Homestays in Sabah, Malaysia

had a wonderful stay at Bay Suites. The room was clean, spacious, and very comfortable. The location is convenient, just a few minutes from the city centre, making it easy to visit nearby attractions and restaurants. I also enjoyed the beautiful sea view from the room. The check-in process was smooth, and the staff was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Overall, it was great value for money, and I would definitely stay here again when visiting Kota Kinabalu. Highly recommended!

Stayed in Nepenthes Suite. It’s close to many hiking trails in Kinabalu park and hence it’s in the midst of nature. You can go on trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Lots of birdwatching too. However one will need to rent a car or hire a driver to reach this place from KK city. And without a vehicle it’s difficult to explore the surrounding places. But if you are content to just relax and take walks in the park and enjoy nature this is a great place to stay. However the rooms are dated especially the pantry and bathroom. They encourage you to take breakfast later at 9am instead of 6.30 am. This is to avoid the rush hour when those climbing mt Kinabalu take breakfast before their ascent. However I found that some of the items were already no longer available and they were not replenished.

The location is quite convenient, and there is ample free parking available. The outdoor environment is pleasant, well-maintained, and clean, making it a nice place to relax. There is also a BBQ pit provided, although guests need to bring their own utensils and ingredients. One downside is that there is no refrigerator in the room. The bed makes some slight noise, but it is still acceptable for a short stay. The room also comes with a small balcony, which is great for enjoying the night view. Check-in and check-out are quick and hassle-free. An ironing board is available at the reception area, and a hairdryer can be borrowed upon request. Overall, considering the price, it offers very good value for money.

Facilities: Fully equipped and practical. Cleanliness: Spotless. Environment: Spacious and comfortable. Service: Warm and attentive. The hotel is right by the seafood market, making it super convenient to go to places like Fat Mama's for meals. The room is quite large, the beds are very clean, and the water pressure for showering is excellent. We stayed with two kids, so four of us in total, and it was great value for money. There are even security guards patrolling, and Filipino housekeepers help with luggage, which is a nice touch.

This hotel is located in Semporna town. You can buy seafood and cook it yourself in the kitchen, as it's very close to the seafood market. There's a large supermarket nearby. Downstairs is a mosque, so you'll hear prayers at fixed times every morning and evening. There's a Chinese-speaking housekeeper who is incredibly nice and helps with booking cars and shopping.

What I liked a lot: Well situated to visit main attractions in Sepilok: Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre/Sunbear centre/Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), free shuttle bus to the main attractions (09h-14h-16) which was really great. Also offer tours at reasonable prices e.g. Mangroves & Firefly Cruise (recommended). Free water dispenser. To note: rooms are very basic (there is airco), we had some ants in the room, bathroom is outside. Breakfast was limited and minimal. When we were there internet was not functional, luckily we had taken local simcard before with unlimited data so for us, this was not a big issue. Before coming to the hotel, I had sent a mail to have info about tours they offered, but never received a reply therefore I had booked tours with an agency which in the end was more expensive then when I would have it booked with Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat. Possible to book tours on the spot (no need to reserve before coming) but I did not know this in advance.

Choosing Beanstalk Homestay for my Semporna trip was absolutely the right decision! The owner and staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, treating you like friends. Before I even arrived, they patiently answered all my questions and gave me tons of practical tips for island hopping and dining. While the room isn't luxurious, it's spotlessly clean, the AC works great, there's plenty of hot water, and the bedding is really comfortable. Getting a good night's sleep after a day of activities is so important. The service was the biggest plus! The seafood preparation prices were excellent, and the breakfast, though simple, was thoughtfully prepared – coffee, toast, and eggs, perfect for fueling up before heading out to sea. Next time I'm in Semporna, I'll definitely stay at Beanstalk Homestay again.

Overall, we had a pleasant stay and the staff were friendly and helpful. However, there was some hair left in the room when we checked in. The WiFi connection was very weak and kept disconnecting, making it difficult to use. We were also unable to turn on the TV during our stay. We hope these issues can be improved for future guests. Thank you for your hospitality.

My Semporna trip was full of pleasant surprises, and I absolutely have to rave about the overwater villa I stayed in! 😆 Before I left, I'd only booked a standard terraced room, but to my surprise, the owner upgraded us to a private standalone villa for free when we checked in! It worked out to only about 800 yuan a night for a private sea-view villa with its own terrace – what a steal! We were grinning from ear to ear the moment we stepped inside. Once we actually settled in, we didn't even feel like going out to sightsee. In the mornings, we'd just pull up a small chair on the terrace, feel the sea breeze, do some fishing with our feet dangling in the cool water, and just relax. It was so comfortable doing absolutely nothing. In the evenings, we'd sit on the terrace and watch the sunset paint the entire sea a fiery orange. And waking up, we'd see the sunrise emerge from the horizon right from our room. There's also a huge bathtub where you can soak and gaze at the sea – now *that's* a vacation! I have to give a special shout-out to the butler here; they were incredibly thoughtful. When we wanted to go sea fishing, they had bait ready for us in advance. When we wanted to go into town for food and shopping, we just mentioned it and a car was arranged to pick us up very quickly, no delays at all. Plus, when you look down from the overwater villa, you can clearly see all sorts of small fish swimming around in the sea. In the mornings, we even saw little crabs 'strolling' on our terrace. Feeding the fish breadcrumbs and just leisurely passing the morning was incredibly relaxing. This is absolutely the most satisfying overwater villa I've ever stayed in, hands down. If you're coming to Semporna, you really should consider this place! 👍

Five-star review, highly recommend Barracuda Den! Semporna is notorious for its dirty and messy accommodations, but Barracuda Den has no real competition at its price point. The location is excellent, just 700 meters from Hai Feng Pier, making it a 10-minute walk to catch boats for island hopping. Right outside the door, you'll find all sorts of food options, which is super convenient. It's safe, with card access required for entry and exit. It's clean; I even saw staff doing a thorough cleaning. Every time you close the door to the guesthouse, you can completely disconnect yourself from the chaotic and dirty environment outside. The guesthouse offers free toast, instant noodles, and cooking utensils. As a fan of simple meals, it was great to have fried eggs, toasted bread, and hot tea every day! The washing machine is free to use, which is a big plus since many accommodations in Semporna charge for laundry. The staff are very friendly, and the seafood restaurant they recommended next door was also very affordable. Absolutely no complaints!