We had an amazing time at Gaya Island Resort. It is a luxury resort with great food and drinks, comfortable rooms, and incredible views/proximity to the ocean. Worth noting is that this is in a nature reserve, surrounded by jungle and ocean, and the resort embraces and supports this, which means coexisting with wildlife. You can walk out from the resort beach to their own protected reef and swim with dozens of species of beautiful fish (equipment is available for free). We didn’t see any snakes, though we watched for them constantly over 5 days and participated intently in multiple jungle walks. The activities were an absolute highlight - a deeper snorkeling excursion, walks, mangrove kayaking, and more available. I had booked it confident that the family members who prefer to lounge by the pool would be well-served, but they ended up coming on the excursions and having a great time. Definitely worth 4-5 days if you can swing it.
Had a lovely stay, would like to have seen more food options and later bar food service.
Activities team were great, reception and waiting staff were not very friendly, expected a higher level of service.
เข้าพัก 4 คืน, เมษายน 2024
รีวิวที่ตรวจสอบแล้ว
6/10 พอใช้
Simon
8 เม.ย. 2026
ชื่นชอบ: พนักงานและบริการ
Could be so much better - this is 3 or 4 start at best - Its missing the finishing touches that enhances guest experience - eg 1 hour for bags to be brought to room, food over priced and average - room aircon is not up to standard, not enough power outlets - in reality only one for guest use in the room, for the money there is better , far better
The property has a beautiful setting with the sea and a primary forest as its backdrop. The hotel excursions are excellent with an added inspiration on marine and forest conservation. Coral garden snorkelling and forest trekking are highly recommended. The staff are all genuinely kind and attentive. A very good resort.
เข้าพัก 4 คืน, กุมภาพันธ์ 2024
รีวิวที่ตรวจสอบแล้ว
8/10 ดี
Mario
8 ก.ย. 2024
ชื่นชอบ: ความสะอาด
Schöne Hotelanlage. Gute Zimmer. Service ok. Preis-Leistung zu hoch.
Situated in one of the largest underwater national parks. Spectacular natural beauty with sea, sand and jungle. Hundreds of species of marine and island life. Underwater and above ground Activities beautifully curated by YTL staff to blend conservation and fun.
We were a group of nature lovers who were using this as a three night stay to get used to the temperature and time change upon arrival in Borneo. Loved the grounds and snorkeling right from the beach. Fantastic nature center staffed by several biologists. The food options were a bit pricey but we were expecting that. The grounds were very birdy and we found two Borean Pit Vipers. The mangrove tour was fantastic. Room is very good quality for the price.
The property itself and rooms were nice, but the resort was way too expensive for what was provided. we did not feel like we got value doe the money. The meals were excessively expensive for what they were, and left us with traveler's diarrhea unfortunately. Very basic tours were extra charges too, as were the transfers in and out from kota Kinabalu. We also stayed way too long. I think max 3 nights would be recommended so you don't get bored.
Beautiful location, well organised, excellent food, friendly staff, amazing rooms.
Many hidden taxes ... and service charge added even for buffet meal (which was self service ... although did finally remove when challenged).
The private beach had a huge rubbish dump just behind the sandy beach. Very disappointing to see on a luxury trip.
Great to see the conservation work with rescued turtles and coral.
Strange to see complimentary ice lollies being handed out by pool, but only if you agreed to a young waiter taking a photo on his mobile phone ... bizarre.
เข้าพัก 2 คืน, สิงหาคม 2024
รีวิวที่ตรวจสอบแล้ว
10/10 ดีเลิศ
Eiji
1 ธ.ค. 2023
ชื่นชอบ: สิ่งอำนวยความสะดวก
It is totally amazing!! The staff are really polite and professional!! But the mosquito are really many. So you should bring medicine lol.
If you can go there, you should enjoy their facilities. Especially snorkeling!! The beach in front of pool are really great!! There are clear water and many beautiful fishes. You don’t need to go anywhere, just go to beach with your snorkeling gears!!
So I appreciate for your hospitality and great services.
เข้าพัก 3 คืน, พฤศจิกายน 2023
รีวิวที่ตรวจสอบแล้ว
6/10 พอใช้
Matthew
16 ก.ค. 2023
ชื่นชอบ: สภาพของที่พักและสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวก
ไม่ชื่นชอบ: พนักงานและบริการ
Starting with the positives, Gaya Island Resort is in a wonderful setting. The accommodation is spacious with nice outlooks, though depending where you are you could have quite an uphill hike to your rooms. We had the buffet meals in the dining room and the standard of what was offered was very high. The staff were very friendly and accommodating.
The service however of the management and reservations team leading up to our visit was appalling. Despite having paid in full we were sent automated messages threatening to cancel our booking and keep any monies already paid. When we replied explaining payment had been made and asking for clarification we simply received the same message again. None of these messages came with a name or contact details. Several attempts to ring the reservations line all concluded the same way i.e. being told all the lines were busy and the phone call was dropped. Expedia's initial attempts to contact the resort also failed but we assume they eventually worked, as we received an email from the resort informing us we should ignore the previous messages. No hint of an apology was offered.
On top of this, on two of the days we stayed there was, for different periods of time, no water and no electricity. Regarding the water, on one occasion this lasted for over 9 hours.
Finally the cleanliness of the resort in some areas was disappointing. In particular the gym floor was covered in sand and even hairs - very unpleasant.
My family and I stayed at GIR for 2 nights and had a great time. The rooms were enormous (complete with separate areas for walk in robes, bathtub, shower, toilet). Room amenities were excellent, with bug spray and ointment for insect bites. Our rooms had fantastic views across the sea to Mt Kinabalu, beautiful to watch the sunrise every morning. The staff were all very friendly and attentive to our needs. We will absolutely be back again. Thank your GIR for a great time!