Hotel Dengan spa di Sabah, Malaysia

This is the first time I've experienced ”wasting time” not as a derogatory term. Here, both your mind and the days slow down, not just because Tanjung Aru boasts the most beautiful sunsets, but because of every plant, every service within the hotel, and the meeting of the ocean with Shangri-La, which collectively created an unforgettable experience for us. I highly recommend the ground floor patio rooms, where the balcony leads directly to the lawn! You can witness one of the world's top three sunsets and the iconic Sunset Bar. I loved the peaceful mornings here, listening to the sea breeze on a lounge chair and watching seagulls glide over the ocean. In the evenings, there's none of the hustle and bustle of the public beach, only melodious songs, paired with a margarita, truly allowing time to slow down. I suggest staying for at least 5 nights; if you're lucky, you might even catch a unique event. The hotel's Chinese restaurant is highly recommended; it leans towards Cantonese cuisine, with prices being mid-to-high, but it definitely satisfies Chinese palates.

The water in the hotel's area is heavily polluted; it's so dirty that snorkeling is completely out of the question! The front desk staff were very perfunctory with guest requests and didn't follow through on promises. In the morning, we requested a private boat tour for island hopping and snorkeling. We discussed the time and itinerary with the dive center staff and finalized the price with the front desk. We even altered our subsequent travel plans for this. However, by 4 PM, we still hadn't received confirmation. When we called the front desk, they told us they couldn't arrange it. We asked several people, and got different explanations: first they said there were no boats, then that other guests had already been arranged for island hopping, and then that there would be a storm the next day (which turned out to be perfectly calm). I suggest the hotel improve its island hopping service. For those looking to dive, definitely don't consider this hotel! Also, the beach is incredibly tiny, barely palm-sized!

I 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.

The place is beautiful. The ocean and the beach are amazing. The hotel is seafront, a few steps and you’re swimming in the ocean. The rooms needs a lot of maintenance and deep cleaning, our room had many things need to be repair so, they gave us upgrade to a huge wood villa with 2 floors. The restaurant is ok… but no delicious. Breakfast is not so good but they prepare eggs as you like. The hotel needs dee cleaning and a lot of maintenance. They have places looks like abandoned.

This is my second stay at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, with the last one being 13 years ago. Although the hotel is older, the facilities are generally well-maintained. There are some minor damages in certain nooks and crannies, and while the bedding felt clean, I personally thought it was a bit old-fashioned. As a five-star hotel, I believe the linens should be updated more regularly. The service was excellent – warm and attentive. Some staff members could communicate in Chinese. Furthermore, knowing we had a child, they even converted the sofa into an extra bed in advance. The location is quite remote, so dining options are limited to the hotel itself. You can also use Grab, but the choices there are somewhat limited. The hotel's various restaurants offer different cuisines, catering to individual preferences, though the prices are a bit on the high side. The hotel has many activities available, which are great and fun for kids. If you have the budget for a family trip, I'd highly recommend it.

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 😊

Completely exceeded expectations! The resort is huge, almost like a nature reserve, with plenty of flora and fauna. I'd see lizards every day on my way to breakfast. The beach is also expansive and less crowded than city beaches, offering a much better experience. The sand is incredibly soft and clean. We booked a garden view room but were lucky enough to get one that had a partial sea view from the window. The only downside is that the room facilities are a bit old – I checked, and our block hasn't been renovated. There was a slight musty wooden smell, but the unrenovated rooms do have a charming, rustic style. The only real drawback is its distance from the city, making it perfect for spending the last two days of your Kota Kinabalu trip relaxing at the resort. Overall, the experience was fantastic and truly exceeded all expectations!

The room hygiene was pretty good. The environment was mostly fine, quite suitable for taking photos and checking in. There weren't many people watching the sunset in the afternoon, so overall it was good. As for service, it was okay after check-in, and they offered luggage storage. However, the hotel's policy of a unified check-in time at 3:00 PM, with no early check-in allowed, feels a bit inhumane. Are all rooms only cleaned by 3:00 PM? Shouldn't guests be notified for check-in as soon as a room is ready? We even had to queue for breakfast in the morning. I was aware that the facilities were old beforehand, so that was acceptable. You can snorkel at the hotel, and there are quite a lot of fish. Also, you can see sea urchins by the beach next to one of the swimming pools.

A fantastic stay and a perfect resort and team. Only issues are 1) plastic from sea, nothing they can do about it but it affects enjoyment, 2) we had a minor issue with housekeeping not coming and then coming when it was dark and letting a lots of bugs in the room (we had been careful to avoid that). Honestly amazing value and a great time though!

This hotel is an older resort, but the rooms have been renovated and are in pretty good condition. The resort gardens are beautiful, and the pool and beach are fantastic. I especially loved the harbor; I'd walk there twice a day to watch the small fish and giant clams – there's so much wildlife, I even saw a water monitor lizard! You can walk directly from the Pacific (hotel) to the Magellan, and even though the Magellan's beach is small, there are fish everywhere you look, which is incredibly charming! The only downsides and my suggestions are that the hotel's restaurants and other services don't offer any discounts for guests. So, we often ended up eating out and going for spas elsewhere.