5-Star Hotels in Sabah, Malaysia

I expected a great hotel stay and they delivered. All the staff were lovely. Thank you for that. My only issue is the lack of room information regarding what is available in the hotel. Normally I would expect marketing information and menus for restarunt and bar in the room. The TV does give room service menu but was not required. Fortunately we found Ben, the Concierge in the lobby who very kindly explained what we asked, and provided a map for the area. Very welcome. Thank you very much.

The sea view is amazing! 👍 The facilities are a bit old (I expected this, so it was fine). The service, however, was terrible. For a hotel that costs over 2,000 per night, the service is worse than what you'd get at a business hotel. I arrived a little after 3 PM to check in and waited over half an hour. Every counter had staff, but they were incredibly inefficient, and the lobby was a chaotic mess, packed with people. Since the lobby is on the second floor, our luggage was supposed to be delivered to our room. It took almost an hour, and after four phone calls, it finally arrived at 4:56 PM (I needed my computer by 5 PM, which is why I kept calling room service to rush the luggage). We were charged an extra bed fee for three people, but by 11 PM, when we returned to the room, the extra bed still hadn't been set up. After calling, a staff member came, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a bed. The 'duvet' was a sheet covering a blanket, and the mattress was a soft spring mattress placed right next to the balcony door. It was less comfortable than three of us sharing two king-sized beds. The walk from the lobby to the Tanjong Wing is very long. For this price, there should typically be a shuttle service, but there wasn't one here. They didn't even inform us that the hotel actually had a car, but by the time we saw it, we were almost there anyway. After watching the sunset, I left my room key in the room. I had to trek all the way back to the lobby, only to start waiting again. When I tried to ask other staff members in the lobby for help, they all directed me to the front desk. At that point, there were only two staff members at the front desk, so I had to queue again. Even when staff members came out from inside and saw the queue, they didn't open another counter. In summary, the service completely, absolutely does not match the price. It's purely for the sea view (which, I admit, is truly stunning and worth it).

This place seriously blew me away. Located above Imago mall and styled like a high-end hotel, the room felt ultra-luxurious from the moment I walked in. Yes, it’s on the pricier side — but you can see and feel where the money goes. Every detail screams premium: a Dyson hairdryer, thick and fluffy slippers, electronic blinds, touch-control lighting, and a stunning bathtub that instantly sets the mood for a relaxing stay. The design is sleek, modern, and Instagram-worthy in every corner. What truly sets this place apart is the generosity in amenities. Instead of the standard small bottled water, they provide 1500ml drinking water, plus free-flow drinking water and soft drinks to enjoy anytime. Even the Starbucks cups added a classy, thoughtful touch that made the stay feel extra special. On top of all that, parking is provided, making it incredibly convenient — especially with the mall right downstairs. This isn’t just a place to sleep — it’s an experience. If you love luxury, comfort, and those little details that make you say “wow”, this place absolutely delivers.

Facilities: The facilities are a bit old, but that's to be expected given the age of the hotel. Hygiene: The hygiene is very good. Environment: The room is spacious enough for two adults and two children. Service: The service was very enthusiastic. Booked through Ctrip, and the hotel didn't charge an extra deposit!!! We had a great time playing! Definitely go with a tour group – my broken English made things really difficult!

Aside from the nice views, everything else was pretty mediocre. We stayed in room 7418, which was quite spacious and kid-friendly. It had both a bathtub and a shower. The TV had static, and the breakfast was the same every single day – at least for the 6 nights we stayed, it was the same few options. Surprisingly, there were no noodles at the club lounge restaurant. For any egg dishes, you had to specifically ask a waiter for the menu, otherwise, you wouldn't know they even had them. For 6 nights at the executive lounge, the alcohol wasn't self-serve; they only gave you a tiny bit each time. The service, from check-in to check-out, was pretty much non-existent. Housekeeping seemed to depend on the staff's mood; the first night the room was cleaned exceptionally well – I almost regretted not filming a full walkthrough. But the following days, the cleaning was very superficial.

Stayed for 3 days and 2 nights. The unit is suitable for two couples, a small family, or a group of four. The location is near town, which is very convenient. The owner is easy to communicate with. There is no deposit required upon check-in, and the check-in process is simple—just follow the given instructions. Check-out is also easy; just leave the key in the mailbox. The unit has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a small living room with a TV, and a small kitchen. A refrigerator is provided. The water heater works well, and there are 3 air conditioners. The TV has Netflix available, but you need to use your own account. The lift is fast and not crowded. For reference: Parking is paid parking — approximately RM3 for the first 2 hours, then RM1 for subsequent hours, up to a maximum of RM15 per day. There is no washing machine in the unit, but a laundry is available on the ground floor. Guests have access to the swimming pool. For Muslim guests: no sejadah (prayer mat) is provided, so please bring your own. Note: Hopefully, the owner can continue maintaining the unit to be more Muslim-friendly, as we would love to stay here again in the future. Thank you.

The hotel's location is absolutely fantastic – super convenient for getting to the pier, the beach, and for shopping. The Dawn Plaza right opposite is a huge plus. The sea view room offers an expansive view, and there's a balcony, even if the view is a bit obstructed. The hotel's design is well-thought-out, and the facilities are user-friendly and comfortable. There's a QR code on the hotel phone that you can scan for a Chinese service menu. The bathroom counter is spacious enough, and the infinity pool boasts a truly stunning view. All the service staff are very professional. The breakfast seating is well-organized, and the à la carte dishes at breakfast really speak to the quality.

After an unhappy incident at another property(Mercure Kota Kinabalu), I impulsively booked a stay at Sheraton, honestly, best decision ever. From the moment we arrived, the vibe completely shifted. We were warmly welcomed by the friendly porter, and check-in was handled smoothly by Mr. Irfan at the front desk—super helpful, genuinely pleasant, and he even surprised us with an early check-in and a room upgrade (already winning) . The room? Spacious, comfortable, and blessed with both city and sea views, hard to beat that combo. I also have to say, I really loved the toiletries; such a small detail, but it made the stay feel extra thoughtful. Facilities-wise, the gym is well-equipped (no excuses to skip a workout), and the infinity pool is chef’s kiss—perfect for those Instagram shots. Location is another big win, super central and convenient for getting around. All in all, what started as a spontaneous escape turned into a genuinely wonderful stay. Definitely a place I’ll come back to next time I’m in town.

AMAZING!!!! The staff here! They are so unbelievably friendly and helpful. They truly made me feel so special and welcomed throughout my stay. Especially the ladies at breakfast and the guys at the door. I got the seaview room and that view was breathtaking! Front row seats to that sunset every day! The rooms are very clean and the beds and pillows are extremely comfortable, would 100% recommend if you’re looking for a comfortable and relaxing stay. The rooftop bar also has the best view of the sunset in my opinion. Breakfast was great, too- so much choice!

The honest review about this homestay is superb! We stayed here only 1 night and this homestay can accommodate up to 12 pax (adult + kids). The owner really helpful and answer all my questions during check in. This homestay facing with the spectacular view (golf resort & beach). Located above the Imago shopping mall, easy to find food too. Near to the homestay (around 1KM), we can buy souvenirs at Pasar Filipina (Anjung Kinabalu) and also eat seafood at Anjung Senja. I would like recommend this homestay to the others who will travel to Kota Kinabalu.