Semporna Hotels with Bars

The room was spotless, and the owner was incredibly nice; we had no trouble communicating in Mandarin. After checking out in the morning, we left our luggage with the owner and picked it up after snorkeling in the afternoon, which was very convenient. It's a shame we didn't get to cook our own meals here this time, as we were a bit rushed. Next time I'm back in Semporna, I'll definitely stay here again!

An New Year's Eve experience that completely exceeded expectations! The overwater bungalows have fewer than 10 rooms, making it lively but never noisy. We snorkeled in the crystal-clear waters, accompanied by schools of fish and sea turtles, bidding farewell to 2025. We paddle-boarded on the Pacific Ocean, bathed in the morning sun and dawn light, welcoming 2026. Every meal at the hotel was different and delicious, perfectly suited for Chinese palates and incredibly satisfying. The hotel staff, particularly the Malaysian guy, was fantastic! He accompanied us snorkeling and cliff jumping, taught us paddleboarding, and helped the kids dig for crabs and spot sea turtles. His phone photography was as good as a professional's; he was always available for free photoshoots and even provided great emotional support! The thoughtful details at the overwater bungalow's front desk, like sunscreen, sun hats, children's toys, and books, were a delightful surprise. And hearing Jay Chou and JJ Lin songs playing in the restaurant brought back so many memories from my school days! From diving during high tide to beachcombing at low tide, karaoke after dinner, midnight fireworks over the ocean, and morning ocean yoga – our family enjoyed all these experiences completely free without even leaving the hotel!

This is such a relaxing island, perfect for a vacation! 🌴 We went during the rainy season, which is considered off-peak, so there weren't many people. Every day at noon, there's a boat to pick up and drop off guests. We stayed for three days, and compared to peak season, it felt like there were never more than 20 guests in total. It's incredibly suitable for families with children, with shallow beaches, 🏖️ turtles, lush greenery, and an exceptionally beautiful natural environment! There are three hotels on the island, and Dragon Pearl seems to have the best facilities. They offer water villas, beach villas, and garden villas. The rooms are spaced appropriately, so you won't be bothered by neighbors. The beach villas have loungers on the porch and under the coconut trees in front, as well as hammocks, giving it a private beach feel. All rooms are equipped with life jackets 🦺, and upon arrival, there are clear signs in both Chinese and English advising guests to always wear a life jacket when in the water and to avoid swimming after 6 PM. The beach is large, the shallow water area is extensive, and the water is incredibly clear – like jelly! You can see the bottom even in two to three meters of water, making it perfect for snorkeling. Every day, island-hopping boats come to snorkel near the pier, where there's a clownfish nest. You can spot turtles daily from the pier, and the island even has a dedicated turtle hatching program, with occasional lectures and release events for baby turtles. The front desk and dive center can also arrange activities like scuba diving 🤿 and snorkeling. This was my first time trying scuba diving here, and because there were so few guests on the island, I got one-on-one instruction from the coach. I saw two turtles up close, truly within arm's reach! I even swam alongside a turtle during the ascent – incredibly lucky! For snorkeling, a dedicated staff member accompanied us with a swim ring 🛟, actively searching for turtles throughout the sea. The service for these small, boutique groups was fantastic! The island's front desk has Chinese-speaking staff, and while the dive center coaches speak English, you can always understand them through gestures and simple explanations. The reception area has a restaurant and a small shop, so the facilities are quite complete and convenient. Perhaps because it was the off-season and there were so few people, the meal options were a bit simple, but the food was delicious and definitely plentiful enough to fill you up. Finally, regarding the season, the rainy season wasn't bad at all. It didn't rain every day. We stayed for four full days, and it rained twice. The first time was at noon, a heavy downpour, but it was a thunderstorm that passed quickly and didn't disrupt our afternoon island-hopping and snorkeling. The second time was on the day we left; the rain was quite heavy, starting around 4 or 5 AM with loud pitter-patter sounds and thunder and lightning ⛈️ that you could hear from inside the room. It rained on and off for most of the morning. The temperature dropped a bit, but it was actually quite comfortable without the scorching sun. The waves were a bit stronger than usual, but I have to commend Dragon Pearl Hotel's location; as we walked along the beach, we could clearly see that the wind and waves calmed down significantly in front of the hotel. Even with the rain, the island-hopping boats for snorkeling kept coming. It was an incredibly comfortable trip! It's definitely worth visiting and worth revisiting!

