Kota Kinabalu — Places to stay
Borneo's sunset city, fifteen minutes from the islands
- Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu — Sunset beach resort with its own jetty to the islands
- Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu — Forest-and-beach resort built for slow family days
- The Magellan Sutera Resort — Island boats from the marina, sunsets by the lagoon pool
- Hyatt Regency Kinabalu — Big sea-view hotel in the middle of everything
- Hilton Kota Kinabalu — Newer city hotel with a rooftop pool and a well-liked breakfast
- Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu — Right by the night market, sunsets from sea-facing rooms
- Hotel Sixty3 — Clean three-star on Gaya Street, no deposit
- Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre — Value four-star in town with a rooftop pool
- Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu — Value four-star on the seafront
- Homy Seafront Hostel — Waterfront hostel with sea views from the bunks
- The Pacific Sutera Hotel — Big marina resort with a golf course at Sutera Harbour
- Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu — A 23-storey city hotel that opened in 2022, with sea views
- The Jesselton Hotel — The oldest hotel in KK, right on Gaya Street
- Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai — Beach resort 30 km north, far from everything
- Gaya Centre Hotel — Budget 256-room hotel in the centre