Gaya Island Resort
Malohom Bay, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Pulau Gaya 88000 Malaysia
Gaya Island Resort
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About
#1 of 3 hotels in Pulau Gaya
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.6
Value
3.9
Gaya Island Resort is located on Pulau Gaya, the largest of a cluster of five islands that form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a natural conservation area off the coast of Borneo, close to Kota Kinabalu. Gaya Island Resort has a unique setting: the land is fringed with a golden sandy beach, rocky coastal outcrops, and surrounded by coral reefs. The hilly island landscape is covered with lush tropical rainforest and an abundance of flora and fauna. And to complete this perfect setting, visible in the distance, is the stunning outline of Mount Kinabalu. The guest villa exterior respects Sabahan architecture uses local materials and blends harmoniously with the natural environment. The interior living space is designed with contemporary elegance to create warmth, comfort and a serene indoor setting. Gaya Island Resort is committed to ecologically sustainable practices to minimise the carbon footprint within its environment. Therefore the resort is a walking resort and only minimal motorised vehicles are used for operational purposes.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Canoeing
Babysitting
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Special diet menus
Poolside bar
Diving
Snorkeling
Entertainment staff
Airport transportation
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
24-hour security
Concierge
Sun umbrellas
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private beach
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Harbor View
Languages Spoken
Chinese, Malay
Location
Contact
Malohom Bay, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Pulau Gaya 88000 Malaysia
Getting there
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Before booking and then prior to our stay I ensure I read reviews for hotels on trip advisor. I wish, with this hotel I had paid more attention to the negative, which IMHO give a more accurate review of Gaya. Firstly I will put aside one of the issues we found during our stay, as hopefully the hotel will not repeat accepting this type of booking, but I will refer to it at the end of this review. Good points- staff, they as others have referenced are mostly the gem of this resort. Few stand outs, Eric in main restaurant, Layla at pool bar and Lau on reception. Rooms, good size. Although there are a few ‘strange’ designs. The area by the bed, where you would place book, glasses, water etc, has a lift up lid which has to be lifted to switch off bedside lights, air con, fan etc. Bizarre design. A/C, there is a temperature control, very near the floor, hard to locate, but does stop room from being artic and still allows you to have sufficient hot water. Fisherman’s Cove, food good but if you have an allergy you do need to question staff what is in meals Just okay- Setting, although you do overlook KK, it’s not quite the view others say. On a clear day you can see Mount Kinabalu. Jungle walks and sounds add to ambience. Food- buffet breakfast and pool bar Omakase- chef and staff make the experience but food not 5* Private beach, this was only available to us for the last couple of days of our holiday as jetty had been damaged. Definitely worth a visit, but no food available unless you book a picnic. Tbh, this beach is a highlight if you like beaches, although the rubbish that is cleared is dumped amongst the trees at one end of the beach. Bad- Main restaurant food very disappointing at night. In all restaurants except Fisherman’s Cove you are given paper napkins There’s no sommelier to offer advice on wine Drinks menu very limited also no description as to what is in cocktails No description as to what is in meals, so even if the resort is aware you have an allergy the responsibility for ensuring your meal is safe for you is completely down to you Dive school- don’t appear to really cater for experienced divers Excursions- Coral garden, definitely worth booking if you like snorkelling but be aware that the ladder that you climb up isn’t really long enough so it can be quite a challenge climbing back onto the boat Sunset cruise, 3 canapés each a bit stingy, especially as they are not catered towards the dietary requirements of the people booked on, so limits choice even more Nature walks, free, but need good shoes Whilst we were there the resort had taken a corporate booking for a company’s team building or something. This was for two groups over 6 days. The resort put up flags, stuck the hashtag for the company all over lighting etc and also placed big letters of companies hashtag over resort. Company’s name also in sand over resort. The company booked out the beach area where some guests chose to relax during the day on 2 days, which meant guests were cramped in together around the pool, with limited amount of umbrellas to be able to go in shade. Half the pool (not a big pool) for their free diving sessions, the BBQ area again for whole time, so a BBQ wasn’t offered to guests staying during this time. The fish restaurant was booked to them for 2 of the nights which limited guests choice even more etc etc The main restaurant also had an area cordoned off, plus a smaller area on the other side. The resort was short staffed and the staff were having to spend a lot of time looking after this group, so affected service to other guests. In summary- This hotel is supposed to be a member of small luxury hotels of the world chain, even without the company being there, this hotel isn’t functioning at 5* or luxury standard. Food is not at the correct standard, or recognition of guests allergies. Resort needs refurbishing. My advice- before booking, check they haven’t got a corporate function on. Check that private beach is available, don’t expect 5* food. …
