Great location with well-appointed rooms”

Check-in was easy. Told them I had booked thru agoda and the reception immediately addressed me by name. I was impressed! The rooms were immaculately clean. Nice hot shower with strong water pressure.Not much of a view, but who cares. We're in kota kinabalu not to sit in the room but to explore the city. The cleaning staff looked cute in their colonial costumes and the bellboy wears a hat that makes him look like a hunter on an african safari. There's an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel with a reasonable selection of dishes at a reasonable price. The hotel is also within walking distance of two big shopping malls and also the promenade by the sea. Make sure you take the rickety speedboat ride to pulau gaya and back. Dangerous but worth the thrill. The Filipino market at the promenade has myriad seafood dishes at very cheap prices. Fresh vegetables too, all cooked to order. Many other eateries close to the hotel; it's also closed to the airport (about 20 mins taxi ride at RM 30). Taxi to anywhere in KK are easily available right in front of the hotel. There are numerous bank also within easy walking distance of the hotel too. All in all, a good choice of a place to stay when in Kota Kinabalu.

Historic hotel in the heart of downtown”

this hotel in downtown kota kinabalu is very easy to get to from the airport. after exiting baggage claim and customs, simply turn left in the arrival hall, and you'll see a taxi payment center. go there and tell the clerk jesselton hotel, and they'll sell you a prepaid taxi fare for myr 30, with no worries about getting ripped off by an unscrupulous driver. be sure to say hotel, because i jsut said "jesselton" and ended up at jesselton point, which luckily was just a few blocks away. check in was easy, and i was very surprised by the room, which was by far the nicest during my eight day sabah trip. the room was quite large, with a queen sized bed and plenty of fluffy pillows, an even fluffier bathrobe, a large hdtv with many foreign satellite stations, and a shower with a built-in massage head. i didn't eat any meal there, but the dining room appeared to be full and lively whenever i walked past.

A nostalgic experience”

I chose to stay in Jesselton Hotel for my last night in Kota Kinabalu. It was a right decision. A hotel with an interesting history with good ambience, and having retained much of its original fixture and fittings, and furniture. Right in the city centre with many eateries and shops next door, this is a perfect place for those who wanted convenience, and a sense of deja vu. Choose a room on the higher floors as the noise from the traffic below was quite persistent. The bed was comfortable and I had restful sleep. The staff was friendly and helpful too. Will definitely return in search of nostalgia.

Jesselton Hotel. ”

This hotel is a gem. It is set on Jalan Gaya, in the middle of the Kota Kinabalu town. Eateries galore and every shop you can think of abound around the hotel. The Jesselton is a an old row of shop-houses that have been converted, thus it is the oldest hotel in town. Very well looked after. The staff are responsive to all your needs. The ambiance is one of peace and tranquillity. The food is exceptional, Italian themed. If you want to eat local food, then there are places around the hotel. The room was large and comfortable, as was the bathroom, both well appointed, with plenty of hot water. Breakfast is not buffet, but you have a choice of 3-4 meals to choose from. The curry Laksa is delightful. One day I had an early start for a tour, and they provided me with a basic, but delicious boxed breakfast. I will definitely go there again.

Friendly hotel with efficient staff”

We are a couple in our early sixties. This is our second stay in Jesselton Hotel, the first one being 2 years ago. When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted courteously by Melvin the receptionist who could still remember us as Mr & Mrs Ho. We were given a small but cosy room compared to the previous one which was much bigger. Janet, the manageress on duty asked if we would like to change our room but we did not trouble her 'cause it was just a 2-nite stay. Nevertheless, we had a peaceful sleep that night. The staff were equally helpful and service is prompt and we particularly like the "brightly lit" corridor. We would certainly stay in this hotel again each time we visit Kota Kinabalu.

