Recent Kota Kinabalu Trip

[chelsea]

Will split this post up into a couple of separate posts to break it up

Just returned from a very relaxing holiday over in Kota Kinabalu and just thought I would write a report about the trip I took with my girlfriend.

In starting I do not think it would be a place I would go if I wanted to party big time or a boy’s only holiday, but for a relaxing holiday or a holiday with your wife or girlfriend it seems to fit the bill very well.

After Christmas MAS started to do direct flights from Perth 3 times a week flying at 12.45am arriving at KK at about 6.30am on the outward trip and returning at 6.00pm in the evening and arriving in Perth at about 11.30pm (all of the flights go at the same time) and as we only had a short holiday, this meant we got the maximum benefit from out trip.

Hotel
Hotel we booked was the Shangrila Tanjung Aru and is located about a 15 min trip from the airport. Had a car booked to meet us from the hotel, but is only 25 Ringgits in a normal taxi. (About 8AUD)

Part of our deal included complimentary breakfast on arrival day and access to the room by 11.00am and on departure check out was 12 midday. We managed to extend the departure at no extra cost after one of the barman advising us that on the weekend there were a lot of rooms vacant.

The hotel its self was really good, the staff there are some of the best I have come across on my travels. English was spoken very well by nearly all of the staff right down the room cleaners. Everything that could be done was done to make our trip a memorable one.

Speaking to some of the staff, I was surprised to find that most were long time employees from 4 years upwards. Staff levels were retained all year round on permanent employment and actually got 18 paid days annual leave on the same basis as we do here. I think that probably had a lot to do with the attitude of the staff and them genuinely enjoying there jobs.

Food, service and prices were very reasonable (including room service). Breakfast was included in our package on a buffet basis and included both Asian and western dishes. Hotel served no pork in any of the dishes (seemed to happen in a lot of other places as well).

Rooms were good and we had a 3rd floor room with a sea view and balcony. Hotel grounds were very spacious and well looked after with plenty of sun beds in the gardens as well away from the pool area.

In the room you had an empty mini bar fridge to put in whatever you wanted, they had a shop onsite where you could buy small cans of Tiger or Stella for 12 ringgits, or just take at trip to the supermarket to fill it up.

Pool was fantastic and was 1.9m deep in most places. Children were not allowed in that part as they had shallower parts away from the main pool. Life Guard’s on duty at all times and were very conscious about keeping kids out of the main pool, even under protests from their parents.

They also have a private beach area with plenty of sun beds on as well, which is what we used most of the time.

All the common walkways in the hotel corridors were decorated with local wood carvings or statues. The detail on some of the painted ones is similar to aboriginal ones I have seen here in Australia. I took some photos but some did not come out to good because of the light.

Photos
Here are some that I have uploaded some are not so good due to the quality of what I was using.
http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... nwood3999/
Best way to view is using the slideshow

[chelsea]

Taxis
They have what seems to be a good system for taxis there.
From our hotel into town was normally always 15ringet, to the nearest shops 10ringet and airport 25ringet. Home from town late at night was normally 20ringets.
You are able to negotiate rates with the driver if you want to go on trips and have them wait. The hotel we stayed in had a mini taxi rank with drivers on call 24/7, so there was never a problem with waiting for hours for one to arrive.
The hotel runs a good system with the concierge giving you a hotel business card with the Taxi licence plate number on before you leave, just in case you had any problems or left anything in the cab.
The drivers were very good as were most of the motorists and very courteous in their driving manner. Even to the fact that some of the taxi drivers putting phone calls to message bank instead of answering calls.


Kota Kinabalu Town
Some large shopping centres in the main town, I only went to the Centre Point and the one close to that. From talking to other people at the hotel that normally go to Thailand or Bali they thought that it was nowhere as good in KK. Did not really bother us but to others that love to go shopping it may be a problem. Markets are around the streets at night but not so much for clothing, more for food and veggies.

There is a bar area on the waterfront that has both inside seating for both drinking and eating. Went in a few of the bars but found the Loft Bar to be about the best for atmosphere etc. The bar next door had a great live band on from early evening.
Also went into Hito Bar which was OK, but not many people as early evening. **** and Bull Bar next door was a bit rough looking but again had a great live band playing that were pretty good. Also went to the Hyatt into the Irish Bar downstairs to watch the Cup Final. Place was packed and seemed to be the place to be on a Saturday Night. Fair few holiday makers and a lot of well to do Malaysian groups around the place.

As with most places in KK (unlike Australia), you can still smoke in the inside bars, night clubs and a lot of eating places.

