Strategically located at town centre, Hotel Sandakan is only 20 minutes drive from the airport and within walking distance to Central Business District, tourist attractions, centre market, shopping mall and Sandakan Heritage Trails. We have 105 tastefully furnished rooms with 14 suites. They are fully equipped with all amenities needed for a restful stay including complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, in-room safety box, mini fridge and color TV with satellite channels. Our Palm Café at ground floor which offers local Malay food & Western cuisine. The Palm Garden Chinese Restaurant located at 1st floor serves Dim Sum & Chinese cuisine. We have variety of function rooms, with the most up to date facilities to cater all types of events.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Business
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Malay
Location
Hotel Sandakan Lebuh Empat, Sandakan 90000 Malaysia
Hotel Sandakan
178 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We stayed for 4 nights, it’s an old building and we were staying in Junior Suite Room. It’s spacious, on the first day we arrived I noticed there’s some spots on the pillow case, bed sheet and duvet. We went to the reception to ask HK team to change and they changed them straight away, there’s no swimming pool and breakfast buffet was great and the waiters waitress are so helpful. Location is in the center, very near to the shores with few of local restaurants that provide a little bit of seafood.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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.
Response from senthil ilangovan, General Manager at Hotel Sandakan
Responded 4 Apr 2020
Dear Guests, Greetings from Hotel Sandakan. We thank you for your comment and we will take your comment seriously and address the issue. We would like to invite you back to enjoy the scenic and wildlife of Sandakan. Hope to see you soon. Thanks General Manager
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The private room was well-kept and afforded a good night of sleep.
It’s central location is a key feature, which made exploring the town easy.
Breakfast was varied enough, although a strong coffee would have been welcome.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from senthil6854, General Manager at Hotel Sandakan
Responded 29 Jan 2020
Dear Guests, Greetings. Thanks for sharing your experience. We strive to serve our guests with the best experience. Thanks GHM
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Stopped here for lunch during a Borneo tour. Main dishes were self service and accompanying noodle dishes were cooked to your specifications. All the food was tasty and we'll cooked. Fresh fruit and salads were available and deserts were self service. Tea and coffee were included in the buffet price Staff were friendly and helpful.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip 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.
Well located for Sandakan, clean and great sized rooms We stayed here as we were leaving early from Sandakan jetty and didn’t want drive from Sepilok and it was an unexpected gem! I was worried after reading some recent reviews but the room we had (family room on a Selingan floor) was immaculately clean. The decor is dated in style but looks like it has been recently refreshed - paint is new and unmarked, tiles and sealant in the bathroom are spotless and so on (and I can be pretty fussy!). Admittedly the corridor is not air conditioned and is carpeted so the humidity means it smells musty - which doesn’t give a great impression on approach to the room but the room itself was was great. Air conditioning worked well and was quiet, beds were comfy, shower had good water pressure and was hot. The family room had two large double beds, plenty of space for luggage, a large TV, all the standard amenities (shampoo, soap, bottled water, tea, coffee etc). There are notices explaining extra charges for additional amenities or excess cleaning required, which I think it’s perfectly reasonable for a hotel at this price point - it’s how they maintain the value for money. I was most impressed that a family room for 4 people actually had 4 bath towels! Most rooms even when booked for 4 in high end hotels, at best provide 3 and require you to ask housekeeping for the extra! Breakfast was good - options for western and Asian, hot and tasty. Overall it’s not a fancy resort hotel however, if you are looking for a clean comfortable hotel in sandakan, suitable for a family I would absolutely recommend this one.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Parking is limited but security will take your car keys and work it out for you. Family rooms are...
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.
We came to stay at this hotel on 8/02/2020 one night only. At first my husband reminded them about our booking and the extra bed a day before but the FO replied to him that she wasn't the one who made the reservation but will ask her teammates on it. The next day comes we check in and reminded the FO for the extra bed since that time we only keep our begs and went out for sightseeing.
Only we know when we're back to the hotel the extra bed is not ready yet! Called the HK and after few moments came a HK attendant to bring the extra bed. Very suprising, since my husband reminded the FO several times. How poor it is the communication between FO and HK department that time.
