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Crystal T
Malaysia

Best Kota Kinabalu Hotel

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 3 weeks ago
My wife and I have been traveling through Southeast Asia over seven months, covering seven different countries and more than 210 nights across 27 different Marriott properties. Throughout this trip, we have never encountered a more dedicated, professional, and visible management team than at the Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu. Initially, we had booked a 13-night stay, but the exceptional service prompted us to extend for an additional 21 nights. The senior management team, Mr. Suresh Ramasamy and Pavin Ravindran are remarkable in their relentless energy and passion for this hotel and their team. They are consistently present during breakfast, engaging with guests and staff, and can often be seen late into the evening in the lounge, ensuring everything runs smoothly. A big thank you to the front desk; Reazie, Noava, Shirley, and Cedric for their assistance and welcoming smiles each time we returned. The breakfast spread at this location is diverse and delicious with options from local to western favorites. Anna, Katie, Rodney, and Roger are a blessing to the F&B team led by Mr. Mohd Fadzil. The rooms in the hotel are spacious and well kept. Thanks to Rizan and his staff. Beds are very comfortable and the TV’s are the largest we have seen in a hotel :) If you book a sea view room you won’t be disappointed. If you have Bonvoy status and have club lounge access you will be amazed by the food in the lounge (shout out to Chef Daniel and Chef Katy), the staff; to include Laurian, Peter, Christina, Yuven, Regina, and Elvina are extremely friendly and professional, and you will get a front row to the amazing sunsets. Also, try out the rooftop bar for delicious cocktails and those same stunning views. We were thrilled to get a chance to participate in the “Chef On The Go” program. Thank you to Chef Chua and Chef Awangku for keeping us in line in the kitchen. This hotel isn’t far from the airport or any of the tourist attractions. You are within walking distance of the pier, shopping, nightlife, and restaurants. The hotel can help arrange trips for you if needed. In our opinion this hotel will tick all your boxes and leave you wanting to come back again.
Date of stay: July 2024
Room Tip: Grabs are easily accessible to and from this location.
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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Reviews (2,968)
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Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Convenient location to go to market or weekend night market and a short drive to KK airport. Room was spacious and clean with comfortable bed and pillow. Went to the restaurant, Favola, for dinner was greeted and taken care by Abegoss. His service was exceptional.

Date of stay: July 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled solo
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
2  Thank Faizal F
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Owner at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, responded to this reviewResponded 4 weeks ago

Dear 495faizalf,

Thank you very much for your kind review and also for recognizing our associate, Abegoss, for his exceptional service. We will surely share your kind words with him. We are delighted to hear that you found your room to be comfortable, and that you had the opportunity to explore Kota Kinabalu from the convenience of our hotel’s location in the city centre.

Thank you once again for your review and we look forward to welcoming you back to Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu for another enjoyable stay.

Kind regards,
Nurqamarina
Guest Experience

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Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Customer service was excellent from all staff. Highlights were the beautiful rooftop bar for sunsets (with live music some nights :)) and the lovely outdoor pool. A special thanks to Elvina for helping us with our checkout process and access to the business centre.

Date of stay: June 2024
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Thank KHKH18
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Owner at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, responded to this reviewResponded 4 weeks ago

Dear KHKH18,

Thank you very much for your kind review and also for recognizing our associate, Elvina, for her exceptional service. We are delighted to hear that you had enjoyed watching the ‘Sunset In Motion’ from our Rooftop bar, all while being serenaded by our live band. We are also glad to know that our swimming pool are up to your standard!

We hope that this will not be your last visit to Kota Kinabalu and we look forward to welcoming you back, hopefully soon!

Kind regards,
Nurqamarina
Guest Experience

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Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile

Family with older teens stayed 3 nights here at the start of our Borneo trip. The hotel itself is a little tired especially the pool area but the staff are all amazing and more than make up for it. Definitely get a sea view room and one with Lounge access. The Lounge was AMAZING. It’s free flow drinks 5.30-7.30 and the views of the sunset were spectacular. There’s also an open air roof bar just upstairs which was also great and inexpensive.
If you want to eat dinner in the lounge I would say get there early as it’s very popular but with so many good restaurants around it seems a waste but it’s included so good value.
My only real criticism of the hotel is the smell from the night market opposite but I’m not sure what the hotel can do about that tho

Room tip: Sea view room with lounge access is a must. You can have breakfast in the Lounge or downstairs.
Date of stay: August 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
Thank Travelingmum99
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Owner at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, responded to this reviewResponded 4 weeks ago

Dear Travelingmum99,

Thank you for taking the time to share your review with us. We are delighted to hear that you had enjoyed the sea view from your room, We are also thrilled to know that you had a great time savoring the sunset at our Club Lounge, and that you enjoyed the amenities it offered, including breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails.

