3-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

Room is clean and comfortable.walking distance to shopping mall and eateries..very convenient

I had an amazing experience at this hotel. The rooms were spotless and very comfortable, expect the toilet is sharing and it's very dirty!. The staff were friendly, helpful, and always ready to assist with anything I needed. The location was perfect, and the view from my room was absolutely stunning — one of the highlights of my stay. Everything about this hotel felt high-quality, and I would definitely come back again. Highly recommend!

Overall, it was great. The room was spacious, clean, and the facilities weren't outdated, offering excellent value for money at this price point. The only downside was the noise. The soundproofing between rooms and from the hallway was good, but the air conditioning was very loud. When I turned off the AC at night, the street noise from motorbikes was incredibly loud, so I had to wear earplugs every night to sleep. The upside is that it's very convenient to get everywhere – the pier, shopping malls, and restaurants are all easily accessible.

All good! We chose a room with plenty of single beds. There were 5 beds, haha, perfect for families, friends, or even a honeymoon. The room was really spacious too. Just a heads-up about the water heater, you can't adjust the temperature; the water gets super hot! You have to mix in cold water to get it lukewarm. Overall, it was great. There's a kettle and a water dispenser right outside the room door. And the views? Right at Mount Kinabalu itself!

This is a standard hotel with a doorman who helps open doors and carry luggage. The front desk staff are very welcoming. Check-in starts at 2:00 PM; early check-in incurs a half-day room charge. Across the street is a shopping mall with a McDonald's on the first floor, open until 2:00 AM, making dining very convenient. The mall also has many shopping and dining options. There's also an affordable large supermarket nearby. The beach is just a 2-minute walk away, which is incredibly convenient.

I rarely give such a bad review for a hotel, but I really have to get this off my chest. As soon as you step out of the elevator, the entire floor smells musty and damp. I guess it had been raining in Kota Kinabalu for a few days, so the water from guests' umbrellas and shoes got onto the carpet, making it smell really bad. I thought opening the room would be better. Of course, I knew I booked a windowless room, but I never expected a public restroom smell to hit me. The shower gel and shampoo in the bathroom were a 2-in-1... and as you can see from the pictures, it just looked unappealing. When I looked up while showering, I saw the moldy wall in picture three. The hardware was one thing, but the soft service wasn't good either. We got soaked from our island trip, and I called twice asking for more hangers, but no one bothered to respond. Later, I genuinely got angry and called them a third time, and they finally brought them over. Also, their hairdryer is wall-mounted, which is very inconvenient, especially for an island hotel where you often need to dry clothes. I asked if they had a portable hairdryer, and they said they'd check, but then never got back to me. The service was absolutely terrible. The only convenient thing is that it's a two-minute walk from Gaya Street. Other than that, there's really nothing... You decide for yourselves.

It's a little out of town but I chose it for the close proximity to the beach and swimming ,which is about a 10min walk from the hotel. There are street food and drinks stalls available from about 3pm . Tanjung Aru beach is beautiful, uncrowded and the beach shelves away gently making it a safe swimming area. However, the beach had rubbish washed up and maintenance isn't a priority I guess. I swam everyday and didn't get sick ,that's a bonus. The room ( the whole place)was tired looking, it could do with a lick of paint and maintenance. Room was clean when I got there but I strongly doubt it was cleaned in the entire time I was there for five days. Often had to ask for toilet paper , shampoo and shower gel , and coffee sachets etc ,basics to be stocked whenever housekeeping does their cleaning. Air con worked for me although the settings couldn't be altered ! The bed springs creak and you feel the springs when you sit on the bed but I slept ok only because I was usually exhausted from the day's activities . The beds and mattresses definitely need renewing though. The fridge was mouldy and smelly , what a blooming shame : / The safe was broken - hallelujah! I kept my room door locked at all times only because Reception staff hardly looked up to see who comes and goes- they sit very low,almost out of view at their front desk. I wasn't convinced about their perception of safety especially as I'm a solo female traveller and I need to be alert and take great caution. Casuarina Hotel are you taking note? Reception is helpful but that depends who is present. Lifts work fine without too much of a wait. The cafe on ground level serves an American breakfast but I couldn't tell you whether that's worth your while. It looked like Mary Celeste everytime I peeped in there so wasn't convinced about getting fed or a service. Therefore, I had fruit and snacks as standby .. There's a lovely restaurant a few yards from the hotel called the Yolo Seafood Restaurant which tends to open from 11.30am- delicious and inexpensive with friendly staff. Grab taxi fare to city centre varies from MYR 7- 25 Ringgit ,the higher tariff if returning during commuter rush hours from city centre which is a 15- 25 min ride . Would I stay here again ? I would actually knowing all its idiosyncrasis compared to so many awful or simplly mediocre accommodation charging an arm and a leg , I think Casuarina is just ok . Value for money? I don't think so .

