Bungaraya Island Resort Lvx, Kota KinabaluBungaraya Island Resort Lvx in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia has a corrected score of 3.5 ± 0.2 (solid evidence, 4 of 4 platforms), ranked 10 of 15 hotels we score in Kota Kinabalu. Its platform ratings, normalised to 0-5, average 3.6 before correction: Booking.com 3.6, Tripadvisor 4.1, Google 3.5, Agoda 3.4. Rooms from about $286 a night (cached, not a live quote).Bungaraya Island Resort Lvx is a collection of 48 timber villas located on Gaya Island within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. The property sits on a hillside overlooking Polish Bay and a white-sand beach. Guests reach the resort via a 30-minute ferry ride from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. The villas feature traditional Bornean architecture and include private balconies. The resort is suitable for travellers seeking a secluded setting with views of the jungle and sea. While the villas offer privacy and modern interiors, some guests have reported issues with mould smells in the rooms.What stands out

Traditional Bornean style villas

Private balconies and plunge pools

Access to kayaks and paddleboards

Direct beach access

Watch out for

Reports of mould smells

Mixed guest reviews

Better-scored in Kota Kinabalu

Borneo Eagle Resort Lvx, Kota Kinabalu: 4.1 ± 0.2 (fair evidence, 3 of 4 platforms). Borneo Eagle Resort Lvx is a five-star boutique property situated on Pulau Tiga off the west coast of Sabah.

Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu: 4.0 ± 0.1 (solid evidence, 4 of 4 platforms), from $170 a night. Opened in 2022, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is a 5-star lifestyle hotel situated on Jalan Haji Saman within the central business district of Sabah.

Shangri La Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu: 3.9 ± 0.2 (solid evidence, 4 of 4 platforms), from $206 a night. Located in Tuaran, Sabah, this five-star resort sits on a 400-acre estate along Pantai Dalit Beach.