Cheap Hotels in Semporna

"The location is superb, making travel incredibly convenient. The guesthouse itself is clean and tidy, with elegant and tasteful soft furnishings. The room is fully equipped with all necessary amenities and toiletries. The service is warm and attentive, with quick responses to messages. My stay was comfortable and relaxing, and I would definitely choose this guesthouse again for my next visit. Highly recommended!"

"This used to be called Pom Pom Island Dragon Pearl Resort, but now it has a new name. It's a 45-minute speedboat ride from Semporna jetty. This is a private island, free from tour groups and local disturbances. There are very few people on the island, so it feels like you have the whole island to yourself for three days, with only the sound of the waves for company. The 'jellyfish sea' lives up to its reputation. The shallow waters are vast and incredibly clear, even at two to three meters deep, where you can easily see coral and schools of fish. Every photo you take looks like a wallpaper. Sea turtles and clownfish are frequent visitors. The beach is spacious, and there are sun loungers and hammocks right outside the beach bungalows, giving you a true private beach experience. This time we stayed in a beach bungalow. The facilities are indeed dated – wooden structure, and electricity relies on its own system, with two short power outages every day (something to consider if this bothers you). However, the cleaning was very thorough. The ant problem was quite prominent, so remember to put away all food. The room comes with life jackets, and upon arrival, guests are reminded to wear them when swimming and that swimming is prohibited after 6 PM. Safety warnings are visible everywhere. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are buffet-style, with very limited choices and ordinary taste. The only fruits available are watermelon and papaya, rotated daily. Perhaps because there are so few guests, the food replenishment is also slow. Don't go with high expectations; just consider it as a way to refuel. Tips: There's no WiFi on the island, and mobile signal is sporadic. The service is neither good nor bad, not particularly enthusiastic. The facilities are old, but the scenery and tranquility are its strong points. If you're looking for luxury and comfort, I'd advise against it."

"The location is super close to the ferry terminal. Downstairs, right across the street, there's a KFC, Starbucks, and 7-Eleven, which is really convenient. The front desk staff were very patient. The only drawback is that the room is a bit old-fashioned. However, the hotel's exterior looks upscale and grand."

"This is one of the better hotels in Semporna town, and the price is quite reasonable. We only discovered this hotel after arriving. Its excellent location made us willing to pay a cancellation fee to switch from our previous booking. The hotel is located away from the indigenous areas and is close to the Hia Feng Jetty. The soundproofing is actually decent, not as noisy as some reviews claim. Perhaps we're just heavy sleepers, but we slept soundly through the night. The rooms are a bit dated, but the overall space is fine, and the two large beds are perfect for families. The room also has a balcony, which is great for drying clothes. I suggest the hotel consider replacing the towels and bedsheets, especially the towels, as they've become discolored and don't feel very fresh. For breakfast, there are three options spread across three restaurants, offering both Western and Chinese dishes. There's plenty to fill you up."

"The Lighthouse Hotel Semporna boasts an excellent location, directly facing the jetty for boat excursions. It's within walking distance of island hopping meeting points and seafood restaurants, making it incredibly convenient for getting around and finding food. Opened in 2023, the rooms are spacious and clean, with separate wet and dry areas in the bathroom. The rooftop pool offers sea views, and the overall environment is quiet and peaceful. The front desk service is thoughtful, and they support WeChat communication, offering great value for money. The only downsides are that the breakfast selection is simple and the facilities are quite basic. If you're looking for a luxurious experience, you might want to consider other options. However, it's perfect for travelers primarily focused on island hopping who prioritize convenient accommodation."

"If I had a choice, I wouldn't stay here again. This is the first time I've encountered such a long wait for check-out, even with a deposit. Those who paid with credit cards also had to wait. Check-in and check-out were all mixed together... the management is just too chaotic. Plus, the gym had an extremely strong, pungent plastic smell, making it impossible to use. The downstairs restaurant was absolutely terrible. The only good thing was that the room's cleanliness wasn't bad, after all, it's a 5-star hotel, and its location is superb."

"We booked a suite, primarily for the spaciousness, and our initial impression upon checking in was very positive. The balcony not facing the street was particularly quiet. Breakfast was just so-so; it filled us up, but we ended up eating rice noodles for all three days. The worst part was that our room wasn't cleaned for the entire three days. We asked the front desk to clean it, but when we returned in the evening, it still hadn't been done. Finally, we took their car to the Kapalai Hotel jetty, which was quite convenient. On other days, we didn't use their car to get to the jetty as we had a private boat charter, and our leader picked us up."

