Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

This hotel was perfect for a completely relaxed trip. I was very satisfied with the room; the balcony was great and offered a good level of privacy. However, my initial idea of stepping right onto the beach didn't pan out. You can see the beach from afar, but that's as close as you get! You actually have to walk through a large area of greenery, so it’s quite a distance from the sand. The only upside is that on a day like this, you can sit outside all day without getting any sun, which was very comfortable. It’s absolutely ideal for just lying back and looking at your phone. Truly a perfect spot for men who just want to chill out. The Ocean Wing family room would be better for families with two children. For us, with just one child, it felt a bit wasteful as the top bunk was empty, haha. The Garden Wing pool is livelier and also a good spot for watching the sunset. If you like a more vibrant atmosphere, stay there. If you prefer quiet, choose the other side. Our family room, 1802, was actually about the same distance from the Garden Wing lobby as it was from the Ocean Wing front desk. Walking through the connecting corridor was fine, and it wasn't hot. At night, the path with the lawn lights was also very close. The so-called Ocean Wing is actually quite quiet, and the rooms have a large outdoor resting area. As for value for money, that’s up to you to decide. The ground floor of the Garden Wing only has two small outdoor stools and gets more sun. The room itself was quite cool, with strong air conditioning. I recommend wearing long sleeves when going to the restaurant for meals – definitely long sleeves! For dining, I’d suggest the Garden Wing buffet restaurant; they have more variety. Regarding booking activities, I recommend emailing the hotel in advance to confirm your booking number and the activities you want to do. Otherwise, don't expect to be able to book activities like the night animal viewing on the spot. There are only slots for 10 people per day, and usually, three families are enough to fill them. So, I couldn't book anything during my two-day stay, which was very disappointing. One friendly aspect might be for children who need childcare. Upon check-in, they give you a daily activity list in both English and Chinese, and children can be supervised. Daily drinks and food are replenished. You can actually order Grab food delivery, but there's an extra 10 RM delivery fee. It’s really far, over ten kilometers! So remote... There’s a restaurant nearby called Dongfang Tea Restaurant; you can search for it on Dazhong Dianping. Add the owner's phone number on WeChat, and he'll come pick you up! It can save you a lot; it's about 90 RMB per person. The hotel's buffet dinner isn't great, not as good as the breakfast buffet. That's what people who tried it said; I didn't, haha. Breakfast lasts from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and I usually went around 9:30 or 10:00 AM and stayed until after 10:30 AM. The shuttle bus schedule is also very useful in my pictures. For check-out, I left around 12:30 PM, and the front desk told me to be in the lobby 15 minutes early for the bus. The drop-off time is excellent, taking you to Imago Shopping Mall. However, they can't drop you off at the airport directly; there are only two airport shuttles, one in the morning and one in the evening. Finally, here's a tip: there's a QR code in the lobby to register as a Shangri-La member. Just scan it and register your membership number to receive a complimentary four-piece travel size shower gel set. There's also Chinese-speaking staff at the front desk (see picture). You can ask for her if needed. Summary: For older children, swimming before sunset is perfect, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, watching the sunset all the way – it’s stunning. Cons: Far from the city, and activities are difficult to book. Food: They have all the usual stuff, so it's just okay. Overall, it's a hotel very suitable for a completely relaxed and laid-back stay.

Our New Year family trip unexpectedly led us to Shangri-La Rasa Ria, and it was a fantastic surprise! The overall resort experience was excellent. The hygiene, environment, and service were all good. Breakfast was delicious; the sirloin steak and Vietnamese pho were a must-have every day. The kids spent all their time in the pool. Even though the hotel was full, it has two lobbies – one for the Garden Wing and one for the Ocean Wing – which helped manage the flow of guests, so it never felt overcrowded, which was just perfect. We stayed in the Ocean Wing, which is quieter than the Garden Wing. Although it's a bit far from the city, the hotel provides a free shuttle service to both the city and the airport. We visited Shangri-La Tanjung Aru during our island hopping, and it was much more crowded, probably because it has its own pier for sea excursions. All in all, I still think the resort experience at Rasa Ria was much better.

Excellent! You absolutely must stay in the Ocean Wing. The mini-bar is complimentary, and there's a separate restaurant for breakfast. A special shout-out to the staff who restocked our mini-bar daily; they remembered our preferences! Thank you to all the staff for their service during our stay.

This hotel is located in the suburbs and offers a shuttle bus service to the airport twice a day (morning and evening), which needs to be booked in advance. There's also a shuttle at 1 PM to Times Square and a shopping plaza, also requiring prior booking as same-day reservations might not be available. It's perfectly adequate for a family vacation, offering various paid activities, including a firefly watching tour at the Meng River mangrove forest. While there weren't many fireflies, it was still enough to entertain the kids, and its proximity to the hotel was a plus. The hotel's beach is uncrowded. The sunset views here are far superior to those at the Shangri-La in the city. The staff are very enthusiastic. All facilities here outperform the city's Shangri-La. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, there was a lion dance for guests to take photos with. Management came around to hand out red envelopes to children, creating a wonderful atmosphere. All in all, for a family vacation, I would still choose this hotel in the outer suburbs.

Fantastic hotel! It's nestled in a bay, away from the city noise, and has excellent facilities – everything you could ask for. There's a swimming pool, fitness center, and various sports equipment, making it perfect for families with kids. The sunset views are stunning. We had a great time!

Stayed here for two nights, three days, and overall, I was very satisfied. They offer a complimentary shuttle service that you can book, and it takes about an hour to get to the hotel from Shuguang Plaza. A taxi back to the city center costs around 130 RMB. It was quite busy during Chinese New Year, so check-in took a while, but they offered towels and tea, which was a nice touch. I booked a seaside restaurant for my birthday and they even provided a complimentary cake. Breakfast and the other restaurants were decent, with more local specialties; I personally wasn't a fan of the food. Alipay and WeChat are accepted, which is very convenient!