Homestays in Sabah, Malaysia

had a wonderful stay at Bay Suites. The room was clean, spacious, and very comfortable. The location is convenient, just a few minutes from the city centre, making it easy to visit nearby attractions and restaurants. I also enjoyed the beautiful sea view from the room. The check-in process was smooth, and the staff was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Overall, it was great value for money, and I would definitely stay here again when visiting Kota Kinabalu. Highly recommended!

Stayed in Nepenthes Suite. It’s close to many hiking trails in Kinabalu park and hence it’s in the midst of nature. You can go on trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Lots of birdwatching too. However one will need to rent a car or hire a driver to reach this place from KK city. And without a vehicle it’s difficult to explore the surrounding places. But if you are content to just relax and take walks in the park and enjoy nature this is a great place to stay. However the rooms are dated especially the pantry and bathroom. They encourage you to take breakfast later at 9am instead of 6.30 am. This is to avoid the rush hour when those climbing mt Kinabalu take breakfast before their ascent. However I found that some of the items were already no longer available and they were not replenished.

The location is quite convenient, and there is ample free parking available. The outdoor environment is pleasant, well-maintained, and clean, making it a nice place to relax. There is also a BBQ pit provided, although guests need to bring their own utensils and ingredients. One downside is that there is no refrigerator in the room. The bed makes some slight noise, but it is still acceptable for a short stay. The room also comes with a small balcony, which is great for enjoying the night view. Check-in and check-out are quick and hassle-free. An ironing board is available at the reception area, and a hairdryer can be borrowed upon request. Overall, considering the price, it offers very good value for money.

The hotel's location is really convenient. There's a seafood market right downstairs, and it's a short walk to the jetty and nearby restaurants. I especially have to praise the hot water – the water pressure is excellent, making for a really comfortable shower. It's so refreshing to take a hot shower after a long day out. Overall, it's great value for money, and I'll definitely choose to stay here again next time I'm in Semporna.

We had a wonderful stay at The Shore Apartment (Charis Seaview Suites) Kota Kinabalu. The unit was spotless, modern, and well-equipped — with everything from a comfy bed to a beautiful sea view and sunset that made evening extra special. The location is perfect — close to the market, the Pasar Filipina, wet market, shopping areas, and plenty of good food nearby. Check-in was smooth, and the host/staff were friendly and responsive throughout our stay. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a comfortable, convenient, and relaxing stay in the heart of KK. Would definitely return!

Every staff member at the front desk was warm and patient, and they pretty much met all our requests. Since our double room was too small, the owner even upgraded us to a triple room right next to the front desk. As two girls traveling, having the front desk right next door made us feel very secure. We didn't encounter any issues with dirtiness or messiness that other reviews mentioned; our stay was quite comfortable. The rooftop offers sea views and has tables and chairs, which was lovely for watching the sunset. There's also a washing machine – it's quite old-fashioned, but it washed clothes quickly and spun them very dry. The hotel's location is also convenient for getting to the pier.

We stayed there three nights. We had a family room. I couldn’t say it’s very clean, but it’s definitely not very dirty. It’s a rustic kind of stay. Staff was very helpful. Keen to help whenever we needed. We had laundry service, but quite expensive. So don’t bother. I think they said it’s done by outsider. Not many options for food. Didn’t see much at the jungle in front of our balcony. We had a snake visiting our bathroom. Quite scary. My partner threw it back into the jungle. They offer free transfers to and from orangutan and rainforest areas which was nice. Happy to recommend this place to anyone. It’s different from normal hotels.

Choosing Beanstalk Homestay for my Semporna trip was absolutely the right decision! The owner and staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, treating you like friends. Before I even arrived, they patiently answered all my questions and gave me tons of practical tips for island hopping and dining. While the room isn't luxurious, it's spotlessly clean, the AC works great, there's plenty of hot water, and the bedding is really comfortable. Getting a good night's sleep after a day of activities is so important. The service was the biggest plus! The seafood preparation prices were excellent, and the breakfast, though simple, was thoughtfully prepared – coffee, toast, and eggs, perfect for fueling up before heading out to sea. Next time I'm in Semporna, I'll definitely stay at Beanstalk Homestay again.

Overall, we had a pleasant stay and the staff were friendly and helpful. However, there was some hair left in the room when we checked in. The WiFi connection was very weak and kept disconnecting, making it difficult to use. We were also unable to turn on the TV during our stay. We hope these issues can be improved for future guests. Thank you for your hospitality.

My Semporna trip was full of pleasant surprises, and I absolutely have to rave about the overwater villa I stayed in! 😆 Before I left, I'd only booked a standard terraced room, but to my surprise, the owner upgraded us to a private standalone villa for free when we checked in! It worked out to only about 800 yuan a night for a private sea-view villa with its own terrace – what a steal! We were grinning from ear to ear the moment we stepped inside. Once we actually settled in, we didn't even feel like going out to sightsee. In the mornings, we'd just pull up a small chair on the terrace, feel the sea breeze, do some fishing with our feet dangling in the cool water, and just relax. It was so comfortable doing absolutely nothing. In the evenings, we'd sit on the terrace and watch the sunset paint the entire sea a fiery orange. And waking up, we'd see the sunrise emerge from the horizon right from our room. There's also a huge bathtub where you can soak and gaze at the sea – now *that's* a vacation! I have to give a special shout-out to the butler here; they were incredibly thoughtful. When we wanted to go sea fishing, they had bait ready for us in advance. When we wanted to go into town for food and shopping, we just mentioned it and a car was arranged to pick us up very quickly, no delays at all. Plus, when you look down from the overwater villa, you can clearly see all sorts of small fish swimming around in the sea. In the mornings, we even saw little crabs 'strolling' on our terrace. Feeding the fish breadcrumbs and just leisurely passing the morning was incredibly relaxing. This is absolutely the most satisfying overwater villa I've ever stayed in, hands down. If you're coming to Semporna, you really should consider this place! 👍