Stanton Gaya Hotel

This was the first hotel we stayed at upon arriving in Kota Kinabalu, and the overall experience was fantastic! The transportation was incredibly convenient, and there were plenty of dining, entertainment, and shopping options right downstairs. The staff were friendly, warm, and provided meticulous and thoughtful service. After check-out, they even thoughtfully offered free luggage storage, which really solved a problem for us. The room was neat and clean, and the hygiene was excellent. It's definitely a worthwhile choice for anyone traveling to Kota Kinabalu!

The triple room was tiny! Soundproofing wasn't great, but the location is excellent. There's a restaurant downstairs, and it's very close to Gaya Street! The hotel reception staff were very nice and friendly.

The room was too small and the soundproofing was poor. Aside from the good location, I wouldn't recommend it.

Excellent location! Downstairs, you'll find Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh and Ah Yen, and Suria Sabah Shopping Mall is just a short walk away. It's super convenient to get anywhere. There's a bank near the entrance where you can withdraw cash without any fees! Plus, they offer free luggage storage! The only downside is the poor soundproofing in the rooms; you can hear doors opening next door.

The front desk staff speaks Chinese and are incredibly friendly and helpful. You can even add them on WeChat for communication. The room size is just right – not too big, not too small – and feels very secure for two people. The location is excellent, making it super convenient for shopping and grabbing breakfast. The soundproofing isn't great; you can hear conversations from the next room and the hallway. I'd recommend bringing earplugs.

I originally booked this as a transit hotel for one night based on recommendations from Xiaohongshu, but it turned out to be terrible. The room was tiny, and the wall-mounted air conditioner blew directly onto the bed. On top of that, the first room I was given tripped a circuit breaker, and after a long time trying to fix it, I had to switch rooms. I arrived late on a night flight, so having to deal with all that meant I didn't get to sleep until much later. The next morning, I quickly checked out and moved to the Shangri-La. I strongly, strongly, *strongly* do not recommend this hotel if you're traveling with children. One upside: it's located in the old town, and right downstairs there are various recommended eateries, all within a 5-minute walk.

The room isn't huge, but it's perfectly adequate, and it even has a fridge, which was a first among the three places I stayed. The location is excellent – there's a Gaya Street market downstairs, a Bak Kut Teh place directly opposite, and a durian stall. The weekend morning and night markets are just behind, and island hopping tours are very close by. It exceeded my expectations; it was fantastic. If I ever go back to Kota Kinabalu, I'll definitely stay here again.