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Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel

Lot 126 Harbour Square 14 Jalan Dua opposite Sandakan Central Market, Sandakan 90000 Malaysia
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Traveller (29)
Room & Suite (10)
Dining (6)

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About

#5 of 10 hostels in Sandakan
Location
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Old world charm and views of Sulu Sea can be enjoyed at Sea View Sandakan Budget and Backpackers Hotel. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with traditional banana fritters and a drink. Perfectly located in the heart of Sandakan Town, Sea View is on the waterfront opposite the Central Market and within walking distance of banks, ATMs, currency exchange booths, tourist attractions, convenience stores, malls and local transportation. The second largest city in Sabah, Sandakan is known as a seafood haven and a gateway to many tourist attractions. Tour packages to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, Stilt House Water Village, Selingan Turtle Island Park, Kinabatangan River Cruise and Goamantong Cave can be organised through our onsite tour operator. We can also provide advice on local attractions. We have FREE WiFi, FREE traditional pancake breakfast, FREE welcome drink with traditional banana fritters, FREE towels, FREE travel and tour information, FREE lockers, book exchange, showers and a common room. Guest Facilities: For a small charge we can provide Malaysian cooking lessons using traditional family recipes (subject to chef’s availability), laundry service, foot & arm reflexology, tea & coffee making, kitchen use, printing/scanning, luggage storage and we also have a motorcycle. We can provide room service on request from our onsite restaurant which specialises in traditional family pancakes but also serves local cuisine, fresh seafood dishes and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available. Late breakfast is available and the kitchen can provide packed lunches upon request.
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Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
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Budget

