Semporna Hotels with Balcony

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.

I traveled alone and stayed here for 4 nights from 8/4 to 8/8. **Environment:** The resort is so amazing that I wish I could keep it a secret rather than share it with you. Located in the middle of the sea, with no other structures around, you can easily enjoy the sunrise, sunset, and the starry sky every day. During the daytime, you can participate in various water sports, and if you're lucky, you might spot a sea turtle at night. **Food:** Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included when you book the hotel, so there’s no need to worry about meals. The resort offers seafood and local cuisine daily. Please note: Visitors should bring their own snacks and drinks before boarding the resort, as it only provides water, coffee, and tea. **Facilities & Service:** All the staff here will treat you kindly, even if there might be a language barrier (English is spoken here!). If you're afraid of swimming, the staff will accompany you while you're in the sea (life jackets are provided in each room). Each room also has a balcony with a lounge chair where you can relax, grab a beer, and do nothing but enjoy the soothing sea breeze. You may not want to stay in the middle of nowhere like I did to escape from modern civilization, but I truly recommend staying at the resort for at least 2 nights. You'll definitely feel completely recharged! Finally, I want to say that the view is so astonishing that I can hardly describe it with my limited English. You must visit this place yourself.

This resort is considered quite good in Semporna in terms of environment. You can order dinner at the resort, and the food is delicious! After dinner, the owner, haha, sings karaoke. He's really good, like Semporna's Eason Chan 👍🏻 Whenever you need to go to the jetty or town, you can just message the resort on WeChat to arrange a car. They basically have one departing every half hour, which is super convenient. We hardly needed to take taxis; the resort handled all our transfers. For the airport, we took a taxi, which was also quite convenient. The resort has a pet mynah bird, haha, best employee! It says hi every time you pass by. All the resort staff are lovely and enthusiastic. Thanks for the hospitality! The overall greenery of the property is very comfortable. The only downside is the weak Wi-Fi signal. Hope they can improve that, and it would be even better.

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.

first is the floor, it is sticky, it is sticky in the room and also at the gathering or public area where we take our meals. Next is the issue with the toilet, the shower head is broken, it's leaking and the water is too strong and thin, it is hurting me when i try to bathe. Thirdly, the floor mat is dirty and too thin, it is not absorbing water as it should. Fourth, the floor also has a lot of dust and sand. Fifth, the hotel does not have enough electrical plug, we only have two plugs and it is on the most left of the bed, it is better if it is in the middle of both beds. Sixth, the air conditioner is too weak for a room with 3 people, it is hot even at night. Seventh, the music is too loud, i cannot even rest properly at night, you can prepare earplugs at least. Eighth, the gathering or public area is too hot because there is no fan, please prepare some ceiling fans so guests can dine properly. Ninth, should have a table for a big room at least. the floor is wide enough, but it is so dirty that we do not dare to sit on the floor to play games or cards, we also do not want to play games or cards at the gathering or public area because it is too hot and loud. Tenth, rubbish in the sea or hotel area, i saw a huge pile of rubbish such as bottled water, food container, plastic bag just floating in the sea in the resort. Here are some good things about the hotel, first, very nice scenery, the water is nice and clean in the morning. Secondly, the balcony area for each room is nice because we can look at the scenery while sitting on the chair and resting. Thirdly, the staff is very friendly and very responsible, they do their work fast, they carry our luggage, refill food fast, and are very nice. Fourthly, the overall atmosphere of the hotel is very comfortable. Fifth, the food is ok, breakfast is ok, it is not the best but it is edible, the dinner is the best, and the seafood is a very nice touch. Sixth, we can dry our wet cloth on the balcony too. Overall i give it a 2 out of 5 stars. The price of your hotel does not match the pros and cons of your hotel. I would not want to stay in the hotel another day if the problems still stay the same. Please do your best to improve better. This is my honest review as a Malaysian.

The environment here is absolutely stunning. The marine ecosystem in this area is incredibly rich; from the deck of our room, we could see starfish scattered across the sand, schools of tiny silver fish occasionally leaping out of the water, and even sea turtles and many other creatures. There are beautiful coral reefs near the overwater bungalows too. Every evening at 5 PM, the staff would take guests snorkeling to see the corals and a variety of colorful fish. The overall service was excellent. This overwater bungalow is run by traditional Chinese owners, making it very welcoming and a great spot for photos.

I have mixed feelings about this hotel. The location is beautiful, set in a jungle with lush greenery and flowers all around and it feels peaceful the moment you arrive. The staff were generally nice, especially the Chinese-speaking lady. The rooms are quite spacious, with two large double beds that were very comfortable, and relatively clean given the remote location. They also offer shuttle buses to and from town, though these are limited and require advance booking. On the downside, the remoteness creates some challenges. The shuttle requires early wake-ups and long waits as the day tours start later, and there isn’t much to do in town once you arrive. Prices at the resort are very high compared to town, and they charge extra when paying with Alipay or WeChat in Chinese yuan as instead of local currency they charge in Chinese yuan with elevated rates, which felt unfair. Also the room’s roof material made the rain extremely loud. During our stays,it rained all nights during, and even earplugs didn’t fully help with the sound. Breakfast was also limited and not great in quality. Overall, the hotel has a lovely setting and comfortable rooms, but advertising it as 5-star felt misleading. It’s more like a 3–3.5 star experience. Worth visiting if you want the location and nature, but be aware of the extra costs and limitations.