Service from a bygone era”

This hotel built in the 50s was in its heyday the top hotel in Kota Kinabalu (formerly Jesselton) - a little faded and certainly small by modern standards its service standards make it for me a must-stay - pretty good restaurant and Bar (in fact the bartender looks like an original fixture from the day it opened! Breakfast was a disaster all dishes were forgotten at the pass and so were cold - but that and a very short bed the only downsides (BTW one of the most powerful showers I have ever encountered at any hotel was a big plus!) Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this small intimate 36 bed hotel

Excellent”

I chose this hotel based on the various reviews that I read about it. I was very satisfied with the hotel. I have traveled to Malaysia a few times and I find Jesselton to be the best among all the hotels in Malaysia that I have stayed in. The location is very good, everything's (Jesselton jetty, waterfront esplanade, good restaurants, shopping malls) within walking distance. If you are staying there over a weekend then you can check out the sunday market which is right next door. Frontdesk staff are very helpful and polite, all our requests were promptly attended to. Only disadvantage is that the hotel restaurant serves only Italian food and a small range of local dishes. I am sure a wider selection of cuisine will be helpful for the guests. Overall I we had a wonderful experience at Jesselton and if I go back to KK I will again choose to stay at Jesselton.

Fantastic hotel with excellent service”

Our stay at Jesselton Hotel was a very positive experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, the hotel lobby was spotless, the rooms (although older style) were clean and spacious. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it for anyone looking for affordable, comfortable and accessible accommodation in Kota Kinabalu.

jesselton hotel kota kinabalu”

We would definatley stay at the Jesselton Hotel again as our first choice.Its only a small hotel but has character in abundance,its also Kota Kinabalu's oldest hotel.The rooms and bathrooms are amazingly clean and are kept that way during your stay.The staff are the most curteous and helpfull we encountered on our trip.There are loads of great bars and restaurants near by and its not far to the night markets on the sea front.We never had a evening meal at the hotel so cant comment on that,but,our only downside was the rather dull breakfast menu,the small portion of food was acceptable but not great.Apart from this its a great place to stay,well Lord and Lady Mountbatten were regular guests here and you can see why.

Thumbs Up!!”

We very much enjoyed our stay at the historical Jesselton Hotel. It was very clean, friendly, great location ~ especially having the Sunday market at our front door, and was priced reasonably! It was close to a variety of restaurants, shopping malls, and the business district. We appreciated the daily newspaper also .

Affordable luxury”

Jesselton Hotel is an iconic hotel in Kota Kinabalu. We loved the fact that it is affordable and gives guest a luxurious feel. The rooms are large and the staff are attentive to your needs. Its location is also a great factor and everything you need is very accessible.

Pleasant older hotel”

We came into Kota Kinabalu late at night and left early the next day to climb Mount Kinabalu, so our stay was very brief and mostly for sleeping. The room was large and comfortable, with some signs of age--something like staying with an elegant but now-penurious aunt. For instance, the door is a none-too-well-fitting wooden door with an old-fashioned key, and there are some signs of moisture in the bathroom. But everything was clean, plush, and comfortable, and there were nice touches like sarongs as well as robes hanging in the closet and a flat-screen TV (don't know what the reception/channels were like, though, given our late-night time in the room). The next morning we had breakfast in the Mountbatten Lounge and enjoyed an excellent nasi lemak for only 6 ringgit while looking out at a busy street market that operates on Sundays. Very enjoyable.

small but lovely hotel”

This hotel is located in a little old downtown but strangely not noisy. Of course sometimes there was a very tiny sound from outside of a window in the morning but it didn't matter to me at all. Very cozy like my home. and if you dun have any trouble to communicate in english , if you wanna contact the real lives in kk, if you wanna do adventures by yourself, take a rest in jesselton. The facilities of jesselton are antique, clean and cozy. I especially liked the bathtub with hot water shower. I treveled kk alone. jesselton is absolutely good for the tourist like me. Because i wanted to take a rest alone without any restriction, jesselton was a really good place. The staffs in jesselton were very kind and i could get useful city informatioms from the desk. Every each day was an adventurous day and i could enjoy much. But only one thing was very sorryful. Last day i had to leave for the airport, i couldn't get some laundries of mine on an apppinted time because of the lateness of laundry service company. Anyway i wrote the my situation to a desk staff through the facebook, and i believe she will find a resonable way to solve it. Thanks to the jesselton. and thanks to the beautiful kotakinabalu. Thanks to the agoda

