Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu

The room was excellent, very spacious, comfortable, clean, and hygienic. The service was fantastic, and the hotel environment was great – it's a large property, perfect for families with kids.

An absolutely amazing experience, the best five-star hotel I've ever stayed in. Shangri-La truly lives up to its reputation! Although it's a bit far from the airport, they offer shuttle services. Every staff member was incredibly friendly, and the hotel breakfast was delicious – especially the steak, so fragrant!

It was actually hilarious when a large lizard got into our bathtub during check-in. Two staff members helped us get rid of it, haha! All in all, an excellent stay!

Really enjoyed my stay. The beach is clean and peaceful, staff are very helpful, and the resort feels very relaxing. Great for a short escape.

Large private beach, rainforest surroundings, and scenic views. Great for relaxation, honeymoon, or family getaway.

Whatever said about our stay is little. I am in awe of the hospitality and warmth of the staff. They did everything possible to make our stay comfortable. Suddenly I am a big fan of Shangri-la resorts. If not KK, will surely book shangrila for future stays

Resort was huge, we had to walk quite a bit to get to our room. Services was good. Staff was trying best to help when we needed. First day we arrived there were lots of guests, and pool water was so murky. Luckily after the big group left, pool water turned to normal. Kids area was a bit small and old, and was a bit far away to get to. We had half board package - buffet dinners were pretty nice. Different cuisines every night thought out our stay. Our favourite restaurant was Oceano. Good food and clean environment. Room was big, beds were comfortable.

My kids enjoyed the horse riding there too! The stable staff Adil and Nelson were excellent. They work really hard during such hot weather with big smiley faces! Give them tips if you can. My kid had fun playing archery too! Seldon was wonderful, very patient.

We watched the fire dance at the beach. Such a good show!! However, Many Sandflies in the beach area. My partner’s legs got hundreds of bites after being at the beach for around 30mins. We chatted with some other guests and they had the same problems, some even at the pool area. Really need to watch out. Very itchy and wasn’t able to sleep at night because of the itchiness. Never had such experience at other resorts. The manager gave us some powder which gave temporary relief.

The chairs and cushions of the buffet restaurant and the bar area have lots of bird poo. You would be lucky to get one clean one.

Will still recommend this resort. I’m sure they will try better to solve the above problems.

I took my youngest daughter for her 18th birthday. It was a fantastic experience. There was so much on offer. But we went to have a relaxing holiday before the start of her 'A' Level exams.
The service was beyond my expectations. For a 5☆ resort, it should be 8☆s! I believe that whilst we were there, the hotel was full and yet the staff were able to remember our room numbers even if only having said the number once.
There was a full itinerary for the days that we were there, and which restaurants offered which type of buffet. The food was absolutely delicious and beyond compare. We loved it. The sunsets were beautiful too.
My daughter did not want to leave, but leave we must, as she returns to school tomorrow.
The Ocean Wing Junior Suite Sea View Twin Room was absolutely stunning. So spacious, with a desk that my daughter could work from. A jacuzzi on the balcony and blinds for privacy. Loved the doors for the shower and toilet, and the double sink. Also loved that when the balcony doors open the airconditioning stopped until the doors were closed once again.
Overall, we loved it so much, we will be returning with the rest of the brood.

This hotel was perfect for a completely relaxed trip. I was very satisfied with the room; the balcony was great and offered a good level of privacy. However, my initial idea of stepping right onto the beach didn't pan out. You can see the beach from afar, but that's as close as you get! You actually have to walk through a large area of greenery, so it’s quite a distance from the sand. The only upside is that on a day like this, you can sit outside all day without getting any sun, which was very comfortable. It’s absolutely ideal for just lying back and looking at your phone. Truly a perfect spot for men who just want to chill out.

The Ocean Wing family room would be better for families with two children. For us, with just one child, it felt a bit wasteful as the top bunk was empty, haha. The Garden Wing pool is livelier and also a good spot for watching the sunset. If you like a more vibrant atmosphere, stay there. If you prefer quiet, choose the other side. Our family room, 1802, was actually about the same distance from the Garden Wing lobby as it was from the Ocean Wing front desk. Walking through the connecting corridor was fine, and it wasn't hot. At night, the path with the lawn lights was also very close. The so-called Ocean Wing is actually quite quiet, and the rooms have a large outdoor resting area. As for value for money, that’s up to you to decide. The ground floor of the Garden Wing only has two small outdoor stools and gets more sun.

The room itself was quite cool, with strong air conditioning. I recommend wearing long sleeves when going to the restaurant for meals – definitely long sleeves! For dining, I’d suggest the Garden Wing buffet restaurant; they have more variety.

Regarding booking activities, I recommend emailing the hotel in advance to confirm your booking number and the activities you want to do. Otherwise, don't expect to be able to book activities like the night animal viewing on the spot. There are only slots for 10 people per day, and usually, three families are enough to fill them. So, I couldn't book anything during my two-day stay, which was very disappointing.

One friendly aspect might be for children who need childcare. Upon check-in, they give you a daily activity list in both English and Chinese, and children can be supervised. Daily drinks and food are replenished. You can actually order Grab food delivery, but there's an extra 10 RM delivery fee. It’s really far, over ten kilometers! So remote... There’s a restaurant nearby called Dongfang Tea Restaurant; you can search for it on Dazhong Dianping. Add the owner's phone number on WeChat, and he'll come pick you up! It can save you a lot; it's about 90 RMB per person. The hotel's buffet dinner isn't great, not as good as the breakfast buffet. That's what people who tried it said; I didn't, haha. Breakfast lasts from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and I usually went around 9:30 or 10:00 AM and stayed until after 10:30 AM.

The shuttle bus schedule is also very useful in my pictures. For check-out, I left around 12:30 PM, and the front desk told me to be in the lobby 15 minutes early for the bus. The drop-off time is excellent, taking you to Imago Shopping Mall. However, they can't drop you off at the airport directly; there are only two airport shuttles, one in the morning and one in the evening.

Finally, here's a tip: there's a QR code in the lobby to register as a Shangri-La member. Just scan it and register your membership number to receive a complimentary four-piece travel size shower gel set.

There's also Chinese-speaking staff at the front desk (see picture). You can ask for her if needed.

Summary: For older children, swimming before sunset is perfect, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, watching the sunset all the way – it’s stunning.

Cons: Far from the city, and activities are difficult to book.

Food: They have all the usual stuff, so it's just okay.

Overall, it's a hotel very suitable for a completely relaxed and laid-back stay.