It's a little out of town but I chose it for the close proximity to the beach and swimming ,which is about a 10min walk from the hotel. There are street food and drinks stalls available from about 3pm . Tanjung Aru beach is beautiful, uncrowded and the beach shelves away gently making it a safe swimming area. However, the beach had rubbish washed up and maintenance isn't a priority I guess. I swam everyday and didn't get sick ,that's a bonus.
The room ( the whole place)was tired looking, it could do with a lick of paint and maintenance. Room was clean when I got there but I strongly doubt it was cleaned in the entire time I was there for five days. Often had to ask for toilet paper , shampoo and shower gel , and coffee sachets etc ,basics to be stocked whenever housekeeping does their cleaning. Air con worked for me although the settings couldn't be altered !
The bed springs creak and you feel the springs when you sit on the bed but I slept ok only because I was usually exhausted from the day's activities . The beds and mattresses definitely need renewing though.
The fridge was mouldy and smelly , what a blooming shame : /
The safe was broken - hallelujah!
I kept my room door locked at all times only because Reception staff hardly looked up to see who comes and goes- they sit very low,almost out of view at their front desk. I wasn't convinced about their perception of safety especially as I'm a solo female traveller and I need to be alert and take great caution.
Casuarina Hotel are you taking note?
Reception is helpful but that depends who is present.
Lifts work fine without too much of a wait. The cafe on ground level serves an American breakfast but I couldn't tell you whether that's worth your while. It looked like Mary Celeste everytime I peeped in there so wasn't convinced about getting fed or a service. Therefore, I had fruit and snacks as standby .. There's a lovely restaurant a few yards from the hotel called the Yolo Seafood Restaurant which tends to open from 11.30am- delicious and inexpensive with friendly staff.
Grab taxi fare to city centre varies from MYR 7- 25 Ringgit ,the higher tariff if returning during commuter rush hours from city centre which is a 15- 25 min ride .
Would I stay here again ? I would actually knowing all its idiosyncrasis compared to so many awful or simplly mediocre accommodation charging an arm and a leg , I think Casuarina is just ok . Value for money? I don't think so .
Stayed at Borneo Beach Villa Karambunai and it was such a chill getaway. The sea view memang nice and the whole place felt super private — perfect to just relax and clear your head. Villa was spacious, nothing fancy but comfortable, and the kids had the best time at the private pool and beach. Overall, a fun and easy place for a laid-back family trip by the beach 🌊
We had an excellent time at Magellan with our 7 year-old kid.
1. There were many facilities catered for children. There were 3 different pools to choose from, there was a small beach to snorkel and feed fish and also play some sand, there was a floatie prepared at the shallow pool and there was a bouncy castle slide for adults to enjoy as well. Snorkel and life jackets prepared for those wanting to try at the small beach. Perfect for those who are short on time to do island hopping. There were movie screenings every Fri-Sun. There's a playground. There's a kid's club with affordable prices and activities. There's bowling, pickleball, tennis and so much more for adults wanting to do some activities in the resort.
2. Service was excellent. We had a malfunction phone in our 1st room which became inconvenient. They manage to get us a room change with an upgrade! The manager on the case, Ms Mahera was very kind in handling our case. We changed our rooms the day after check-in and had accidentally left behind my kid's bag. And since we had the manager's number on hand, we contacted them and we got the item back safely within an hour of contacting them. Every encounter with a staff was met with a smile. We ordered room service twice since we got so tired and the food was delicious.
3. Location is great. We went island hopping via the Marina Jetty that was just next door, no need to commute to other locations. The hotel also had an amazing view of the sunset. There were multiple spots for photos and restaurants to enjoy the sunset. Also the location is a mere 15 mins away from the airport and city centre. Grab from hotel to city centre is less than RM15/ trip.
The owners are incredibly friendly and welcoming, ensuring a hassle-free and comfortable stay. The unit is spotless, well-maintained, and thoughtfully furnished, offering a cozy and relaxing ambiance.
One of its biggest highlights is the stunning city and sea view. The location is excellent—just a short walk to Suria Sabah Shopping Mall and Jesselton Ferry Terminal, making it convenient for shopping, dining, and island-hopping. We recommend for this unit and for sure will come back here again 😊