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We have been travelling around south east Asia for 3 months. We haven’t experienced anything like the prices at this hotel. The prices for food and drink are ludicrous. They are comparable to top restaurants but at a fraction of the quality (we are currently in a 5* hotel in Singapore where the room service prices are half that of those at Gaya Island Resort). As you are on an island, there is no other option but to eat in the hotel. I have no idea who is pricing up the menu and how they are justifying the prices. We did raise this and the staff didn’t disagree that the prices were very high, but offered no justification or reasoning for this. The setting of the hotel is undeniably beautiful, but Gaya brands itself as a 5* resort and misses the mark. The facilities require some TLC (the sink and bath in our room were stained, the toilets around the pool were left dirty for hours, the gym’s air con didn’t work and the grounds themselves were a little tired). Most activities also come at an additional (and again, expensive) fee. I must add, the staff are lovely and very helpful. Each and every one of them tried to deal with our concerns as best as they could. However, I would not recommend this place to anyone as I felt totally taken advantage of with the prices they charged in the knowledge we had no option but to remain on the resort. Just one last thing: This is a trivial point and has not in itself contributed to my rating. However, I think it is noteworthy that this was one of the only hotels that we have visited in south east Asia that failed to even slightly acknowledge that this was our honeymoon, despite being given the same booking notes as every other hotel we’ve stayed in. Again, this is a trivial point and I wouldn’t usually raise it, but I think it highlights the lack of personal touch and attention to detail that I would expect of a hotel that brands itself as Gaya Island Resor does.…
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Just wonderful! I do NOT agree in any way with review from Maps 4038451 5163 and Review from Tsams!! The whole staff is extremely helpful and nice, the Manager is always around to see that everything works, The food in the Omakase is lovely and tasty, also good service at the pool bar, the buffet was very good too. Rooms are very large and the cleaning perfect, one should not forget that’s a Dschungel site, that make everything so special and gives the great atmosphere! We stayed in many hotels around the world; this place counts to the best, one’s! Thank you
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
The old over promise and under deliver trick caught us out . In the scheme of things $400 USD including a ‘food package’ is not expensive it is actually value so it is not about price . It is just about experience and that is where Gaya Island Resort falls down. To be fair and offer some perspective about this statement it is after the pandemic and they are struggling with a newly appointed Hotel Manager however it is the basics they just do not get right . So let’s get back to the over promise and under deliver . We stayed in a Kinabalu Suite , they are named after Mount Kinabalu which you can see in the distance from various parts of the island , just not all the Kinabalu Suites which is the impression from the website (see pic)We did have a couple of great trees in front of us and a good view of the neighbouring resort ( see photos) just no mountain. There is a ‘day bed’ in every suite however there is little point is using it as it has a few cushions and a wooden slat base , not very relaxing or inviting (see pics). Now onto the title of my review , with some 730 steps from the main dining to our room including an unavoidable incline and 58 stairs if you take them . Alternatively you can endure two more inclines if you wish to avoid the stairs. All this means you do not have to work out while here given you may make this trip several times a day , nor would you want to given the state of the gym equipment,(see pics) . Now in fairness there are Bayu rooms and others that over look mangroves however our room was certainly not the furthest away from the main building so many people would be caught by this. When you book a room for a purpose (a view) and do not get that and then climb up and down each day you feel that the beautiful pictures on the website of a Kinabalu Suite are in a word , misleading. About the stairs and the distance , one staff member mentioned they did not have carts because it is an eco resort. From the website ‘The resort is committed to ecologically-sustainable practices to minimise its carbon footprint within the environment. Therefore, it is a walking resort with minimal motorised vehicles used for operational purposes’. Not so much walking as hiking ! Have they heard of solar power and electric carts ? Given the island has at least one diesel generator that can be heard at times perhaps they should move to the alternatives. Also if they are so concerned about being eco friendly why are the toiletries still in small plastic bottles when most hotels , even the resorts that do not claim to be luxury , have switched to refillable bottles on the wall of the shower and adjacent to the bath . Let’s do some maths , 120 rooms at say 60% year round occupancy is 120 x 365 x.6 = 26,280 nights . If the average stay is 3 nights and they change the bottles once that means 26,280 / 3 = 8760 changes . There are three bottles (body wash , shampoo and conditioner ) so the each change is 3 bottles , in other words as an eco resort they are discarding over 26,000 small bottles a year as an estimate , even if these are recycled would it not be better to have refillable bottles ? Now if management comes back with a ‘ we are going to do that comment ‘ it just proves they are behind the times as much as I thought. Also if it is an Eco resort why all the concrete? (See pics)Paths, walls , buildings all poured in reinforced concrete, last time I checked concrete was a huge contributor to emissions so the owners of the resort have done their bit in this regard in contributing to carbon emissions . Again to have an Eco positioning yet have this type of structure is