Best Sandakan Hotels

"It was located well next to the Orangutan sanctuary. Had a nice pool, with a scenic walk to get there. The breakfast was really nice, and changed slightly each day. Rooms were cleaned daily. Our room didn't have AC, and the WiFi didn't. No free water is provided, and it's overpriced to buy. There is a very small shop that sells it cheaper close to the resort."

"We stayed at this resort for 3 nights in December 24. We had a fantastic stay! The staff were brilliant and go out of their way for you. Restaurant food and drinks menu was fantastic and the whole resort was well cared for. As it was my birthday during our stay they decorated our room as a surprise which was a lovely touch! We would definitely come back!"

"This is the sort of place where the staff will always greet you with ”hello, sir/ma'am” whenever they see you. Nice swimming pool and very good food at the restaurant, even though slightly pricy at first (I guess it's fine being a resort), the portions are actually huge and very fresh. Try their lemon chicken on rice for 20 ringgit (February 2024). All you can eat breakfast included for free even with the dorm bed: fried noodles, a very thick pancake, fruit, British breakfast, beef sausages, coffee, juice, etc. Walk-in price is 80RM, cheaper here on Trip. The dorm looks exactly the same as the one I staid in Kinabatangan, which is always funny (same contractor?). Comfortable night, with a new AC and fan, specially so considering I had it all to myself since the other few guests they had had private accommodation. Dorm showers have plenty of hot water and are clean, but there's no soap or amenities beyond the towel they give you at check-in. Bring your own. The staff at the restaurant sometimes disappears for no reason in the middle of service, even if there's about 20 of them considering réception is right there. They helped me book a taxi to the airport (50 ringgit), since there's no grab available (spent 1h looking for one). Don't bother trying to get one, ask them to call a taxi for you, really. This resort is about 1km away from the three main things to do at sepilok. You will be walking on the side of the road to get anywhere since transportation options are scarce and expensive. Overall this is standard of service here in Borneo, so don't settle for less than this."

"The environment is very good, in the middle of nature so there are more insects and birds. The bathroom shower is integrated and relatively clean. The hotel's dogs and cats are very cute and friendly. The restaurant does not have many dishes and has limited serving time. It is very close to RDC, only a 10-minute walk away. The hotel front desk staff is also very friendly. The wifi signal at the front desk is the best, and it is very weak and almost non-existent in the room. Overall, I will book again."

"What I liked a lot: Well situated to visit main attractions in Sepilok: Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre/Sunbear centre/Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), free shuttle bus to the main attractions (09h-14h-16) which was really great. Also offer tours at reasonable prices e.g. Mangroves & Firefly Cruise (recommended). Free water dispenser. To note: rooms are very basic (there is airco), we had some ants in the room, bathroom is outside. Breakfast was limited and minimal. When we were there internet was not functional, luckily we had taken local simcard before with unlimited data so for us, this was not a big issue. Before coming to the hotel, I had sent a mail to have info about tours they offered, but never received a reply therefore I had booked tours with an agency which in the end was more expensive then when I would have it booked with Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat. Possible to book tours on the spot (no need to reserve before coming) but I did not know this in advance."

"During a major blackout in our area, it was almost impossible to find a hotel. Thankfully, Trip.com helped us secure a booking, and the hotel even offered a free upgrade so my kids could have a good night’s sleep. Truly grateful for the excellent service!"

"The cleanliness of the room and bathroom was satisfactory. The location is strategic, close to Sandakan airport, with a laundry, market, and restaurants conveniently located around the hotel. There were only three minor drawbacks: Firstly, if you book a room with a bathtub, showering is difficult. (See the second picture.) You have to step into the tub to turn on the water, and the cold tap only dispensed hot water, so you had no choice but to endure hot showers. Secondly, only one room key card was issued. If you're not staying solo and someone leaves the room, they'll have to knock to get back in. Lastly, the TV was non-functional as it had no channels and couldn't connect to the Wi-Fi. The TV itself looked like an outdated model."

"I stayed at the Livingston Hotel Sandakan for two nights during a public holiday and overall, I was quite satisfied with the experience. The hotel offers a good balance of comfort and affordability."

"The location is excellent, surrounded by restaurants with great food and just a few hundred meters from the supermarket. There are also many pharmacies nearby, making it very convenient. As a woman, I feel very safe staying here, which is important when traveling. I also appreciate the hotel’s eco-friendly choice of providing water dispensers instead of plastic bottles. This is my second time staying here, and I’ll definitely return again. Highly recommended!"

"Hotel was ideally located within walking distance to restaurants, shops and the starting point for Heritage Trail walk with the Jamek Mosque (Heritage trail no 1 - oldest mosque in Sandkan$?? just next door. Quite easy to get Grab/Maxim to go anywhere hence. In general the hotel is quite old with working furnitures however some repairs needed is quite understandable. Did not opt for breakfast (reasonably priced) as we would want to try out local shops instead. All in all, a very convenient place to stay"