Villas di Sabah, Malaysia

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.

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.

I have mixed feelings about this hotel. The location is beautiful, set in a jungle with lush greenery and flowers all around and it feels peaceful the moment you arrive. The staff were generally nice, especially the Chinese-speaking lady. The rooms are quite spacious, with two large double beds that were very comfortable, and relatively clean given the remote location. They also offer shuttle buses to and from town, though these are limited and require advance booking. On the downside, the remoteness creates some challenges. The shuttle requires early wake-ups and long waits as the day tours start later, and there isn’t much to do in town once you arrive. Prices at the resort are very high compared to town, and they charge extra when paying with Alipay or WeChat in Chinese yuan as instead of local currency they charge in Chinese yuan with elevated rates, which felt unfair. Also the room’s roof material made the rain extremely loud. During our stays,it rained all nights during, and even earplugs didn’t fully help with the sound. Breakfast was also limited and not great in quality. Overall, the hotel has a lovely setting and comfortable rooms, but advertising it as 5-star felt misleading. It’s more like a 3–3.5 star experience. Worth visiting if you want the location and nature, but be aware of the extra costs and limitations.

Unlike most guesthouses, which are typically large houses with several rooms, Pineapple Resort feels more like a hotel. It consists of a dozen small, standalone wooden cottages nestled among palm trees. The management is also quite hotel-like, and while breakfast isn't extensive, it offers a good variety. Although the resort is about five kilometers from Semporna town, considering the town's general disarray (especially near the jetty with seafood vendors and Bajau beggars), which can easily spoil a good mood, it's better to stay a bit further out in a quiet resort. Pineapple Resort offers free shuttle buses to and from Semporna jetty from morning to midday and in the evening, making transportation very convenient. What's more, it provides a warmer experience than a star-rated hotel, giving me a home-away-from-home feeling. For foodies, if you're a good cook (the resort doesn't yet have a professional chef), Pineapple Resort is happy to provide a cooking area for seafood bought from the town market, which is incredibly convenient for those of us who love beautiful views and good food.

Had a really pleasant stay here. The room was clean, the location is great with a nice peaceful vibe, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Amenities were well maintained and everything felt comfortable. Definitely a good place to relax and unwind. Would come again!

We had a wonderful stay here. The villa was clean, comfortable, and beautifully designed. The view of Mount Kinabalu was absolutely breathtaking, especially in the morning. The atmosphere was peaceful and perfect for a relaxing family getaway. Everything was well prepared, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We really enjoyed our time here and would definitely love to come back. Highly recommended!

The advantages are good environment, single-family villas, each with a swimming pool, right by the sea, few people, quiet, and friendly waiters. But there are still many unsanitary corners, old facilities, many mosquitoes, freshly made breakfast, but few choices and not tasty, remote location, no supermarkets and restaurants around, half an hour drive to town for dinner. The kitchen is large and the kitchenware is very complete. It is really good to stay here if you are traveling with several families

Clean and comfortable, house very big and garden well managed. Suitable for gathering and equipment entertainment inside the house.

Although the house is spacious, with many rooms and a convenient location near the airport, it is quite old. If you prefer a more modern living environment and want to avoid issues like contacting the owner to fix pipes or dealing with dripping sinks while brushing your teeth, this may not be the right place for you.

There is no hot water in the bathroom sink, and there is not enough water in the bath 🚿!