Ocean Inn

We really liked our sea view room. The hotel faces in a way that lets you sit on the balcony all day without getting burned by the sun, and evenings were quiet compared with some other hotels on the same street. Breakfast came with our booking, but it was served at another hotel using vouchers. It was meant to start at 7am, yet didn’t begin until 7.40am. That was stressful for us because we were heading to the airport. If you’re not in a rush, it might be fine. There’s also a nearby cafe that serves breakfast from 6.30am and has much better coffee.

After island hopping, the retractable hanger on the balcony was really useful for washing and drying our swimming clothes. We chose a sea view room with a spacious balcony, where we could relax and look out over the sea and Dragon Inn. There’s heavy boat traffic during the day because the public jetty is just around the corner, but it was fun to watch the different boats pass by. The room and toilet were generally clean, though the basin was a little clogged. Within a five-minute walk are seafood restaurants, Borneo Rock Cafe, a 7-11, Watsons, and Guardian. One drawback to Semporna town is that alcohol is hard to find. Beer is only available at seafood restaurants and Bataras Hypermarket. A local told us vendors in Sabah apparently need a special licence to sell alcohol.

The room had a really nice view, and the staff were friendly. There are several food options nearby, along with pharmacies such as Guardian and Watson. Check-in is at 2pm, though you may be able to get in earlier if the previous guest has checked out. Otherwise, you can leave your bags at reception.

The twin room was very narrow, and the bathroom basin was clogged. Breakfast was just okay, with all fried noodles. I wouldn’t highly recommend it, though the hotel is very close to seafood restaurants. If cleanliness isn’t a concern and you only need somewhere to sleep for the night, it may do.