Ratings based on 440 Verified Reviews
4.5 Room cleanliness
4.5 Service & staff
4.6 Room comfort
4.4 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler
Posted 15 Oct 2024
The property itself and rooms were nice, but the resort was way too expensive for what was provided. we did not feel like we got value doe the money. The meals were excessively expensive for what they were, and left us with traveler's diarrhea unfortunately. Very basic tours were extra charges too, as were the transfers in and out from kota Kinabalu. We also stayed way too long. I think max 3 nights would be recommended so you don't get bored.
by A verified traveler
Posted 4 Aug 2024 on Hotels
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.
by A verified traveler
Posted 10 Apr 2024
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.
by A verified traveler
Posted 14 Feb 2024
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.
by A verified traveler
Posted 5 Jan 2024 on Hotels
by A verified traveler
Posted 4 Oct 2023
by A verified traveler
Posted 2 Oct 2023 on Hotels
by A verified traveler
Posted 31 Jul 2023 on Hotels
by A verified traveler
Posted 16 Jul 2023
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.
by A verified traveler
Posted 29 Oct 2022
Villa was nice and spacious. Service was excellent.
Food needs to improve
