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The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Kota Kinabalu

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu

If it's your first trip to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Kota Kinabalu. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Kota Kinabalu. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Kota Kinabalu for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Kota Kinabalu beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Kota Kinabalu for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu

5-star Resort with prices starting at $149 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Kota Kinabalu
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
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Located at No. 20 Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu has great rooms from $149 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 4.1 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, mountain views, and child care at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club
View Prices and Reviews


Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $62 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
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A great place to stay is Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu which has nice rooms starting at $62. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Sinsuran. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, and golf which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.7 km from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Shangri-La Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu

5-star Resort with prices starting at $124 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Kota Kinabalu
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
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We found Shangri-La Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $124. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Pantai Dalit, PO Box 600. You'll also find a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, outdoor tennis, hiking, and child care which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 21 km from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club
View Prices and Reviews


The Magellan Sutera

5-star Resort with prices starting at $58 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
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With terrific rooms from $58, The Magellan Sutera, at Sutera Harbour Resort provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling. Its terrific guest rating is 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 1.8 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Kids' club
View Prices and Reviews


Horizon Hotel Kota Kinabalu

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $51 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Kota Kinabalu
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
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Horizon Hotel Kota Kinabalu has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $51 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Jalan Pantai, Locked Bag 2084. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, city views, a hot tub, a spa, and a child pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
View Prices and Reviews


Pan Borneo Hotel Kota Kinabalu

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $29 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
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The great guest rating of Pan Borneo Hotel Kota Kinabalu is 8.50 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $29, and it's located at One Place Mall, Lorong Putat 3, 88200 Putatan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We also love the mountain views, laundry services, city views, a child pool, and free parking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 10.4 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
View Prices and Reviews


Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $72 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
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A cool place is Hyatt Regency Kinabalu because it has great rooms that start at $72. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong. Only 0.9 km from the city center, travelers will especially love child care, laundry services, city views, a spa and wellness center, and a spa at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $48 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Kota Kinabalu
  • Beach
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Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $48 (before taxes). It's located at No 4, Lorong Api-Api3 and has earned a guest rating of 8.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, city views, and a child pool which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.9 km from the city center. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


The Pacific Sutera

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $44 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
View Prices on Kayak
See Location

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Located at Sutera Harbour Resort, The Pacific Sutera has great rooms from $44 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, golf, a spa and wellness center, and a game room which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 2.3 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club
View Prices and Reviews


Grandis Hotels and Resorts

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $50 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Kota Kinabalu
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
View Prices on Kayak
See Location

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A great place to stay is Grandis Hotels and Resorts which has nice rooms starting at $50. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall 1, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, child care, laundry services, city views, and a child pool. It's located just 1.3 km from the city center, too. We always love having a pool, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


For more terrific hotel ideas in Kota Kinabalu, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Best Beach Hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Best Cheap Hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Best Luxury Hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Kota Kinabalu, Best Hotels for One Week in Kota Kinabalu, Best Hotels for One Night in Kota Kinabalu, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Kota Kinabalu, or Best Business Hotels in Kota Kinabalu.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Kota Kinabalu?

Kota Kinabalu Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$44

After analyzing 49 first time trip hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $44. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Kota Kinabalu.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $84
  • 4-star hotels: $46
  • 3-star hotels: $34
  • 2-star hotels: $35


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