Our Verdict: “Well worth the visit”
This was not our first stay at Shangri-La Rasa Ria, and it certainly won’t be our last. We have stayed here countless times and what keeps drawing us back is not novelty or reinvention. It is consistency. This visit doubled as a family birthday celebration, more than a dozen of us travelling together, which is usually where hotels are put under real pressure. Once again, the resort took it in stride, calmly, warmly, and without fuss.
Each time we return, it is the small things that stand out. Service is reliably good and the staff are consistently warm and welcoming. Some areas may soon need a refresh, but the accumulation of thoughtful details, like a birthday message on the bed, makes for an effortlessly pleasant stay.
In this review:
- Hotel Summary
- Location
- Check-in
- Our Room
- Facilities & Services
- Food and Beverage
- Check-out
- BG1 Verdict
Hotel Summary
Name: Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Location: 40 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Hotel Class: ☆☆☆☆☆
Chain: Shangri-La
Loyalty Programme: Golden Circle
Room Type: Ocean Wing Junior Suite Seaview King room
Room #: 1020, 1022, 1026
Price bracket: £££
Competing brands: Hilton, Hyatt
Good for: Families, Couples, Groups
Accepts pets? No
Location
Set around forty minutes north of Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the resort is deliberately removed from the city. Once you arrive, the expectation is simple. You stay put and slow down.
There are local villages nearby, with Tuaran being the closest town if you feel like venturing out. Grab is widely available and inexpensive, making short trips easy enough. What really defines the location is the setting itself. Rainforest rises behind the resort, while the front opens out onto a long, open stretch of beach with sweeping sea views. It feels grounded rather than isolated.
It’s surrounded by a nature reserve, so the jungle weave through the back of the property, with the sea facing the front.
The resort is made up of two connected but distinct wings, the Garden Wing and the more refined Ocean Wing. While they sit within the same overall property, each has its own atmosphere and rhythm. The Garden Wing feels closer to the main hub of activity, while the Ocean Wing is quieter and more self contained. This distinction becomes clear from arrival, as each wing has its own dedicated check-in area.
Check-in
The resort operates two distinct check-in areas, one for the Garden Wing and another for the more upscale Ocean Wing.
Coordinating check in for more than rooms and a large family group added a layer of complexity, and the process was not without its moments. Everyone had their own unique requirements, and conversations around upgrades, deposit paid on different cards, made the situation a little perplexing and confusing for the staff. The check-in team however, were consistently polite, patient, and attentive, clearly listening and working through requests carefully. They welcomed us with a cold towel, a drink and put some local crafts around our next.
The only frustration was timing. Check in is set at 3 pm, yet one room was not ready until closer to 4 pm. It was inconvenient, but the tone remained calm and professional throughout, and once settled, the issue quickly faded into the background. They did provide a 4-pm late check out as a gesture of goodwill.
Room
The Ocean Wing Sea View Suites are generous in size and thoughtfully laid out. While the decor is beginning to show its age, the space more than compensates. The views for the higher floor were also impressive.
Our suite featured a large balcony with an outdoor bathtub overlooking the beach, an indulgent but genuinely calming feature. Inside, there was a king size bed, a walk in wardrobe area, double sinks, and a large walk in shower with good pressure. The Ocean Wing itself feels noticeably quieter than the Garden Wing, making the room feel like a proper retreat at the end of the day.
The bed was very comfortable and very quiet in the evening for a great nice sleep. There are a few things that really stand out; the views of the sea and the size of the balcony, which comes with it’s own tub.
Facilities & Services
This is a sizeable resort, with multiple pools, several restaurants, a spa, golf course, and access to an on site nature reserve. Despite the scale, service remains the standout.
The staff are genuinely hospitable and welcoming, not in a scripted way, but with warmth and ease. Small details make a difference. Cold wet towels and pineapple sticks by the pool. Friendly check ins without hovering. Staff who seem to remember you from previous stays. It is often these small, thoughtful touches that make the difference between a good holiday and a relaxing one.
There are activities available if you want them, but realistically this is a place to unwind. Doing very little here feels entirely appropriate.
The resort also has its own championship golf course, which will appeal to those who like to structure their relaxation around a tee. The gym is basic and more than sufficient for a holiday workout. It is not a cavernous fitness club, but it does exactly what it needs to, especially if you are balancing buffet breakfasts with good intentions.
Jungle trails weave through protected rainforest behind the property, offering guided walks, bird spotting, and the occasional sunrise hike with views towards Mount Kinabalu. It adds an extra dimension to the stay, you can spend the morning by the pool and the afternoon walking beneath the canopy. Even if you are not signing up for structured activities, simply knowing the rainforest sits just beyond the manicured lawns gives the resort a sense of depth and place.
Bars & Dining
Food across the resort was consistently good. There are multiple restaurants onsite including the buffet, a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. We tried several dining options, including Eight and the evening buffet, and were impressed by the quality for a resort of this size. The buffet offered a wide range, from Malaysian classics to food designed to suit Western palates.
If you’re adventurous and want to head out of the resort for dinner. There is a lovely seafood restaurant called Eco xxx that is about a 10 minute taxi ride away.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Oceano stood out, offering both buffet and à la carte options covering local dishes and familiar Western favourites. It was calmer and well run, making mornings feel unhurried. We tend to prefer a more relaxed start to the day, so opted for Oceano with its combination of table service and curated buffet. It struck a good balance, enough choice without the scale feeling overwhelming. Quality was strong across the board, with a mix of international favourites and local dishes, and the pastries in particular were excellent. A slower breakfast, good coffee, and no rush felt entirely in keeping with the tone of the stay.
Check-out
Standard check out is at 12 pm, but they were quite relaxed about it, as we requested late check out for several rooms and were offered up to 4 pm. With a large group, this made a real difference. The process itself was smooth, efficient, and friendly, exactly as it should be.
BG1 Verdict
Shangri-La Rasa Ria is a resort that quietly earns loyalty through consistency, warmth, and attention to detail. It does not rely on spectacle or novelty. Instead, it delivers a sense of ease that improves with every visit. For families, group celebrations, or anyone looking to properly switch off in Borneo, it remains a dependable five-star choice and one we are always happy to return to. It’s definitely worth the visit.
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