A Journey To Kota Kinabalu Sabah

I've always wanted to travel to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in East Malaysia. Now I may have that chance with my family! In doing so, I have to plan ahead for this journey especially with kids! Thankfully, with the help of other parents in my support group, some are even locals themselves who has shared tips and even places that me and my whole family will enjoy together. That being said, let's begin my journey plans and save it down here for future reference!

Firstly, to check flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu. 

Image Captured from Traveloka

It's pretty easy to use Traveloka as you get to choose the best flight rates available with various airlines and schedules. If you're lucky, you may even get to find really cheap air tickets!

These are my summary of the itinerary that I will be planning for my journey to Kota Kinabalu with my family. Am also including all the other amazing recommendations and tips from my friends!

Image credits to Pinterest

STAY : Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, Kota Kinabalu

💟Provides room views of both the ocean, Mount Kinabalu or South China Sea

💟5-10 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes away from the city

💟Surrounded by natural beauty

💟It's a private spa island

💟There's 7 dining venue (4 restaurants, 3 bars/lounges) at this resort!

💟Kids activity area like water play area, pool, play area for toddlers or younger kids with padded walls and soft gentle toys catered for them. There's even a babysitting option provided by the resort at a small fee of RM30 per hour. There's also a kids club with more activities and schedules of fun-filled excitement for the kids

Other venue's worth staying at, recommended by my friends are;

1. Sutera Harbour Resort (They have their own jetty too and also 5-10 minute from airport)

2. Kinabalu Pine Resort, Kundasang (Stay for 1 night to enjoy stunning Mesilau views)

3. Little Hut, Kundasang (It's in the middle of a local village, best to bring your own food as there's nothing much to eat here at night but the Mesilau view is beyond words and the kids will love the hut. Best to stay for 1 night)

4. Gaya Centre Hotel, is opposite Suria Sabah Shopping Centre

5. Mandarin Hotel, Gaya Street. On Sundays the Gaya Market starts just outside the hotel.

6. KK Suites Hotel, Gaya Street. The street food at Gaya Street is amazing according to reviews!

7. Marina Condo, a service apartment in town.

8. Guest houses if you are adventurous!

ISLAND ADVENTURE :

🏝 Island Hopping! It would be nice to go on island hopping with my family to visit the true beauty of nature and breakaway from the city lifestyle. There are 5 islands for island hopping such as Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Gaya and small islands of Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug.

🏝 Borneo Kellybays, approximately 30km from Kota Kinabalu, in Tuaran. A beautiful place that is suitable for kids and it is special because it is the only Sabah nature attraction that lays between the sea and river.

🏝 Sepanggar island, a 12 minutes boat ride from KK. Only accepts maximum of 40 pax tourists per day. It's price range is from RM120 onwards per pax inclusive of return boat trip and lunch. They also have water activities too.

BEACHES :
🏖 Tip of Borneo, if you love beautiful beaches.

🏖 Beach at Karambunai is beautiful and clean; Lots of Korean tourists there too.

OTHER AMAZING ACTIVITIES :
♨ Poring Hot Springs, bring extra clothes to change.
🏠 Rumah Terbalik/Upside Down House, this is quite common now. Also available in other parts of Malaysia.

🐟 Fish massage, great way to relax while the fish nibble those dead skin away from your feet. It's ticklish too!

🏞 Memorial Park, Kundasang for sights & see. The Kundasang War Memorial is a memorial located in Kundasang in the Malaysian state of Sabah, which is dedicated to the British and Australian soldiers who died in the Sandakan POW camp during their death marches to Ranau.

🏞 Perdana park is a good place for kids. The Musical fountain at night starts from 8pm.

🏔 Kokoi Hill, the kids will enjoy the cool weather.

🏞 Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is another great place for families with kids, a really nice park to enjoy nature with.

🐇 Rabbit farm for the kids, they will enjoy it!

Shopping : 

🛍 Centre Point Sabah Shopping Mall

🛍 IMAGO Shopping Mall

🛍 Suria Sabah Shopping Centre

🛒 Gaya Market at Gaya Street

🛒 Pekan Nabalu, Kota Belud. consists of several rows of open-air markets selling fruits, vegetables and flowers, as well as a longhouse market where vendors sell merchandise such as Sabah souvenir t-shirts, beaded handicrafts, musical instruments and many more.

F&B :

Most of them said the seafood here is the best! And Tuaran Noodle, Sang Nyuk Noodle, Beef noodle and Seafood tom yum noodle are a MUST TRY delicacy!

🍽 Salut Seafood Restaurant

🍽 Welcome 100% Seafood Restaurant

🍽 Upperstar Pepper Grill & Bar

🍽 Nancy Kitchen, provides good food and there’s a playground for kids to play and it’s by the beach.

🥛 Desa Cattle Farm in Kundasang, enjoy fresh delicious milk and yummy yogurt ice creams.

🍓 Strawberry Garden Kundasang, you get to pick strawberries here.

🐝 Gombizau Honey Bee Farm, because "Honey add to everything it will sweeten up your life"

TRAVELLING TIPS : 

Don't go during end of the year as it's raining season; It will be super cold and wet. Best to go during mid school holiday season.

OPTIONAL : DAY TOURS 

If you are looking for day tours, my friend recommended "Amazing Borneo" for their top rated services. 

The "North Borneo" cruise is alaso great, the food is also tasty.

With all these useful information, this will make my journey to Kota Kinabalu much more ease! Hopefully it will also assist you on your journey too! Until next time.