Set amidst a nature reserve, the hotel enchants endlessly with its natural magic.
Summary of reviews
Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu is a luxurious five-star hotel with exceptional service, facilities and food. The hotel is situated in a stunning location within a nature reserve with easy access to the beach, making it perfect for those seeking privacy and relaxation. Guests rave about the great breakfast, delicious buffet and unlimited options available at the Oceana Restaurant. The hotel offers a variety of room options for families and couples alike with spacious and well-appointed rooms. The staff go above and beyond to ensure their guests have an unforgettable experience with many guests praising the friendly and warm staff. The spa and pool are major highlights for guests with the pool featuring a water slide perfect for families with children. The hotel is also a great family-friendly resort with plenty of activities for kids. For a romantic getaway, guests can book a room in the Ocean Wing and enjoy the spa on their own private balcony. Despite some negative comments about the need for refurbishing and the food not being up to Shangri-La's five-star standards, the overall experience was excellent. Overall, Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu is a fantastic hotel that provides an extraordinary experience for its guests.
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu is a luxurious 5-star hotel with an amazing location by a private beach and stunning ocean views. Guests love the strategic location and wonderful sunset views from the beach and sunset bar. The breakfast buffet is praised for its vast selection of local and international cuisines, fresh juices and good food selection. The hotel's staff is described as super nice, friendly, helpful, kind, accommodating and welcoming. The pool area is a true highlight of the hotel with an infinity pool offering a breathtaking view of the sea. The hotel is perfect for families with children with excellent amenities, including an enormous pool with water slides, game options, kids' playrooms and a kids' club. The beds are comfortable, providing a restful night's sleep. While some parts of the hotel may appear outdated, guests rave about the fantastic facilities that cater to kids, especially the pool with water slides. Overall, the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru is an excellent and truly 5-star experience, perfect for a luxurious stay by the beach.
Sabah Hotel stands out for its prime location that harmonizes convenience with tranquility. Situated next to a lush rainforest, the hotel offers serene surroundings and scenic views from the balcony rooms. Proximity to town, easy transport links and closeness to key attractions like Agnes Keith House and Sepilok Nature Reserve highlight its strategic positioning. The hotel's setting is appreciated for its quiet ambience and well-maintained premises, making it a popular choice for visitors seeking both relaxation and accessibility.
Breakfast at Sabah Hotel is largely favorable, featuring a comprehensive spread of Western and local dishes, an egg station, fresh fruit and beverages. Although some guests noted a need for more diverse options, especially for those with dietary restrictions, the reviewers generally enjoyed the extensive and tasty buffet offerings. Similarly, the hotel's dinner offerings receive positive feedback for the quality and variety of food, particularly the Chinese restaurant and the Saturday night BBQ buffet. While some specific dishes and vegetarian options left room for improvement, the dining experience is generally well-rated.
The rooms at Sabah Hotel are considered spacious, clean and comfortable with guests appreciating the well-maintained bathrooms and pleasant furnishings. Despite occasional comments about dated décor and minor cleanliness issues, the comfort and size of the rooms are frequently highlighted.
Cleanliness is a consistent strong point for Sabah Hotel with high marks for the well-maintained rooms and common areas, including the spotless pool. Some minor areas for improvement were noted, such as deeper cleaning of bathrooms and carpets, but overall, guests find the hotel clean and comfortable.
Staff at Sabah Hotel receive overwhelming praise for their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism. Housekeeping and service staff are particularly commended for their thorough and pleasant demeanor. Although there were few instances of less favorable experiences, the general sentiment towards the staff is highly positive, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere.
The hotel's wifi service has mixed reviews with some guests appreciating the reliable connection and others pointing out coverage and speed issues, especially in certain areas of the hotel. Improvements in this area could enhance the overall guest experience.
The spa and gym facilities at Sabah Hotel add to its appeal with the gym receiving high praise for its well-equipped and clean environment. Although inconsistencies in spa services and occasional closures were noted, the fitness amenities remain a highlight. The pool area also garners significant acclaim for its size, cleanliness and jungle-like setting, making it an excellent spot for relaxation and family activities.
Parking at Sabah Hotel is generally seen as secure and convenient, though finding a spot can occasionally be a challenge. The family-friendly nature of the hotel is well-regarded with spacious rooms and a variety of activities catering to children and larger groups. The child-friendly pool area and engaging family-oriented environment make it a recommended choice for family vacations.
Overall, Sabah Hotel offers a comfortable and well-rounded stay with its serene location, excellent amenities and friendly staff, making it a favored destination for both leisure and family travelers.
The Magellan Sutera Resort is praised for its excellent location, combining convenience and natural beauty with easy access to the airport, city center, shopping malls, town areas and marina jetty for island hopping. Guests appreciate the serene seafront position, offering breathtaking sunsets and ocean views from spacious, clean rooms. Despite minor parking challenges, the overall sentiment is highly positive.
The breakfast experience is generally satisfying with a wide variety of Asian and Western options, including local specialties like roti canai and nasi lemak. Many guests enjoy the delicious buffet and the ambiance of dining with sea and pool views, although some note inconsistency in food quality and service speed.
