The Jesselton Hotel
69 Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu 88000 Malaysia
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US$51
Free cancellation until 28/01/23
US$51
Free cancellation until 28/01/23
US$55
US$36
Free cancellation until 04/02/23
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About
#15 of 180 hotels in Kota Kinabalu
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
The Jesselton Hotel welcomes business and leisure travelers alike with a central location in the heart of the city and an array of selection for places to visit; encapsulating the full lifestyle of a city life within a tropical haven. Located on 69 Gaya Street, the hotel doors open to a Sunday Market which has become the place to go on for some retail therapy. Another great place to experience the culture and the livelihood of the Sabahan families on a Sunday outing. The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the Sabah Tourism Corporation office, KK Heritage Walk and Night Market, Shopping Malls and about a 20 minutes’ drive from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA). The prime location also provides an easy access to a whole range of dining options including Italian, French, Western, Asian and fusion cuisines, which are all available within walking distance to the hotel. Experience for yourself this wonderfully inspiring one of a kind colonial jewel in KK!
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Bar / lounge
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Concierge
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Wifi
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Safe
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Malay
Location
98Great for walkers
Grade: 98 out of 100
134Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
19Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
69 Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu 88000 Malaysia
Getting there
Car HireSee car hire from US$22/day
641Reviews10Q+A87Room tips
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+1
Here's my take. 1.Room (approx USD100/nite) Comfy, snuggly and super clean. Non smoking. You can enjoy your puff downstairs outside... and meet new people. 2.Food (between USD5-25) There are really really good restaurant nearby. Just a stone thrown and within walking distanceFrom indonesian,Chinese and Italian.The Next Block, a mediterranean restaurant, serves fine food. Room service is... muuaah.. bellisimo. 3. Bar I don't drink. If I did, it would be here. See my pics. 4. Service Fast. Friendly and personal. Enjoy the warm chats with the staffs. They'll help you. And good tips on places and which tour agents are good. Local knowledge makes the differences. 5. Privacy Excellent. Period. Well..except on Sunday. 6. Happenings Friday nite food market. A must. Enjoy…
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Date of stay: September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 18 Oct 2019
Dear been_there1963, Thank you for taking your time to write this generous review of us. We strive to create memorable hotel experiences for our guests and are delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your stay with us; particularly on the comfortable room, service and convenient location. Indeed, our hotel is located within the financial district and enjoys close proximity to places of interest nearby. There is also an abundance of choices when it comes to food & beverage that are available within this area for your dining pleasure. We appreciate your time in sharing this review and look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent a total of four nights at this lovely hotel right in the centre of Kota Kinabalu. The first two nights were with our son, and we got upgraded to the suite which was a lovely treat. The room had been well prepared for us with an extra bed, towels and water for three and was extremely comfortable and spacious. The included breakfast was good, and was prepared to order from a menu. After an absence of four days, we returned without our son for two more nights. We were in a standard double room this time, which was still very comfortable, but we were on the road side this time so could hear traffic and motor bikes at night. Breakfast wasn’t included in this stay, so we ordered from the menu and paid. It seems it is a separate company, because we were unable to put the…
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Date of stay: August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 18 Oct 2019
Dear RainbirdM, Thank you for sharing your delightful experience with us. Your wonderful comment warms our heart and gives us great motivation in providing our guests the best service. We look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back in the near future! Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here 3 nights - 2 at the beginning and 1 at the end of our tour. First 2 nights the rooms were ok but shabby and breakfast was a farce with 1 waitress bringing items one at a time to each table. However our last night was like a different hotel! We had lovely refurbished rooms, a good breakfast and went back a few days later for cocktails I would recommend but ask for a refurbished room!!
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Date of stay: August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
This old hotel is a charming relict from the past in the historical Gaia district. The staff are great- they let us wait in the lobby at 5 Am due to flight cancellation and were able to get us in early. Food and craft vendors sell their wares at night on the street outside and Sunday market. It is next to Signal Hill which has a great view of the harbor and islands, and the old clock tower, one of the few remaining structures after the allies bombed the occupied Japanese forces in WW II. Check out the old photographs of KK before it became a strip of malls and traffic jams. This part of KK still retains charm and some peace, and the Jesselton Hotel is a great place to experience it.
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Date of stay: July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Spent one night here on arrival in Borneo before catching our flight to Sandakan. An ideal base for the night, close to the Waterfront and several bars/shops plus a quick transfer from the airport. Had 2 rooms which were a good size, had a huge comfy bed and air con was good. A little dusty in places and bathroom a little tired. The breakfast was okay and more convenient than having to find somewhere to eat before leaving. Staff were friendly. Can recommend El Centro which is nearby if looking for a tasty evening meal.
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Date of stay: July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Stayed here for 3 nights, found the room and hotel, clean and comfortable. The staff were business like and friendly. The location is good with easy access walking to the sea front and downtown. WiFi works well. On Fridays and Saturdays between 6 pm and 2 am there is a food street market a little further down Gaya Street,mans on Sundays there is a general market outside the hotel which means that traffic cannot get to the front of the hotel. It has an attached restaurant Nextdoor which provides breakfast and food all day. I had a room at the rear which was slightly noisy, if i stayed again I would request a room at the front. Thank you Jesselton for an enjoyable stay.
