The Magellan Sutera Resort

We arrived at the Magellan Hotel Kota Kinabalu and were instantly blown away by its sheer size, perched right on the sea’s edge overlooking a stunning harbour filled with beautiful boats. The number of swimming pools is incredible, catering for everyone from serious swimmers to little ones, and the complex is so vast we kept getting lost finding our INCREDIBLE suite with views over the Marina and a couple of the many pools. You can relax on divine couches or cosy basket pods at the waterside bar and sip drinks while watching the sun melt into the horizon. Breakfast overlooks the pool and is heavily geared toward Asian cuisine, though western options are available, just not as extensive. Our suite was enormous, featuring a large lounge and sunroom, kitchenette with huge fridge and microwave, two balconies one with outdoor seating and table, a spacious bathroom with bath and shower, two toilets, a dressing area, and a super comfortable king bed. Room service was excellent and food very nice thanks. Despite the things we didn’t like about the property, if you don’t drink alcohol we’d recommend staying here if you’re coming to KK.

The kitchenette was disappointing as had nothing in it, no utensils, glasses for drinking out of, plates etc. only set up for tea and coffee with cups and mugs. Why have a kitchenette? Wanted a bath in the nice bath but only ran very brown water so had to give it a miss. By midday only cold water out of the shower. Price of alcohol was expensive and too limited for choice. The cocktails weren’t up to standards, weak and watered down and the wine list is very limited with mainly expensive varieties. We managed to find one Sav Blanc and one Cab Sav that were from Chile that was nice and reasonably priced. Disappointing as hotel Sabah hotel in Sandakan had wonderful great priced drinks where we’d previously stayed.

Easy to access the city and airport

Rooms are a bit dated

Big property and plenty of space. A very good breakfast and the staff were amazing!

Not really a 5* now as it needs some repair work. No atmosphere around the pool, just needs some low music. Only 1 restaurant open so not much choice.

Breakfast was lovely, big pools but very little shade and pool Lounge were hard to come by, close to the harbour for boat trips to the islands

We had to ask 3 times once we got to our room for the extra bed we had asked to be put in our room prior to arrival, Our roof leaked quite a lot had to ask twice to be moved rooms. While the resort has places to eat it is certainly resort prices. Lacked any holiday night vibe once the sun had gone down. Catching grabs into town can become laborious. A few days is plenty