5-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

One of the standout features of this hotel is the efficiency of the staff. The check-in and check-out processes were super fast, which is always appreciated after a long day of travel. Additionally, the hotel provides free parking, a major plus for those of us driving in KK where parking can often be a challenge. The accommodations were excellent. Both the room and the toilet were spotless, maintaining a high standard of cleanliness throughout my stay. I also appreciated that they were generous with essentials—there was sufficient drinking water provided, so I never felt the need to constantly request more. Breakfast at the hotel was a pleasant experience. While the quality of the food was nice, I did find the variety a bit limited and hope they can provide more choices in the future to keep the buffet exciting. However, the absolute highlight of the morning was the fresh juice station. It is easily the best part of the breakfast service; you can request specific fruits, and the staff prepares the juice freshly for you right on the spot. It’s a personalized touch that really elevates the meal.

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.

I booked this Loft thinking it was like any other Loft that i’ve stayed before. But this here, exceeded my expectations by 100%! Le Meridien KK, thank yoy for the best stay i’ve ever had in my life. A very very big thank you to Natalie & Elvinna at the Club Lounge and to Herna for the swift and fuss free check-in/check out. I will be planning to try the executive suite on my next visit. Thank you!

We chose the Ocean Wing room type, and the room was very spacious. The bathtub had a great ambiance. The overall service at the hotel was excellent, and the breakfast was delicious. The environment inside was beautiful, with complete facilities and many activities, including sunset paddleboarding. Plus, it wasn't overly crowded, so you didn't get that 'people-packed' feeling. It's perfect for a relaxing holiday and very unwinding.

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.

Our private family stayed here for 4 nights from the first day of our Kota Kinabalu trip, and we are sincerely grateful for the wonderful service and warm welcome we received. In particular, the front desk service was excellent. They not only answered our questions accurately and empathetically, but they also went above and beyond, handling issues that might not typically fall under their duties with incredible attention to detail. Thank you very much. The facilities show their age but are well-maintained. The location is also very convenient, within walking distance to A Street, and you can easily walk to supermarkets, convenience stores, a laundromat, and even grab some light snacks. The parking was also very convenient; once our license plate was registered, we could enter and exit as many times as we wanted. Although the capacity wasn't huge, we never had trouble finding a spot during our 4-night stay. The hotel breakfast was delicious, and the menu varied slightly each day. The only regrettable point was that the male floor manager, or whoever was in charge of the breakfast area, seemed to lack a bit of respect for women and children. (For example, after my husband went back to the room, he bumped into my daughter's chair without a word, and then started giving loud instructions to the staff right next to our table, which we found a bit bothersome.)

Although the room rate dropped on the day of check-in, making it two thousand cheaper than my original booking, I contacted customer service and they immediately refunded the difference. Overall, the hotel is pretty good. I swam for three days. Honestly, the breakfast didn't quite meet Marriott's usual standards. The pleasant surprise was finding out I had a partial sea view room.

I chose this hotel because it's the closest to the beach with the best views, perfect for sunset watching, and indeed, the sunsets were spectacular! It's also very close to the airport. The room had a fantastic view. While the facilities felt a bit dated, it didn't detract from the overall vacation vibe. There's an ice machine on every floor, which was great for drinks. The heated pool was a nice touch, and the breakfast restaurant was huge with a wide variety of options. Because it's so large, getting from the Tanjung wing to the lobby was a bit of a walk. Also, on the fourth floor, the roof can slightly obstruct wide-angle photos. Overall, it offered a wonderful resort experience, and finding the hotel for Grab pickups was easy.