5-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

Had a wonderful stay at Sheraton Kota Kinabalu! The hotel was spotless, and everything was well maintained. The staff were warm, friendly, and always helpful whenever we needed assistance. Our room was comfortable, clean, and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The daily breakfast was one of the highlights—great variety and delicious food every morning. They even have fruit juice corner.. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Kota Kinabalu. We would definitely stay here again! 😊

This place seriously blew me away. Located above Imago mall and styled like a high-end hotel, the room felt ultra-luxurious from the moment I walked in. Yes, it’s on the pricier side — but you can see and feel where the money goes. Every detail screams premium: a Dyson hairdryer, thick and fluffy slippers, electronic blinds, touch-control lighting, and a stunning bathtub that instantly sets the mood for a relaxing stay. The design is sleek, modern, and Instagram-worthy in every corner. What truly sets this place apart is the generosity in amenities. Instead of the standard small bottled water, they provide 1500ml drinking water, plus free-flow drinking water and soft drinks to enjoy anytime. Even the Starbucks cups added a classy, thoughtful touch that made the stay feel extra special. On top of all that, parking is provided, making it incredibly convenient — especially with the mall right downstairs. This isn’t just a place to sleep — it’s an experience. If you love luxury, comfort, and those little details that make you say “wow”, this place absolutely delivers.

I booked a mountain view room, which was quite spacious with a separate wet and dry area. The hotel, designed by Kengo Kuma, has a very stylish, minimalist feel. You can see how natural elements like wood and stone are incorporated with modern design. There's also a small balcony, perfect for drying clothes and enjoying the mountain views. I was lucky enough to catch a beautiful sunrise on my last day before heading to the airport. There are a lot of motorbikes around here, but the room's soundproofing was excellent, so it didn't disturb my rest. The hotel's location is also great; we were able to walk to Gaya Street and Suria Sabah Mall in just a few minutes. Breakfast at the hotel blends local flavors, and you can also order à la carte. Although the laksa I ordered on the first day was a bit cold, I was truly impressed by the glutinous rice chicken, which had dried shrimp and other seafood, giving it a rich umami flavor. The infinity pool and mountain-view gym are also stunning. I never usually use hotel gyms, but this time I went purely for the amazing view. The only downsides were that the toilet seat in the room didn't have a soft-close function, which was quite noisy. Also, we couldn't get the in-room capsule coffee machine to work after several attempts, though maybe we just didn't know how to use it.

The location is fantastic. There's a huge mimosa tree right outside the window. Every night, the egrets wash themselves there and look like a bouquet of flowers from my room; in the morning, they slowly spread out. There's a night market directly across the street, making dining very convenient, and the sea views are also excellent. As for the room itself, it's pretty much a standard Aimei Hotel room. The front desk service was okay, and they spoke a bit of Chinese. The doorman opening doors and everything else was also good.

The service at Shangri-La is simply beyond words, from the attentive care before check-in to the complimentary drinks offered while waiting to check out – it's truly a super five-star service experience! A fantastic stay! The absolute highlight is the free shuttle bus service. You can take it from the hotel to the airport, as well as to IMAGO Mall and Suria Sabah Shopping Mall in downtown Kota Kinabalu, all for free. This is a huge plus! Although the hotel's location is a bit far from the city center, the free shuttle completely solves this issue, perfectly addressing guests' transportation needs. Superb!

I was in transit for an international flight during the day, and my phone had no signal, so I couldn't add the owner on WeChat. When I arrived in Kota Kinabalu at night and resolved my internet issues, I still couldn't reach the owner. I had to follow the self-check-in guide in the confirmation email. What's ridiculous is that the key pick-up code was in a video that wouldn't open. All five of us, with our phones, couldn't open the video to get the code. We even tried using computer software to decode it, but to no avail. There's no front desk, and I couldn't reach the owner. I called Trip.com customer service, and they also couldn't get a hold of the owner. All the surrounding hotels were fully booked, so we were scrambling all night. Finally, we discovered a small gap in the key safe door. We had no choice but to have my slender-handed younger brother use chopsticks to retrieve the key for half an hour, and his hand was bruised. A group of old and young had nowhere to rest until 4:30 AM! The owner might say it's because they couldn't reach us or we didn't add them on WeChat. But I want to ask, as a hotel, shouldn't you consider issues like international travelers' network signals? For a self-check-in hotel, why can't crucial information like the key safe password be directly sent to the customer via a friend request message or email? If you know a customer hasn't checked in and can't be reached, shouldn't the emergency contact number be accessible? Why play these complicated games with videos that won't even open? I'm here to stay, not to play an escape room trying to find a key! Shouldn't it be as simple and convenient as possible?

I had a very comfortable and pleasant stay at Hilton Kota Kinabalu. The service provided by the staff was exceptional, and I truly appreciated their kindness and understanding in allowing us to check in early without having to wait until 1:00 PM, especially considering my child needed proper rest after undergoing surgery. The hospitality shown by the team made a challenging situation much easier for our family, and for that, I am sincerely grateful. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, providing a relaxing environment for recovery. The breakfast was absolutely excellent, with a wide variety of delicious options and great quality food. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my experience and would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Kota Kinabalu. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so comfortable and memorable.

Arrived on a late-night flight, and it was a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport. The hotel is quite clean, but the decor is really outdated. Since we arrived late, they only offered us a corner room. We disagreed, and after a long back-and-forth, they still wouldn't budge. We then contacted Trip.com, who communicated with the hotel on our behalf, and they finally agreed to give us a room in the middle of the floor with the same room type. Clearly, they had other rooms available but just didn't want to give them to us. The location of the old Hyatt is excellent, getting anywhere is super convenient.

Overall, it was pretty good. My take on Kota Kinabalu: sunsets are free, but a sea-view room isn't. However, it's worth it. I stayed at the Kota Kinabalu Seaview Hotel for three days and was completely captivated by the sunrises and sunsets. This sense of relaxation is the true essence of a vacation. Who says you have to brave the crowds to see one of the world's top 3 sunsets? I watched it right from my hotel balcony.

Let me talk about some aspects beyond the rooms. Even after checking out, if your flight is in the evening, the hotel still provides an exclusive area for showering, getting water, charging devices, and resting. The facilities are comprehensive and clean. The family-friendly amenities are incredibly well-equipped, featuring three large water slides, a kids' slide, and water spray equipment. There's also children's bowling, bubble shows, character interactions, and much more, with different activities every day. They also offer some paid activities for children. The adult and children's pools are well-separated. I had hoped to see the bonfire show, but it was unfortunately canceled due to the weather. For sunset views, you can simply watch from the hotel. The hotel has various restaurants, where you can enjoy a buffet or à la carte dinner. I do hope they can manage the insects in the restaurants, as there were flies during breakfast.