MMARINARVWe had previously stayed at a hotel from the same chain in Vietnam and absolutely loved the spacious rooms, which were well-renovated with high-quality materials. So, when we arrived in Kota Kinabalu and checked into our two-room apartment, I was quite shocked. The rooms here were small. It was a tight squeeze for two adults and a child, and we even struggled to hang up our clothes as there was hardly any wardrobe space, and the hangers provided weren't enough for three people. We approached the hotel management to request an upgrade. I must say, the reception staff were very responsive and accommodating to all our requests (they provided umbrellas when it rained, got us ham and sausage for breakfast when we asked, delivered bathrobes to the room, and arranged extra cleaning – everything was done immediately upon request). It turned out there were simply no larger rooms owned by the hotel, even though bigger rooms with sea views, balconies, and verandas do exist in the middle of the building, but they belong to private owners. We understood that the hotel is split into two parts: Citadines Waterfront and The Shore (with many private landlords), meaning the hotel only owns a portion of the rooms. So, in short, we had to live in cramped conditions for five days.
The location, in terms of infrastructure, isn't bad. It's a 10-13 minute walk to the port from where you can take a boat to the islands independently. Directly opposite are fresh seafood and fruit markets where you can not only buy anything your heart (and stomach) desires but also have your purchases cooked for an extra fee. The views from the hotel are beautiful, and the pool is very stylish (though it's designed for a limited number of guests). Breakfast, like in most Asian hotels, is a bit repetitive, but you won't leave hungry. Kota Kinabalu isn't a resort town but a port city, so don't expect too much in terms of scenic views or tourist infrastructure (it's more of a transit point on the way to somewhere else). I'll only share the most beautiful views. And once again, a big thank you to the staff; if it weren't for their attentiveness, our overall impression wouldn't have been as positive.
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