Read genuine traveler ratings & reviews to find your perfect stay.
Posted onMay 14, 2026
Guest UserChoosing 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.
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Price per night from:€94
Posted onAug 3, 2026|Deluxe Twin Room
ElisaThis 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.
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Price per night from:€56
Posted onJun 18, 2026
Hotel Reviewer/Influencerfirst 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.
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Price per night from:€206
Posted onApr 24, 2026|Seaview Pool Water Villa
Kiki~07
Our stay at the Sagittarius Water Bungalow was absolutely fantastic! From our butler Xiao Gu to all the staff on the water bungalows and even the owners, everyone was incredibly nice. The rooms are equipped with smart Xiaomi home devices, clean and tidy. Opening the curtains reveals the beautiful 'jellyfish sea,' and the scenery is simply captivating. The food at the water bungalows is also delicious; breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are all included in the price. Airport transfers and boat rides to the island are also covered, making it excellent value for money! We stayed for five days and four nights and didn't want to leave. The atmosphere on the island is also great, with KTV and song requests every night – the owner and his wife sing really well, by the way! The water bungalows offer a lot of entertainment, including sea fishing, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, and drone photography. The local staff (Xiao Hei) are also happy to help with photos 📸. You can even get your diving certification and go on island-hopping day trips, keeping you thoroughly entertained. We came to Semporna specifically to get our diving certification, and the water bungalow's own dive shop is highly recommended. The instructors are very responsible and dedicated. I'd like to thank Xiao Li and Instructor Mohd Rizal Baba Selleh. The prices are fair, and the teaching focuses on the safety and skills of the students, which is very reassuring. The dive shop owner's wife is also super nice. All in all, this trip was incredibly worthwhile, and we'll definitely be back! I'll also be recommending it to my friends and family 😊
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Price per night from:€319
Posted onJan 16, 2026|Mixed Dormitory Room
TrippingtheuniverseSemporna is an interesting place to visit, with several islands surrounded by coral reefs for snorkeling and diving, more beautiful than many other snorkeling spots worldwide. Staying at this hostel instead of moving to an island resort is a good way to budget. And not only that, the fish market in Semporna is the most incredible one I have seen, seafood like lobsters, large shrimps, crabs so fresh, not even the one at Kota Kinabalu can be compared good as it was too. The DZ hostel lady staff was very helpful and can arrange for island trips at a reasonable price. The dorms are separated into boys and girls, something I truly appreciate. The bathrooms faced the afternoon sun, so they were dried easily and kept clean. Laundry by machine was offered free, a super plus for swimmers. The hostel also offered local Malay snack food for breakfast, and coffee or tea were always available. To be honest, it's a good budget place to stay while splurging on the island tours. It's a bit sad that no cooking is allowed here, even though there was a kitchen. Sad because the seafood mentioned above was so available. The facade of the building is nothing to boast about, and like many places, the external (streets, pavement, eyc) can be a mess. That should not deter visiting this part of the world mainly because the sea in this area is astoundingly replenished with marine life.
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Price per night from:€5
Posted onFeb 22, 2026|Standard Twin
Guest User
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?
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Price per night from:€362
Posted onJun 3, 2026
Guest UserThis resort is truly beautiful — scenic, clean and affordable. The surroundings are stunning and the rooms are well-maintained.
However, there were several service issues that affected our overall experience.
1. Boat pick up was said to be 1.30pm. We were made to wait on the boat for almost 30 minutes because the resort manager had gone to town to buy supplies. The transfer only proceeded after I complained to the service manager. Shouldn’t the boat came earlier if u need to buy supplies??
2. Upon arrival at the resort, we had to wait again for check-in, even though ours was the only boat arriving and there were only four rooms to be checked in.
3. Dinner was scheduled from 7-8 PM. When we arrived at the café at around 7:30 PM, only rice and chicken were left. The vegetables and prawns had already run out. When I requested a fried egg as a replacement, I was offered clams instead.
It should’t be an excuse if other customers took too much food or we came late. 7.30pm is not late. You shd manage the food serving, it was not ur 1st week of business.
4. Breakfast was scheduled from 7-8AM. We arrived at 7:20 AM, but breakfast was not ready yet. Once the food was served, guests had to queue (this is fine) but by the time it was our turn, the eggs and chicken were already finished. I had to personally knock the kitchen to inform before the food was replenished.
5. Trip.com stated that check-out time was 11:00 AM, but the front desk informed us that check-out was at 10:00 AM. Only after I pointed out the booking details was I allowed to check out at 11:00 AM.
Belief they wants more ample time to tidy up the rooms at the cost of the customers.
Other area that improve:-
1. When I contacted the receptionist via WhatsApp regarding a booking modification, the responses were not particularly friendly or accommodating. A more customer-oriented approach would greatly improve the guest experience.
2. The receptionist’s appearance and presentation did not seem professional. Throughout my stay, she was dressed very casually, resembling sleepwear, and I initially assumed she was part of the housekeeping team rather than the front desk staff.
Overall, the resort has great potential due to its beautiful setting, cleanliness, and affordability. With improvements in service standards, communication, and guest management, it could provide a much better experience for visitors.
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Price per night from:€74
Posted onMay 2, 2026|Superior Twin Room
Guest UserThe Lighthouse Hotel Semporna boasts an excellent location, directly facing the jetty for boat excursions. It's within walking distance of island hopping meeting points and seafood restaurants, making it incredibly convenient for getting around and finding food. Opened in 2023, the rooms are spacious and clean, with separate wet and dry areas in the bathroom. The rooftop pool offers sea views, and the overall environment is quiet and peaceful. The front desk service is thoughtful, and they support WeChat communication, offering great value for money. The only downsides are that the breakfast selection is simple and the facilities are quite basic. If you're looking for a luxurious experience, you might want to consider other options. However, it's perfect for travelers primarily focused on island hopping who prioritize convenient accommodation.
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Price per night from:€82
Posted onFeb 5, 2025
Anonymous User
I think I might be the first Korean visitor :) I am from Malaysia but it was a beautiful experience in East Malaysia, which was my first visit. For safety, I recommend that you understand the territorial disputes and historical background of East Malaysia. You will need to communicate with the local resort through email and WhatsApp, so if you have difficulty speaking English, you can get information about boats and resorts with plenty of time.
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Price per night from:€206
Posted onApr 27, 2026|Executive Twin Suite
ShanyouzhenI chose this hotel for a one-night stay before heading to the overwater bungalow the next day. Although the room facilities were a bit old, they were very clean. There's a convenience store right downstairs, and it's very close to the pier. The sea breeze was a bit loud at night, but the breakfast was excellent and plentiful.
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Price per night from:€49