Dinner options also receive mixed feedback, but highlights include the ambiance and meal quality at Alfresco and the impeccable dining experience at Ferdinand's. While buffet options could be more varied and service sometimes slow, many guests find the food enjoyable and reasonably priced, especially in picturesque settings.
Rooms are widely praised for their comfort, spaciousness and stunning views, particularly of the sea. Guests appreciate the luxurious feel, cleanliness and well-appointed amenities, even though some rooms are described as outdated and in need of better maintenance. Noise issues are occasionally mentioned, but overall, the clean, cozy rooms enhance the guest experience.
The resort's cleanliness is maintained to a high standard with well-kept rooms and beautiful surroundings. Minor issues like aging facilities and occasional room cleanliness lapses are noted, but the majority of guests are pleased with the tidy environment.
The friendly, helpful and accommodating staff significantly contribute to positive guest experiences. The reception area and overall hospitality receive high praise with occasional suggestions for improved communications and service efficiency.
Wi-Fi at the resort is a mixed experience with some guests enjoying fast connections while others struggle with poor and slow connectivity. Improvement is needed to meet modern travelers' expectations.
The pool facilities are a highlight with numerous well-maintained pools catering to both kids and adults. Guests particularly enjoy the Olympic-sized pools and family-friendly features like water slides and attentive lifeguards, contributing to a fun and relaxing visit.
Beach areas receive mixed reviews due to size and cleanliness issues, but the private beach near the swimming pool is praised for its warm water and family-friendly atmosphere. Guests enjoy the scenic views and relaxing environment, especially at sunset.
The resort is highly recommended for families, offering suitable facilities and activities for children. Kids enjoy the swimming pools, private beach, snorkeling, movie nights and various water activities, making it a top choice for family vacations.
Overall, The Magellan Sutera Resort offers a delightful stay with its prime location, comfortable and spacious rooms, helpful staff and excellent pool facilities, despite some areas needing improvement.
Sepilok Jungle Resort is highly regarded for its exceptional location, which is ideal for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Situated at the edge of the jungle, the resort provides easy access to major attractions like the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The serene and lush surroundings, featuring beautiful gardens, ponds and native vegetation, contribute to a tranquil atmosphere that allows guests to immerse themselves in nature and encounter local wildlife directly from the resort grounds.
Breakfast at Sepilok Jungle Resort is a mixed experience, but generally positive. Most guests appreciate the convenience of a buffet-style meal included in the stay with a variety of fresh and delicious options such as eggs, toast, noodles and fried bananas. The healthy vegetarian options and pleasant breakfast atmosphere are well-received. However, some guests find the breakfast to be basic and repetitive with limited choices and subpar coffee.
Dining at the resort generally receives favorable reviews, particularly the on-site restaurant and Banana Café, which serve fresh, well-prepared local and Western dishes. The stir-fried Sabah Greens and fresh fruit juices stand out as highlights. While the quality of the food often justifies the higher prices, some guests note the lack of variety and consider it overpriced. Overall, the dining experience is seen as satisfactory, enhanced by the restaurant's serene jungle setting.
The rooms at Sepilok Jungle Resort are modest but comfortable, fitting for travelers prioritizing location and affordability. Guests appreciate the spacious and clean accommodations with basic amenities provided. Superior rooms with private balconies and beautiful wooden furniture enhance the jungle experience. However, some rooms are outdated and show signs of wear and tear, including issues with cleanliness, mold and mosquitoes. Despite these drawbacks, the rooms are generally considered acceptable for a short stay, offering good value for money.
Cleanliness at the resort is another area with mixed feedback. Many guests find the rooms clean, spacious and comfortable with daily cleaning services. However, significant concerns about the cleanliness of bathrooms and common areas persist with issues such as mold, dirty towels and inadequate maintenance frequently mentioned. The pool area also needs better upkeep.
Staff experiences at Sepilok Jungle Resort vary. While many guests highlight the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, particularly in organizing trips and providing attentive service, others encounter unprofessional behavior and inconsistent service. Improving staff training and ensuring a consistently high standard of service could enhance the overall guest experience.
WiFi at the resort is reliable and fast in the reception area and restaurant, but weak or non-existent in rooms, dorms and by the pool. This can be a drawback for guests needing constant internet access.
The swimming pool is a notable highlight, offering a large, clean and refreshing place to relax amidst the jungle setting. Despite minor maintenance issues and limited opening hours, guests value the pool as a serene and enjoyable feature of the resort.
Sepilok Jungle Resort is family-friendly, providing comfortable family rooms and a unique jungle experience that children enjoy. Minor issues like noise and isolated incidents do not significantly detract from the positive family experience.
The beds receive mixed reviews with some guests finding them comfortable, while others encounter issues such as hard mattresses and dirty bed sheets. Upgrading the bedding could improve overall guest satisfaction.
In conclusion, Sepilok Jungle Resort offers a unique, nature-immersed experience with a prime location, making it a suitable choice for travelers seeking a tranquil escape while exploring Sepilok's renowned conservation sites. Improvements in room updates, cleanliness, service consistency and WiFi could further enhance the overall guest experience.