Semporna Hotels with Bars

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.

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!

Seriously, you guys won't believe how amazing this resort in Semporna was! I have to give it a major shout-out 🌈! This isn't a sponsored post; I'm genuinely just gushing because once you stay here, you'll understand how incredible it is! ✅ The service was unbelievably good, and having everything in Chinese was a huge relief 😭 From booking to check-in, all our WeChat communications were in Chinese, and they responded quickly and patiently. The most incredible part? We arrived after 10 PM, and the owner was still waiting for us! He even personally cooked us fried eggs and noodles 🍜. Eating that warm meal, I almost shed a tear… To get this kind of treatment in a foreign country truly warmed my heart. ✅ The room details were exceptional, and the built-in Chinese outlets were a stroke of genius 🔌 The room looked exactly like the pictures, but it was even bigger and more comfortable! Wooden floors plus cozy lighting really gave it a full vacation vibe. I especially want to praise the built-in Chinese outlets – you can charge your phone and camera without needing an adapter. That attention to detail completely blew me away. The bathroom was also huge, with a sliding glass shower door that even had a Chinese sticker saying ”slide right.” It was thoughtful beyond words. ✅ The large bathtub by the window offered an unbeatable view; soaking in it while enjoying the scenery was pure bliss 🛁 There was also a round bathtub by the window in the room, overlooking a small pond and greenery. Taking a bath at night with the night view was incredibly romantic! The bathroom was clean and bright too, making the whole experience top-notch. ✨ Overall Impression: When you're traveling, ”the experience” is truly paramount! From the owner to the staff, from the facilities to the service, this place is all about delivering an amazing experience. It's not a cold, impersonal hotel; it's more like having a reliable friend taking care of you in Semporna. The free shuttle service to and from the pier was super convenient too! To sum it up in one sentence: If I ever come back to Semporna, I'm definitely staying at this hotel again – it's truly, truly, truly great!! 💯💯💯

Our stay at Mabul Island Hotel was truly comfortable, offering a genuine taste of the island's scenery and the joy of diving. It was incredibly relaxing! However, a significant issue arose with this booking through Trip.com. The boat departure times for getting to the island were hidden in the order notes, specifically in the very last supplementary remarks, which most people wouldn't notice. So, upon arriving in Semporna town, we discovered that there are only three boats to Mabul Island daily: one around 10 AM, another around 12 PM, and the last at 4:30 PM. We had no choice but to wait for the 4:30 PM boat, meaning we didn't reach the hotel until after 5 PM, essentially wasting an entire day. The hotel cost is very high, including three meals and diving, so it's best to get to the island as early as possible to maximize your entertainment time. Otherwise, staying at such an expensive hotel isn't worth it. Secondly, you absolutely must dive in Sipadan. For scuba diving, you need an AOW certification, but even snorkeling is stunning – it's a true diver's paradise. Diving in Sipadan requires advance application as there's a daily limit on the number of divers. Thirdly, the three meals provided by the hotel were mediocre and lacked variety. For such a high hotel price, the food quality should be improved. The hotel's value for money is indeed just average. Fourthly, the Bajau people paddle their boats daily, even under the water villas, to sell seafood. The seafood is delicious, and bargaining is key – you can usually get it for a third of the asking price. However, the hotel's processing fee is a bit pricey at 60 MYR/kg. But the taste was pretty good. I love to travel but rarely write reviews; this time, it's because I encountered a pitfall and wanted to create a 'guidebook' for others planning to visit Semporna, to give them a heads-up. Overall, the water quality around Mabul Island Hotel is excellent, and it's perfect for photos. If you have a bit of a budget, it's definitely worth booking.

Right on the doorstep of the ocean, the huge terrace offers a direct, unobstructed view of the crystal-clear water where you can spot starfish and various fish. The environment is clean and comfortable, and the staff diligently scoops up floating plastic waste from the sea every day—a thoughtful and eco-friendly touch. Watching the sunset in the evening sets an amazing mood, and the quiet, peaceful atmosphere makes it the ultimate getaway to completely unwind. The facilities deserve a special shoutout. The rooms are quite spacious, clean, and fresh, with well-maintained hardware. You can step right into the sea from the terrace and even enjoy free paddleboarding. Basically, all the amenities you need for a daily vacation are provided, making the stay very convenient. It's only a 10-minute boat ride from town, so it's not a remote island, offering a tranquil escape in a bustling location. The service deserves even higher praise. The Mandarin-speaking butler was extremely responsive and gentle, and he was able to help with pretty much any request we had. The local staff worked diligently, eagerly helping with luggage and housekeeping, and they were always warm and friendly. The whole experience felt very high-end and refined. Choosing Sea Star Resort Semporna for your trip to Semporna is a guaranteed win!

The value for money is decent, and it's not too far from town. If you're looking for a quieter stay, this could be a good option. The owner speaks a little Chinese. The service wasn't overly enthusiastic but perfectly adequate. No deposit was required for the stay.

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! 👍

Strategic location. Convenient to go surfing and food. Very nice in house restaurant for sunset

Overall, it's pretty clean and tidy, but you can't compare it to a chain hotel. The location is super convenient, right in the center of town. The room even has a small balcony with a sea view (though the water near town isn't very clean). The morning and evening views are still quite nice. There's a 7-Eleven right across from the lobby entrance downstairs for anything you need, and the food street is just a few steps away.

The location is super close to the ferry terminal. Downstairs, right across the street, there's a KFC, Starbucks, and 7-Eleven, which is really convenient. The front desk staff were very patient. The only drawback is that the room is a bit old-fashioned. However, the hotel's exterior looks upscale and grand.