Hotels near Karambunai beach view, Sabah., Kota Kinabalu

I stayed at two hotels in Kota Kinabalu this time, and surprisingly, the one that left the deepest impression was this older Hyatt. To be honest, I was a bit worried it might be dated at first, but it turned out to be a fantastic stay. The room was spacious. With two adults and one child, we could easily spread out our luggage without feeling cramped. The bedding was just right – soft enough to sink into, but with good support. I slept in naturally for all three nights. The absolute highlight was the sea view – a vast expanse of blue outside the window. Sitting there watching the sunset transform from golden hues to pinkish-purple, without having to brave the crowds at Tanjung Aru, was an absolute win. The location couldn't be better. Merdeka Shopping Mall is just a two-minute walk downstairs, super convenient for currency exchange and buying snacks. Another five-minute stroll takes you to Gaya Street, with eateries like Yee Fung Laksa and Fook Yuen Toast all within walking distance. We barely took any taxis during our stay, saving enough money for at least two extra seafood meals. I felt like a local just strolling around. The pool is right next to the elevator, with separate sections for adults and children. My kid grabbed a life vest and had a blast, while I relaxed on a nearby sun lounger and even caught another sunset. As for breakfast, the variety wasn't extensive, but the ingredients were fresh, and the Malaysian-style dishes were all delicious, especially the Roti Canai with curry sauce – I devoured three pieces! There were also noodle stations with both chicken and beef broth, which my kid said were very flavorful. If it's your first time in Kota Kinabalu and you don't want to waste time on transportation, this older Hyatt is truly top-notch. While the facilities show their age a bit, it's clean, comfortable, convenient, and offers incredible value for money. I'd definitely choose it again if I come back to Kota Kinabalu – truly a no-regrets choice! 😉

The hotel itself is fine, with excellent facilities and services. However, some parts of the hotel are currently under renovation, and it seems they intentionally place guests who book lower-tier rooms in these renovated areas. Knowing in advance that some of the hotel's beachfront areas were under renovation, I specifically booked a garden-view room a month ago. Upon arrival, the hotel informed us that all garden-view rooms were full. They then 'upgraded' us to a sea-view room (which was in the renovated section). Although they offered a discount as compensation, we repeatedly stated that we didn't want to stay there. The staff (somewhat threateningly) said that all other rooms in the hotel were full, and these were the only ones left, implying we'd have no room if we didn't take it (their attitude was quite arrogant). They also insisted that we could only switch to this specific (renovated) room type and no other. Since we'd never encountered such a situation before and didn't know how to handle it, we reluctantly accepted. Later, I checked online and found that our situation of being switched rooms was not an isolated incident; many Chinese tourists were 'forced' into 'upgrading' to sea-view rooms. (Some even suggested they only do this to Chinese tourists). The hotel did not proactively offer compensation after we checked out. We only received it after complaining to Ctrip's customer service. I'm very grateful to Ctrip's customer service for their help; they advised us that in similar future situations, we should not deal with the front desk privately but instead let Ctrip customer service handle it. I rarely post reviews, but I'm sharing this to prevent fellow Chinese travelers from being scammed. If you encounter such issues, contact Ctrip directly.

I arrived at the hotel late at night after my flight. Check-in was smooth, but I was assigned a room with a connecting door, which might be a bit unsettling if you're traveling alone. I only chose this place as a one-night stopover before moving to the Marriott tomorrow. The picture is of the Marriott.

Overall, it was great. The room was spacious, clean, and the facilities weren't outdated, offering excellent value for money at this price point. The only downside was the noise. The soundproofing between rooms and from the hallway was good, but the air conditioning was very loud. When I turned off the AC at night, the street noise from motorbikes was incredibly loud, so I had to wear earplugs every night to sleep. The upside is that it's very convenient to get everywhere – the pier, shopping malls, and restaurants are all easily accessible.

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.

Just like the pictures, it was fantastic! The customer service was excellent, and the check-in explanation was very detailed. We were also able to store our luggage for free. We arrived early, and although check-in is normally at 3 PM, we were lucky enough to be able to check in by 12 PM. This is absolutely not a fake review! The only downside is that because it's close to a wet market, if you open the balcony door, there's a strong smell of stale seafood. Check-out was convenient, and no deposit was required. For four of us, the value for money at this price was unbeatable. Plus, there's a washing machine and a pool!

📍 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.

Clean, quiet, and comfortable. The only thing is that the outlets were only on the TV side, not by the head of the bed. Overall, it's a decent option for the price. There are shops and cafes nearby.

I request room near lift and near receptionist no corner room unfortunately I get room far from lift and receptionist and get corner room. Air bertakung di dalam bilik, jadi kurang selesa 😢

Location is strategic , rooms are big enough.Aircon is good and cool enough. Overall ok just have some weaknesses for example the cleanliness. A lot of ants on table. Washing machine not functioning. Hair dryer got sparks when turn on Car park provided.