5-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

Family trip: Booked a pool view room and got upgraded to a sea view room. The room was spacious with plenty of spots to hang wet clothes, which was very convenient after swimming, island hopping, and snorkeling. The hotel has its own pier, making island hopping easy, although it's a bit pricier. If you're traveling with kids and are concerned about primitive facilities on the islands, the hotel's direct round-trip option is quick and convenient. There's a simple water park and a pool where kids can play for a long time. They also provide two buckets of water balloons (5 per bucket) for the water war activity each day, free of charge. The hotel offers a variety of activities as well. We joined the 'Green Tour,' where staff took us to a herb garden to learn about and taste tropical plants, and to the Clownfish Discovery Center to touch starfish and sea cucumbers and feed clownfish. The kids absolutely loved it! Requests for water or other services were also handled very promptly.

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!

📍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!

The location is excellent, just a 5-minute walk to Gaya Street, and several popular 'influencer' restaurants are also within walking distance. I didn't book a sea-view room, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the popular mural was right outside my window. The sea view from the breakfast restaurant is also great, perfect for just relaxing and gazing at the ocean. The facilities are a bit old, but well-maintained.

The environment is quite good, with spacious public areas and a pier nearby. There was a very patient Chinese-speaking lady at the front desk. There were two downsides. Firstly, the trendy room type I originally booked wasn't available, perhaps because we checked in late. They upgraded us to an executive room, but it didn't have the photogenic terrace, which was a bit disappointing. Secondly, on the evening of our second consecutive night, our room key card stopped working. It was very inconvenient late at night, and it took a long time to go back down to the lobby. There was no compensation for this either.

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.

100% views and service here! Would like to specially give thanks to Nigel who has greatly assisted us during the check-in process as well as being so welcoming. Loved his recommendations. Apart from this, the cleanliness here is superb and breakfast has a large variety as well. Dinner at the lounge differs daily which is fantastic. Would definitely return again.

The hotel facilities are a bit dated, but we booked a sea-view room on the 10th floor and the view was absolutely stunning. The breakfast was quite good for us Chinese guests, and the kids enjoyed it too. The hotel's location is very convenient, close to the pier which makes going out to sea really easy. The swimming pool is quite unique and kid-friendly. The hotel beach is relatively small. Even though the hotel is close to the airport, we didn't hear any noise from planes taking off or landing, so the soundproofing is excellent. Overall, it's a good stay with high value for money!

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.

The Kapalai Dive Resort in Semporna is an absolutely worthwhile island getaway experience, exceeding all expectations for my stay. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a slow-paced island vacation with water activities and relaxation. Getting there is easy: you take a dedicated speedboat from the Semporna town jetty, which takes about an hour. Along the way, you can enjoy the vast blue sea and sky, watching the water change from a murky near-shore to a clear, Tiffany blue. The scenery is delightful, making the journey anything but boring. The entire check-in process upon arrival at the island was smooth, with staff helping to transfer luggage so I didn't have to worry about carrying it myself. Both getting on and off the boat were hassle-free. The resort is built within a marine ecological conservation area, and the marine ecosystem is very well protected, without excessive development. The water is crystal clear, and the underwater environment is perfectly preserved. The entire sea area boasts excellent visibility, allowing you to encounter large schools of fish, starfish, and various tropical fish just by stepping out into the sea – no need to venture far! A casual snorkel yields endless surprises, and the pristine marine atmosphere is simply incredible. The resort operates on an all-inclusive basis, covering all accommodation and meals, so there's no need for extra spending once you're on the island, which made planning the trip incredibly convenient. Three meals a day are consistently provided, with a rich variety of dishes that balance Southeast Asian flavors with home-style cooking. The ingredients are fresh, ensuring you can eat well and replenish energy spent on water activities. Beverages and light meals are also available, so you can grab a snack whenever you're hungry, significantly enhancing the vacation experience. Life here is simple yet restorative, a joyful cycle every day. After waking up in the morning, I'd leisurely head to the restaurant for breakfast. After eating my fill, I'd change into swimwear and take the shuttle to the designated jetty at the dive center for snorkeling or diving, getting up close with schools of fish and embracing the ocean. After playing to my heart's content, I'd return to the overwater bungalow to rinse off and rest. After a short break, it was time for lunch and afternoon tea. Refreshed, I'd head back into the water for more fun, followed by a delicious dinner in the evening. This infinite loop of eating, going into the sea, and resting allowed me to escape the city's hustle and bustle, with no pressure to stick to a schedule, completely relaxing my mind and body. The overwater bungalows are fully equipped, with breathtaking sea views right outside the door. You can also see a sky full of stars and colorful rainbows 🌈. The entire island is quiet and peaceful, with only the sounds of the sea breeze and waves. The pace is slow, making it perfect for both diving enthusiasts and those simply looking to completely unwind. The whole trip was easy and comfortable, a truly restorative and unforgettable island experience.