Bunga Raya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu and Sabah

5.0 star rating

Location: Kota Kinabalu

Address:

Polish Bay Gaya Island Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
kota Kinabalu

Phone: +006088380390

Fax: +006088381390

Hotel Information

Hotel Overview

The resort offers charming timbered villas, each hand-crafted by local tradesmen, terraced into the hillside reflecting the traditional simplicity of the Borneo architectural style, blending seamlessly with the comforts and needs of the most sophisticated and discerning of travellers.Â Scattered throughout the hillside with a mix of secluded jungle and ocean views, the spacious villas offer idyllic hideaways and the ultimate in true rustic luxury. Private balconies offer jaw dropping vistas of the beach below and the South China Sea beyond. Those who really enjoy the pristine sandy paradise can pick one of the villas that sit right on the 1 km-long beach. In the surrounding area, guests can have a fun-packed day, kayak through emerald waters, explore awe-inspiring mangroves, and catch a sight of hornbills perched on centuries-old trees or trek through thick jungles.

Pictures

Reviews

Rating	Positive Points	Negative Points	Reviewer	Stayed
2.0 star rating	There were some pluses. Our room was excellent, as was the plunge pool, and we were given a honeymoon surprise in our room on the second night.	We stayed at Bungaraya for five nights to spoil ourselves at the end of our honeymoon in May. Arriving at the resort we were struck that it felt unloved. The beach was covered in driftwood and litter, the bar where we were given a welcome drink was deserted and tatty, and crumbled leaves were scattered everywhere. It felt like a ghost resort. Unfortunately things didnât improve on our first night dinner. The meal was inedible and had to be sent back, a salad arrived with a creepy crawly swimming in the marinade, and an alternative main took an hour to arrive. The staff were very apologetic and to their credit we were given a special dish from the chef at no cost when we dined there later in the week. But we were struck, over the course of our stay, that the food didnât seem fresh. It was also expensive and dissuaded us from eating out every night because we were unimpressed with the quality, the slow service, and the value. We spoke to the manager on our second day about the state of the beach and he told us that there were ongoing problems with rubbish floating in from the mainland and that driftwood had arrived the previous week. Within an hour a tractor went to work on the beach and cleared the driftwood. Whilst this was appreciated it raised the question why it took a customer complaint to tidy the beach when it so clearly was messy and had been for a week. There is a significant problem with rubbish on the beach and every morning between five and ten workers with plastic bags walk across the beach to clean it. The job they do is very superficial. Having seen them several times they seemed to be having a pleasant early morning stroll rather than properly attacking what is a major issue. The resort advertises itself with a âbeautiful white sand beachâ and whilst there are issues beyond the control of the resort that impact this, we were left with a strong impression that complacency has set in and standards have been allowed to slip. Excuses are made rather than pulling out all the stops to deliver the five star experience which the customers are paying for. We appreciate the task is sometimes Sisyphian, thankless and endless, but the management seems defeated, no longer seeing it through the fresh eyes of those that have arrived for a few days of luxury, but rather worn out by the challenges. We encountered many examples of poor attention to detail over our stay â the mocktail that contained alcohol, the high number of menu options that werenât available, the dirt that seemed to cover so many surfaces. We were also surprised how lost the staff were. At times ordering food was a tortuous experience with mistake after mistake made, whilst the staff were at huge pains to please and apologise. They were super friendly but seemed untrained and confused. There were some pluses. Our room was excellent, as was the plunge pool, and we were given a honeymoon surprise in our room on the second night. And the resort could be paradise. It has enormous natural beauty â the milky green sea, pink hibiscus flowers, and lush verdant vegetation that surrounds the villas - and that it was makes the state of it so heart-breaking. It could be a five star resort but it really isnât, despite charging five star prices. It is a paradise that has been allowed to drift into mediocrity. The website advertises that it is a âluxury getawayâ¦â¦which outstands at every turnâ. We only wish that was true.	Kasia	16 May 2017
5.0 star rating	Beautiful resort. Exceptional staff	Nothing	Anonymous	09 May 2016

Catering

Bar
Restaurant

Entertainment

Sun loungers

Facilities

Hotel safe
Laundry service
NO Car park
NO Garage
NO Large pets allowed (over 5 kg)
NO Small pets allowed (under 5 kg)
NO Wheelchair-accessible
Room service

Health

Sauna
Spa treatments
Steam bath

Hotel type

24-hour reception
Air conditioned
Bathroom
Hotels with charm
Internet
Restaurant
Shower
Spa
Swimming Pool
TV

Location

NO Connecting rooms
Total number of rooms: 48
Villas: 47

Meals

Breakfast
Set menu dinner
Set menu lunch

Methods of payment

American Express
MasterCard
Visa

Room facilities (Standard room)

Balcony
Bathroom
Bathtub
Direct dial telephone
Hairdryer
Ironing set
Minibar
NO Disability-friendly bathroom
NO Smoking rooms
NO Wheelchair-accessible
Safe
Shower
Tea and coffee making facilities
Toiletries

Sports

Jet ski
Pedal boating
Surfing

Services marked with (*) shall be paid at the establishment.

Bunga Raya Island Resort Reservation

Bunga Raya Island Resort Kota Kinabalu and Sabah

Hotel Information

Pictures

Reviews

TravelTicker Login