This resort is truly beautiful — scenic, clean and affordable. The surroundings are stunning and the rooms are well-maintained. However, there were several service issues that affected our overall experience. 1. Boat pick up was said to be 1.30pm. We were made to wait on the boat for almost 30 minutes because the resort manager had gone to town to buy supplies. The transfer only proceeded after I complained to the service manager. Shouldn’t the boat came earlier if u need to buy supplies?? 2. Upon arrival at the resort, we had to wait again for check-in, even though ours was the only boat arriving and there were only four rooms to be checked in. 3. Dinner was scheduled from 7-8 PM. When we arrived at the café at around 7:30 PM, only rice and chicken were left. The vegetables and prawns had already run out. When I requested a fried egg as a replacement, I was offered clams instead. It should’t be an excuse if other customers took too much food or we came late. 7.30pm is not late. You shd manage the food serving, it was not ur 1st week of business. 4. Breakfast was scheduled from 7-8AM. We arrived at 7:20 AM, but breakfast was not ready yet. Once the food was served, guests had to queue (this is fine) but by the time it was our turn, the eggs and chicken were already finished. I had to personally knock the kitchen to inform before the food was replenished. 5. Trip.com stated that check-out time was 11:00 AM, but the front desk informed us that check-out was at 10:00 AM. Only after I pointed out the booking details was I allowed to check out at 11:00 AM. Belief they wants more ample time to tidy up the rooms at the cost of the customers. Other area that improve:- 1. When I contacted the receptionist via WhatsApp regarding a booking modification, the responses were not particularly friendly or accommodating. A more customer-oriented approach would greatly improve the guest experience. 2. The receptionist’s appearance and presentation did not seem professional. Throughout my stay, she was dressed very casually, resembling sleepwear, and I initially assumed she was part of the housekeeping team rather than the front desk staff. Overall, the resort has great potential due to its beautiful setting, cleanliness, and affordability. With improvements in service standards, communication, and guest management, it could provide a much better experience for visitors.

The Lighthouse Hotel Semporna boasts an excellent location, directly facing the jetty for boat excursions. It's within walking distance of island hopping meeting points and seafood restaurants, making it incredibly convenient for getting around and finding food. Opened in 2023, the rooms are spacious and clean, with separate wet and dry areas in the bathroom. The rooftop pool offers sea views, and the overall environment is quiet and peaceful. The front desk service is thoughtful, and they support WeChat communication, offering great value for money. The only downsides are that the breakfast selection is simple and the facilities are quite basic. If you're looking for a luxurious experience, you might want to consider other options. However, it's perfect for travelers primarily focused on island hopping who prioritize convenient accommodation.

first is the floor, it is sticky, it is sticky in the room and also at the gathering or public area where we take our meals. Next is the issue with the toilet, the shower head is broken, it's leaking and the water is too strong and thin, it is hurting me when i try to bathe. Thirdly, the floor mat is dirty and too thin, it is not absorbing water as it should. Fourth, the floor also has a lot of dust and sand. Fifth, the hotel does not have enough electrical plug, we only have two plugs and it is on the most left of the bed, it is better if it is in the middle of both beds. Sixth, the air conditioner is too weak for a room with 3 people, it is hot even at night. Seventh, the music is too loud, i cannot even rest properly at night, you can prepare earplugs at least. Eighth, the gathering or public area is too hot because there is no fan, please prepare some ceiling fans so guests can dine properly. Ninth, should have a table for a big room at least. the floor is wide enough, but it is so dirty that we do not dare to sit on the floor to play games or cards, we also do not want to play games or cards at the gathering or public area because it is too hot and loud. Tenth, rubbish in the sea or hotel area, i saw a huge pile of rubbish such as bottled water, food container, plastic bag just floating in the sea in the resort. Here are some good things about the hotel, first, very nice scenery, the water is nice and clean in the morning. Secondly, the balcony area for each room is nice because we can look at the scenery while sitting on the chair and resting. Thirdly, the staff is very friendly and very responsible, they do their work fast, they carry our luggage, refill food fast, and are very nice. Fourthly, the overall atmosphere of the hotel is very comfortable. Fifth, the food is ok, breakfast is ok, it is not the best but it is edible, the dinner is the best, and the seafood is a very nice touch. Sixth, we can dry our wet cloth on the balcony too. Overall i give it a 2 out of 5 stars. The price of your hotel does not match the pros and cons of your hotel. I would not want to stay in the hotel another day if the problems still stay the same. Please do your best to improve better. This is my honest review as a Malaysian.