A Kengo Kuma tower in the heart of the city, a beach resort on the Tanjung Aru peninsula or a villa in the marine park? Share your plans with us: together with our travel advisors you will find the luxury hotel in Kota Kinabalu that suits your days on Borneo. Through suitespot you also get, depending on the hotel, breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – worth around €500 on average over two nights.
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu · Perdana ParkFor families we recommend Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, on a peninsula with gardens, a kids' club and its own marina. If you love design and short distances, stay at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu by Kengo Kuma, a few steps from the ferries. Nature lovers head to car-free Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu in the marine park, where sea turtles are nursed back to health.City, beach or island? Here the best hotels in Kota Kinabalu sit side by side, along with location, suitespot score and the rate from one night. Our tip: families stay at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu with its gardens and marina; if you seek nature and quiet, choose Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu in the marine park.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu | Perdana Park | ★ 4.4/5 | 191 € |
| Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu | – | ★ 4.3/5 | 96 € |
| Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu | – | ★ 4.1/5 | 300 € |
Hand-picked by our travel experts: every hotel in Kota Kinabalu with the benefits that are included when you book through suitespot, its nightly rate and our Score.
4.4Shangri-La Golden CircleNo. 20, Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
4.3World of Hyatt18, Jln Haji Saman, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
4.1Malohom Bay, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Swimming on the 23rd floor: On the roof of Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, an infinity pool spills over two edges, with views across the hills and out to the islands. Every room in the tower has its own balcony.
Hyatt Centric Kota KinabaluCabanas on the water: At Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu you glide through an infinity lap pool dotted with floating cabanas, with a children's pool right next to it. The Pool Bar & Lounge serves light lunches and, at sunset, cocktails with a view of Mount Kinabalu.
Prefer the sea: Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu has the secluded Tavajun Bay five minutes away by boat. From Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, boats leave from the resort's own STAR Marina, and the coral reefs of the islands are ten minutes away.
At lunchtime the team from Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu cooks a daily changing dish over charcoal at Tavajun Bay, and a picnic basket is available on request. We are happy to note the day when you book.
A spa on its own island: Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu is a small village on an island reached by a private causeway, with couples' villas and a yoga pavilion. The menu features plant-based Borneo treatments such as Urutan Malaysia and the Authentic Sabahan Retreat, with facials by Kerstin Florian and Guinot. Guests are welcome from 16, or from 12 with parental consent.
Gaya Island Resort Kota KinabaluAmong the mangroves: Spa Village at Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu draws on Sabah's healing traditions, with Kadazandusun rice scrubs and Bajau rituals. Before each treatment a spiced soak warms the lower legs, and Soul Spa is all about yoga and meditation.
Nature you can touch: Since 2013, Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu has run a Marine Centre that rehabilitates sea turtles and regrows coral. Its Wildlife Centre focuses on proboscis monkeys. Among the luxury hotels in Kota Kinabalu, it is the choice for guests who want to see Borneo from more than a sun lounger.
Two floors above the city: At Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu a curved staircase links the ON22 restaurant with the ON23 rooftop bar. Below, Asian dishes based on family recipes with a modern twist are served in three garden spaces; above, cocktails made with Borneo ingredients accompany the sunset over the islands.
On the water at Tanjung Aru: The Sunset Bar at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu stands on its own spit of land, facing the sea and the skyline. Right on the beach, Coco-Joe’s Bar & Grill grills fish and seafood, while Café TATU offers Malay, Chinese and international dishes.
No booking fee: the benefits simply come on top of the rate you book.
Fish and Japan on Gaya: At Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu, Fisherman’s Cove serves sustainably caught fish, including the Gayan Bouillabaisse. On the hillside above, Omakase cooks teppanyaki, shabu-shabu and nabe over two floors.
In town, order hinava at least once: raw fish with lime, ginger and chili, a Kadazandusun dish. If you like a lively evening, stroll from Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to the night market on the waterfront.
The three settings are close together, yet they feel like three different trips. Choose your 5-star hotel in Kota Kinabalu by whether you want to explore the city, unwind on the beach or live entirely on an island.
Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu · Kota KinabaluDowntown below Signal Hill: Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu sits in the dining and nightlife district, within walking distance of Jesselton Point ferry terminal, where boats reach the marine-park islands in 20 minutes. The airport is about 15 minutes away. Our pick for active city explorers.
No booking fee: the benefits simply come on top of the rate you book.
