Gaya Island Resort
Resort in Kota Kinabalu
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Air conditioner and more
About this resort
Luxury resort on the beach, with outdoor pool
Catch some rays on Gaya Island Resort's private sand beach or spend the day relaxing at the full-service spa. Then enjoy a meal at one of the resort's 4 restaurants.
Gaya Island Resort offers 121 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. LED televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms are also outfitted with bathrobes, slippers, and bidets.
Recreational amenities at the resort include an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
Catch some rays on Gaya Island Resort's private sand beach or spend the day relaxing at the full-service spa. Then enjoy a meal at one of the resort's 4 restaurants.
Gaya Island Resort offers 121 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. LED televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms are also outfitted with bathrobes, slippers, and bidets.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and hair dryers. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.
Recreational amenities at the resort include an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Internet / Wifi
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Hot tub or spa
Garden
Map of Kota Kinabalu
Available Rooms
Bayu Villa
Beds not specified • 505 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Hotels.com for availability & pricing
Kinabalu Villa
Beds not specified • 505 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Hotels.com for availability & pricing
Canopy Villa
Beds not specified • 506 ft²
Sleeps 2
You'll be directed to Hotels.com for availability & pricing
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Ratings and reviews
5.0 / 10.0
Wonderful location and views. Staff were always friendly, helpful and polite. Fantastic range of activities.
5.0 / 10.0
Wonderful location and views. Staff were always friendly, helpful and polite. Fantastic range of activities.
4.0 / 10.0
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.
4.0 / 10.0
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.
8.0 / 10.0
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.
8.0 / 10.0
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.
10.0 / 10.0
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.
10.0 / 10.0
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.
10.0 / 10.0
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.
10.0 / 10.0
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.
6.0 / 10.0
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.
6.0 / 10.0
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.
8.0 / 10.0
Villa was nice and spacious. Service was excellent.
Food needs to improve
8.0 / 10.0
Villa was nice and spacious. Service was excellent.
Food needs to improve
5.0 / 10.0
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!
5.0 / 10.0
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!
4.0 / 10.0
Each room has a bath tub but there were less hot water in the evening. Even after water filled, many aunts was floating.
4.0 / 10.0
Each room has a bath tub but there were less hot water in the evening. Even after water filled, many aunts was floating.
8.0 / 10.0
suggest book activity or dinner reservation early, before arrive as not many slots
8.0 / 10.0
suggest book activity or dinner reservation early, before arrive as not many slots
10.0 / 10.0
I loved almost everything. The property and rooms were spectacular. pool was beautiful and the food was fantastic.
The only thing I didn't absolutely love - mattress softness, having to rent watersports equipment rather than it being included
10.0 / 10.0
I loved almost everything. The property and rooms were spectacular. pool was beautiful and the food was fantastic.
The only thing I didn't absolutely love - mattress softness, having to rent watersports equipment rather than it being included
10.0 / 10.0
Great hotel and staff. A very relaxing island escape.
10.0 / 10.0
Great hotel and staff. A very relaxing island escape.
10.0 / 10.0
Variety of activities were perfect.
Especially for the Sunrise breakfast and Singa BBQ party.
All the staffs are always smiling and kind.
Mr. Yang who was my first to last staff so friendly and impressively kind. Want to say thank again.
10.0 / 10.0
The water was clear and beautiful, the staff was extremely welcoming, and the experience was overall very relaxing.
10.0 / 10.0
The water was clear and beautiful, the staff was extremely welcoming, and the experience was overall very relaxing.
5.0 / 10.0
We had an excellent weekend at Gaya Island Resort. An amazing setting so near KK and yet so far away. Without exception staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The food was also perfect with the chef willing to go the extra mile.
5.0 / 10.0
We had an excellent weekend at Gaya Island Resort. An amazing setting so near KK and yet so far away. Without exception staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The food was also perfect with the chef willing to go the extra mile.
4.0 / 10.0
Very nice resort. Private beaches were very nice. Breakfast buffet had many selections and was delicious. Staff go out of their way to please, but at times they seemed short handed and had to wait for service. One time in particular was told to sit and wait by front desk staff then they forgot about me. 20 minutes later I reminded them.
My main complaint is the very high fee for travel to the island. It is a short 10 minute boat ride but they charge a docking fee if you find a lower cost option with local boat transportation. It’s a ripoff!
Also food prices on the island are Western world priced or higher. Out of whack with the local economy. But there are no other options.
4.0 / 10.0
Very nice resort. Private beaches were very nice. Breakfast buffet had many selections and was delicious. Staff go out of their way to please, but at times they seemed short handed and had to wait for service. One time in particular was told to sit and wait by front desk staff then they forgot about me. 20 minutes later I reminded them.
