Casuarina Hotel in Kota Kinabalu

Perhaps it could do with updating, but the rooms are pleasant and bright and the location is great, near to the beach with its night market, almost next door to a good seafood restaurant, and convenient to the airport.

It's a little out of town but I chose it for the close proximity to the beach and swimming ,which is about a 10min walk from the hotel. There are street food and drinks stalls available from about 3pm . Tanjung Aru beach is beautiful, uncrowded and the beach shelves away gently making it a safe swimming area. However, the beach had rubbish washed up and maintenance isn't a priority I guess. I swam everyday and didn't get sick ,that's a bonus.
The room ( the whole place)was tired looking, it could do with a lick of paint and maintenance. Room was clean when I got there but I strongly doubt it was cleaned in the entire time I was there for five days. Often had to ask for toilet paper , shampoo and shower gel , and coffee sachets etc ,basics to be stocked whenever housekeeping does their cleaning. Air con worked for me although the settings couldn't be altered !
The bed springs creak and you feel the springs when you sit on the bed but I slept ok only because I was usually exhausted from the day's activities . The beds and mattresses definitely need renewing though.
The fridge was mouldy and smelly , what a blooming shame : /
The safe was broken - hallelujah!
I kept my room door locked at all times only because Reception staff hardly looked up to see who comes and goes- they sit very low,almost out of view at their front desk. I wasn't convinced about their perception of safety especially as I'm a solo female traveller and I need to be alert and take great caution.
Casuarina Hotel are you taking note?
Reception is helpful but that depends who is present.
Lifts work fine without too much of a wait. The cafe on ground level serves an American breakfast but I couldn't tell you whether that's worth your while. It looked like Mary Celeste everytime I peeped in there so wasn't convinced about getting fed or a service. Therefore, I had fruit and snacks as standby .. There's a lovely restaurant a few yards from the hotel called the Yolo Seafood Restaurant which tends to open from 11.30am- delicious and inexpensive with friendly staff.
Grab taxi fare to city centre varies from MYR 7- 25 Ringgit ,the higher tariff if returning during commuter rush hours from city centre which is a 15- 25 min ride .
Would I stay here again ? I would actually knowing all its idiosyncrasis compared to so many awful or simplly mediocre accommodation charging an arm and a leg , I think Casuarina is just ok . Value for money? I don't think so .

The location is absolutely unbeatable, right next to Tanjung Aru Beach. While the facilities are quite dated, it's a charming old hotel that's still quite well-maintained. It boasts a beautiful Nanyang retro style. It can feel a bit deserted at night, but it's absolutely stunning during the day. With a bit of renovation or by marketing it as an Instagram-worthy spot, the owners could easily fill every room!

Hotel is near to beach. Bathroom could be renovated but clean.

Nice place to stay, quiet, can walk to Tg Aru beach. A bit old decorations but still comfort. Nice garden view. Worth the price.

Good palce to stay if you need to catch flight~
Near the beach and Airport, easy to find food around.

Handicap friendly hotel with all the basic necessities.. super friendly staff for 3 night stays.. Will return for sure.. walking distance to the beach but didn't make it this time around..

The place is wonderful, my view in the morning from a lovely balcony is impossible to capture in a photo, the smell of a sea breeze and the sounds of birds everywhere. The rooms are very clean and beautiful, they capture the esthetics of the Kota Kinabalu. It is a minute away from the beautiful and vast beach, it is absolutely an underrated place. The staff is great, they have let me check in early, and also, there’s a luggage storage, so I was able to just bring a backpack to my outing trip for couple of days. Also, it is near the airport, which is a plus if you plan on traveling further in Sabah by local flights. Thank you very much for being a good host, O will choose this place again for sure! ☀️