Kuree Hut

This small hotel is a great fit for backpackers, and it felt relaxing, almost like home. The staff were super nice, the washroom was decent and very clean, and the bed and everything else were very good. It was a super-comfy stay and definitely worth the money. With everyone staying there, it felt like one big family.

The air conditioner worked, which was the one upside. In the common room, guests are told to remove their shoes, but I saw several of the staff's own people walking around in sandals. There was no hand soap, and they seemed stingy with electricity, space, and towels. Maybe I just got the smallest room, but it was cramped and worn, with ants crawling onto the mattress. There were ants in the kitchen too. The bathroom was moist and dirty two-thirds of the time, and the toilet kept running out of toilet paper. Noise cancelling isn't a thing here either.

The upstairs rooms open onto the common area, with a shared bathroom that has three showers with good pressure and hot water, plus two toilets. Downstairs, the four-person room costs about $40USD, roughly double the flasherpacker room with a bunk bed and twin mattresses at around $20USD. The downstairs room has a private bathroom, but its water pressure is very weak and the heater didn't work. Its internet is poor, though the connection was very fast most of the time elsewhere, with download speeds around 150mbps. The rooms are small, but the beds are soft and clean and the AC works well. There's a washing machine and plenty of hangers and racks on the patio for drying clothes. The kitchenette has clean cold and hot water, but there's no free coffee. There are helpful staff, nearby restaurants and fruit stands, a good restaurant next door, and minibuses to Tawau nearby. The piers for scuba or snorkeling trips are within a 10-15 minute walk. One big problem is the stray dogs living right next to the hotel. They bark every night and through the night, and even earplugs don't help, so sensitive sleepers beware.

Izzah at reception made a big difference, helping us plan trips and suggesting things to do even when she wouldn’t earn commission. She really wanted us to have a good stay. The manager was around often and spoke great English, and her cats at the hostel were very friendly. Our family room was quite large and had its own bathroom, though the windows could have been bigger. After four weeks travelling around Asia, this was easily the best hospitality we experienced. Thanks to you both!