The Pavilion

For £78, we had a double room for three nights. The service was really good, and the staff were very helpful. The rooms weren’t as nice as other areas of the hotel, but they were still quite good for the price.

The family room was affordable at less than RM250 as of 20/9/2025, and the hotel has plenty of public parking. It’s in central Sandakan, Batu 7, within walking distance of a clinic, restaurants, and convenience stores. The airport is about seven minutes away. The room wasn’t especially spacious, though it could fit four or five adults, and a connecting room was available. It smelled musty and had stains on the bed. Breakfast is buffet style from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM, with rice and noodles, half-boiled eggs, coto, bread and butter, and potatoes. There isn’t much variety, but it’s enough to fill you up. It was okay, mainly because of the location.

The airport is very close, which made Pavilion convenient for a stopover on our way to Sepilok. We only spent one night there, fortunately. The rooms were old and noticeably worn, with stains and signs of neglect, though the condition wasn’t quite as bad as I’d expected. Breakfast was disappointing, mostly savory choices, including a basic nasi lemak that might not suit everyone. It fell below acceptable standards, especially by Western expectations, even if it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.

At RM158, the room felt overpriced for its outdated design and poor upkeep. The bathroom was dirty, with visible mold and signs of inadequate cleaning. There was hair and dust around the room, including under the bed and near the table. Mold was also present in the shower, the drain cover was loose, and some bathroom edges were sharp enough to risk injury. Morning sun came in too early because the curtains didn’t block it well. Management needs to take this seriously, renovate fully, and make sure deep cleaning is done properly. Cleanliness, safety, and comfort should be basic standards at this price.