"The environment is absolutely beautiful, and it offers much better value for money compared to other overwater bungalows. You can enjoy kayaking with a transparent bottom boat, seeing lots of starfish and small fish – it's really pleasant. There are also Bajau people who come by to sell fresh seafood. It would be perfect if they added a water slide! 😍"

"first is the floor, it is sticky, it is sticky in the room and also at the gathering or public area where we take our meals. Next is the issue with the toilet, the shower head is broken, it's leaking and the water is too strong and thin, it is hurting me when i try to bathe. Thirdly, the floor mat is dirty and too thin, it is not absorbing water as it should. Fourth, the floor also has a lot of dust and sand. Fifth, the hotel does not have enough electrical plug, we only have two plugs and it is on the most left of the bed, it is better if it is in the middle of both beds. Sixth, the air conditioner is too weak for a room with 3 people, it is hot even at night. Seventh, the music is too loud, i cannot even rest properly at night, you can prepare earplugs at least. Eighth, the gathering or public area is too hot because there is no fan, please prepare some ceiling fans so guests can dine properly. Ninth, should have a table for a big room at least. the floor is wide enough, but it is so dirty that we do not dare to sit on the floor to play games or cards, we also do not want to play games or cards at the gathering or public area because it is too hot and loud. Tenth, rubbish in the sea or hotel area, i saw a huge pile of rubbish such as bottled water, food container, plastic bag just floating in the sea in the resort. Here are some good things about the hotel, first, very nice scenery, the water is nice and clean in the morning. Secondly, the balcony area for each room is nice because we can look at the scenery while sitting on the chair and resting. Thirdly, the staff is very friendly and very responsible, they do their work fast, they carry our luggage, refill food fast, and are very nice. Fourthly, the overall atmosphere of the hotel is very comfortable. Fifth, the food is ok, breakfast is ok, it is not the best but it is edible, the dinner is the best, and the seafood is a very nice touch. Sixth, we can dry our wet cloth on the balcony too. Overall i give it a 2 out of 5 stars. The price of your hotel does not match the pros and cons of your hotel. I would not want to stay in the hotel another day if the problems still stay the same. Please do your best to improve better. This is my honest review as a Malaysian."

"This resort is truly beautiful — scenic, clean and affordable. The surroundings are stunning and the rooms are well-maintained. However, there were several service issues that affected our overall experience. 1. Boat pick up was said to be 1.30pm. We were made to wait on the boat for almost 30 minutes because the resort manager had gone to town to buy supplies. The transfer only proceeded after I complained to the service manager. Shouldn’t the boat came earlier if u need to buy supplies?? 2. Upon arrival at the resort, we had to wait again for check-in, even though ours was the only boat arriving and there were only four rooms to be checked in. 3. Dinner was scheduled from 7-8 PM. When we arrived at the café at around 7:30 PM, only rice and chicken were left. The vegetables and prawns had already run out. When I requested a fried egg as a replacement, I was offered clams instead. It should’t be an excuse if other customers took too much food or we came late. 7.30pm is not late. You shd manage the food serving, it was not ur 1st week of business. 4. Breakfast was scheduled from 7-8AM. We arrived at 7:20 AM, but breakfast was not ready yet. Once the food was served, guests had to queue (this is fine) but by the time it was our turn, the eggs and chicken were already finished. I had to personally knock the kitchen to inform before the food was replenished. 5. Trip.com stated that check-out time was 11:00 AM, but the front desk informed us that check-out was at 10:00 AM. Only after I pointed out the booking details was I allowed to check out at 11:00 AM. Belief they wants more ample time to tidy up the rooms at the cost of the customers. Other area that improve:- 1. When I contacted the receptionist via WhatsApp regarding a booking modification, the responses were not particularly friendly or accommodating. A more customer-oriented approach would greatly improve the guest experience. 2. The receptionist’s appearance and presentation did not seem professional. Throughout my stay, she was dressed very casually, resembling sleepwear, and I initially assumed she was part of the housekeeping team rather than the front desk staff. Overall, the resort has great potential due to its beautiful setting, cleanliness, and affordability. With improvements in service standards, communication, and guest management, it could provide a much better experience for visitors."