5-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

I saw a lot of negative reviews on Trip.com, and after coming here, I realized they weren't for nothing. Aside from the nice environment, the room itself was very ordinary. There's construction happening outside, so the 'sea view' room actually looks out onto a construction site. While they offered a 30% refund on the room rate, it doesn't really make up for it. The front desk staff provided good service, but the dining experience within the resort was another story. On our last day, it rained heavily, and we were dining in the hotel's garden. We asked to borrow an umbrella to get back to the hotel lobby, but none of the staff would lend us one. I can't believe such a large hotel wouldn't have a spare umbrella for guests. We ended up getting completely soaked! Overall, it was a very disappointing experience.

The water in the hotel's area is heavily polluted; it's so dirty that snorkeling is completely out of the question! The front desk staff were very perfunctory with guest requests and didn't follow through on promises. In the morning, we requested a private boat tour for island hopping and snorkeling. We discussed the time and itinerary with the dive center staff and finalized the price with the front desk. We even altered our subsequent travel plans for this. However, by 4 PM, we still hadn't received confirmation. When we called the front desk, they told us they couldn't arrange it. We asked several people, and got different explanations: first they said there were no boats, then that other guests had already been arranged for island hopping, and then that there would be a storm the next day (which turned out to be perfectly calm). I suggest the hotel improve its island hopping service. For those looking to dive, definitely don't consider this hotel! Also, the beach is incredibly tiny, barely palm-sized!

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

The hotel was very clean and comfortable! The breakfast had a great variety and was absolutely delicious to start the day. There were many shopping malls nearby and it was close to tourist attractions like the waterfront, which allowed us to make efficient use of our time. I'd definitely like to stay at this hotel again when I visit Kota Kinabalu.

Everything was perfect. Every staff member at the resort was incredibly welcoming and helpful, even the maintenance workers I passed on the paths greeted me warmly. The food in the restaurant was delicious, and breakfast was absolutely perfect – I couldn't find a single fault. The resort doesn't cut back on service or close facilities just because there are fewer guests, which is great. It was a perfect getaway, and I will definitely be returning.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a truly fantastic stay this time! Due to a typhoon, my flight schedule changed unexpectedly, but the hotel staff were all incredibly friendly and professional during my stay. They were also very willing to help us with all sorts of requests, which made us feel very at ease. The room was clean and comfortable, and the bed was excellent for sleeping. Housekeeping was impeccable every day. The infinity pool offered stunning views, especially the sunset, which was unforgettable. The gym was well-equipped, and the breakfast selection was extensive, with both local delicacies and Western dishes tasting delicious. The hotel's location is also very convenient. It's a short Grab ride to shopping malls, Gaya Street, and the waterfront, making it perfect for a trip to Kota Kinabalu. Although this trip ended up being extended by a few days due to the weather, it allowed us to enjoy the hotel's facilities and relaxed atmosphere even more. It actually became one of the most wonderful memories of the trip. I highly recommend staying here. I will definitely choose this place again on my next visit to Kota Kinabalu!

Sutera Harbour is truly a holiday paradise! It boasts a golf course, tennis courts, and even the trendy pickleball courts. It's a shame I don't play golf or tennis, and didn't even have time to play pickleball with my wife. The Pacific Sutera Hotel has its own small private beach where you can book sunset paddleboarding or go snorkeling (though the water isn't super clear). You can also walk (or take the mini-train) over to The Magellan Sutera Resort's smaller beach and pools. The hotel also has its own jetty, which is where all the tours to nearby islands like Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park depart from. Hotel guests can book these excursions and water activities directly at the jetty. My room didn't include breakfast, but I heard there's usually a queue. We ended up taking a taxi to the city center for dim sum, which was very convenient. I also heard the hotel has a sunset bar that's incredibly picturesque, but unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to experience it. Hopefully, I can come back again someday and just relax for a whole week!

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.

This village is all about beachfront holidays, and its pros and cons revolve around that. **Pros:** The private, secluded cabins offer unbeatable ocean views. You can lie on the terrace lounge chair at night, accompanied by the sound of waves and sea breeze, under a sky full of stars. During the day, various fish and birds keep you company. It's a diving resort, with both scuba diving and snorkeling available. I heard the diving is good, but I didn't try scuba. The snorkeling right off the beach near the village entrance wasn't great. So, we hired a private boat to go snorkeling elsewhere, which was excellent; we saw multiple sea turtles. **Cons:** What made it great also made it less so. The cabin is drafty on all four sides, and the air conditioning is really weak and blows directly onto the bed, almost making me sick. However, it was still better than opening the windows. The ocean waves in the morning were definitely louder than a bus downstairs. The most bizarre thing was that only the terrace had curtains; the rest of the cabin didn't. So, the morning sun shone directly onto the head of the bed, which I guess is due to its orientation. These are points where opinions might differ. Most frustratingly, aside from scuba diving and snorkeling, there are no other entertainment options in the village. Under the tropical sun, everyone just retreats to their rooms. Plus, scuba and snorkeling are handled at separate locations. I have to complain about the somewhat old facilities. You can see sea fish through the gaps in the wooden floorboards. The bathroom had various issues: the toilet needed two flushes (and I, being an engineer, still can't figure out why), the overhead shower only produced about a third of its normal water flow, with the rest squirting out horizontally onto the partition. Luckily, there was a handheld shower that worked for one day. The next evening, the handle broke off when I tried to turn it on, and water started gushing out. So, two security guards came, both claiming they were just security. The last time, around 11 PM, I was already in bed when three people arrived, again stating they'd fix it tomorrow. The next day, both showers were repaired... The food was... edible, I guess. In short, this village is a matter of personal taste.

We booked the Hyatt on the spur of the moment after a terrible night's sleep at the Greenleaf Hotel. We checked out of Greenleaf at 1 AM and forfeited the remaining night's stay just to get to Hyatt Centric. As soon as we arrived at the Hyatt, we felt completely revived. The front desk staff were incredibly friendly and some even spoke basic Chinese, which was a huge plus for us. What really stood out was that they let us check in around 10 AM, as soon as a room was available, instead of making us wait until the rigid 2 or 3 PM check-in time. The high-ceilinged lobby was wonderfully airy, and sitting at the sunset bar on the top floor, sipping drinks and enjoying the sea view, completely washed away the fatigue of a sleepless night. We grew very fond of Hyatt Centric, staying for three consecutive nights, and had an excellent experience throughout. The breakfast was lavish, and there was even an à la carte menu available. The last four photos are a comparison with the other hotel. I believe that in a foreign country, the most important thing a hotel can offer is a feeling of being at home and a sense of closeness, and the Hyatt absolutely delivered! The layout was comfortable, and the service was attentive. So, if I ever return to Kota Kinabalu, it will definitely be for Hyatt Centric and the seafood!