken. Maintenance of hardware is lacking. 7️⃣ **Endless Beach Walk.** The beach is incredibly vast. Walking from the hotel to the actual seashore is a long trek, and doing it under the scorching sun is quite uncomfortable. ✅ Pros (No Ambiguity Here) 1️⃣ **Exclusive Beach + Stunning Sunsets.** Very few people, so no need to Photoshop anyone out of your photos. Watching the sunset on the private beach in the evening, or dining and enjoying activities right by the sea with the vibrant sky as a backdrop, is incredibly relaxing. 2️⃣ **Plenty of Activities, Great for Kids.** There are free shows, and the evening fire torch performance is good. They also have activities like 'Little Bees' (which my child was afraid of, so we didn't go). It's a one-stop shop for a 'lie-flat' vacation. 3️⃣ **Location Depends on Your Plans.** It's close to Mount Kinabalu, making it suitable for hiking and outdoor activities. 🍽️ Dining - The Honest Scoop The hotel's restaurants generally offer good food, but the prices are genuinely expensive. A money-saving tip: Order takeout via Grab and have it delivered to the hotel – it's much more economical. I even managed to get Mixue ice cream delivered, so no problem with milk tea cravings. 💡 Snorkeling Route - Essential Info To Mantanani Island, don't go through Magellan Jetty; that's for people coming from the city. Instead, use Kuala Abai Jetty in the north: it's a 2-hour drive from the city, but only 1 hour from Rasa Ria, and it's less crowded. Staying here makes a trip to Mantanani Island more convenient. 🏁 Summary The inability to swim in the sea from the beach is a major drawback, but if you treat it as a 'sunset viewing spot + family lie-flat base,' it's worth the price. If it's part of your itinerary, plan Mantanani Island and Mount Kinabalu for the same period. Avoid traveling back and forth to the city; the 1-hour drive plus traffic is a real deterrent. Plan carefully!

📍 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 hotel's location is indeed unbeatable. It's great, very close to dining options and the DBKK jetty. It's also near Suria Sabah shopping mall, though Suria feels a bit run-down. Although the hotel is old, it's not dilapidated. The pool is quite small. Drinking water refills are unlimited. The sea view room on the 9th floor has an obstruction, so it's not a complete sea view. Floors 3-5 might be better, as there's a protruding roof section below floors 9-10, which spoils the visual experience.

This hotel really exceeded my expectations. From the moment I checked in at night, I was greeted by a very polite and enthusiastic front desk. The room was clean, the bathroom was quite spacious, and the sea view from the balcony was absolutely stunning. Both the pool and the ocean water were warm and very comfortable. While the breakfast selection wasn't huge, it had all the essentials and was at least tasty – I recommend the noodle soup and the Indian bread with curry. The service at the sunset bar was quite fast, and the food was decent with good value for money, though it could get a bit warm since it's semi-outdoor. The prices for items in the hotel's mini-market were very reasonable, as were the prices for all the activities. It’s truly a hotel where you can relax and enjoy your vacation without worries. The hotel beach has super fine and soft sand, and there are plenty of beach chairs. You'll find all sorts of live small seashells and hermit crabs on the beach, which the kids absolutely loved (just remember to put them back!). The hotel's ecosystem is fantastic, absolutely wonderful, with tons of small animals and birds. We stayed for three nights and never got tired of it. Even after moving to a Marriott in the city, we still missed this hotel. What's truly remarkable is how genuinely nice all the hotel staff are; some were even exceptionally enthusiastic, which was a real pleasure. The room cleaning was also very thorough.

The room hygiene was pretty good. The environment was mostly fine, quite suitable for taking photos and checking in. There weren't many people watching the sunset in the afternoon, so overall it was good. As for service, it was okay after check-in, and they offered luggage storage. However, the hotel's policy of a unified check-in time at 3:00 PM, with no early check-in allowed, feels a bit inhumane. Are all rooms only cleaned by 3:00 PM? Shouldn't guests be notified for check-in as soon as a room is ready? We even had to queue for breakfast in the morning. I was aware that the facilities were old beforehand, so that was acceptable. You can snorkel at the hotel, and there are quite a lot of fish. Also, you can see sea urchins by the beach next to one of the swimming pools.

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!

Before coming, I read a lot of negative reviews and was full of anxiety, but after experiencing it, I realized it was unnecessary worry. The room, bedding, and pillows were clean and odorless. Whether it was the front desk, concierge, borrowing towels at the pool, or ordering food at the restaurant, everyone was enthusiastic and I never felt neglected. One day, after the room was cleaned, they forgot to leave new towels. I called and they were delivered quickly, without a long wait. You can watch the sunset from the hotel's small beach, which is very convenient and beautiful. Snorkeling on the small beach is convenient and safe, with lots of fish, coral, and even Nemo. Island hopping close to shore departs from their own pier, which is also very convenient; just go downstairs to the pier 30 minutes in advance to buy tickets. After returning, you can go straight back to your room in your swimsuit to change and wash up, avoiding the hassle of changing clothes on the island. Room service is available, which is a good option if it's raining or you're too lazy to go out; the prices aren't too expensive. Overall, it's a great resort hotel, highly recommended, and I would stay again if I have the chance. The pictures show the hotel's small beach and the sunset from the hotel.