We had a great time. People are friendly. Dinner was nice. Very easy to strike up conversations with strangers. We bought abalone (and fish, too!) from the local fishermen. A Chinese family treated us to fish at dinner. Divemaster Haris was super helpful. We travel from KL and would come back here again for vacation.

The Kapalai Dive Resort in Semporna is an absolutely worthwhile island getaway experience, exceeding all expectations for my stay. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a slow-paced island vacation with water activities and relaxation. Getting there is easy: you take a dedicated speedboat from the Semporna town jetty, which takes about an hour. Along the way, you can enjoy the vast blue sea and sky, watching the water change from a murky near-shore to a clear, Tiffany blue. The scenery is delightful, making the journey anything but boring. The entire check-in process upon arrival at the island was smooth, with staff helping to transfer luggage so I didn't have to worry about carrying it myself. Both getting on and off the boat were hassle-free. The resort is built within a marine ecological conservation area, and the marine ecosystem is very well protected, without excessive development. The water is crystal clear, and the underwater environment is perfectly preserved. The entire sea area boasts excellent visibility, allowing you to encounter large schools of fish, starfish, and various tropical fish just by stepping out into the sea – no need to venture far! A casual snorkel yields endless surprises, and the pristine marine atmosphere is simply incredible. The resort operates on an all-inclusive basis, covering all accommodation and meals, so there's no need for extra spending once you're on the island, which made planning the trip incredibly convenient. Three meals a day are consistently provided, with a rich variety of dishes that balance Southeast Asian flavors with home-style cooking. The ingredients are fresh, ensuring you can eat well and replenish energy spent on water activities. Beverages and light meals are also available, so you can grab a snack whenever you're hungry, significantly enhancing the vacation experience. Life here is simple yet restorative, a joyful cycle every day. After waking up in the morning, I'd leisurely head to the restaurant for breakfast. After eating my fill, I'd change into swimwear and take the shuttle to the designated jetty at the dive center for snorkeling or diving, getting up close with schools of fish and embracing the ocean. After playing to my heart's content, I'd return to the overwater bungalow to rinse off and rest. After a short break, it was time for lunch and afternoon tea. Refreshed, I'd head back into the water for more fun, followed by a delicious dinner in the evening. This infinite loop of eating, going into the sea, and resting allowed me to escape the city's hustle and bustle, with no pressure to stick to a schedule, completely relaxing my mind and body. The overwater bungalows are fully equipped, with breathtaking sea views right outside the door. You can also see a sky full of stars and colorful rainbows 🌈. The entire island is quiet and peaceful, with only the sounds of the sea breeze and waves. The pace is slow, making it perfect for both diving enthusiasts and those simply looking to completely unwind. The whole trip was easy and comfortable, a truly restorative and unforgettable island experience.

We stayed for 3 nights and had a great experience. We could pet cats and even saw monkeys 🐒, and my friend saw squirrels too! Breakfast was different every day and delicious. On the third day, we had to catch our flight at 6 am, and they still prepared breakfast for us. The service was excellent, and they offered free shuttle service to town, which was very convenient overall. There's also a swimming pool, and the island hopping tour in Semporna was beautiful. If I have the chance next time, I would definitely stay at Timba Garden again and visit Semporna's Jelly Beach again.

First of all, there is not welcoming assistance when we arrived, no one helping carrying luggage for check in and after check in also no one help sending luggage to room.  Secondly, the front desk is not well trained to attend to tourist asking for local attractions, locations to restaurants , Jetty etc . Not able to provide any assistance.  Thirdly,  the hotel is location at the busiest sea logistics area, the boat and jet engine sound are enormously high. Hence, hotel have to making more effort in room sound insulation effect.  Forth, the entrance room that we stayed already sagging causing the door having difficulties in open and close.  Fifth, the bidet water pressure in our room is low.  And good things are strategic locations and good room view.  Fifth, the mini refrigerator is not cold and smelly. Frankly, the overall packages and experiences seemed not fitted for the room rate we paid for.

recommended for others. good location, beautiful scenery and clear water make your eyes can forget the view

Very outdated design hotel but still comfortable to stay..the centralized aircond is not cold enough that we had to switch on the fan which was too windy because the fan speed not ajustable....the breakfast has lot variety but doesnt taste great...overall good stay.