The Jesselton Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (427 reviews)
69, Jalan Gaya, P.O. Box 10401 , Kota Kinabalu , my

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Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Tour desk
Non-smoking throughout
Staff adhere to local safety protocols
Physical distancing rules followed
Front desk (limited hours)
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.

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

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 427 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
E
Ellanabilah • couple • my
1
2026-05-27 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • bn
7
2026-05-25 • via Nuitee
N
Norhaiza • couple • my
9
I like the clean and tidy room
Pros:

The clean and tidy room

Cons:

None

2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
N
Norhaiza • couple • my
9
Very clean and tidy
Pros:

Good

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
S
SUAT HARN • extended_group • my
7
2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
A
Alison • solo_traveller • ch
10
Sehr schönes Hotel mit Charme in Nähe des Jesselton Points
Pros:

Sehr schönes Hotel mit Charme. Sehr moderne Badezimmer mit Regendusche. Der Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal ist in 10 min. zu Fuss erreichbar.

2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
Z
Zahaniza • solo_traveller • my
8
Pros:

the hotel cozy easy access

2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
M
Maureen • couple • us
8
Pleasant Historic Hotel
Pros:

My husband and I stayed at the Jesselton for three nights in April. The staff were pleasant and helpful, and the hotel is in a very good location for walking around the town. Our room (201) was large, clean, quiet, and pleasant, and was in keeping with the heritage look. The bed was comfortable, with bedside tables and good reading lights. The small refrigerator in the room kept our drinks well-cooled. The balcony was Juliet style (not one to sit out on.) The large windows let in lovely sunlight, and the blackout curtains worked very well. The bathroom had a proper door (thank you!) and the shower pressure was good. (The hotel would do well to remove the old bathtub.) The ‘light boards’ are kind of funky, but we got use to them.

Cons:

* Renovations made to the lobby area have removed all traces of the lobby's former elegance. This includes the Mountbatten Lounge, named in honor of Lady Edwina Mountbattern, who stayed at the hotel and held receptions here. The historic photos are still on the walls, however the lounge no longer reflects its previous colonial-era grace. Sadly, it is now a cold, utilitarian space of gray & white, without the oriental rugs, soft chairs, or bar; all the original warmth removed.
* Breakfast was not included in our room rate, and we were surprised by the high cost to include it.

2026-05-17 • via Nuitee
V
Valentina • family_with_children • ru
9
Good reliable stop for KK
Pros:

Lovely colonial look and good location. Staff is friendly.

Cons:

It was a little noisy during the night if a scooter would pass in the street.

2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
M
Marcelo • couple • uy
8
Buena ubicacion y relacion precio/calidad
2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
Y
YIHAO • couple • cn
10
勉强给到人上人
Pros:

位置方便

Cons:

房间隔音一般

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
N
Nick • couple • hk
8
Generally good value for money.
Pros:

Good location, walking distance from everything that you need. It was great having the market right outside the door! Rooms were spacious and clean, with housekeeping doing a good job and staff generally friendly.

Cons:

While the rooms are nice, they clearly haven't been updated for quite some time - the ancient light control system was a little finnicky to operate and resembled something that apparently hadn't been updated since the 70's.

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
M
Marga • couple • nl
7
Prima voor kort verblijf. Netjes en goede lokatie
Pros:

Lokatie. Netjes

Cons:

Beetje ongezellig. Geen fijne ruimte aanwezig om buiten je kamer te verblijven.

2026-05-01 • via Nuitee
S
Silvia • couple • it
9
2026-04-27 • via Nuitee
N
Nabilah • family_with_children • sg
9
Olden Hotel at heart of Gaya Street
Pros:

The location is perfect. It's right where the weekend night and morning markets are and you definitely have to stay over on a Saturday night to enjoy both the markets. We booked the newly renovated room and it was nice and cosy. Shower water pressure was excellent, beds a bit springy but it was comfortable for us. There is also a water dispenser on the 4th floor and was easy for us to access and refill when we needed.

Cons:

Its an older hotel hence minimal facilities, only 1 lift that is relatively small. Regular TV, not SMART.

2026-04-26 • via Nuitee
R
Ramasamy • family_with_children • sg
3
Doubt if I will come back.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Reception staff could be friendlier. The TV in the room had no movie channels. Had only one news channel. Room lighting was weak. AC was noisy. The bathroom door was louvred. Flushing sounds could be heard in the room clearly.

2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
V
Vanessa • couple • gb
9
Well equipped and convenient hotel. Great value for money
Pros:

We had the king size boutique modern rooms. Excellent and well equipped rooms. Shower was the best we had in Malaysia - excellent pressure. Staff were very friendly and courteous. Only stayed 1 night but would definitely recommend.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
N
Nukeproof • solo_traveller • sg
10
Pros:

Location.

Cons:

Nil

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
F
Farha • solo_traveller • ae
10
Ok. Comfortable.
Pros:

The room is very comfortable. Has a hot tub , good for soaking after a long day .

Cons:

Didn’t stay long enough to make an opinion on this

2026-04-11 • via Nuitee
B
Bertalli • family_with_children • sg
10
2026-04-10 • via Nuitee