Three days, two nights, and every day brought a new kind of 'excitement.' Day one, the air conditioning didn't work, there were tons of mosquitoes, and the shower only had cold water. The only decent thing for dinner was the fried shrimp, which disappeared in seconds, and the few other dishes available were practically snatched away. It felt like a refugee experience. Day two, we got a different room. After swimming, I went back to shower, and there was no water, then cold water, then extremely hot water, constantly cycling. The water pressure was also incredibly low; I almost lost my mind trying to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. That night, it was very windy, and there was a lot of noise outside, as if something wasn't properly secured. On the third day, as we were checking out, our luggage was mistakenly taken by a staff member and given to other guests. It was only returned after the other guests realized the error. Our luggage was perfectly fine in the restaurant; how dare you just take it away? Do you have any basic management sense? Of course, the environment is nice, that's the only highlight. Given how expensive it was during Chinese New Year, you should provide a service level that matches the price. The buffet was cafeteria-standard, and we still had to fight for food. Are you not ashamed?

whats very good: Staff Service Excellent Easy access - down ladder - to sea whats good: good WiFi signal Rooms, Main Area, Jetty food - breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner - too much actually in-room fridge quiet rooms** 3 meals + tea included in-room snacks and soft drinks included what could improve: we expected total privacy - vendors in outboard motorboats and sampans kept approaching our unit when they see us sitting on the deck or swimming; they hassle us into buying stuff - from coconuts to live lobsters - and don't leave easily - we weren't interested in as we have meals and tea covered in our package. a boat with 2 sampans in tow always directly in front of our unit - eventhough approx 500-600 meters away - made us feel uncomfortable and invading our privacy No Emergency Protocols in place 7.9 or 8.2 earthquake with epicentre in Mindanao - across the Sulu Sea - there was no information or updates from staff on the situation - we were having breakfast when we felt the main area swaying when there were no waves we only got news on our mobile when back in the room we delayed our morning swim and went into water around 9.50 am. Had a few very strong waves hitting us. Asked a passing staff regarding the quake, he said no problems. after the swim we got news on our mobile that there was a Tsunami warning out and 0.4m wave could be hitting the shores of Semporna, Tawau and few other coastal cities of Eastern Sabah between 9.30am and 12.30pm 🤷🏾♂️ thankfully we survived to be able to write this.

I contacted the hotel via WhatsApp 3 days before check-in, and they replied very quickly. They even called me back, and the communication was very smooth. The boat departs from the jetty at 1:30 PM, but when we arrived at 12:30 PM, the boat was already waiting. Someone helped us with our luggage when we boarded. Later, we found out they weren't hotel staff, so we tipped each of them RM5. The hotel's check-out time is 10 AM, and the latest guests can leave by boat is 11 AM because the boat cannot sail after low tide. So, no late check-outs are possible. On the way there, it was high tide, and the boat sailed over shallow waters. The 'jelly sea' was absolutely stunning. My initial apprehension instantly turned into pure delight – it was so worth it! We were 6 adults and 3 children. We originally booked one triple fan room and one quintuple fan room. Because I didn't want a corner room, and the quintuple room was in the westernmost corner, and since there weren't many guests during the off-peak season (we practically had the place to ourselves, which was a pleasant surprise!), the hotel generously gave us an additional triple room and upgraded all our rooms to air-conditioned ones. Another great surprise! Actually, the sea breeze was strong, and opening the window with a fan was already very comfortable, so we didn't really need the air conditioning. In fact, after snorkeling, we found it too cold in the room, so we promptly turned off the AC. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations. The quintuple room was newer, while the two triple rooms were smaller and older. However, the sea view was so beautiful, and given the great value for money, these minor issues were acceptable. The hotel owner was also very accommodating and gave us keys to a few rooms, letting us choose which ones we wanted. Since the quintuple room was on the western side, the sunset views were spectacular. My friends even saw sea turtles twice from their room at night. After watching the sunrise, we walked to the easternmost part of the hotel. There's a bridge there that's perfect for photos, and we kept seeing sea turtles, which was such an amazing surprise! We saw about 7-8 sea turtles intermittently, and they were huge! It might have been the start of low tide, and they were all swimming towards the deep sea. This must be a common path for them, and it was the biggest highlight of our trip. The hotel has Wi-Fi and accepts TNG for payment. The round-trip boat ticket costs RM100, and children ride for free. Life jackets are RM5, and swimming rings are RM10 (no time limit). The hotel's snorkeling masks were broken and unavailable for rent, so it's best to bring your own. The sea has lots of corals, starfish, and fish, making it excellent for snorkeling. Bring extra bread to feed the fish. The hotel doesn't provide bottled water or hair dryers, but there's hot water and tea bags. Dinner was local Malay food, which might not suit everyone's palate, but we found it quite good, and the fish was cooked tenderly. The simple breakfast included delicious fried rice noodles. We also brought some chocolates and instant cereal/drink mixes to prepare with the hotel's hot water. There's also free karaoke and Lami mahjong, though they can only be used until 11 PM. The karaoke is a new facility, only 4 months old, and the sound system is excellent. The Lami mahjong set was brand new. In summary: Although the hotel is a bit old, the sea is incredibly beautiful, and we even saw sea turtles. For the price, it offers great value. Overall, I highly recommend it.