Villas in Sabah, Malaysia

We had a perfect time at Eaglebay Retreat. It’s truly an undisturbed paradise. You have an entire house and hundreds of meters of coastline all to yourself. Every morning, you can wake up in the sunshine and decide whether to go snorkeling or just relax in the sun—you have the choice. The sunsets were always perfect, and experiencing them on a paddleboard is far better than being in a crowded place like KK. At the same time, the retreat offers a wide range of activities that are both rich and reasonably priced—paddleboarding, jet skiing, kayaking, and more, so you’ll never feel bored. During our stay, Arlyn and h is family provided us with everything we needed: they inflated our paddleboards, helped us arrange sea activities, climbed trees to pick coconuts for us, and prepared delicious meals. Whenever we needed them, they were always available, without intruding on our privacy. Their presence was always perfectly balanced. I would also like to thank Faizal, who did a lot of work before our arrival, and Jamri, the kind lady who helped us recover our lost Apple Pencil during our stay. She assisted in finding it, came up with several ways to return it (considering Eaglebay Retreat’s remote location), and finally delivered it to my friend personally, asking for nothing in return. Your kindness will be remembered. Yes, I think we would definitely recommend this place to our friends, and we will visit Eaglebay again in the future.

A recommended seaside villa. The two families had a great time. The housekeeper was very responsible. No problem with language communication. We can contact you on WeChat. I will stay here again when I go to climb Mount Kinabalu next time.

I contacted the hotel via WhatsApp 3 days before check-in, and they replied very quickly. They even called me back, and the communication was very smooth. The boat departs from the jetty at 1:30 PM, but when we arrived at 12:30 PM, the boat was already waiting. Someone helped us with our luggage when we boarded. Later, we found out they weren't hotel staff, so we tipped each of them RM5. The hotel's check-out time is 10 AM, and the latest guests can leave by boat is 11 AM because the boat cannot sail after low tide. So, no late check-outs are possible. On the way there, it was high tide, and the boat sailed over shallow waters. The 'jelly sea' was absolutely stunning. My initial apprehension instantly turned into pure delight – it was so worth it! We were 6 adults and 3 children. We originally booked one triple fan room and one quintuple fan room. Because I didn't want a corner room, and the quintuple room was in the westernmost corner, and since there weren't many guests during the off-peak season (we practically had the place to ourselves, which was a pleasant surprise!), the hotel generously gave us an additional triple room and upgraded all our rooms to air-conditioned ones. Another great surprise! Actually, the sea breeze was strong, and opening the window with a fan was already very comfortable, so we didn't really need the air conditioning. In fact, after snorkeling, we found it too cold in the room, so we promptly turned off the AC. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations. The quintuple room was newer, while the two triple rooms were smaller and older. However, the sea view was so beautiful, and given the great value for money, these minor issues were acceptable. The hotel owner was also very accommodating and gave us keys to a few rooms, letting us choose which ones we wanted. Since the quintuple room was on the western side, the sunset views were spectacular. My friends even saw sea turtles twice from their room at night. After watching the sunrise, we walked to the easternmost part of the hotel. There's a bridge there that's perfect for photos, and we kept seeing sea turtles, which was such an amazing surprise! We saw about 7-8 sea turtles intermittently, and they were huge! It might have been the start of low tide, and they were all swimming towards the deep sea. This must be a common path for them, and it was the biggest highlight of our trip. The hotel has Wi-Fi and accepts TNG for payment. The round-trip boat ticket costs RM100, and children ride for free. Life jackets are RM5, and swimming rings are RM10 (no time limit). The hotel's snorkeling masks were broken and unavailable for rent, so it's best to bring your own. The sea has lots of corals, starfish, and fish, making it excellent for snorkeling. Bring extra bread to feed the fish. The hotel doesn't provide bottled water or hair dryers, but there's hot water and tea bags. Dinner was local Malay food, which might not suit everyone's palate, but we found it quite good, and the fish was cooked tenderly. The simple breakfast included delicious fried rice noodles. We also brought some chocolates and instant cereal/drink mixes to prepare with the hotel's hot water. There's also free karaoke and Lami mahjong, though they can only be used until 11 PM. The karaoke is a new facility, only 4 months old, and the sound system is excellent. The Lami mahjong set was brand new. In summary: Although the hotel is a bit old, the sea is incredibly beautiful, and we even saw sea turtles. For the price, it offers great value. Overall, I highly recommend it.

Good parts: The host responded very promptly, the restaurant was good value for money, and the hotel would deliver when Grab refused to take us due to remoteness. Unpleasant parts: 1. The host who speaks Chinese can only be contacted online, and offline communication is difficult. I paid extra to book a French window, and the host was very considerate and said that I could check in early, but when I arrived, I found that the room type had been changed. I insisted on staying in the original room and waited outside the door for two hours. I repeatedly confirmed the drop-off point with the driver, but he still got off at the wrong place. My boyfriend almost missed the island hopping tour because of heat stroke after running wildly under the scorching sun. 2. The restaurant next door is good, but when checking out, I found that the price of each dish did not match the menu sent an hour ago, and I was charged 100 more horse, which was removed after communication. 3. After checking out, I troubled the hotel to find sunglasses and book a car, which was indeed an extra thing. The hotel's attitude was already impatient.

A charming place with cozy surroundings. You can walk around the area, and there are also benches and tables to spend time in nature. Rooms can be chilly after sunset, but there is a warm blanket on the bed. Very nice staff, they helped me buy a bus ticket and helped to find a taxi driver

The hotel's primary focus on Chinese guests is evident in its services and amenities, which are predominantly in Chinese. This should be clearly stated in the hotel description on the booking websites. The villa itself is well-maintained, spacious, and equipped with everything you need. The beds and linens are of good quality, the toiletries are nice, and the bathroom is modern and clean. The air conditioner is quiet, but the external unit is quite noisy. The exterior and garden are lovely and clean. The breakfast buffet was subpar, with cold food and coffee that required guests to microwave (completely in Chinese) it themselves, which was also a major inconvenience. Yet, the variety and quality of food was good and tasty. The staff seemed indifferent to the lack of coffee and food, and the lady who came to ”check” on us only brought coffee when we asked. Overall, our stay was satisfactory, but this place definitely needs to improve its hospitality and guest service. Given the above this place is too overpriced.

My stay at 'Fairy Tale Wonderland Resort' in Semporna completely exceeded my expectations. Let's start with transportation: the hotel offers a shuttle service that picks you up directly from the airport, which was a huge convenience. The driver was incredibly friendly and even gave us tips on where to exchange money and reliable dive shops. The accommodation was fantastic. The room had wooden floors and a high ceiling, and it felt clean and dry. The bed was super soft, and the pillows weren't flat at all. The big sea turtle plushie on the bed was absolutely adorable. Both the fan and air conditioning were quiet at night, ensuring a very restful sleep. The courtyard felt like a small garden with coconut trees, flower walls, and colorful signs. It was incredibly relaxing to just sit on the woven hanging chair and zone out; every photo I took turned out beautifully. The food deserves a special mention. For dinner, we ordered steamed crab, mantis shrimp, soy-sauce steamed fish, and a plate of water spinach. The freshness was undeniable, and the cooking was perfectly executed, bringing out the natural flavors of the seafood without being overly salty or greasy. Overall, the hotel's attention to detail in service was excellent: convenient transfers, clean and comfortable rooms, and high-quality food. If you're looking for a relaxing holiday in Semporna, I highly recommend staying here.