Ate in a great Thai place called Mai Tai next to the Loft Bar, did a great SomTum Salad that nearly blew my head off, on another occasion we ate at the local Malaysian café in the middle of the waterfront area. Food was very good and very cheap.

On another occasion in town we went to Le Meridian and to be honest was the most expensive meal we had while there and also the worst. Had a Surf and Turf that was supposed to be ½ lobster with a fillet minion steak. I am sure the steak must have been anorexic as I have never seen a thinner fillet steak and not a sign of being wrapped in a bacon rasher. I had a steak sandwich at our hotel with a thicker piece of steak in it.

There seems to be a big construction of another waterfront area just along from where it is now so in about 12-18 months I can see it being a much bigger and more vibrant entertainment area.

The main thing that struck me was how friendly people were and people we met in the Loft Bar on our first night there came up and spoke with us again whether we were in there or at others bars we went to.

[chelsea]

Trips
As we only had a short trip we did not bother with a lot of trips, only one we did was over to Sapi Island and a couple of others that were close by.
Although I enjoyed the trip, I found that if you did not go there to dive or snorkel there was not much else to do, unlike the Thailand Islands I have visited.

Drinks
In our hotel and most of the bars we went to single measures of spirits were the either the same price or cheaper then cans of beer. Most cans were between 20-26 ringgits and Jugs were available at around 30-35 ringgits at most times.

Wine was available by the glass and most served either Red or White Australian Wolf Blass between 30-40 ringgits a glass (is a bit on the high side but not over the top). We had a couple of bottle of Chilean wine when we were eating and was about $18-20 (AUD) a bottle. It was surprisingly good to drink.

Bless the 7/11 up the road from our hotel, can of Carlsberg Special Brew for 9 Ringgits

In finishing, all in all it was one of the best holidays that I have had away for a while, and think I would revisit for another trip, if only to do some of the tours that are available.

[Siani]

I went there about 30 years ago, it was a bit primitive then probably compared to now. The town was full of lumberjacks logging, a bit of a shame, destroying the forests. We hired a hotel car with strict instructions not to go "off road" which we did! Got stuck in the mud with some buffalo, got covered in mud. We had to get the car cleaned from top to bottom before returning it. We went to see some shrunken heads in a hut, they were in the roof, exposed in the beams!

[chelsea]

I went there about 30 years ago, it was a bit primitive then probably compared to now. The town was full of lumberjacks logging, a bit of a shame, destroying the forests. We hired a hotel car with strict instructions not to go "off road" which we did! Got stuck in the mud with some buffalo, got covered in mud. We had to get the car cleaned from top to bottom before returning it. We went to see some shrunken heads in a hut, they were in the roof, exposed in the beams!

Siani those heads are still there and a very popular toursit attraction.

[Arcadian]

We went there 3 years ago and stayed at the Sutera Harbour hotel. My son was a travel agent in Sydney at the time and got us all upgraded to club rooms, luxury all the way. Private breakfast room and free drinks and snacks (like a full meal) before dinner. The waitresses must have been handpicked for their looks, poise and charm.
We went to an orang utan sanctury and the headhunters village but mostly stayed in the resort. As Chelsea said KK town is not very inspiring. I will go back if I win the lottery.

[Aussie Mark]

Chelski

Sounds like a great holiday somewhere new.Just incase whilst you were away thought I would let you know the Mighty Man U won the league again hahahahah.
Oh didnt we have a wager on it. Also so it must just about be your turn to coach your chunks

[chelsea]

Thanks Mark, the fact had not escaped my attention.
This year it was all over before I left to go away. Last year in Patong for the last 4 games of the season and flew back the night they thrashed Wigan 9-0.
Saw the 1st 3 goals in the aptly named Champions Bar before we flew back to Perth.

[chelsea]

We went there 3 years ago and stayed at the Sutera Harbour hotel. My son was a travel agent in Sydney at the time and got us all upgraded to club rooms, luxury all the way. Private breakfast room and free drinks and snacks (like a full meal) before dinner. The waitresses must have been handpicked for their looks, poise and charm.
We went to an orang utan sanctury and the headhunters village but mostly stayed in the resort. As Chelsea said KK town is not very inspiring. I will go back if I win the lottery.

Funny you say about the Staff, We did not have club rooms at the Shangrila, but is the same set up as you had in the Sutera. All of the staff even down to the room cleaners all spoke really good English and could not do enough to help you. As I said in my report, what I was told that all the hotel staff were full time and not laid off in the off season, so the incentive is there to retain your job.