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Date of stay: July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 18 Oct 2019
Dear JohnT854, Thank you for sharing your feedback and we are delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your stay with us; particularly on the comfortable room, service and convenient location. Indeed, our hotel is located within the financial district and enjoys close proximity to places of interest nearby. There is also an abundance of choices when it comes to food & beverage that are available within this area for your dining pleasure. We certainly look forward to welcoming you back to The Jesselton Hotel when your travels bring you back to this sunny island again! Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The jesselton hotel is a lovely friendly quirky hotel , we asked to move after the first night as our air conditioning was not working but it was no trouble and they actually upgraded us to the penthouse suite. The rooms were lovely and clean as well as the bathroom with a separate shower . The staff were amazing , very welcoming and friendly and helped without a second glance, a special thank you to Saiful who was on reception what a lovely man who made us laugh and was very helpful. The only downside to the hotel was that the traffic could be a bit noisy in the mornings but this was fine with us as we were up and out exploring but if you need a nice hotel as a base with good staff this is a good one 😊😊
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Date of stay: July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 14 Jul 2019
Dear Legaljulie, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us and we are delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your stay. We sincerely apologized for any inconvenience caused during stay with us. We appreciate your kind compliments about our rooms and services. We certainly look forward to welcoming you back to The Jesselton Hotel when your travels bring you back to this sunny island again! Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed for 2 nights either end of our holiday. The first night we were upgraded to the suite which was a pleasant surprise. We went back to stay a week later for another night and had booked the boutique king, but we were put in a boutique extra, which included a queen bed and a single. Thought it was odd, but didn’t question at the time and we were only there 1 night so not a big issue. The room was very small! Great location but would more than likely stay somewhere else next visit. Breakfast wasn’t included but we did try the restaurant for breakfast and I would not recommend.
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Date of stay: June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 1 Jul 2019
Dear Shelby047, Thank you for staying at The Jesselton Hotel and taking the time to provide your valuable feedback. We were delighted to read that you enjoyed your 1st stay with us, in particular with our great location and the complimentary upgrade to our suite. I wish to apologise that you found the room size during your 2nd stay was not to your expectation. The Boutique King and Boutique Extra rooms are 22sqm and are designed for guests to experience the old era without forgetting contemporary luxury. Should we have the opportunity to welcome you back again, please check out our deluxe king room that falls under our Classic room category, which has a room size of min. 30sqm. Once again, thank you for sharing your feedback with us and rest assured that your valuable comments were personally brought up to the attention of the departments concerned in order to make the necessary improvement. Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was given a room in the original wing. The hotel is in need of TLC. You can see that the hotel had it's good days. The location is central. The power fuse blew in my room. Windows does not block much road noise, and you can hear the doors banging outside. I found it hard to sleep. Housekeeping staff are quite nice. However, more smiles are needed at the lobby, especially at the wine area. The security guard is constantly on his phone sitting around the hotel at various levels. There wasn't a colonial uniformed guard. I would probably return after a renovation. However, there are better hotels at this price range in KK. This hotel needs a new manager.
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Date of stay: June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 10 Jul 2019
Dear Victorpo, Thank you for sharing your feedback and my profound apologies for the inconvenience caused. It is good to know that our housekeeping team managed to resolve the issue immediately and that you were satisfied with their service. Please allow me to share that The Bottle Shop is actually operated by our tenant, I truly regret the negative impression reflected and rest assured that our management has reviewed the issues raised by your goodself to enhance our service level and our colleagues at the wine area have also been re-briefed accordingly. Thank you for highlighting that the security guard is always appearing on various levels, it is the security guard’s responsibility to patrol around the hotel. We greatly appreciate your kind patronage and hope your experience on this occasion will not mar your overall impression of the hotel. Your positive feedback on the hotel’s strategic location in the city is much appreciated. Should we have the opportunity to welcome you back again, please check out our latest addition, the Boutique Rooms, designed and furnished to fit the Modern Victorian themed, where modern meets historical. Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Jesselton is very central (though not with a sea view) and reasonably priced. There was no breakfast but we found a good place for that a short walk away. We stayed three nights to get over the jet lag we anticipated from our flight from London and it served its purpose for that well though two would have done the trick. Kota Kinabalu is not the most exciting place to be and had we just spent the three nights we would have been satisfied. Unfortunately we returned, after our adventure up the river from Sandakan, for a further four. If you are going to spend such a time in KK it might be worth looking at the resort hotels. The staff are very pleasant and the room we had was comfortable and quiet whilst looking out over the Sunday market. There are plenty of restaurants…
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Date of stay: March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Jesselton_Hotel, General Manager at The Jesselton Hotel
Responded 14 Jul 2019
Dear MikeGOsterleyMiddx, Thank you for sharing your feedback and we are delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your stay with us; particularly on the comfortable room, service and convenient location. Indeed, our hotel is located within the financial district and enjoys close proximity to places of interest nearby. There is also an abundance of choices when it comes to food & beverage that are available within this area for your dining pleasure. Alternatively, guests could also enjoy a short 15 minutes’ walk to the waterfront area for dinner where you can enjoy the sunset. We certainly look forward to welcoming you back to The Jesselton Hotel when your travels bring you back to this sunny island again! Warmest Regards, Michelle Chong
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$34 - US$44 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
jesselton hotel kota kinabalu
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahWest Coast DivisionKota Kinabalu DistrictKota Kinabalu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
44
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