Beach Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

The overall scenery is incredible, offering the most beautiful sunsets. The swimming pool was also very comfortable and had a great vibe, which the kids really loved. However, the hotel is quite old, and you can tell from the room facilities. The air conditioning in our room on the first night was too loud, but they moved us to a different room the next day. The hotel's response was decent, but for this price point, the value for money has been steadily declining over the years. The staff were polite but not particularly warm or enthusiastic. The breakfast, though, was fantastic!

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!

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.

📍Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu | A Thorough Review, Pros and Cons Included First, the conclusion: This is a typical 'lie-flat' resort for Westerners. Most Chinese tourists have packed itineraries and busy schedules, so choose this hotel with caution. ❌ Cons (The Honest Truth) 1️⃣ **Remote Location.** It's an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu city center, and traffic in KK is often bad. This makes island hopping and snorkeling trips inconvenient. 2️⃣ **Beach Not Swimmable.** A red flag was up every day, prohibiting swimming in the sea. If you're looking to swim, you'll be stuck with the pool. Those hoping for ocean swimming will be disappointed. 3️⃣ **No Chinese Service.** Communication relies mainly on English, which isn't ideal for families with young children. 4️⃣ **Service Lapses.** After room cleaning, they forgot to replenish our 3 bottles of drinking water. Every time I ordered online, I requested 'no chili,' but it always arrived with chili, making it impossible for my child to eat (I didn't complain again to the restaurant, just a heads-up for others). 5️⃣ **Inflexible Policy.** The hotel does not allow early check-out with a refund. Any changes to your itinerary will leave you in a difficult position; it's not very accommodating. 6️⃣ **Outdated Facilities.** In my room, two out of three power strips on the desk were broken. Maintenance of hardware is lacking. 7️⃣ **Endless Beach Walk.** The beach is incredibly vast. Walking from the hotel to the actual seashore is a long trek, and doing it under the scorching sun is quite uncomfortable. ✅ Pros (No Ambiguity Here) 1️⃣ **Exclusive Beach + Stunning Sunsets.** Very few people, so no need to Photoshop anyone out of your photos. Watching the sunset on the private beach in the evening, or dining and enjoying activities right by the sea with the vibrant sky as a backdrop, is incredibly relaxing. 2️⃣ **Plenty of Activities, Great for Kids.** There are free shows, and the evening fire torch performance is good. They also have activities like 'Little Bees' (which my child was afraid of, so we didn't go). It's a one-stop shop for a 'lie-flat' vacation. 3️⃣ **Location Depends on Your Plans.** It's close to Mount Kinabalu, making it suitable for hiking and outdoor activities. 🍽️ Dining - The Honest Scoop The hotel's restaurants generally offer good food, but the prices are genuinely expensive. A money-saving tip: Order takeout via Grab and have it delivered to the hotel – it's much more economical. I even managed to get Mixue ice cream delivered, so no problem with milk tea cravings. 💡 Snorkeling Route - Essential Info To Mantanani Island, don't go through Magellan Jetty; that's for people coming from the city. Instead, use Kuala Abai Jetty in the north: it's a 2-hour drive from the city, but only 1 hour from Rasa Ria, and it's less crowded. Staying here makes a trip to Mantanani Island more convenient. 🏁 Summary The inability to swim in the sea from the beach is a major drawback, but if you treat it as a 'sunset viewing spot + family lie-flat base,' it's worth the price. If it's part of your itinerary, plan Mantanani Island and Mount Kinabalu for the same period. Avoid traveling back and forth to the city; the 1-hour drive plus traffic is a real deterrent. Plan carefully!

📍 Location: Strategic gila. Walking distance ke Pantai Tanjung Aru – memang terbaik kalau nak tengok sunset tanpa perlu drive. Sangat recommended untuk kaki sunset 🌅 🧹 Cleanliness: Standard hotel lama, tapi masih bersih dan selesa. Overall okay dan berbaloi dengan harga yang dibayar. 🤝 Service: Recommended. Staff helpful dan responsive. Iron & iron board pun terus dihantar ke bilik bila request – very convenient. 🏨 Amenities: Semua basic amenities lengkap dan berfungsi dengan baik. Cuma tiada bidet dalam tandas.

The hotel room offers stunning sea views right from the bed. We also witnessed breathtaking skies. Breakfast was excellent, and the service was very warm and friendly. The hotel's location in Kota Kinabalu city center is incredibly convenient. Gaya Street is just a 10-minute walk away. Dining and shopping options are abundant nearby. While the room wasn't huge, the facilities were quite good. Overall, I highly recommend it; it offers great value for money.

We had a wonderful stay at Nexus Resort. The large private beach, beautiful sunsets, and peaceful natural environment were amazing. We loved seeing monkeys, colorful birds, and monitor lizards around the resort. Although the hotel is older, it was clean, and we were kindly upgraded to a renovated, spacious ocean-view room with a fantastic view. The staff were friendly, the spa was beautiful, and the restaurants offered good food at very reasonable prices, although service could sometimes be slow due to limited staff. Overall, Nexus offers excellent value for money, especially considering its beautiful beach, nature, reasonable restaurant and tour prices, and affordable transportation. Even the hotel taxi to the airport was only RM80, cheaper than Grab. We already miss this resort and hope to come back again.

The environment is quite good, with spacious public areas and a pier nearby. There was a very patient Chinese-speaking lady at the front desk. There were two downsides. Firstly, the trendy room type I originally booked wasn't available, perhaps because we checked in late. They upgraded us to an executive room, but it didn't have the photogenic terrace, which was a bit disappointing. Secondly, on the evening of our second consecutive night, our room key card stopped working. It was very inconvenient late at night, and it took a long time to go back down to the lobby. There was no compensation for this either.

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.

Before coming, I read a lot of negative reviews and was full of anxiety, but after experiencing it, I realized it was unnecessary worry. The room, bedding, and pillows were clean and odorless. Whether it was the front desk, concierge, borrowing towels at the pool, or ordering food at the restaurant, everyone was enthusiastic and I never felt neglected. One day, after the room was cleaned, they forgot to leave new towels. I called and they were delivered quickly, without a long wait. You can watch the sunset from the hotel's small beach, which is very convenient and beautiful. Snorkeling on the small beach is convenient and safe, with lots of fish, coral, and even Nemo. Island hopping close to shore departs from their own pier, which is also very convenient; just go downstairs to the pier 30 minutes in advance to buy tickets. After returning, you can go straight back to your room in your swimsuit to change and wash up, avoiding the hassle of changing clothes on the island. Room service is available, which is a good option if it's raining or you're too lazy to go out; the prices aren't too expensive. Overall, it's a great resort hotel, highly recommended, and I would stay again if I have the chance. The pictures show the hotel's small beach and the sunset from the hotel.