The Jesselton Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (467 reviews)
69, Jalan Gaya, P.O. Box 10401 , Kota Kinabalu , my
+60 88-223 333

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Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Lift / Elevator
Laundry
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Tour desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Good Location
Friendly Staff
Comfortable Rooms
Cons:
No Parking
Limited Amenities
Inconsistent WiFi

Categories

Cleanliness
7.63
Guests mentioned clean rooms, but some concerns about maintenance in bathrooms were noted.
Service
9.1
Friendly staff remembered faces and provided a warm welcome, especially noted for special occasions.
Location
9.14
Excellent central location with access to attractions, but occasional noise from the nearby night market was mentioned.
Room Quality
8.59
Rooms were described as aesthetically beautiful and comfortable, although some issues with parking were noted.
Amenities
7.62
Limited amenities within the hotel such as no bar or café, with some functional issues reported.
Value for Money
8.58
Generally considered a good value due to location and comfort, despite some criticism of high prices for breakfast outside.
Food and Beverage
7.13
Breakfast options nearby are good, but the hotel café was noted as overpriced.
Overall Experience
8.6
Overall good experience with some minor drawbacks.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 11:15

Property Description

Charming Colonial Decor
Immerse yourself in the colonial-inspired decor of Jesselton Hotel, situated in the heart of Kota Kinabalu.

Convenient Location
Explore nearby attractions such as Atkinson Clock Tower and Suria Sabah, all within walking distance from the hotel.

Modern Comforts
Relax in air-conditioned rooms equipped with amenities like a TV, marble bathroom, and minibar for a comfortable stay.

To experience the charm and convenience of Jesselton Hotel, book your stay with us now!

Important information:

Dear Valued Guests,

We wish to inform you that our hotel operational will be temporarily closed for major renovations in the Lobby area from August 29th to August 31st, 2024. During this time, we will be working to enhance our facilities and improve your future experience with us.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back with an upgraded and refreshed lobby.

From 1st January 2023, a tourist tax of RM 10 per room per night is applied to all foreign guests. This tax is not included in the room rate and must be paid upon check-in. Guests with a valid Malaysian Identity Card or valid permanent residents MY PR Card are exempted.

The Jesselton Hotel lobby (partially) will be undergoing refurbishment and extend from originally September 30th to October 14th, 2024, operating daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: BKI

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 467 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.63
Service: 9.1
Location: 9.14
Room Quality: 8.59
Amenities: 7.62
Value for Money: 8.58
Food and Beverage: 7.13
Overall Experience: 8.6
L
Lisa • couple • au
9
Large room, comfortable bed, good air con, great location & friendly helpful staff.
Pros:

Small hotel. Old world-ish. Peaceful.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
J
jenny • couple • au
9
Lovely
Pros:

Lovely room excellent location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
M
Mattia • solo_traveller • it
7
Pros:

Ambiente affascinante, struttura moderna con un ottimo stile.
Posizione top nella via principale di Kota Kinabalu.
Personale molto gentile.

Cons:

Purtroppo la pulizia di alcune stanze è risultata carente.
In due stanze su 3 abbiamo riscontrato la presenza di alcuni piccoli insetti nel letto.
Lo staff ha gentilmente risolto la problematica dando la possibilità di cambiare la stanza.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
C
Craig • solo_traveller • au
8
Excellent location. Stylish interior. Nice staff.
Pros:

Great location. Nice staff.

Cons:

Stayed there twice. The room on the 3rd floor away from the main road was nicer. Not sure if I paid the same rate for both.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
F
Felicity • couple • au
10
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
F
Felicity • couple • au
9
Definitely stay there again.
Pros:

Clean, had old fashioned character. Filtered water to fill up your water bottles so saved plastic pollution. Very central to local markets, restaurants and cafes. GRAB stop for taxi right outside hotel doors. Helpful friendly staff.

Cons:

All good

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
A
Alessandro • solo_traveller • it
9
Pros:

Hotel centrale pulito e funzionale.

Cons:

Meglio le camere che affacciano sul davanti. Sul retro sono un po' rumorose a causa del traffico.

2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
A
Amanda • couple • nz
9
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
A
Amanda • couple • nz
9
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
E
Eric • solo_traveller • nl
10
Best hotel in the heart of KK
Pros:

Very nice hotel, old style but we loved our stay there. Excellent location, right on the Api Api friday food market.

Cons:

Nothing!

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • couple • nl
7
Prima gelegen in centrum van de stad
Pros:

Prima locatie midden in het centrum van de stad. Netjes en schoon.

Cons:

Kamer wat eenvoudig en verouderd. Maar wel schoon

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
C
cesare • solo_traveller • it
9
Pros:

Camera ampia e pulita, perfetta come punto d'appoggio in città. Zona centrale e comoda.

2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
A
Andreas • family_with_children • be
9
Goed hotel op een fijne locatie
Pros:

Leuk hotel op locatie midden in de stad. Boek in een weekend want dan is de bekende markt!

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
C
Craig • solo_traveller • au
9
Comfortable stay in a good location.
Pros:

Tastefully appointed room, central location, friendly staff.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
M
MIYUKI • solo_traveller • jp
4
ジェッセントンの歴史と立地が良いホテル
Pros:

立地

Cons:

スタッフの対応は、残念。世界から、わざわざジェッセントンホテルを選んで来る顧客がいる事を理解すべきだと思う。

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
R
Ryan • couple • us
8
2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
R
Ryan • couple • us
9
Pros:

Good location next to busy Gaya street. Hotel was accommodating and let us store our bags between stays as we hiked the mountain.

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
J
Joanna • family_with_children • gb
9
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee