The LUMA Hotel - A Member of Design Hotels

We stayed with family over the CNY holiday and had a great time. The rooms were very clean, and we booked a family room with one queen bed and two singles. There are two toilets, one in the master room and one in the other room, though only the master bathroom has a bidet and bathtub. There aren’t many sockets near the beds, which made phone charging awkward. Service was excellent, although check-in took longer than usual. They also run a shuttle between the hotel buildings. I’d recommend staying here.

The sunset from the beach was perfect, and it’s easy to get there straight from the resort. I also loved the laid-back pool area and the really good drinks. Staff were so friendly and attentive, always making sure things were okay. The rooftop restaurant serves amazing food, with a wow-worthy view of the harbour and yachts. Sabah is beautiful, and my stay at Pacific Sutera made the whole trip even more shiok. I’d definitely come back.

Breakfast was disappointing, and I’d suggest booking it for just one morning and eating out on the other days. At Breeze restaurant, service fell short too. The place wasn’t full, but the chef said they couldn’t make lamb because a group of 12 had just arrived and ordered. The food we did get was subpar and had a strange smell, which concerned me. The room was acceptable, though unimpressive for the price, and the amenities were adequate but forgettable. Peak-season rates may have played a part, but it didn’t feel like good value. Check-in was fixed at 3pm with no early option, and checkout was at noon with no flexibility, even for a 30-minute extension. Understandable in high season, but still off-putting. Service was generally okay, though staff could have been better at solving problems, especially for a hotel positioned as 5-star. When we asked if children could go to Horizon, we were just told “no,” then left standing there in silence. They could have offered an alternative such as Magellan. The stay was okay, but didn’t meet expectations for the price and 5-star positioning.

Café Boleh had a good breakfast with lots of choice and fresh food, and the team there were cheerful and attentive. The dinner menu was extensive and affordable too. I also enjoyed the pool and marina access, especially for an evening walk, and the picker-ball courts stay open until midnight. I spent three days at The Pacific Sutera Hotel and found the staff helpful and friendly from check-in. The room was spacious, clean, and had a lovely marina view. The bed was comfortable, and housekeeping did a great job each day. Some parts of the room are a bit old, but everything worked and it was still comfortable. A nice, convenient resort-style stay in Kota Kinabalu. I’d stay again.