Gaya Island Resort

HHO

Gaya Island Resort — 6.5/10 Overall The resort itself has a lot going for it visually. The setting is beautiful, with villas tucked into the jungle hillside and leafy walkways that make you feel immersed in nature. The room was excellent — big, well-designed, and very comfortable. Unfortunately, the rest of the resort didn’t live up to the same standard. The pool area was nice enough, but the pool bar needs a serious rethink. It felt dated and a bit out of place — the standing tables looked more like something from a dive bar than a five-star hotel. The beer selection was also surprisingly poor: two types of Carlsberg and a Sapporo — that’s it. Hardly what you’d expect from a resort that presents itself as luxury. There’s also no poolside service, so you have to walk up to the bar each time you want a drink. Not a huge problem, but it definitely takes away from the experience. Food: Fisherman’s Cove was expensive and very average — standard western dishes that don’t justify the price. The omakase restaurant was actually great and easily the highlight when it comes to dining. The buffet restaurant, however, was really disappointing: overpriced, slightly chaotic, and lacking any sense of refinement. The fact that the buffet cost more than both of the other two combined says it all. It’s also odd that there’s no Malaysian fine dining or something rooted in local flavours — everything felt a bit touristy and generic. Service & Cleanliness: The staff were friendly and helpful when it came to room service — food arrived quickly, and the luggage transfer from the boat was handled efficiently. Beyond that, service was inconsistent. A few things were out of stock, and the staff often just accepted it rather than offering alternatives. Attention to cleanliness could be a lot sharper too. One afternoon, monkeys got into a rubbish bag and the mess stayed there for hours before being cleaned up. There was also a lion dance performance during my stay which, while festive, left the front lawn and reception area covered in firecracker debris. It looked awful, and the rubbish was left there for days afterward — not what you’d expect from a supposedly high-end resort. The private beach accessed by boat was lovely, with clear water and soft sand, but again we found ourselves picking up plastic and bits of rubbish while staff on duty didn’t seem too bothered. Given the resort’s emphasis on nature and conservation, that lack of care felt disappointing. The natural setting and potential are undeniable — it’s a stunning location, and parts of the resort do deliver. But other details — service consistency, maintenance, and general polish — drag it back. With more attention to these areas, it could genuinely be special. As it stands, it’s a beautiful place let down by some very avoidable shortcomings.

Katie Holmes

Gaya island resort is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been to. Staff are incredibly helpful, from arriving at Jesselton point, where you are greeted warmly and checked in, to arriving on the island where you are personally shown around to the bar staff and all the restaurant staff. The rooms are beautiful, we stayed in a Bayu Villa (their most basic room), and it was perfect, huge closet, great bathroom with large bath and the most comfy bed I have slept in in ages. The beach is lovely. We did venture over to the private beach and personally preferred the main beach at the resort, it was great to have the option of swimming in the sea or the pool. We snorkeled every day off the beach and saw parrot fish, puffer fish, clown fish, angel fish and much more. The bar was great, prices are very much 'western prices' although happy hour (4-6 and 8-10) offered 2 for 1 drinks. We ate at all 3 restaurants - the feast village offered a great selection & all the food was tasty. Breakfast offered Malay, Western, Chinese and Indian breakfast, a range of fresh juices and sweet and savoury options. Fisherman's cove was a wonderful blend of Malay and French cuisine, spotlighting the fresh fish, not cheap, but well worth it. We had the Teppanyaki option at Omakase. It was great having everything prepared by a live chef & the beef add on was well worth the money. My only slight comment was there was less interaction than I expected - it was not a Teppanyaki experience where they throw food to you etc. Wildlife wise we saw Monitor lizards, monkeys, birds (including an oriental pied hornbill, which was a real highlight, getting to watch it for a while), and (less of a highlight) huntsman spider. Overall, an amazing experience.

Tricia Loh

What more could I ask for?! We were astonished by the size of our villa and our Kinabalu Villa has the best view of the mountain from across. The service was excellent and I did not know that I’ll be showered with Complimentary Balinese Massage for me & my hubby (too) on my birthday. Did I forget about their food? After 2D1N 3 meals a day, my husband and I departed out with extra weights on ourselves. The food was fresh and nicely cooked with various culinary styles. I love the live counters. On Day 2, I had my earliest swim at the pool and the bartender, named Andy complimented me with a fresh coconut. Do you know that your tongue will taste slightly numbed if it is fresh due to active electrolytes in the drink? That has really made my day! And the surprise did not end. I was thrown with a surprise during the dinner buffet. And the villa was not absent from another. Thank you team GIR for making this memorable for us. We will be back. You have just made the last lapse of my 3 series a great, great one!

Sue Perryman

Ian and I went to Gaya Island Resort in January to celebrate our birthdays. Upon our arrival we were greeted with warm smiles and we instantly felt welcome and relaxed in this beautiful island setting. Our room was very spacious, comfortable and clean and we had a lovely view of the water. The rainforest gardens surrounding our villa added to the serenity. We enjoyed our walk along the boardwalk to the beach and main complex looking at the different plants, birds and wildlife. The meals were exceptional with lots of different choices each day to accommodate the guests. The head chef, chef Dolis, prepared some amazing seafood meals for us. I received a lovely birthday surprise when the staff sang happy birthday to me and presented me with a beautiful birthday cake. Hani went out of her way to help Ian make a beautiful framed birthday message for me. We participated in the many free activities and also enjoyed an amazing massage at the day spa, guided tours through the rainforest and mangroves. Our stay at Gaya Island Resort was perfect in every way. The staff, in all roles, were kind, caring and very courteous. They always had a smile on their faces and nothing was too much trouble. We thank you all for making our holiday so memorable.

Hannah Egan

We honeymooned at Gaya Island for 7 nights and had the most amazing experience. If you are after a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that doesn't feel too over the top this is the place for you. Amazing service, beautiful rooms (we stayed in Kinabalu Villa) and the activities / spa treatments are fabulous. Highly recommend all the adventure activities, especially the snorkelling and mangrove kayaking and getting a Malay massage. Also so many animals to see! The staff were incredible and made sure we made the most of our package - Food at the pool bar and general restaurant were always delicious and so many options - we never got bored. 10/10 recommended, we did an all inclusive option and it was amazing value for money.