Sandakan
Right near the waterfront, this hostel gets a lot of love from the backpacker contingent for its cleanliness and the helpfulness of its staff. The cosy…
Must-see hotels in Sabah
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
This smart brick guesthouse with great views of Mt Kinabalu from its terraces sits in a quiet cul-de-sac in Kundasang village. Most of the spotless rooms…
Tawau
A short walk from the city centre's excellent dining, this intimate, welcoming option is all snug rooms with hardwood floors, excellent wi-fi connections…
Lahad Datu
While not quite a hostel, this wallet-friendly budget spot gets high marks for its clean private rooms (some windowless), the helpfulness of its staff and…
Sabah
At the Maliau Basin headquarters, 30km from the reserve entrance, choose between upscale rooms (VIP House/deluxe/standard RM1400/540/410), regular…
Kota Kinabalu
Jolly hostel with a welcoming common area, plant-filled space with water feature and bold, crimson-and-lime-green rooms. Some have natural light, while…
Kota Kinabalu
Head up the steep stairs in the cosy little bar and you find yourself in a vast space with 33 bunks connected by metal walkways and scaffolding. Each…
Sabah
Run by locals, this lime-green wooden affair on the river has snug, fan-cooled dorms and basic rooms. There's also a pleasant cafe looking out on the…
Kota Kinabalu
Friendly staff preside over snug, well-appointed, spotless rooms that are within handy walking distance of most central attractions. The windowless…
Tawau
Though no gardens are in evidence, this is one of Tawau's best options: spotless rooms in light, almost-Scandi woods, with desks and powerful showers,…
Tawau
Not central, but ideal if you have to overnight in Tawau after diving, ROOMS is a small, squeaky-clean hotel with large, comfy beds and helpful staff…
Kota Kinabalu
This friendly hostel has large double rooms, uncramped dorms, a decent kitchen and a chill lounge with TV. Staff can help you book trips around Sabah. The…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
These four split-level suites with rain showers can be found in the Liwagu Building. While they sleep up to four people, they're best for couples as they…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
These attached two-storey units fall somewhere between hotel rooms and private lodges. They have two bedrooms (one with a twin bed, one with a queen) and…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
These semi-detached cabins are a good option for those who can't face a night in the hostel or in a twin with a shared bathroom. They're clean and…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
These semidetached cabins have two bedrooms (one with a bunk bed and one with two twin beds), pleasant sitting rooms, fireplaces and nice views from their…
Sabah
Hammock-style accommodation, as well as showers and toilets. There's a 1km nature trail as well. This research station is closest to the Maliau Basin…
Sabah
Stretcher hammocks for up to 20 visitors, as well as toilet and shower facilities. Located near the impressive, 27m-high Ginseng Falls.
Sabah
Basic bunk beds, showers and solar electricity. There's also a 33m-high observation tower for birding.
Sepilok
Located about 400m from the Rainforest Discovery Centre, this place comprises several separate 'lodges' and boasts a relaxed hostel vibe. Bamboo-walled…
Sepilok
Rooms have tiled floors, desk, bathroom, TV and fan or air con. All are adequate, though many are in need of refurbishment. Similarly, the complimentary…
Sabah
This large business hotel backs onto a lively marina, boasts a huge swimming pool (RM20 for nonguests) and a cracking marina-side bar. The Ferrari,…
Sabah
This service matches visitors with a friendly local in one of three villages around the island: Patau Patau 2, Kampong Sungai Labu and Kampong Bukit Kuda…
Sabah
Built over a decade ago, this cosy lodge has 16 air-con and eight fan rooms. It feels authentic with its river-bar cafe and bamboo-accented rooms with…
Sabah
Sabah Parks runs basic lodging (a four-person chalet and two modest cabins) on the island for less-than-affluent survivalists. It's next to Pulau Tiga…
Kota Kinabalu
Wide corridors lead to rooms boasting rain showers, tangerine-hued feature walls, large beds and modern furnishings. Most rooms feature comfy work chair,…
Sabah
Jeff's is a fan-only affair at the end of the world's most rickety boardwalk. There's a breezy open deck offering sea views, plus lively bar with…
Sandakan
Contemporary, and multicoloured, S'kan Styles' rooms are generally medium sized and clean (though there were lingering smoke odours in the corridors when…
Sabah
Set along the quiet coastal waters of the South China Sea, the serene Tempurung Seaside Lodge is the perfect place for hermits who seek a pinch of style…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
Set on the side of Mt Kinabalu, opposite a vegetable farm, this dark-wood building, popular with Malaysian tourists, has a Swiss-chalet flavour to it. Its…
Semporna
With its walls peppered with underwater shots of marine life, clean bathrooms and a variety of air-con rooms to choose from, this is a reasonable option…
Semporna
Palatial in proportions, this white monolith at the far end of the 'Semporna Seafront' neighbourhood is reasonably good value if there are two of you,…
Tawau Hills Park Accommodation
Sabah
Right near the park entrance, there's a single chalet for up to six people, as well as basic hostel accommodation consisting of 10 private rooms with…
Semporna
Arriving at Dragon Inn, built on stilts and connected by a long boardwalk over bottle-green water, the first thing you see is a taxidermied giant grouper…
Kota Belud
Dragon Pearl is a gem of a budget resort. Beachside huts and the rooms in the longhouse replica are very basic and bathrooms are shared, outside and…
Sabah
Select from a choice of grotty old rooms and dorm, faded chalets and newer chalets with oxblood walls, which are built right out to sea. The food doesn't…
Kota Kinabalu
Like its big sister in KL, this friendly hostel consists of pea-green rooms (four doubles and two dorms) and has the ecofriendly policy of no air-con…
Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park
The place where most hikers stay at Laban Rata before making a predawn assault on the peak of Mt Kinabalu consists of simple, unheated dorms and three…
Kota Kinabalu
A smoke-free hotel with attentive staff, carpeted halls and cool, tiled, neutral-toned rooms. Drinking water is provided in reuseable containers and there…
Sabah
Shipwrecked amid the stilted weave-world of the Malay village, Chang's is all banana-yellow basic rattan-walled rooms in small chalets, a lively…