contradiction. The eco line seems to be a good excuse well thought up after the fact to cover guest complaints. Nice try but easily seen through. Once in the room you find out that the A/C has an on/off switch and a high/low switch that just controls the fan of the a/c. There is no thermostat to control the temp in your room . So your choice is artic storm blizzard or artic temp with a breeze. Water pressure is a little above a trickle , our TV did not work ( this was fixed but not til day 2) , one blind did not work correctly and remained so after reporting, one of the two doors to the walk in robe is permanently locked so two people cannot use it together ( this seemed to be a design issue as when I enquired reception said all rooms were the same see the robe pic) , the front sliding doors to the room are required to be squeezed together with force for the lock to work, you must use two hands and force . In general the room did not deliver the basics that it should. This extends to the over all maintenance of the property and yes we are coming out of a pandemic however the owners have not marketed the resort in that manner , from the website ‘ With its youthful vibe and sun-dappled moments, this beachfront resort blends harmoniously with the natural environment’ , sorry it is looking tired at ten years old and concrete and sand do not blend once the concrete has set ! The team here are friendly and try their best, they need more leadership and guidance. Getting orders wrong at lunch and then only delivering one meal but not offering any feedback to the guest or apology until approached by the guest is below average .Whilst I rate the property a 3 the majority of team are a 4 , they can and will improve given the right leadership. So that wraps it up a property that overall claims to be a small luxury hotel , certainly is not . The owners need to inject funds urgently to fix the hardware , decide on their long term offer / positioning and the leadership needs to work with the team to get them up to speed . Oh and please be honest on the website about the rooms and the mobility challenges of the resort , whilst we coped with the latter many people may not and the former is a straight out mis truth for a number of rooms.…
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Bring good walking shoes !
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Maps40384515163 wrote a review Jan 2023
Had a wonderful stay at Pangkor Laut years back and was recommended to try another of their property, Gaya Island Resort. To our horror, this resort is run down, boring, no facilities at the spa, Tavajun restaurant is not available.. but not mentioned on the website, Omakase served Teppanyaki set menu which the food was the worst in my life for the price plus the restaurant is not presentable, no service at the pool area, beverage menu in the whole resort is small and sad. Didn’t like the Mangoesteen soap and asked for the hand wash gel which they use in the restroom at the public area, received a bottle of heavily diluted hand wash.. I think there was only 5% gel 🙈🙈 Overall resort is quiet and relaxing.. appreciated service from Eric from Feast Village that he remembers my preference from second day on and also attentive, Richtel was very friendly, Layla & Ying at the pool bar are pleasant. …
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The reception, pool and restaurant all really well presented. Rooms extremely large with an amazing bath. Downsides are rooms full of ants and no provisions to spray for mosquitoes. The areas around the rooms are a bit run down with stagnant water underneath. Understand this is the type of hotel but the standard isn’t 5 star. Bar staff very inexperienced and not very attentive especially around the pool. The restaurant was a pleasant environment and the buffet at breakfast good but not great. The buffet in the evening was lacking and due to low occupancy they stopped this and put on a la carte. This was a massive disappointment and the food was mostly inedible and atrocious. They tried to provide western dishes rather than stick to traditional. All in all not 5 star.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The good points: - Staff is extremely nice, polite and helpful, like 20 to 30 years ago. The kind of “Asian courtesy” that is a long-gone thing of the past - Food : even if it’s buffet style, dishes are good – compliments to the kitchen staff - The whole place is nice, not exceptional, but nice. Now the bad points : - Yes, you can see on the few picture that there’s a hill, but nowhere it is mentioned that you have to climb a hill to get to your room (for 50% of them). How about older people, people with mobility issues? That should be noticed BEFORE. - The main restaurant looks more like a canteen than a 5* hotel, and absolutely not what you would expect of a “luxury” resort. - Food prices are truly exaggerated, even for a wannabe 5* outlet. And as you are stuck on the resort island, you have no choice but to accept it. - The beach is non-existent : sea is rising, so it’s all gone. - There is no space available at the pool/beach : if you don’t get there at 8am, all sundecks are “booked” for the day, even if the resort has a 60% occupancy….also, the amount of beach umbrella is very limited. - The amount of TV channels (6 or 7) is ridiculous : yes, you are not going there to watch TV, but if it’s raining, or you want just to have a quiet evening, that would be a good option. And then, the final rip-off that ruin the whole stay : Transport - Be aware of the fact that you’ll be charged Rm339.20++ if you want to take one of the shuttles to the mainland but also that on departure, you will have the nice surprise of having that amount charged to your bill for your arrival/departure trip. - Yes, you have to pay to get to the island as it is not included in the cost of the room that you are already paying for. - Do the expect the people to walk on water to get there, or to find a “Grab boat”? - Actually, you tend to feel that as you’re kind of “captive” on the island, they are going to squeeze any penny out of you as everything is chargeable, like all “daily” activities…expect the 9.30am “morning walk”. Conclusion : it’s a national park, so you have to expect mosquitos and wildlife, so do not complain about it….but don’t expect a luxury 5* resort as it is not. All other guest we talked about had the same comment : we won’t ever get back…. Management should start to wonder why.…