My main complaint is the very high fee for travel to the island. It is a short 10 minute boat ride but they charge a docking fee if you find a lower cost option with local boat transportation. It’s a ripoff!
Also food prices on the island are Western world priced or higher. Out of whack with the local economy. But there are no other options.
4.0 / 10.0
There were minor problems with the room. But these were promptly sorted.The coral and fish in the sea, right at the side of the hotel was amazing for snorkelling, though you need to watch out for sea urchins. The staff were wonderful. The seafood was great. A special thanks to Executive Sous-Chef Dolis for his hospitality and making us feel so welcomed.
4.0 / 10.0
There were minor problems with the room. But these were promptly sorted.The coral and fish in the sea, right at the side of the hotel was amazing for snorkelling, though you need to watch out for sea urchins. The staff were wonderful. The seafood was great. A special thanks to Executive Sous-Chef Dolis for his hospitality and making us feel so welcomed.
1.0 / 10.0
When we got the boat over to the resort the staff left our passports behind we were left without these for over 24 hours which is obviously quite distressing being such an important document.
I settled my bill when I left the resort however since returning home I have been charged over £100 with no explanation.
1.0 / 10.0
When we got the boat over to the resort the staff left our passports behind we were left without these for over 24 hours which is obviously quite distressing being such an important document.
I settled my bill when I left the resort however since returning home I have been charged over £100 with no explanation.
4.0 / 10.0
Gaya Island resort is 10 mins ferry ride away from kota kinabalu main island, a beautiful resort built on a secluded tropical island and the first view of the resort takes your breath away.
Facilities - beautiful resort with adequate facilities. Gym is well equipped, pool clean and well kept, an amazing beach just on the doorsteps and a spa (which i didn't visit)
Room - we have the canopy view room (i think the cheapest in class) but very nice and well thought out. The ac in one of the two rooms was a little weak but ok.
Service - they have an amazing crew. very well informed and trained. service was genuine and attentive. My bag tore at the bottom and they sew it up for me!
crowd - more of a family and honeymoon place (luckily without a lot of kids) we were a group of 4 girls and didnt see other groups. Not a rowdy place, very nice that way
Overall this resort is very nice, but a few things to notice:
Ferry - it's very expensive (160RM return) if you ever want to go to town, when an average meal in the city is around 20RM...stock up before you go to the resort if you're staying a few days and would need some snacks/ options
Restaurant/ food - so when the ferry is so expensive, and you're at a resort, you'd want to spend more time being at the resort, however, i really think the food is average at best. We had tried out most of the menu and just found it to be overpriced (expected at a hotel), but without the quality to match, so that was one of a big minus for me.
4.0 / 10.0
Gaya Island resort is 10 mins ferry ride away from kota kinabalu main island, a beautiful resort built on a secluded tropical island and the first view of the resort takes your breath away.
Facilities - beautiful resort with adequate facilities. Gym is well equipped, pool clean and well kept, an amazing beach just on the doorsteps and a spa (which i didn't visit)
Room - we have the canopy view room (i think the cheapest in class) but very nice and well thought out. The ac in one of the two rooms was a little weak but ok.
Service - they have an amazing crew. very well informed and trained. service was genuine and attentive. My bag tore at the bottom and they sew it up for me!
crowd - more of a family and honeymoon place (luckily without a lot of kids) we were a group of 4 girls and didnt see other groups. Not a rowdy place, very nice that way
Overall this resort is very nice, but a few things to notice:
Ferry - it's very expensive (160RM return) if you ever want to go to town, when an average meal in the city is around 20RM...stock up before you go to the resort if you're staying a few days and would need some snacks/ options
Restaurant/ food - so when the ferry is so expensive, and you're at a resort, you'd want to spend more time being at the resort, however, i really think the food is average at best. We had tried out most of the menu and just found it to be overpriced (expected at a hotel), but without the quality to match, so that was one of a big minus for me.
2.0 / 10.0
Too many bugs.... bed bugs, ants, mosquitoes.. expensive meals, not so good quality
2.0 / 10.0
Too many bugs.... bed bugs, ants, mosquitoes.. expensive meals, not so good quality
5.0 / 10.0
Luxury-kind of resort. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Location is perfect if you're looking for silence and relaxing holiday. Beach was good.
Boat to island costs 160 MR per person and it's not included for room price.
FAQs
How much does this resort cost compared to others in Kota Kinabalu?
The average price for a rental in Kota Kinabalu is R 756 per night. This rental is R 5,843 above the average.
Is parking included with this resort?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Gaya Island Resort. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this resort?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Gaya Island Resort. Enjoy the water!
Is Gaya Island Resort pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this resort is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Gaya Island Resort?
We found 7 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, internet / wifi, laundry, and balcony or patio.
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