Beach Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

This is the first time I've experienced ”wasting time” not as a derogatory term. Here, both your mind and the days slow down, not just because Tanjung Aru boasts the most beautiful sunsets, but because of every plant, every service within the hotel, and the meeting of the ocean with Shangri-La, which collectively created an unforgettable experience for us. I highly recommend the ground floor patio rooms, where the balcony leads directly to the lawn! You can witness one of the world's top three sunsets and the iconic Sunset Bar. I loved the peaceful mornings here, listening to the sea breeze on a lounge chair and watching seagulls glide over the ocean. In the evenings, there's none of the hustle and bustle of the public beach, only melodious songs, paired with a margarita, truly allowing time to slow down. I suggest staying for at least 5 nights; if you're lucky, you might even catch a unique event. The hotel's Chinese restaurant is highly recommended; it leans towards Cantonese cuisine, with prices being mid-to-high, but it definitely satisfies Chinese palates.

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!

The room was simple and clean, and although the decor was a bit old-fashioned, the location was excellent. However, rooms facing the street were indeed quite noisy. It's very close to the pier, directly opposite a large shopping mall, and right next to Gaya Street... super convenient for everything.

Taking the hotel shuttle from the city to the hotel and then to the airport was super convenient and saved money. The staff didn't really speak Chinese, but their broken English was good enough. The first room they gave me on the 1st floor was really disappointing – small, dark, and the bathroom even had a shower curtain! I've never seen a hotel still using a shower curtain! I immediately went to the front desk to change rooms. The room on the 4th floor was a huge improvement, otherwise, my whole vacation would have been ruined. Other service details were great, and the staff were all very friendly. You can order set meals by the pool; 3 sets and 2 drinks for 224 MYR seemed reasonable. How much bleach did they put in the pool though? You couldn't see your hand in front of your face… Any pool in Sanya has better visibility than that! It's fine for a pure holiday, with palm trees, shadows, and gazebos for lounging.

📍 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.

Hyatt Regency Kinabalu — a stay worth having! ✨🌴 Loved the location—super convenient and easily accessible, with Gaya Street Market and the Api-Api Night Market just nearby. The hotel staff were prompt, warm and polite, making the stay even more enjoyable. 💕 And the breakfast spread? Plenty of choices and a great way to start the day! 🍳🥐☕️ Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. Great location, excellent service and a comfortable stay—definitely worth it! ⭐️

This hotel really exceeded my expectations. From the moment I checked in at night, I was greeted by a very polite and enthusiastic front desk. The room was clean, the bathroom was quite spacious, and the sea view from the balcony was absolutely stunning. Both the pool and the ocean water were warm and very comfortable. While the breakfast selection wasn't huge, it had all the essentials and was at least tasty – I recommend the noodle soup and the Indian bread with curry. The service at the sunset bar was quite fast, and the food was decent with good value for money, though it could get a bit warm since it's semi-outdoor. The prices for items in the hotel's mini-market were very reasonable, as were the prices for all the activities. It’s truly a hotel where you can relax and enjoy your vacation without worries. The hotel beach has super fine and soft sand, and there are plenty of beach chairs. You'll find all sorts of live small seashells and hermit crabs on the beach, which the kids absolutely loved (just remember to put them back!). The hotel's ecosystem is fantastic, absolutely wonderful, with tons of small animals and birds. We stayed for three nights and never got tired of it. Even after moving to a Marriott in the city, we still missed this hotel. What's truly remarkable is how genuinely nice all the hotel staff are; some were even exceptionally enthusiastic, which was a real pleasure. The room cleaning was also very thorough.

The room hygiene was pretty good. The environment was mostly fine, quite suitable for taking photos and checking in. There weren't many people watching the sunset in the afternoon, so overall it was good. As for service, it was okay after check-in, and they offered luggage storage. However, the hotel's policy of a unified check-in time at 3:00 PM, with no early check-in allowed, feels a bit inhumane. Are all rooms only cleaned by 3:00 PM? Shouldn't guests be notified for check-in as soon as a room is ready? We even had to queue for breakfast in the morning. I was aware that the facilities were old beforehand, so that was acceptable. You can snorkel at the hotel, and there are quite a lot of fish. Also, you can see sea urchins by the beach next to one of the swimming pools.

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.

It's already 2026, and they're still using these old-fashioned hairdryers that don't even reach far – they're so hard to use. And the air conditioning was so hot that I woke up seven times in one night. I basically suffered from insomnia for the two days I stayed there. The hygiene, however, was quite good. But I do have a small suggestion: when cleaning the room, please check if the shampoo and other amenities are sufficient and need refilling. Otherwise, guests won't have anything to use when they shower! 😵💫😵💫 Everything else was fine, really good. ❤️❤️