• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Reviews » Hotel Reviews » Review: Hyatt Regency (Kota) Kinabalu – Suite
Hotel ReviewsHotelsHyatt

Review: Hyatt Regency (Kota) Kinabalu – Suite

Carly Stewart Posted onMarch 25, 2018March 25, 2018 5 Comments

During our Christmas/New Year’s trip to Borneo, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. We were able to use a suite upgrade and it was one of the best we have had. The waterfront location, excellent service, and suite were all excellent – but those were just the start. 

Location

Waterfront location
Waterfront location

Jalan Datuk Salleh Sulong, Kota Kinabalu, 88991 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

+60 88-221 234

Google Maps Link

The Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is located in downtown Kota Kinabalu on the waterfront. The location is centrally located for tourists and near many points of interest. There is a shopping center, restaurants, markets and a ferry terminal all within walking distance. Travel by cab from the airport was only about 15 minutes and cost around $7.

Checkin

Upon our arrival, we were greeted and escorted up to the Regency Club Lounge for our checkin.

Checkin for Globalists is in the lounge
Checkin for Globalists is in the lounge
Lounge seating at checkin
Lounge seating at checkin

The lounge offered canapés at night and a light breakfast in the morning with a mix of hot and cold items. There was enough to eat but for the minimal cost of breakfast in the restaurant it was no contest for us and we opted to eat our breakfast there. We were able to use a Globalist suite upgrade for the duration of our stay and we were impressed. We use our Globalist suite upgrades sparingly but at the Hyatt Kinabalu it was worth it.

Guest Bathroom/Living Room

When you first walk into the suite, there is a guest bathroom immediately off to the right-hand side. This is a feature we really appreciate as we are often traveling with friends or family members. If you invite others into your room it eliminates any awkward traipsing through your bedroom or amongst your personal belongings.

Guest bathroom
Guest bathroom
Coffee station, minibar and fridge
Coffee station, minibar fridge
Suite living room
Suite living room
Welcome amenity
Welcome amenity
Desk
Desk

The big window in the living room looked out over the South China Sea and in the morning we enjoyed this beautiful view.

Actual view from our suite living room
Actual view from our suite living room

Bedroom

While we didn’t need a crib for Lucy, it was a nice gesture for the staff to have one waiting for us in the room when we arrived late the first night. The bedroom can be separated off from the living space with a closed-door. The bed was comfortable and each bedside table provided adequate outlets for charging devices. The windows in the bedroom and bathroom look onto a smaller alleyway and were quite dark which was great for sleeping but also made the room feel a little claustrophobic. The closet was walk-through and led into the bathroom; it could also be closed off by a pocket door.

Bedroom
Bedroom

Closet/Bathroom

The closet was spacious enough to store our luggage and had a set of drawers that allowed us to unpack during our stay and settle in. The mirrors opposite the closet are just mirrors, no hidden storage was behind the glass.

Walk-through closet
Walk-through closet
Double vanity
Double vanity
Large soaking tub
Large soaking tub
Separate closed-door water closet and shower
Separate closed-door water closet and shower

Breakfast

As I mentioned before, we opted to eat our breakfast in the restaurant. The selection was vast with many hot and cold options as well as a range of local Malaysian offerings, Chinese, Indian and Western. I will let the pictures take over from here (though I still feel like I could have added many more.)

Pastry table, ready for Christmas
Pastry table, ready for Christmas
Salad station
Salad station
Omelet, indian pastry, and pancake station
Omelet, Indian pastry, and pancake station
Fresh fruit
Fresh fruit
Custom noodle station
Custom noodle station
Noodle station ingredients
Noodle station ingredients
Curry station
Curry station
More curry
More curry
Fresh juice station not included with the buffet
Fresh juice station not included with the buffet

Every morning we asked for iced coffee and every morning it arrived a little different from the day before depending on who made our glass of joe. Whichever way it arrived, it was always delicious. I particularly enjoyed the frothiness in this serving.

Iced coffee at breakfast
Iced coffee at breakfast

Unofficially, the hotel allowed Globalists to eat at the restaurant instead of the lounge once per stay but for a small add-on, about $15, the breakfast buffet was well worth it.

Facilities

“The Lounge” is located near the entrance of the hotel lobby. This area was very modern, open and often filled with guests (though not when I took the photo). The lobby featured nightly live jazz music and packed the lobby.

Between lobby checkin and the restaurants
Between lobby checkin and the restaurants

Pool

The property is an urban location downtown across from the waterfront. Therefore the pool was relatively small, but while the cabanas were always full, the pool was never too busy. Lucy enjoyed the zero-entry pool and splashing around in the fountain jets.