Tanjung Aru: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu lies on a peninsula with ten hectares of gardens, about ten minutes from the airport and just as far from downtown. Ideal for families and for guests who combine beach time with excursions.
Gaya Island: Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu lies on Malohom Bay in the heart of the marine park, its villas set on the hillside above rainforest and mangroves. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member, it can only be reached by speedboat.
For Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu, you first drive about 20 minutes to the Gaya Lounge at Jesselton Point, then the speedboat takes you across in roughly ten minutes. We are glad to time the departure to your landing.
At Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu nights start at 96 €, at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu at 191 €. From 299 € you stay at Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu. Available rooms and villas with daily rates for your dates appear in the hotel list further down.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park | |||
| Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu | 299 € | 2 nights | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Tanjung Aru, peninsula south of the city | |||
| Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu | 191 € | 1st night | ★ 4.4/5 |
| City center, Jalan Haji Saman | |||
| Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu | 96 € | 1st night | ★ 4.3/5 |
Your suitespot package: At all three hotels, two people have breakfast daily, and arrival and departure can be set flexibly, subject to availability. On top comes a credit of 100 US dollars at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, 50 US dollars at Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu and 25 US dollars at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu.
Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu · Kota KinabaluUpgrade and minimum stay: An upgrade on arrival is possible, subject to availability, at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu and Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu; at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu it is already confirmed at booking, though not from a room to a suite. At Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu the benefits apply from two nights.
Personal luxury travel adviceOur travel advisors personally accompany your booking – 365 days a year, from the first offer to late check-out. Reach the suitespot VIP service via email or WhatsApp.Phone: +49 30 81452346 · hotel@suitespot.comPoints: At Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu you earn with Shangri-La Golden Circle, at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu with World of Hyatt, each with your status benefits. Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu does not belong to a program. Since suitespot books the direct rate, your nights count as usual.
Kota Kinabalu through the year: In May, Sabah celebrates the Kaamatan harvest festival, a lovely time for culture and music. All year round, island trips, sunsets on the coast and tours to Mount Kinabalu beckon. For festival dates we gladly reserve your 5-star hotel in Kota Kinabalu a little ahead.
In Kota Kinabalu you earn with Shangri-La Golden Circle at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu and with World of Hyatt at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu is independent. Bookings are made at the hotel's direct rate, so your loyalty account receives points and qualifying nights in the normal way.
2 of the 3 hotels in Kota Kinabalu belong to a hotel loyalty program, spread across two programs. One hotel is independently run – there you receive the suitespot benefits without a loyalty program.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Kota Kinabalu |
|---|---|---|
| Shangri-La Golden Circle | 1 hotel | Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu |
| World of Hyatt | 1 hotel | Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu |
Which hotel in Kota Kinabalu suits you often comes down to a few questions: is there a pool or a spa, how old is the building, when was it last renovated, and has the hotel received an award? The overview answers them for all three hotels at a glance.
2 hotels have a spa, 3 a pool.
✓ = available, – = not available, blank = no information.
| Hotel | Opened | Renovated | Pool | Spa | Michelin Keys | Forbes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu | 2027 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu | 2012 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu | 2022 | ✓ |
Explore all luxury hotels in Malaysia or browse nearby destinations:
Carolin, Valentina, Madeleine and Andrea and our team know these hotels from the inside – and will help you find the right room, the right location and the right rate. 365 days a year, by phone, email or WhatsApp.
Meet our team →Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu starts at 96 €, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu at 191 € and Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu at 299 €. With suitespot, daily breakfast for two is part of the rate.
That depends on your trip. For families and the beach we recommend Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, for city life and design Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. If you are after nature, stay at Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu.
Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu on Malohom Bay on Gaya Island, about ten minutes by speedboat from Jesselton Point.
Yes. Shangri-La Golden Circle applies at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, World of Hyatt at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu is not part of a program.
Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu: on the 23rd floor there is an infinity pool with two overflow edges and views of hills and sea.
Our tip is Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu, with a kids' club, large gardens and its own marina for boat trips. Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu also has a children's pool by the main pool.
At Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu: the Marine Centre cares for sea turtles and regrows coral, and the Wildlife Centre is devoted to proboscis monkeys.
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu is about ten minutes away, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu about 15. For Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu, add roughly ten minutes by speedboat after the drive to Jesselton Point.
Only at Gaya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu, where the suitespot benefits start with the second night. At Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort Kota Kinabalu and Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu they already apply to a single night.
Any season, as islands, rainforest and sunsets are there all year. In May the Kaamatan harvest festival adds to the mix.
