Urban Retreat @ K Avenue • Pool • Paid Parking

We booked a two-bedroom unit with a kitchen and living room. There’s plenty of parking, and this unit came with one free space. An extra car costs RM20 per day for a parking spot. To get to the unit, first check in at reception for your tower, then park on the lower ground and take the lift to your floor. Ours was Tower B. It’s an apartment building where individual owners rent out units by the day, and I also saw it listed on Booking.com and Agoda. Families come for the swimming pool and the many playgrounds, which kids love. Check the pool schedule before booking: it’s open 8am to 7pm and closed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My wife hadn’t checked, so we only had a couple of hours to use it.

The pool and little waterpark are a real plus for families with kids, especially if you go when it’s quieter. Getting here is easy since it’s near the airport. The main drawback is parking: free spaces are limited and most spots cost money. Still, a good family-friendly place.

The views and facilities were lovely, and I even got to use the well-kept gym. The accommodation was stunning and spotless, about 15 minutes from the airport. Communication was 10/10. I’d definitely come back, just wish I could’ve stayed longer.

The only real convenience at K Avenue is being close to the airport. It had no comfort, cleanliness, or decent management for us, and it seriously spoiled part of our trip. I’ve been to Kota Kinabalu four times, and this was by far my worst stay. I won’t return and would tell others to think twice. Across 11 days and 10 nights, we stayed in three units in the same building. Every one had the same constant sewage smell. It was so bad that little mosquitoes and insects were always flying around inside, especially at night, and it was nearly impossible to sleep properly. All the units seemed to be managed by the same people and cleaned by the same housekeeping team. They were extremely dusty and dirty, nowhere near thoroughly cleaned. My family and I had serious nasal allergies and irritation throughout the stay. One unit was ours for nine nights. I ended up buying a mop and floor cleaner from the supermarket downstairs just to get through it. Guests shouldn’t have to clean for themselves while paying to stay there. There are only three elevators and the system is poorly designed. Even getting back to the unit meant long queues, wasted time, and constant frustration. The cleanliness and management were completely unacceptable for accommodation.