5-Star 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!

This time I brought my family and we encountered heavy rain (luckily, we still enjoyed the most beautiful sunset in the evening). There was a 'fiasco' on the beach (the hotel's quick and professional handling made us feel even more at ease to relax and play), and a 'four-legged intruder' in the pool (the hotel swiftly caught and relocated it). We saw little squirrels, stepped on live clams, admired the full moon on the 16th, and celebrated my father's birthday, which was all arranged by the hotel. RAINA's thoughtful advice about the road construction saved us from missing our flight, and so much more. If you're coming to Kota Kinabalu for a sunset holiday and have the budget, come to Shangri-La Rasa Ria. And if you ever meet RAINA again, just hand all your troubles over to her! ☺

The hotel's location is excellent, with a shopping mall right downstairs. It's less than a ten-minute walk to Suria Sabah and Gaya Street, and only about a ten-minute walk to the Jesselton Point ferry terminal. Dining, shopping, and getting a taxi are all very convenient. The pool water is very clean. The room has all the necessary facilities, but the cleanliness wasn't great; there was dust on the nightstand. Also, toiletries weren't replenished in a timely manner. I stayed for three days and after using the bathrobe after swimming, it was never replaced. By the last day, I had no bathrobe to use. Same with the towels, but since I brought my own, I didn't bother calling housekeeping.

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.

Everything was perfect. Every staff member at the resort was incredibly welcoming and helpful, even the maintenance workers I passed on the paths greeted me warmly. The food in the restaurant was delicious, and breakfast was absolutely perfect – I couldn't find a single fault. The resort doesn't cut back on service or close facilities just because there are fewer guests, which is great. It was a perfect getaway, and I will definitely be returning.

The hotel's infinity pool was great, my family loved it, a real bonus. The breakfast was also quite substantial. The facilities are a bit old, though. The two 1.35m beds are perfect for families traveling with children. The price was a bit high for the summer. Our city view room was facing the street, and there was some noise from cars revving at night, but that's unavoidable if you're next to a main road. We were so tired we slept soundly, so it didn't really bother us. The location is excellent, not far from Gaya Street, and there's a large farmers market nearby along the coast, as well as Imago Shopping Mall.

The hotel facilities are a bit old, but the location is excellent. You're right on Tanjung Aru Beach as soon as you step downstairs, and the sunset views are absolutely stunning. The pool also has inflatable activities during certain times, which is great for kids. The poolside bar is pretty good too.

The staff friendliness is just amzing 10/10. Excellent Service.Our room had amazing view of the sea and opposite resort called Gayana. Dinner: Only Buffet option is available and its about RM167/person +taxes. The spread are fairly good and it is delicious. Though they do have 2 more different Restaurant in the island,Japanese and fine dining. Breakfast: Included in the room price. Menu changes daily. I have nothing to complaint about the room,for us its comfortable.All rooms have exactly the dane Designs the only difference is where it is located. You are paying for the view. Activities: For me I think 3 days 2 nights are perfect to spend your time here, swimming by the pool,kayaking,snorkling,Jungle trekking, visiting the private beach. 1 hour complimentary use of snorklinh masks. I like the public guests showers and towel provided.Very convinient. One thing that I would like to comment is the boat fees are relatively very expansive.15 mins speedboat per person one way cost about Rm80+taxes..Just return trip cost RM170++ per person. This is not even including island conservation fees and tourist fees. All this added fees makes the Hotel cost more expansive. Because a boat trip to nearby or same Island cost only Rm40. GAYANA ECO RESORT provided inclusive/complimentary return boat fees. I hope the Management can improve this because we as Guests are going to spend more money on F&B and at the Bar. Last but not least I would like to compliment the service and staffs in thsi Resort I think they did such an amazing job. Overalö the Resort is beautiful andclose to the nature.

Absolutely beautiful and incredibly picturesque! You can call for an electric golf cart to take you anywhere on the island. The scenery is stunning. After several days of island hopping and seeing various guesthouses, I can confidently say the sea view and amenities here are top-notch. It's definitely worth the price, and one night is simply not enough!