A Bit of the Old Town”

The Jesselton Hotel is conveniently located on Gaya Strret, right smack in Kota Kinabalu Town. There is ample of food around, at all hours of the day. You can basically walk around the town as everything is nearby. This is the place to stay if you want to check out the Sunday morning market.

Historic hotel at a great location”

Hotel, located only a few minutes walk from Jesselton Pier, is a great location for those planning to do diving or visit the islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. We spent one day at Pulau Gaya Eco Resort where we hiked, snorkeled and enjoyed the beautiful pool. Several good restaurants near the hotel. My children love Italian food and the hotel restaurant and nearby Little Italy served delicious food. Rainforest Cafe was also good for Asian food & music. We stayed a few days at hotel, then climbed Mt. Kinabalu, and returned afterwards. Hotel stowed our luggage while we did the climb. Staff were really friendly.

Comfortable rooms in a convenient location”

My three nights stay at Jesselton Hotel has been a positive experience. I arrived at the hotel at night and was feeling really exhausted. All I needed was a good bath and a comfortable room for me to rest. That's what I got! The checking in process was quick and the room was up to my expectations. The service staffs have been really friendly and I really feel at home throughout my stay. With many significant landmarks around the hotel, its really hard to get lost! The hotel is not only near the jetty which was convenient, there was also great food around. Dim sum for breakfast or bak kut teh for lunch, a place famous for seafood is nearby too! My favourite Old Town Coffee, a place for a cool drink and to relax situated just beside the hotel. Its really a fabulous hotel!

Old world charm in the heart of KK”

My second time in 6 months along with family and am hooked! The extra bed in the deluxe room is a very comfortable proposition. As before fishing off Jesselton point the night market and the sunday market at your doorstep were the highlights. They even had cooking classes for the kids which impressed my son no end as well as Easter egg painting. The staff were friendly and helpful as always and even helped us by neatly packing an ungainly trolley! The piano player in the Mountbatten Room and crooner in the were absolutely top class and brought a splendid athmosphere into the room. great deals on food too during Happy Hours. The only downside was the anti skid mats they provide in the tub. It failed twice and we were lucky to have got away with the damage it caused us. While they changed it they defnitely need to keep an eye on them...can't be too careful as an unsuspecting guest! But I can't imagine staying anywhere else in KK , am back soon to do the islands and i will be at the Jesselton for sure!

My favorite hotel in Kota Kinabalu”

This is my 15th time in Kota Kinabalu for leisure. I have tried several hotels in various price ranges, but find that I keep coming back to Jesselton because of the location and very friendly staff. For me, this hotel offers everything I need at the right price.

Good location Satisfactory rooms”

Our stay at the Jesselton hotel was a pleasent one. we found the staff most friendly and helpfull and if we were to return to Kota Kinabalu it would be our hotel of choice as we found it good value for money along with its central location.

Charming colonial hotel without pretence in an authentic neighborhood”

We stayed for one night only on our first ever trip to Sabah and we found this colonial hotel fabulously located, exceedingly charming, tastefully appointed, and their Front Desk Team highly supportive. We just booked a one-night stay to wrap our next visit to KK in December. Make sure you pick the 2nd floor with the room facing Gaia Street treetops, and be amazed by all the authentic neighborhood action below. The Sunday market is definitely an extra perk, right at your footsteps. Look for endemic fruit sellers (and growers), hunt for curiosities, snap away. Right downstairs is a lively corner bar, a swanky wine shop, and across the road a 24/7 mini mart as well as a highly popular local eatery. A GEM IN KOTA KINABALU.