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Date of stay: January 2023
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Avoid beach room : stinky smell because of the laguna
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Cyril Arrouard, General Manager at Gaya Island Resort
Responded Jan 8, 2023
Dear EricVT73 Thank you for taking the time to share your experience e during stay at Gaya Island Resort. In behalf of the team , I apologize for not being able to deliver a service up to your satisfaction and that we had shortfall in our operation, We always strive to provide the best service to our guests, unfortunately on this occasion we did not deliver your basic expectation. . Your comments have been shared with the appropriate departments so that they may be addressed. Please feel free to contact me directly and it will be my pleasure to assist you. Sincerely, Cyril Arrouard Resort Manager Gaya Island Resort cyril.arrouard@gayaislandresort.com
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Although it was a short stay for us, we had thoroughly enjoyed our stay. From the welcoming to fair well, we were made to feel important. The resort is beautiful with few restaurants to choose. The food is delicious. But it is the staff that made all the differences. They are genuinely enthusiastic in carry out their job. There are activities one can do such as kayaking, snorkelling, trekking, local culinary and spa treatments. We also swam in the hotel pool. All the chalets are perched on the hillside to give a stunning view of the sea and mount Kinabalu. However, accessibility may be a challenge for some as it involves walking uphill or climbing stairs to the chalets. The rooms are beautifully designed and the range of bathroom amenities are also very good.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
celina k wrote a review Dec 2022
The resort food , water sport activity, conservation naturalist, hotel activities personnel & receptionist are super friendly , helpful & amazing ! Ala cart , buffet & view is superb ! Especially Mee mamak goreng, spicy fish , wat tan hor, lamb shank , dessert, etc are very very delicious. Feed my family tummy very well every meal. Take the resident package, very worthy.. because my family is fussy & eat a lot ! I don’t have a hard time at all this time due to variety ! During the mangroves forest kayaking, jungle tracking, water snorkelling , the staff that’s organizing & guiding us were very nice. They were guarding & trying the best to find best coral reef garden to show us. The experience was adventurous & safe ! The underwater coral reef garden is truly beautiful , just like inside tv show. Sun rise view is truly exceptional experience. You need to wake up 5am and wait for it. When it happen you can see the majestic mountain Kinabalu. So it balance up the unique beauty nature on the traditional style resort . The location of resort that at the hilly side give assurance , no floood attack , and most important 10 times oxygen better than city.. and the activities is all organized by the resort except the paragliding . Staffs all of them are super friendly ! Very hospitable! Especially patient with kids in the art handicraft session & wildlife discovery jungle trekking . The receptionist also sort things out quickly when need to deal with 3rd party services. HOSPITABLE services at its best. Truly recommended …especially for family, couple . Not suitable for totally wheelchair bounded elderly . Because of steps. Unless you bring a long mini electric wheelchair everywhere. …
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Try all activities pls.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Sightsee23679739894 wrote a review Dec 2022
As a newly married couple, we were too busy with our work. This short trip was much needed and Gaya Island Resort is the best destination to go for a quick pre-honeymoon. We were very fortunate to be given a Kinabalu suite facing Kinabalu Mountain itself. We woke up looking at it every morning
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: The rooms are quite pricey, so I’d suggest to book earlier. Make sure to bring some munchies...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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PRICE RANGE
$208 - $289 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahWest Coast DivisionKota Kinabalu DistrictPulau Gaya
NUMBER OF ROOMS
121
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Frequently Asked Questions about Gaya Island Resort
Which popular attractions are close to Gaya Island Resort?
Nearby attractions include Imago Shopping Mall (3.6 miles), Tanjung Aru Beach (4.9 miles), and Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (3.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Gaya Island Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Gaya Island Resort?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Gaya Island Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Gaya Island Resort?
Conveniently located restaurants include Ferdinand's, Laundroluxe, and El Centro.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Gaya Island Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Does Gaya Island Resort have airport transportation?
Yes, Gaya Island Resort offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Gaya Island Resort?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Gaya Island Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including Chinese and Malay.
Are there any historical sites close to Gaya Island Resort?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Monsopiad Cultural Village (9.3 miles).
Does Gaya Island Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbor view available here.