OYO 1027 Hotel London

This is a fine budget hotel in old Sandakan city, with lots within walking distance: Sandakan oldest mosque, the jetty for the islands, Pasar besar Sandakan, Pasar Subuh, shopping mall, Zus coffee, restaurants, and sundry stores such as 7e. Parking is tricky to find, and it’s paid during working hours. It’s a really old budget hotel, so it isn’t very cosy, but it’s okay for resting and sleeping. Our room was fairly clean. The toilet needed attention: there was a leak at the bottom of the wall, and sometimes water ran out to the room’s main door, though luckily not toward the bed. The toilet bowl was clogged, and water kept coming out of the flush. Staff were friendly and came to clean the room when we asked. The toilet had a water heater, and the room WiFi worked well.

The hotel looks nothing like this in person. The service was okay, but after seeing the real photos, judge for yourself. I can’t give it more than the lowest rating.

The chef at the hotel wasn’t helpful at all. He said we shouldn’t complain if we book something cheap. I’ve been backpacking for five months, and every cheap hostel I’ve stayed in was cleaner than this. The online pictures bore no resemblance to the rooms. Our first one smelled strongly of mold, and we had trouble breathing in there, so we changed rooms. The second smelled of cigarette smoke, and afterwards I had to wash all my clothes because they smelled of it too. The bedsheet was filthy, so we slept on our towels. There was no toilet paper, and the WiFi didn’t work.

The rooms are basic but comfortable and good value. The staff are so sweet, and the harbour is just a short walk away. We came back because we love the staff so much! 💕