Lucy enjoyed the pool cabana
Lucy enjoyed the pool cabana
She enjoyed playing with the water more.
She enjoyed playing with the water more.

Japanese Restaurant – Nagisa

The Japanese Restaurant was recommended to us during our stay and is considered one of the best in Kota Kinabalu (KK). We gave it a try for a late dinner the night before we departed. The restaurant was empty (possibly due to the time of our dinner) but the food was still fresh and the quality of fish was fantastic. The Nagisa Sashimi Sampler was my favorite, I highly recommend giving it a try if you find yourself dining at Nagisa.

Japanese restaurant entrance
Japanese restaurant entrance
Nagisa sushi chef
Nagisa sushi chef
Nagisa dining room
Nagisa dining room
Nagisa sashimi sampler
Nagisa sashimi sampler
Tempura shrimp roll
Tempura shrimp roll

Conclusion

Overall we had a wonderful stay at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. The property had been renovated to help keep up with its more modern nearby competitors, the Le Merídian and Hilton. These updates were imperative in keeping the hotel relevant. We encountered friendly staff throughout the stay at breakfast and in the lounge. The location for us was really the star of the show for us with its proximity to shops, markets and the ferries to the islands.

Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu or other properties in KK? What was your experience like?

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Vivid Sydney, A Spectacular Light Show
Next Article American’s Business Extra Awards Suddenly Worthwhile Again?

About Author

Carly Stewart

Carly is a freelance travel writer that takes her daughter Lucy along on her journeys, stamping passports and making memories. She has contributed to Huffington Post, MapHappy, Travel Codex and PenandPassport.com. You can also find her over-sharing photos of Lucy on Instagram by following @LucyGoesTo and @AnotherBabyMaybe.

Related Posts

  • private member clubs

    Private Clubs Are The Latest Trend In Luxury Hotels

    May 25, 2025
  • Thompson Miami Beach courtesy of Hyatt Hotels-Two-Queen-Beds-With-Balcony

    Sneak Peek At The Thompson Miami Beach (Opens Fall 2025)

    May 25, 2025
  • an airplane with seats and a person standing in the back

    Missing: Premium American Airlines Aadvantage Awards To Asia

    May 4, 2025

5 Comments

  1. Silvet Springer Reply
    March 25, 2018 at 10:31 am

    We stayed as #globalists last June and were treated very well. As the Hyatt often gets Chinese tour groups the lounge was empty and staff looked up our preferences as saved by Hyatt when sending goodies to our suite. We were offered the breakfast buffet at no charge and it was wonderful! The hotel was such a good price we even kept our rooms when we went for a 2 night wildlife cruise that started at Sandakan.

    • Carly Stewart Reply
      March 25, 2018 at 9:26 pm

      It sounds like you had a great experience at the property too. We did a similar thing (holding the same room) while we went to Brunei for a 24 hour trip.

  2. Billiken Reply
    March 25, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    We spent our Thanksgiving at the Hilton Kota Kinabalu. We paid for a suite, which was large enough for us and our three kids. The suite included lounge access. The Hilton is not next to the waterfront, so we didn’t have the up close and personal view of the LeMeridien and Hyatt. However, the more modern Hilton made up for it. Moreover, we don’t mind walking. So, we walked to the markets and even walked to Jesselton Point where one catches the ferries to the islands. Basically, it comes down to personal preference, and whether one can tolerate/enjoy walking. (alternatively, an uber to Jesselton Point was ~$2 for all 5 of us).

    • Carly Stewart Reply
      March 25, 2018 at 9:25 pm

      During our stay the Hilton wasn’t yet open so we didn’t have a chance to try it out. It sounds like the updates were worth being off the waterfront. Our family is the same way, we would gladly walk an extra couple of blocks for a better property. But the view was perfect so it’s hard to say if I would sacrifice that, especially when our suite was excellent and the price was around $100/nt as I recall.

  3. Lantean Reply
    March 27, 2018 at 7:22 pm

    So did you climb Mount Kinabalu?

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Eurowings Real Business Class
    Eurowings Plans “Real” A320neo Business Class Seat On Medium-Haul Flights May 29, 2025
  • Turkey Fine Passengers Unbuckle
    Impatient Flyers, Beware: Turkey Will Fine You For Standing Up Too Soon May 28, 2025
  • Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN Review
    Review: Korean Air First Class Lounge Seoul (ICN) May 28, 2025
  • a group of people in blue uniforms
    United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter May 28, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • United American O’Hare gate dispute
    United Airlines To American Airlines: Fly More, Sue Less May 6, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.