Hemingway Cottage Reviews

The room wasn't very clean; we found stains on the towels and bedding. Also, the hallway lights outside didn't turn off until early morning.

The hotel is a bit out of the main town, so it's relatively quiet at night. However, I wouldn't complain if I could have gotten a good night's sleep, but with a giant cockroach, spiders, and a small gecko in the room, that was impossible. Additionally, the curtains didn't block out much light, and the window faced directly onto the corridor, where the lights were on all night.

The room was incredibly spacious and offered excellent value for money. The only drawback is that the area is a bit secluded. Recommended!

Please manage your expectations whenever you are here in Semporna

The room was spacious and very clean, and the staff were friendly.

All in all, I'd say it offers excellent value for money. Getting a taxi was incredibly easy, with no issues at all. The place is relatively quiet. Cleanliness was just average – not bad, but certainly not exceptional. You might want to consider bringing your own travel bed liner for hygiene.

Nothing to say

While it's a little far from the beach, Grab taxis make getting around quite convenient. The hotel itself has a really lovely ambiance.

The room is well-equipped.

The price is reasonable.

First, the environment is average, but compared to accommodations in town, it might be better. I picked this room out of a one-day stay. Sigh, if you have more money, you should stay at Ruijing Haifeng. I think a water bungalow is enough for one day, as the island is a bit boring. The room was infested with ants and bugs. Besides the bed, a nightstand, a footstand, a clothes drying rack, and a half-length mirror, there were no amenities. There was no wardrobe, so we had to leave our bags on the floor. Our room was like this on the first floor, not sure about the second floor. As for the service, I met a Chinese-speaking lady who was incredibly helpful. We borrowed her kitchen that day. We had to pay a 30 MYR fee and a 50 MYR deposit, which was non-refundable if not cleaned properly. However, when we used it, we found the pots and pans unwashed. After we told her, she arranged for them to be washed. P.S., they weren't cleaned properly, so we washed them again ourselves. There was also a litter of kittens under the stove. There was nothing we could do. We had already bought everything, so we had to cook. The seasonings in the kitchen were their leftovers, so if they had any, we could use them. If they didn't, we had to buy them, which was very troublesome. Cooking for a short stay is not recommended. We bought a lot of seafood, which was processed on the first day. The second day, we bought more, and the processing fee was very expensive, so we chose to cook it ourselves. After cleaning, another person came to inspect the room and return the deposit. Here's the kicker: this person was the one who checked me in, and he had a terrible attitude. He acted like I owed him money and gave me a cold shoulder. During the inspection, he was also dissatisfied with the fact that we didn't put the dishcloths in the right place. He also checked the refrigerator and other things, which we didn't even use. If we had been so careful, would the pots and dishes still be left unwashed after we used them? As for the distance, it's about 2 kilometers from town, so you need a taxi. The cottage doesn't offer a shuttle service, but it's only a few Malaysian ringgits. However, you have to call ahead, and there's a long wait on the way. You need to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early, otherwise you might be late for your island hopping trip. It rained heavily on our last day, and even though we called ahead, we still had to wait a long time. There was also traffic. Luckily, the travel agency kept calling us and said the boat was waiting. Finally, I booked for the 25th-28th. They emailed me on the 24th, while I was still in Bangkok, saying they had no rooms and asked me to check in on the 26th. Oh my god! I booked a month in advance, and when they told me they had no rooms, they said they'd raised the price and had to give it to someone else. I flatly declined. Otherwise, how would I find a place to stay in Semporna during peak season? Semporna is already run-down, and the rooms are not good (mainly because they're too expensive to stay in, haha). Luckily, I booked through a domestic platform, and they sent me a direct message. Then I contacted Ctrip customer service to communicate with me. Fortunately, I didn't try to save money and book on Airbnb. It would have been more than 100, nearly 200, which was a big saving. I was afraid that if something went wrong, I couldn't find the customer service, so I just regarded it as buying insurance. Later, I continued to check in on the 25th, but the experience was not good. The price is here, but I think they are all about the same. When you come to Semporna, you must bring a disposable four-piece set. With this, it doesn't matter where you stay. It's more convenient to stay in town. If I go again next time, I will not choose here. I took a photo when I took a taxi and sent it to the driver. I didn't take any other photos. This is the check-in room. The house we stayed in is on the right. Please note that you have to take off your shoes to check in. You can store your luggage. I hope it can help friends who are going to play in the future. Semporna island hopping is really fun and beautiful. I can't swim but I also went scuba diving. It's great. The above

50 MYR deposit; the dark and thin lady at the front desk had a terrible service attitude; the first night was on the first floor, and the room was covered with ants, flying ants, spiders, and geckos. Ants crawled all over the table and toilet walls; the next few nights were on the second floor, and the toilet door was broken and couldn't be closed. The sewer smelled so bad that I couldn't sleep at night; at night, bugs crawled onto the bed, and my whole family was bitten and it itched like hell.

This was my second time in Semporna, and choosing this hotel was a mistake. Service: mediocre Facilities: Ants and bugs Cleanliness: Damp Environment: Only those who have stayed here know I left with all my belongings.

I am really satisfied with the environment of the room. Because the room faces the garden, there are some bugs outside, so the door gap is taped to prevent the bugs from getting in. You can smoke as soon as you go out the door. But there is no kettle, and you have to go to the kitchen water dispenser to get water. Although it is close to the roadside, it is in the suburbs and is quite quiet at night. A deposit is required. I didn't have 100 Malaysian ringgits at the time, so I could use RMB, but I received two.