We appreciate your feedback regarding the strong smell from the nearby fish market, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you during your stay. While this is beyond our control, we understand its impact and will continue to work on mitigating any discomfort for our guests.

Thank you once again for your feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu on your next visit to the city for an even more enjoyable stay.

Kind regards,
Nurqamarina
Guest Experience

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Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile

We stayed 7 nights at Le Meridien as the first of our stops in Malaysia after visiting Japan. Its proximity to the airport makes it a short 10 minute drive and we were warmly greeted at Reception by Cedric who was very welcoming and friendly. We had stayed at the hotel almost 10 years ago and could see that plenty of renovations had taken place.

Our suite was very spacious and well appointed and although we had a city view it was lovely to spend 7 nights here. The bathroom was huge and there was a second toilet/sink for our son to use also. We went up to the Executive Lounge on arrival and were again taken away by the breathtaking views you get from here. The club lounge had moved and been expanded since we were last there into a fabulous place where you can see the most amazing sunsets and just look out onto the wonderful ocean and harbour. We have visited many club lounges over the years and you will struggle to find a view that is better than this. Peter welcomed us warmly and looked after us well throughout our stay demonstrating his warm personality, professionalism and efficiency. We preferred to take breakfast in the lounge as whilst choice is limited there is plenty to choose from and the chefs (particularly Daniel) do a great job preparing eggs and noodles. Eating breakfast whilst looking out at the views was just fantastic and we did this most mornings. The cocktail happy hour from 5.30 - 7.30 was also very enjoyable with some hot dishes to choose from, alongside soup noodles, salads, cheeses, fruits and deserts. Cocktails are changed daily and Peter or Yuven will make you any drink of your choice from behind the bar. Beer and wine is also free flowing during this time. What really sets the lounge apart though are the fabulous team of staff who work there. They all provide a friendly and professional service and do all they can to look after you. A special thank you to Elvina who provided us with so much local information, Yuven (great (and strong) gin and tonics!) Harith and of course Peter!

We spent some time at the pool which is mostly shaded but there are some loungers near the front where you can still catch some rays. The hotel is truly exceptional and we really loved our time there. Its majestic location in the centre of KK and on the waterfront makes it a great choice to explore the surrounding area. We were sad to leave and hope to return again one day.

Room tip: Choose a room that provides access to the Executive Lounge, aim for an ocean view if you can!
Date of stay: July 2024
Trip type: Travelled with family
2  Thank MellyF75
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Owner at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, responded to this reviewResponded 4 weeks ago

Dear MellyF75,

Thank you very much for your glowing review and also for choosing us as your home away from home once again, particularly after such a long time! We are thrilled to hear that your seven-night stay was enjoyable and that your suite, especially the bathroom and the view, exceeded your expectations.

We are also pleased to know that you enjoyed admiring the sunset and the ocean, all while savoring the foods and cocktails at our Club Lounge. We are also glad that you enjoyed the pool and our hotel’s central location, with local markets and shops nearby. We thank you also for recognizing our associates, Cedric, Peter, Daniel, Yuven, Harith, and Elvina, for their exceptional services. Your kind words will definitely be shared with them to make their day!

We hope that this will not be your last visit to Kota Kinabalu and we look forward to welcoming you back, hopefully soon! But in the meantime, stay safe and stay well.

Kind regards,
Nurqamarina
Guest Experience

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Reviewed 29 July 2024 via mobile

From the moment I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly, which made me feel right at home. The hotel is perfect for business travelers, with super comfortable beds and pillows that guarantee a good night’s sleep. The highlight is definitely the rooftop bar, where you can enjoy amazing sunset views and relax after a busy day. Overall, the combination of friendly service, cozy accommodations, and a great atmosphere makes this hotel a fantastic choice. Highly recommended!

Date of stay: July 2024
Trip type: Travelled on business
1  Thank Vonderland
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, Owner at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, responded to this reviewResponded 1 August 2024

Dear Vonderland,

Thank you for sharing your kind and detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us. We are delighted to know that our warm greeting made you feel at home right from the start and that our comfortable beds and pillows provided you with a restful night’s sleep.

We are also pleased that you enjoyed our rooftop bar and its stunning sunset views—it's indeed a highlight for many of our guests. We strive to offer a blend of friendly service, cozy accommodations, and a welcoming atmosphere, and it’s great to hear that these aspects contributed to a memorable stay for you.

Thank you once again for your review and recommendation of our hotel, and we look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for another memorable stay.

Kind regards,
Nurqamarina
Guest Experience

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