Cheap Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

"Refurbished hotel. Located at sea front and near to airport and Jetty. Walkable to hypermarket and popular shopping mall, Imago. Nearby got night eateries by waterfront. Behind hotel has shops with laundry services. Service is friendly and responsive. Value for money. Con only is parking is chargeable at RM5 per day and room lights panel can be confusing."

"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."

"🏨Location Located in the suburbs of Kota Kinabalu, it's about an hour's drive from the airport or city center, with a Grab ride costing over 70 MYR. The beach is incredibly vast, though a bit far from the hotel itself. The sand is quite fine, and the sunsets are beautiful. 🛌Facilities The hotel was renovated in 2015, and being by the sea, the decor and facilities are naturally a bit dated, but still acceptable. The basic room type includes a sunken living area with a sofa bed, which is very convenient for families with children. The bathroom is small and has no bathtub. The bedding can feel a bit damp, a common issue with beachfront hotels. The balcony offers a slight sea view. Overall, it's decent and better than expected. 🛝Activities This hotel truly excels in its wide range of activities (Images 13-15), available daily, some free and some paid. The various hiking options are quite interesting, though a bit pricey. Additionally, the hotel has a large Kids Club that offers childcare. There are also many children's play facilities on the lawn, and the two swimming pools have water slides, making it perfect for young children transitioning to school. Next to the lobby, there's a Game Area with various board games, a pool table, and a table tennis table. The hotel also boasts an 18-hole golf course, ensuring you won't get bored even without kids. 🍝Dining The biggest drawback of this hotel is its dining options. Being in the suburbs, there aren't many restaurants nearby, and the hotel's own restaurants are naturally expensive and not very good. Our Grab driver recommended a restaurant called Da Di, about 3 km away. The seafood there was incredibly fresh; the chili crab and deep-fried marbled goby were excellent, though a bit pricey. You can also order food delivery via Grab, so staying for two or three nights is perfectly fine. Breakfast is also quite extensive. 💁Service All the services expected of a five-star hotel are provided. The only uncomfortable part was the front desk staff's persistent attempts to upsell room upgrades during check-in. Other than that, there were no issues, and most of the staff were very warm and attentive. Overall, the experience was quite good. The minor flaws don't overshadow its merits, and it offers great value for money. Friends visiting Sabah should definitely give it a try!"

"Had a great stay at Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu. The room was modern, clean, and comfortable, with a nice and cozy atmosphere. The location is excellent, with plenty of restaurants, cafes, and attractions within easy reach. The staff were friendly and helpful, making the stay even more enjoyable. Overall, a great choice for both business and leisure trips. Comfortable, convenient, and well worth considering when staying in Kota Kinabalu. I would definitely stay here again."

"Rating: 4/5 We had a really pleasant stay at Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel is known for its calm and peaceful nature, and it really delivers on that. Perfect for couples who enjoy quiet and greenery. *What we loved:* - *Rooms & Ambience*: The corridors and rooms were super clean, serene, and well-kept. Beds were very comfortable. - *Facilities*: Toilet, vanity area, and iron board were all nicely set up on day 1. - *Location & Views*: The private beach, sunset views, and wind by the sea were absolutely beautiful. So peaceful. - *Staff*: The staff who attended to us were really nice and tried to help quickly. *Areas to improve:* - *Bathroom drainage*: After showering, the water was stagnant because of uneven flooring. We had to manually push the water out, which was a bit unpleasant. - *Housekeeping*: On the second day, the toilet wasn’t fully cleaned and disposable items like toothbrushes weren’t replenished. We had to call to request them. - *Breakfast*: Good variety overall, but some food was cold/dry and basic condiments like butter were missing. I understand the hotel is under new management so hopefully this gets sorted. - *Room service*: It would help to have 24-hour service as some rooms are quite far. Overall, we really liked the hotel and would recommend it for its peace and views. Just hope management works on the small details above. A quick apology/acknowledgement from staff would also go a long way. Would stay again!"

"On my first day in Kota Kinabalu, I opted for the reliable chain hotel, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. Booking it for less than 800 (Malaysian Ringgit, I assume) before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the value for money was excellent. The front desk offered both Chinese and English services. I particularly liked Xiao Lin at the front desk; she was very attentive and provided service in Mandarin. Our flight landed quite early, and I didn't expect to be able to check in before 3:00 PM, but since the hotel had available rooms, they kindly arranged a twin room at the same price for us. I was thrilled to have a place to rest and change clothes early. The hotel's location is super convenient. Gaya Street is just a 6-8 minute walk away, and there's a shopping mall directly opposite with plenty of food and necessities. Walking a bit further back, you reach the seaside. The rooftop pool offers great mountain views for photos. The weather wasn't good during our stay, so the sea view wasn't that impressive. The bar operates until 12:00 AM, and the drinks were decent, though certainly not comparable to bars in Shanghai. Overall, I'm very satisfied with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu! 👍"

"We had a wonderful stay at The Magellan Sutera Resort. A special thank you to Mahera, who provided us with excellent service throughout our stay. She was very friendly, helpful, attentive, and always had a warm smile. Her thoughtful service made us feel very welcome and comfortable. We truly appreciated her kindness and professionalism. Thank you, Mahera, for making our stay so enjoyable and memorable. You are an excellent staff member and a great asset to the resort! Highly recommended! We will definitely come back again!"

"We booked a room that was renovated in 2025, so it was very new. It was on the first floor and had a garden. The hotel breakfast wasn't great, but the hotel itself was massive and very quiet, like a hidden paradise. It was incredibly relaxing, and we even saw some small animals and kittens occasionally. The hotel also has a spa, which I highly recommend. The ambiance and music were super therapeutic, and the masseuses had excellent techniques. I'd definitely consider this hotel again for my next trip to Kota Kinabalu. It's about a 40-minute drive from the city center, and a taxi costs around 35-50 Malaysian Ringgit."

"The location is convenient, and the hotel provides free parking, which is a plus. However, there are several areas that could be improved. The hotel does not provide complimentary bottled water. Instead, guests are expected to refill drinking water from a water filter located inside the bathroom. While I understand the effort to reduce plastic waste, it feels rather odd and uncomfortable to get drinking water from the bathroom. The bed was also quite firm, and the mattress protector was not properly fitted, making the bed feel untidy. In addition, the towels still had the “Shangri-La” branding. I understand this property was previously a Shangri-La hotel, but seeing towels with the old branding gives the impression that they have not been replaced for a very long time. The breakfast was another disappointment, with very limited choices compared to hotels in a similar price range. Overall, the hotel has a good location and free parking, but the room comfort, amenities, and breakfast could be significantly improved."

"Had a very pleasant and enjoyable stay. The overall experience was excellent, with friendly and attentive service provided throughout. The facilities were well-maintained, clean, and convenient, offering everything needed for a relaxing and comfortable experience. The food was also very good, with a wide variety of delicious dishes to choose from."