Hotel O Tambunan Nature Lodge

The house itself is nice, and the setting has fresh air and a nature feel, away from social media. There is Wi-Fi, though the connection is weak, and mobile reception is short. Still, I’d rate this only two stars, when I first wanted to give one. Getting there feels dangerous, especially at night: it’s on top of a hill, the road has sharp bends, and there are no lights. One wrong move could cause a car accident. Water is unreliable too, sometimes it disappears or only trickles out. Some beds are broken, and the metal is rusty and sharp enough to hurt your feet if you stretch your legs. The air conditioning is inconsistent, sometimes cold and sometimes hot.

We stayed one night over the Merdeka holiday in the six-person Family Room, which was fairly cheap. The main issue was weak water pressure when showering. Getting up to the property takes care: the access road is steep and narrow, with a sharp bend, so use first gear to keep your car moving uphill. It’s only a short climb, though.

We left early the next morning after a truly terrible stay. The top floor had no water at all, and when we reported it, management did nothing. The lady only answered, “Oh, ya ka...?” We had to use our family’s bathroom downstairs. The air conditioning worked, but that hardly helps when you can’t use the bathroom. The parking was infuriating too, with almost no space, a dangerous drop on one side, buildings on the other, and muddy ground when we arrived. The rooms were outrageous, and I suspect the water problem had happened before. The access road is a hazard, steep, extremely narrow, and completely dark without streetlights, especially risky at night or in rain. I repeat, do not stay here under any circumstances. Save yourself this experience.

The bed was comfortable, and I liked the hillside location and the view from the room. I stayed one night while traveling through western Sabah. The unit felt dated, though, and the water from both the shower and sink was brownish red and didn’t look healthy. This place has potential if they update the rooms and plumbing.