Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
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Hotel Details
Location
Polish Bay, Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Location
Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa · Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
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Key Highlights
- ✓Guests consistently highlight several outstanding features of the resort:
- ✓Service & Staff: The hospitality is frequently lauded as exceptional, with staff going above and beyond to make guests feel like royalty.
- ✓Location: The resort's secluded setting in a beautiful cove with soft sand, nestled between dense jungles, is a major draw.
Expert Review: Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa, a Michelin Key Selected property nestled on Gaya Island off the coast of Borneo, offers a luxurious and tranquil escape. It is widely praised for its exceptional service, stunning natural beauty, and well-appointed accommodations.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as an "exceptional place," a "paradise," and "magical." The resort consistently receives high ratings, particularly for its staff, location, and overall relaxing environment.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently highlight several outstanding features of the resort:
- Service & Staff: The hospitality is frequently lauded as exceptional, with staff going above and beyond to make guests feel like royalty.
- Location: The resort's secluded setting in a beautiful cove with soft sand, nestled between dense jungles, is a major draw.
- Design & Ambiance: The resort's blend of rustic charm and luxury, with villas overlooking either the jungle or the South China Sea, contributes to its serene atmosphere.
- Amenities & Activities: Guests appreciate the beautiful outdoor pool, private beach, and a range of activities including kayaking, snorkeling, and jungle trekking. The hilltop Solace Spa, incorporating natural elements, is also a favorite.
- Eco-consciousness: The resort is noted for its ecological efforts, including coral reef rehabilitation and discouraging plastic use.
3. Room Quality
The villas at Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa are described as spacious, comfortable, and beautifully designed with wooden furnishings. Each villa features a private balcony, air conditioning, and a 42-inch flat-screen TV. Bathrooms are luxurious, equipped with exclusive amenities and showers. Some villas offer the added luxury of a private plunge pool. Views typically encompass either the lush jungle or the serene South China Sea.
4. Dining Experience
Bunga Raya offers three distinct dining options:
- The Longhouse: This alfresco restaurant serves daily buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring both authentic local cuisine and Western fare.
- Pantai Restaurant & Bar: Located beachfront, it specializes in fresh grilled seafood for lunch.
- The Koi Wine Cave: This unique venue houses a wide selection of wines and cigars. The food quality is generally rated as good to excellent, with guests praising delicious cuisine and excellent breakfast options. While some guests find the food a bit pricey, the quality is acknowledged. Private dining experiences are also available.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff at Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa are consistently highlighted as a major strength. Guests frequently use words like "exceptional," "attentive," "friendly," and "welcoming." Many reviews mention staff going "above and beyond" and treating guests "like royalty," even remembering their names and addressing any issues instantly.
6. Location & Accessibility
The resort is situated on Gaya Island, part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, off the coast of Borneo. It provides a secluded and peaceful retreat away from the city hustle. Accessibility involves a 25-minute boat ride from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu, which itself is about a 15-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The resort offers scheduled boat transfers from Jesselton Point.
7. Value & Pricing
As a 5-star Michelin Key Selected property, Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa is a luxury destination. The average price per room is around $290 USD, with rates starting from approximately 1320 MYR per night (around $280-$300 USD). While this is higher than the average hotel room in Kota Kinabalu, many guests consider it "incredible value for money" given the exclusive private island experience and high level of service.
8. Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms have been noted:
- Beach Litter: Despite daily cleaning efforts, guests have reported instances of plastic litter washing ashore, particularly during the wet season, coming from Kota Kinabalu.
- Connectivity Issues: Wi-Fi and phone reception can be inconsistent, and power outages have been reported.
- Maintenance: Some older reviews mention that certain areas, such as the pool and gym equipment, could benefit from renovation or better maintenance.
- Food Pricing: While the food quality is generally praised, some guests find the dining options to be on the pricier side.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms have been noted:
- •Connectivity Issues: Wi-Fi and phone reception can be inconsistent, and power outages have been reported.
Google Reviews
325 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Charlotte Ackers
We had a fantastic stay and absolutely loved our time here. The location is stunning! The resort is right on the beach, surrounded by lush jungle, with wildlife all around and a real sense of calm and escape. Every interaction with the staff was warm, friendly and genuinely helpful. We were able to check out, enjoy a few extra hours at the resort, and were even accommodated on the staff ferry lat...
Josie Hanneman
I do not recommend this resort. Pros: the rooms have character, staff is responsive to requests, they have kayaks, the setting is beautiful, the ac works. Cons: so much noise! Construction and maintenance (needed!) is happening throughout the property. Gasoline/petrol leaf blowers were often in use (I saw one electric one sitting, unused). Very few guests (at most 3 units as far as I could tell) w...
Response from the owner
Dear Josie Hanneman, <br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. While we regret that your stay did not match your expectations, we would like to clarify several points you raised.<b...
Chee-Yean Eng
I have stayed in both Gaya Island resort (YTL) and now Bungaraya Island resort. Both are good and top notch, and it's about the level of good. Nothing is moderate or bad. When I say one is better than the other, it's just a higher level of good :), like A and A*. Outside of Sabah and Gaya island, I've also stayed in Pangkor Laut Resort (YTL), and stayed in Japan Clubmeds when skiing, and stayed i...
Response from the owner
Dear Chee-Yean Eng,<br><br>Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful, balanced, and well-travelled perspective of your stay with us. We truly appreciate the care you put into ...
Charlotte Lowery
Honestly was so overwhelmed with how amazing the customer service was when my partner and I stayed here on New Year’s Eve. We only stayed one night but anything you needed, there was someone with a smile ready to help you out. The staff went above and beyond. Beautiful area, the villas were also so stunning. Cute little huts tucked away in the trees. Two restaurants to choose from, breakfast had m...
Jennifer H
DO NOT STAY HERE!!! Appalling experience — avoid this resort at all costs! I stayed at Bungaraya Resort on Gaya Island with my partner for 3 nights, and it was one of the worst experiences we’ve ever had. We had to move rooms every single night due to serious maintenance and hygiene issues, including lizards in the room, bug nests in the wardrobe, and a leak directly above the bed that forced us ...
Response from the owner
Dear Jennifer,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts following your recent stay. We regret to read that your experience did not meet your expectations, as this is certainly not r...
Thiminhthuan Truong
We had a terrible experience at this resort. They made us wait until 3:00 PM for our room, even though the website stated 1:00 PM for check-in. I spoke with the manager about this and asked if we could stay for a late check-out until 12:30 PM. This unprofessional woman offered to pay us if we stayed. In addition, the resort is very dirty, the beach is full of trash, and it's not suitable for swim...
Response from the owner
Dear Thiminhthuan Truong,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your feedback. We regret that your stay did not meet your expectations and would like to clarify several points for accuracy.<br><br>Our official...
Marriott
