The Elopura Hotel

A comfortable bed, working AC, and a TV with Netflix and YouTube made the room a good place to spend the night before heading to turtle island. It was clean, bright, and spacious, and the staff were friendly. They also have a locked room for luggage storage. The hotel is right in the town centre, with a 7/11 and the mall across the road. There was a sign saying some rooms were under maintenance or being refurbished.

The staff were friendly, and the beds and pillows were very clean and comfortable. The room itself was nice, but the washroom constantly smelled like raw sewage. We had to cover the two floor drains with plates to keep the smell from coming up. Our AC barely worked, and the gym was extremely basic and poor quality. There isn't much to see or do close by in that part of town, and the hotel could use some work. Still, it was a decent stay overall.

The location is a big draw: Elopura hotel is right in the centre of the neighbourhood, across from a market and mall, a few hundred metres from boat docks for tours, and near a large mosque. It's a convenient choice if you're there to shop, relax, or eat. I stayed two days in a standard room. It was about what I expected, with a queen bed beside a large window looking out over a peaceful neighbourhood. The beds and tables were clean and in good shape. The bathroom felt cramped and got stuffy quickly, and the TV worked but was extremely laggy. The staff were thoughtful and kind. They addressed all their issues with us and often cleaned our room while we were out. Their service was excellent, even when the local water treatment plant collapsed and we had no clean water. I'd recommend it for a short stay or a productive holiday.

Facing the Sulu Sea, the hotel gets a refreshing sea breeze and has a lovely view, a nice setting for unwinding. We stayed one night with my wife in the Bakungan Studio Room, which was clean, spacious, and relaxing. The hotel has a distinctive film-inspired interior, with vintage photos and posters giving it a nostalgic cinema feel. The owner, Datuk Haji Md. Afendi Hamdan, was very friendly and welcoming, a reflection of Sandakan's hospitality. We didn't book the room ourselves, as the event organiser arranged it, but the stay left a lasting impression. A great option in Sandakan if you're after comfort, culture, and coastal vibes.