Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre

Breakfast was fresh and had a good range of choices. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout, and the clean, comfortable room was well maintained. Getting to nearby spots was easy too. I'd stay here again.

Just to be clear, the hotel has now changed to Howard Johnson. We stayed four days and three nights, and judged it in light of the price, which made it worth a five star rating for us. We were satisfied and would definitely return when we're back in Kinabalu. The location is strategic, in the city center and within walking distance of Gaya Street and the seaside, with plenty of food sellers nearby. It's an old hotel, but the new management is trying to renovate it. Our spacious room had a large smart TV, a bathtub, and drinkable water in the bathroom. The rooftop has an excellent sunset view. We didn't try breakfast or the food and beverage options. Front office hospitality and staff service were satisfactory. There are a couple of things to fix: the air conditioning couldn't really be controlled, and the windows need more work for better soundproofing.

After four days, I was charged RM120 to check out just one hour late. That attitude made it seem like the hotel only wanted to take advantage of customers, with no interest in building goodwill for future business. I'll take my future stays in KK elsewhere. They can renovate or change the name, but bad is bad. There are plenty of better hotels in KK at the same price, in better locations, and with better treatment. Do not stay here. The Wi-Fi could be so slow for long stretches that it was practically unusable. The room aircon couldn't be adjusted, so you either froze or suffocated, and the windows wouldn't open. Cheap windows let loud traffic noise in throughout the day and night. The location wasn't very central, since many other hotels are much more convenient and central. Room service was listed as available until 11pm, but at 10:30pm I was told the kitchen had already closed.

I stayed one night for a business trip and found the hotel very clean in the room, which mixed old and new furnishings. The recent refurbishment shows in the lobby and restaurant design. The rooftop fitness centre was excellent, with cardio equipment and weight machines, and breakfast offered a good variety. Shops and cafes are nearby. An excellent hotel for the price.