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Lot 126 Harbour Square 14 Jalan Dua opposite Sandakan Central Market, Sandakan 90000 Malaysia
Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel
159Reviews1Q+A19Room tips
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Arbox wrote a review Feb 2019
Amsterdam, The Netherlands167 contributions127 helpful votes
IMPORTANT NOTE: we booked this hotel through a popular booking platform. The location mentioned at that website is NOT accurate ( Lot 125 & 126 Jalan Dua Harbour Square 14, 90000 Sandakan). Instead, ask your driver to take you to the WEST side of the Harbour Mall Sandakan. When travelling, I always try to stay in easy-on-the-budget, clean, safe, well-located and ok-for-sleep-quality places. It does not have to be modern, as long as the aforementioned criteria are met. I would say the Borneo Seaview Hotel is OK in that respect. - Our double room was basic. With basic I really mean basic: there is a bed, there are some thin curtains, no safe, and there is an on-suite bathroom that needs renovating and is not super clean. We note that the pillows were moldy so please check this. - The location of the Borneo Seaview Hotel is fine. It's next to a mall, close to a 24h self laundry service (or non self service a few blocks away), close enough to some eating places and travel agencies. Speaking of this 24h laundry service; we noted children spent the night in this room. I did not get the idea that Sandakan is not a safe place to walk at night time, but you will not feel perfectly at ease either. - The reception staff was always smiling. Every time we walked by, we did not get the feeling they were overly busy (e.g. cleaning or doing other stuff), but that was fine. If we had a request, e.g. related to the water in the room or related to the cleanliness of the common spaces like corridors (there was a local living in one of the rooms with his trash in the corridor outside his room), they took care of it. - In terms of sleep quality; was ok. As said, the pillows were moldy so we had to improvise with clothes. Other than that, the curtains in the room were a little bit thin. We luckily did not suffer from inside or outside noise. Other relevant things to know: - There are enough Grab cars available to take you to Sepilok. At Sepilok, do make sure that you are not leaving the parks too late, as it could be possible that no Grab drivers are available anymore at that time. We fixed this by enquiring at a local hotel whether they could arrange a taxi for us (which of course was more expensive than a Grab car) - There are enough Grab drivers available to take you from the bus drop-off point to your hotel/hostel/guest house in town. - Sandakan is not extremely clean. I think overall it's improving, but we noted huge rats on the streets at night. This is most likely due to inadequate handling of trash. We did not experience this in Kota Kinabalu. Sandakan also is not as modern as KK.
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Date of stay: January 2019
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
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Claude Betancourt wrote a review Apr 2018
Sesto San Giovanni, Italy42 contributions22 helpful votes
I highly recommend this hostel because it's clean, cheap and centrally located near a big mall, a street market, a travel agency (to book your local flight) and the two bus terminals. I have choosen Sandakan as a base for visiting the orang utans and bears in Sepilok, despite what a renowned guide suggested to do (in Sepilok there is only a road: Sandakan, in comparizon with Sepilok, is a metropolis). Get your flight to Sandakan and enjoy these two parks
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
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IDeniel wrote a review Mar 2018
4 contributions
The beds were really comfy and it was in q good part of town; With food available just around the corner. And the workers were really nice. There was also a useful laundry place nearby. The market was really close too which made for a active morning.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Rachel wrote a review Aug 2017
London, United Kingdom35 contributions35 helpful votes
Stayed for 3 nights here with a friend in a private room. Staff were helpful and helped us to book tours. Some rooms only have a fan and we had to ask to move to an AC room which the staff agreed to do happily at no extra charge. The free pancake breakfast is great! Sea view has a lot of potential and could make guests happier by simply refurbishing the place. The walls are really dirty and the place is a bit messy, including the bathrooms. The owner needs to fix this!
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Date of stay: August 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Gabriele B wrote a review May 2017
2 contributions
Perfect place if you want to stay in Sandakan on a budget... the dorm is great and the breakfast is really good. The staff is really friendly and helpfull. They prepared breakfast for me at 6:30 and it wasn't the usual bred with jam like the majority of hostels, I got pancakes and bananas... I really enjoyed I will come again in the future
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Date of stay: May 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Hannah_MemphisIndiexo wrote a review Jan 2017
London, United Kingdom160 contributions67 helpful votes
This was a perfect budget hotel for a one night stay before heading deeper into Borneo and the jungle. The staff were very welcoming and I spent lots of time in the evening talking and getting to know them. They helped me to map out a route to get to my next destination and supported me in finding somewhere to eat that evening. (For a naughty takeaway there is a McDonald's a 2min walk away) I stayed in a 6 dorm mixed room which consisted off three bunk beds, bedding and plug sockets. I shared this room with two others and shared a bathroom and toilet. The rooms and the bathroom, toilets were clean completely acceptable for a budget stay. I would stay again as the staff make a budget hostel ;)
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Date of stay: September 2016
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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Charlie wrote a review Sept 2016
Iver, United Kingdom94 contributions38 helpful votes
Smelly corridors. Room ok, we stayed in a triple room, but had to ask for a top sheet which were clean but stained. Room had air con but no control so set at temp and either on or off. Some toilets the flush doesn't work. Not all showers fitted. No toilet roll/paper. Not the cleanest place I've stayed in, however breakfast was good which was pancakes!! Wouldn't stay here again
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
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charlottechurnside wrote a review May 2016
Reading, United Kingdom26 contributions6 helpful votes
Location is great, easy walk to the bus station and restaurants and seafront. Directly opposite the port market which is incredible as all the shipments arrive and it is always buzzing - opens at 3am though so can be noisy! My room was at the front of the hostel and I was never disturbed by it though. The hostel has great food and facilities as well as loads of info on activities - they're amazing at helping you plan what to do and when, and getting you involved with different groups and sorting transport. Really helpful. Plus the food is amazing! The pumpkin and lemongrass curry still makes my mouth water thinking about it...
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Date of stay: October 2015
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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Sibrand J wrote a review Apr 2016
134 contributions28 helpful votes
Allright, so i booked this hostel based on All the reviews on tripadvisor which seemed pretty good. And it was all good, until we got to our twin bed Room.. First thing we noticed was that the cleaning Lady only changed the beds, there was hair all over the floor and while we heard nothing about sharing the room, a cockroach was already sleeping in one of our beds. The room itself looked like IT was built 30 years ago and had not been maintained ever since. The matrasses on the bed were worn out and when laying down you could count every plank poking in your Body. We had a room with AC, which apparantly was powered by An enormous diesel generator judging by the Sound IT made. The Bathrooms were pretty much the same, outdated and Gross. The only upside and reason why this Review is 2 stars and not 1 is that the personel is friendly, and the People in the dorms seem pretty Happy so that might Be allright, although i can't judge about it.
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Brendan T wrote a review Apr 2016
292 contributions53 helpful votes
With this hostel we had Some bad experience. First we came in the day we booked the room on booking.com. And they ended up giving our room away to walk-ins. They did offer us a room with A-C for the same price but still. Then we came into the room. IT was dirty boring looking room. The beds had insects on iT. And hair everywhere. The restrooms and shower were also dirty. The small carpet in front of the showers and toilet had became brown. Pfff. For the money you pay, i'v had alot better hostels. The only Things is, that the staff is friendly.
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Date of stay: April 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
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LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahSandakan DivisionSandakan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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SEA VIEW SANDAKAN BUDGET & BACKPACKERS HOTEL: See 139 Reviews, Price Comparison and 43 Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Sandakan Heritage Trail (0.2 km), Sandakan Harbou (0.1 km), and Sabah,malaysia (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and room service.
What food & drink options are available at Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Balin Roof Garden Bar & Bistro, English Tea House & Restaurant, and Harbour Bistro Cafe.
Is Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Sandakan.
Are there any historical sites close to Sea View Sandakan Budget & Backpackers Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Agnes Newton Keith Home (0.5 km).