Gaya Island Resort

We ended our honeymoon in Gaya Island for four nights. It was the perfect end to a perfect holiday. I had initially worried that four nights may have been too long but we could easily have stayed for longer. We were able to eat at each of the resorts different restaurants. We enjoyed time at the pool and the private beach. We also went on one the resorts trips- reef snorkelling. Our guide was Safan who was excellent! He went above and beyond giving my husband a shirt to protect his sunburn. We saw lots of beautiful fish and even 5 sharks! Safan took pictures throughout and shared these with us later. We were able to enjoy a spa treatment and a private dinner that had been purchased for us as a wedding present. We had the three hour couple spa experience and it was fantastic. One of the best I’ve had. I sadly can’t remember the two ladies names but they were excellent. Our private dinner had to be moved from the beach due to the rain but it was still beautiful, like something straight out of love island. Our waitress Nina was so good and the chef also came to explain each course to us. There was sooo much food! Would highly recommend and would visit again.

It’s a nice resort. But far from the nicest. This is why I only gave it 3 stars: 1. Rooms are old and a bit tired. Could use a facelift 2. The most counterintuitive system of lighting switches. After hours of research, still couldn’t figure out how to turn off the light in the walk-in closet 3. The private decks has a nice, roomy flatbed, but it’s positioned in such a way that you are facing the room instead of the sea. This is just absurd. 4. Most resorts in Malaysia I’ve been to shuffle guest around in the golf carts. For some reason, Gaia Island resort uses vans, which are not easily available. This is a problem since most villas are uphill. Elderly and people with a heart issues would have a problem making it to their rooms. 5. The TV is are tiny. Only people with perfect eyesight can enjoy watching them from the bed.

Fabulous island location with a glorious sandy beach on one side with shallow warm water perfect for snorkelling, and thick forest to the rear. Chalets are spacious and well appointed though could do with updating as rather tired in some areas. Careless decoration has left paint splattered on frosted glass bathroom doors which detracts from a high end finish. We were in a Kinabalu chalet, about as high in the resort as you can get (821) with an amazing sea view to Mt Kinabalu in the distance from our terrace. Olathe terrace where there were two wooden day beds. These were far too uncomfortable to use. I can’t understand why they don’t supply loungers and a table instead. We dined in the main buffet restaurant morning and evening and the Pool Bar at lunchtime. Food was outstanding both in array of choice and the quality, and the chef and staff were really helpful and friendly. However there is no AC in the dining room only ceiling fans. It was stiflingly hot in the morning with the sun shining in and too warm in the evening to make it a comfortable, leisurely experience. The Pool is lovely, clean and well maintained and was never crowded while we were there. The only drawback is the distance you have to walk down steep and at times slippery, after rain, roads. If you are in one of the higher chalets as we were it makes the vacation far too much like hard work. My husband has mobility issues and if it were not for the transport to and from our chalet we were offered it would have been impossible for him to get to the restaurants, pool area, beach or public areas. We would have had to leave the resort. Annoying because our TA knew my husband’s mobility issues as they had tailor made the previous wildlife tour of Sabah to avoid walking and booked additional boat based wildlife viewing but they booked us there anyway!! I shall be taking it up with them. This really should be more clearly stated in the Hotel information as it could ruin your holiday. This is a resort for the physically fit who don’t mind working hard on vacation. For these reasons I definitely would not describe this as a luxury resort.

This is not what I would say is a 5 Star Resort, the rooms are somewhat dated and really in need of a freshen up, the bed linen smelt fusty and despite staying three nights it smelt the same every night. The phone in the room was broken, not that you need it but we were in a Kinabalu Villa which is a long walk up and needed to call to get the bags collected, a note was left to say they are aware of an issue and will be fixed but no point for our stay was this sorted. We had paid to be all inclusive but this was not all inclusive, drinks are not included other than water and you can only eat in the buffet restaurant or pool bar area, and for us we would have saved money had we not been all inclusive. So that cost us extra. The Fisherman’s restaurant we went to on the special night, but as it rained it was moved inside and we still had to pay 160RM per person supplement on top of the £200 we had paid each for the all inclusive and all you got was a buffet. You have to pay a lot more in taxes and then the boat return is extortionate… we had a day trip to two islands the day before we went to this resort and that cost 400rm for us both with a private guide and all day. To get to Gaya Islam Resort and back 15 minutes each way was 375rm. It’s a shame as the location was amazing, the staff are amazing, it’s just you fell misled by the pricing and the resort itself is looking rather tired and not like the photos have you believe.

