Resorts in Semporna

"This overwater bungalow requires a boat transfer from Myding Lodge, which takes about 20-25 minutes. It's crucial to contact the hotel in advance to register for fixed boat transfer slots. Before my trip, I saw quite a few negative reviews online, so my expectations weren't high. I even double-checked the exact pick-up point with the hotel multiple times. However, upon arriving at the hotel, the stunning shallow waters and coral reefs along the boardwalk immediately dispelled my initial worries. The natural scenery here is truly exceptional. After a smooth check-in at the lobby, the staff informed us of the specific dining times for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. We then proceeded to our room. Regarding the actual room experience: the interior tends to be stuffy, and the air conditioning unit is quite noisy. Earplugs are definitely needed for a peaceful night's sleep. The water pressure in the bathroom is low, though not as bad as some reviews claimed (like a mere trickle). However, the faucet couldn't be completely turned off at night, leading to a constant dripping sound that somewhat disturbed our rest. Of course, the room type also had its highlights. I booked the Deluxe room, which came with lounge chairs and a popular hammock net on the balcony, perfect for relaxing in the evening. However, the hammock net was surrounded by wooden boards and nails, making it feel a bit unsafe, so we didn't dare to use it for too long. The room also had a private ladder directly into the sea, which is fantastic for guests who love to swim. The hotel offers complimentary rental services. Snorkeling enthusiasts can borrow masks from the front desk, and kayaks are also available for free, making for an excellent water activity experience. The waters in front of the hotel lobby are rich in coral. The best time for snorkeling is between 3-4 PM daily during high tide, when you can see numerous fish and extensive coral formations, creating a breathtaking view. During our stay, we often encountered Bajau people in small boats selling seafood. I highly recommend bargaining boldly for the best price. After a successful negotiation, you can have the hotel kitchen prepare it. On our first night, the processing fee was 10 MYR per dish, but it increased to 15 MYR on the second night. The prepared dishes were decent and satisfactory for everyday meals. The hotel's own buffet quality was rather average, and dining options would be quite limited if you didn't purchase seafood elsewhere. Overall, the biggest advantage of this overwater bungalow is its excellent privacy. You can quietly await the sunrise in the morning and enjoy the beautiful sunset in the evening, completely undisturbed by others. It's perfectly suited for those seeking a peaceful getaway and a close connection with nature."

"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."

"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."

"A garden-style hotel with a professionally designed garden, a warm-hearted owner, sunny and cheerful staff, a variety of delicious breakfasts, complimentary afternoon tea, clean and tidy rooms, and peaceful sleep accompanied by birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, making the trip more comfortable. This was my second stay, and it's almost the best choice in Semporna."

"I found a hidden gem in Semporna, a standalone wooden cabin, and the Chinese food was divine – absolutely loved it! I honestly can't recommend The River Elf Hotel in Semporna enough; it was truly the fairytale retreat I unearthed during my Sabah trip! Upon landing, I booked a Grab from Tawau Airport, and it took about 1.5 hours to get directly to the hotel. It’s located just in front of the Firefly Hotel, built right into the forest. The entire hotel feels like a glamping site, made up of individual, detached wooden cabins, offering ultimate privacy. The moment you step into the hotel grounds, it's like entering a dwelling for elves in a tropical rainforest, far from the hustle and bustle of Semporna town. The wooden cabins are fully equipped with air conditioning and reliable hot water showers. Outside, there are leisure tables and chairs, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the breeze. The most thoughtful amenity for island travelers: a laundry area with a dryer! After snorkeling or diving, your clothes are soaked with saltwater. Being able to wash and dry them immediately means no more damp, fishy-smelling clothes. Anyone on a long trip will understand this essential need! The hotel's amenities and services far exceeded my expectations. The staff can help arrange transportation, and there's a complimentary shuttle service daily to and from Semporna town and the jetty, making it super convenient whether you're going out to buy supplies or heading to a dive shop. For breakfast, you can choose between two set menus (A or B). The biggest surprise was their extensive Chinese menu (pictures of the menu attached), with very reasonable prices. You absolutely MUST try their signature Coca-Cola Chicken Wings! My husband rarely eats chicken wings, but on the first day, I specifically saved two for him to try. To my surprise, they were still incredibly flavorful and had an amazing texture even after they cooled down. The next day, we each devoured an entire plate, leaving nothing but a pile of bones, so I couldn't even take a picture. To find authentic stir-fried garlic water spinach and spicy Coca-Cola chicken wings that melt off the bone on a foreign island was a delightful surprise. The shredded potatoes with white vinegar, although slightly thick, were exceptionally sweet. The egg fried rice wasn't as amazing for us Sichuan natives who prefer individual grains, but these Chinese dishes genuinely comforted my Chinese stomach, a truly unexpected pleasure. As night falls, the warm yellow lights of each wooden cabin slowly illuminate, creating an incredible atmosphere. At night, you can rest to the gentle calls of forest birds, and if you're lucky, you might even spot wild monkeys swinging through the trees during the day, offering an immersive embrace of raw nature. I must give a special shout-out to our butler, Ashley. She truly went above and beyond, fulfilling every request with unexpected attentiveness! My husband needed to get up early for his scuba diving course, and Ashley coordinated and arranged all his early morning needs. On our last day, my husband and I had separate itineraries, making it difficult to align our times. After discussing it, Ashley successfully arranged a paid late check-out, perfectly solving our transit dilemma. No matter the request, big or small, she listened patiently and did her best to coordinate, making our entire stay reassuring and comfortable. Instead of being crammed into the noisy and crowded town center, you stay in a quiet, independent wooden cabin by the river, surrounded by lush greenery, with the sounds of nature all around. It was truly a great stroke of luck to encounter The River Elf Hotel on this Semporna trip! If you're planning a visit to Semporna and want a peaceful, healing accommodation environment, especially if you're a diver, I genuinely recommend putting this at the top of your list!"

"My stay at this hotel during my trip was truly exceptional! The hotel's overall environment is quiet and comfortable, and the rooms are clean and tidy, making for a very relaxing stay, perfect for a vacation. The hotel staff provided very warm and attentive service. From the moment I checked in, they created a dedicated group chat for guests to easily contact them at any time. Any questions I had were answered and resolved promptly, showing high service efficiency and making me feel very secure. Furthermore, I accidentally left my phone in the room when checking out. After contacting the staff, they immediately helped me look for it and promptly brought it to the hotel entrance. They were truly responsible, and it really shows the hotel's dedication to its guests. Overall, it offers excellent value for money. The price is affordable, but the service and overall experience far exceeded my expectations. Both the environment and the service are highly commendable. I highly recommend staying here if you're traveling, and I will definitely come back again!"

"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?"

"I chose this resort for its vacation vibe, and the natural surroundings are truly beautiful, with palm trees casting shadows like a postcard. Getting to the pier or the town center takes about 15 minutes by car. The hotel offers a shuttle service at fixed times, but if you miss it, taxis are readily available and quite affordable, costing around 15 RMB. The hotel breakfast isn't particularly lavish, but it's enough to fill you up."

"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!"

"This hotel doesn't need any filters – the overall environment is great. They have a pool, swings, and hammocks, and the room facilities are quite new. The three meals a day were decent, and the Wi-Fi signal was strong throughout. It's a shame I couldn't get a room for a second night, so I had to move to another hotel the next day."