Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
Malaysia might not quite top the list when it comes to famous holiday destinations, but Bunga Raya is proof that this sort of luxe island paradise knows no national boundaries. But rather than some over-water lagoon resort, this one is closer to the hidden-cove fantasy of something like The Beach; Bunga Raya lies tucked into a narrow bay with baby-soft sand in the middle and dense jungles ascending the hillside at both ends.
The villas are set back a bit from the beach, which makes for more privacy and for better views. They range from fairly humble one-bedrooms — if a beachfront luxury villa can really be called humble — on up to sprawling three-bedroom hilltop suites. And if you’ll miss being able to dangle your feet in the sea from the privacy of your room — these are lucky problems to have — then be sure and book a villa with a plunge pool.
There’s an up side to the jungle location as well. Not only are you privy to all the diving and sailing you could possibly ask for — this is one of the South China Sea’s liveliest coral reefs — but you’re well placed for a jungle trek as well. And if activity’s not exactly your bag, there’s always a dip in the cove, a spa treatment, a leisurely meal in one of Bunga Raya’s restaurants.
How to get there:
Kota Kinabalu Ferry Terminal is approximately a 20 min. drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport.Bunga Raya offers three trips a day from Kota Kinabalu ferry terminal. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for assistance with airport transfers and ferry times.
- 47 Rooms
- Style: Traditional Elegance
- Atmosphere: Secluded
- 3 Guest Reviews
- Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Gaya Island
- Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Hotel amenities and services
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- 24 hour room service
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Central air conditioning
- Free wi-fi
- Garden
- Jacuzzi
- Library
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- Multi-lingual staff
- No pets allowed
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Restaurant
- Sauna
- Spa
- Wake-up service
- Yoga
Other Kota Kinabalu hotels
3 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Anton
- Stayed October 2011
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Location, service, atmoshpere everything was excellent.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Guy
- Stayed October 2011
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
The staff are very friendly and helpful and any criticism is certainly not directed at them, the location is beautiful, the rooms are of a high standard, if a little generic, and during the day the whole experience is very pleasant indeed
What the hotel could do better:
But after nightfall, things are dull and a little depressing. A tiny bar serves poor cocktails and beer from the can. The Koi restaurant is a wide open space that also serves as the breakfast room - and thus there is nothing "special" in visiting it. The restaurant has 2 menus - a modern European menu, that is nothing special, and a Chinese menu which is a little better. We only discovered by accident that there were Chinese options, having not being offered them on the first night. There are a couple of Malay options, such as Beef Rendang which was served with all spices removed, making it bland, stringy and tasteless. On our last night we asked the chef to "make it local style" and it was of course very tasty; but restaurants shouldn't make the assumption that all foreigners can't take spice - its easy enough to ask surely?
The Wine Cellar is quite impressive, and we did select a couple of nice bottles at not too unreasonable prices. But overall, when the sun goes down a sense of gloom descends on the resort. There is a difference between tranquility and boredom. To be honest, after dark this place is not up to Tablet standards
Another gripe was the inability to explore the jungle. Jungle walks are available, but must be accompanied, and at an extra cost, and at fixed times which didn't suit our schedule. Frankly, this is irritating. The extra cost is unnecessary when the "guide" is not a professional, but simply a member of staff who is on the island anyway. And not being able to walk unaccompanied (staff refused to tell us how to get to to the trail unless accompanied) was very annoying. I understand that there are safety concerns, but not everyone needs to be nannied. This was a big fail as far as I was concerned, and a major disappointment
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- barry
- Stayed July 2011
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
The service that the staff provided was top class. The beach was beautiful, the breakfast was good and the water was crystal clear.
What the hotel could do better:
It was the little things that could have been improved upon. The bathrooms in the villa's weren't particularly good and the steak and macaroni cheese was pretty nasty in the restaurant (and it was v $$$ for what it was). Just things you would have expected better of from a 5* hotel.