Gaya hotel is a fantastic resort. We spent 5 days here at the end of a safari esq holiday and it fitted the bill perfectly. Very relaxing, beautiful pool, plentiful food, stunning private beach. The villas are fantastic, with a lovely bath and shower. Staff are super helpful, especially the bar staff in the pool bar that kept the cocktails coming and the second of your 241 cool in the fridge. Japanese restaurant was lovely and we had a very relaxing massage..if only it lasted longer. Some pointers-we came via audley which had some perks, but difficult to work out at times and we had to ensure we kept asking about it (free drinks each day, free to eat anywhere etc). There isn’t much else to do, so we found by the end of 5 days we were well ready to go. It would be worth bringing drinks/snacks with you from the mainland, and would be great if there were some walks outside of the resort, however I understand you are at the risk of the monkeys.

Recently stayed at Gaya Island Resort and, unfortunately, the experience did not match the level of luxury that was advertised or expected. Arrival & Facilities The resort grounds and public areas felt in need of refurbishment. The main swimming pool was closed for four days, reportedly due to heavy rainfall, which was disappointing as it significantly limited relaxation options. Additionally, the poolside area was unclean and the public toilets were not clean with an unpleasant odour. Dining Experience A positive highlight of the stay was the restaurant. It was clean, the food was excellent, and the chef was particularly welcoming, which made dining at the resort enjoyable. Accommodation The room itself was spacious, clean, and comfortable, offering a good level of privacy. However, the in-room entertainment was limited, with no Netflix. Overall Impression While Gaya Island Resort benefits from its location and the quality of its restaurant, the lack of upkeep in public areas and prolonged pool closure made the stay fall short of expectations for a luxury resort.

Just returned from a 10 day break and this is definitely not a 5* resort. We came for a relaxing holiday but the whole place is full of very noisy Chinese tourists with no respect for anyone else. Also there are not enough staff, each day you will wait at least 30 mins for just a beer or a coke! Food is fine but that’s probably the best of it. We definitely wouldn’t return.

Beautiful, peaceful location away from the hustle and bustle of KK. Kinabalu Villa was as advertised, could use a bit of interior touch up for the $$$$. Omekase experience was incredible. Would like to have a la carte options for breakfast as the buffet is wasted on you if you don't eat a lot. Happy hour 2x1 drinks were strong and fun! Might be nice to have an adults only pool option for those wanting a more relaxing poolside experience. Did the optional.day snorkeling trip with Borneo Dreams operating out of the reception. Well worth it and was a great full day. This is a hilly resort, if you have mobility issues, request a Villa on the lower levels. Safwan was great and very accommodating. Would recommend this resort to others.

Oh my where to begin writing about this hotel! I'll admit to rolling my eyes at reviews when people say they cried when leaving - I can see why! What a special place this is. The setting is amazing as another review said it has white lotus vibes! Our room although a little worn was gorgeous. We stayed in 709 and 710 both canopy villas which were really close to the beach and not too much walking which was good with two small kids. There is so much to do at this hotel, the guys on the snorkel trip were amazing and were very patient with our kids who were scared of the choppy sea. We loved Kayaking and Paddle boarding every day - although the paddle board broke on our last day which was sad as there was only one. The lady who worked at the water sports center was so lovely and helpful especially when it came to getting the paddle board. The staff are a credit to this hotel and cannot do enough for you. Particularly Chef Dolis in the restaurant. This Man is one of the most amazing Chefs I've ever come across. His passion for cooking and ensuring you enjoy your food on holiday was out of this world. My son has lots of food allergies and he was always finding ways of cooking something he could eat and enjoy - my 8 year old loves to tell everyone about the Coral Trout he ate. I hope Management see this and recognize what a wonderful guy he is! He spoke with all the guests and just loved cooking for everyone. Layla in the restaurant was fantastic too - she made sure our son had Sorbet every evening as he couldn't eat the ice cream and she was always chatty with our kids which was lovely. Shout out to Hafsah and another guy who's name I didn't get who worked tirelessly in the bar area all day - especially when happy hour was on as it was so busy but always service with a smile. They were really good at checking allergies with our food at lunch too. The spa was beautiful and definitely worth a visit. We had free massages as part of our package and I can honestly say I would have been more than happy to pay the going rate. Was so relaxing and I enjoyed the tea after whilst watching the storm. Make sure you drop by the discovery center as it's a really fascinating visit. Haziq was there when I took my children and he was amazing telling us all about the island and the work that they do. He even had a couple of snakes in the freezer to show us 🤣 I'd definitely recommend this hotel, there's something for everyone and it's five stars from us!

The resort was dated. Pillows were musky. Had to ask housekeeping to change all the pillows. Food venue options were limited. Only Feast Village, Tevajun Bay were available (set lunch) . Fisherman Cove was closed. The swimming pool was murky after heavy rain. We had expected better maintenance of facilities since it was under small luxury hotels branding.