Before that, I paid the extra bed using a debit card but the atm terminal seems to be not working and have deducted my account twice but was credited back and the FO trainee that time(didn't know her name but her name tag says "trainee") insisted that I should pay by cash and I did. When things get more exciting is when she notified the accounts department the matter and the accounts dept will only be crediting my payment by Monday 10/02/2020. What's more worst is I haven't get the refund as promised until I made this review and it will be one month in a week time now.
I have made my statement regards to my refund to your FO via whatsapp they were very helpful but the accounts department was never co-operative. I know it is only a small amount not hundreds nor thousands. I bet these amounts maybe will take years to be credited.
Please be more efficient and effective in handling small stuff like this in future. Things like this will create a bigger problem. And still hoping to get my refund. *crossed fingers*
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from senthil ilangovan, General Manager at Hotel Sandakan
Responded 4 Mar 2020
Dear Clare, Greetings from Hotel Sandakan, We thanks for your comments and we take the comments seriously. We apologise for the incident. After investigation, we would like to highlight that there were some communication with you from FO watsapp and the communication starts on the day you check in on the extra payment charges to your account. And the last communication to you was on the 19/2/2020. The communication clearly stated that if the refund is not settled "you may refer to us" means let us know". There were no any communication with us after that. Since the charges was on Credit card, it is beyond our control and the refund will take at least 14 working days and this depends on how fast the bank work on your refund to your credit card. This is national wide policy on the credit card refund. By putting unpleasant remarks in online platform it reflect our reputation as a reputable hotel in Sandakan. I once again apologise for the inconvenience caused. Thanks Management
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We got this location on a cancellation by another hotel and couldn't have been more pleased. Our Junior Suite was spacious and comfortable. The buffet was excellent and dinner at the Chinese restaurant on 1st floor terrific. Not Halal certified (i.e.: Pork and liquor served here) we enjoyed the dim-sum brunch on Saturday. The evening entertainment left everyone happy with pictures to remember the performance. The owner is a fantastic host. Limited English programming on TV. A destination in itself.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
A hotel on the hill and near to downtown, Sim Sim Water Village, Agnes Keith House and St Michael's Church. Morning breakfast is as simple as the hotel. Nothing much but adequate. We like their plain porridge, very tasty indeed. I heard that lunch and dinner are delicious here. To find a parking space is a big problem in this popular place, but we just give our car keys to the Security, he will take care of our car. It is very affordable to stay in this hotel and it is convenient to find food and shop around.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Hotel is old and tired once you get inside but staff are great and location is good and really convenient so it’s a trade off as to which you care most about.
Air conditioning in the room didn’t work but they did come quickly and improved it. Breakfast very basic but edible
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from senthil ilangovan, General Manager at Hotel Sandakan
Responded 2 Oct 2022
Dear Sir, Greetings. we maintain as classical as possible. Thankjs
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We rented a car from the airport. This hotel is very near sim sim village, we had dinner there every night. Excellent fresh seafood and ambience by the sea. Easy drive to sepilok to see orangutans and proboscis monkeys. This hotel is much more affordable than sepilok hotels and new, clean and good breakfast. Rent a four wheel drive car if driving to Kinabatangan, had some roadworks. Road to proboscis monkey is bad. Four wheel would have been better
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Even had jockey to park our car…excellent hotel for affordable price
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.
AVOID!!! AVOID!!! AVOID!!! We recently stayed at this hotel and it was a nightmare from start to finish. The room was very outdated and had a musty, unpleasant smell that made the stay uncomfortable. We had a broken bed lamp hanging off the wall and a shower that didn’t work. The bathroom was mouldy and disgusting, and they only provided two small towels for four people. Unpleasant staff. To make matters worse, we all ended up with bed bug bites!!! The breakfast was also a huge disappointment with very limited choices. The dirtiest and the smelliest hotel we’ve ever been to! Avoid this place at all costs! Not sure how it even got 3 stars in first place. It doesn’t deserve even one.
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:AVOID! Broken amenities, lack of cleanliness, unpleasant staff, very outdated and looks like it...
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.
There are more places to choose from in the Sandakan area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 123 - RM 171 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahSandakan DivisionSandakan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
105
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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