Anyu Pool Villa Resort

The room was quite clean, and all the toiletries were well-stocked, including mineral water, toothbrushes, and a hairdryer. Many other hotels or guesthouses here don't offer these amenities. What really stood out was the abundance of hangers in the room, about twenty of them. We never had to worry about running out of hangers, even for all the clothes we washed daily. The best part was the swimming pool; it was incredibly clean and rarely crowded. Perhaps people were too tired from playing in the sea to go to the pool. We practically had the pool to ourselves every evening, which was fantastic. Another plus was the breakfast. While it's not quite up to par with boutique hotels back home, it's a great convenience for guests who need to catch an early ferry. Having food readily available downstairs was a lifesaver. And that tea they served every day – I don't know what it was, but it was delicious!

Overall, it's pretty good. The only downside is that it takes about half an hour to walk to the pier. Other than that, everything was great. The hygiene was good, and the service from the staff was also good. Just a heads up, there's no airport shuttle service.

The hotel environment was really bad. The room was tiny, and the bed didn't seem very clean. The swimming pool was also extremely small and the water looked dirty. I have no idea where all the good reviews came from.

Pros: Very clean, excellent hygiene, and quiet at night. We originally booked a triple room, but the owner upgraded us to a quad, which was a good size and suitable for families. The owner also recommended an island hopping tour, and the snorkeling instructor assigned to us was very good. Cons: It's a bit far from the seafood market and somewhat secluded, but we used Grab for all our travel, costing between 6-10 Malaysian Ringgit. The soundproofing of the door could be better. It seems like the area has insufficient voltage, as we experienced a power outage for several hours one evening. On a side note, there were a few friendly cats in the yard, so we bought some cat food from a local store in town to feed them. 😁

Clean and tidy with hot water! There's also a place to hang clothes, which is super convenient for drying them in the yard after snorkeling. Plus, a cute little cat came to join me for breakfast~

Let's start with the downsides: terrible, absolutely terrible. The room was ridiculously small, with only one nightstand and not even a stool. I had to unpack my luggage on the floor or spread it out on the bed. The surrounding environment was awful. Coming back to the hotel at night involved walking down a very dark path lined with grass on both sides. I'm not sure if there's a landfill nearby or what, but there was a constant foul smell wafting through the courtyard. Breakfast was also very poor – some stir-fried dishes, soy-sauce-colored noodles, and eggs. Mixed with the distant stench, it instantly ruined my appetite. They claimed to have a Chinese butler, but it was actually an online service. On the first day, I was greeted by a local staff member who spoke English. It seems like several guesthouses are clustered together within a single compound, then divided into individual courtyards. The compound is surrounded by weeds, and beyond that, a smelly ditch. At night, huge rats were scurrying around in that ditch – I haven't seen rats that big in ages. The surroundings honestly made me feel like I was in India. On the plus side: it was clean and very close to the tourist pier.

The room was very clean and tidy. The proprietress is Chinese, a lovely 'big sister' from Northeast China who is very welcoming. This hotel has all the standard amenities you'd expect from a hotel back home. I genuinely recommend it, especially since communication is a breeze. It's definitely worth recommending for anyone visiting Semporna.

The room was clean, tidy, and odorless, making it cozy and comfortable. The environment was great, and the owner and hostess were warm and friendly. The Chinese breakfast was delicious and perfectly suited to a Chinese palate. They even helped me carry my luggage to the second floor, which was incredibly thoughtful. It felt just like coming home, even while being abroad.

Great value for money! The hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the pier, which makes it very convenient for island hopping. There are also convenience stores nearby. Plus, it's only about a 10-minute walk to the seafood market. The owner is a very straightforward and friendly guy from Northeast China. We even bought some seafood ourselves and the hotel was able to cook it for us. I'll definitely recommend this place to my friends when they visit next time.