jyu174

Thanks for the info. I'm debating between Hotel limo (RM 160) or taking the taxi. The problem is we will arrive around 10:30pm and this is our first time to the country. I assume the hotel is in the city center? And is the city generally a safe place?

One more question: is there an ATM machine in the airport (i.e., arrival hall). I try not to buy foreign currencies at home because of poor exchange rate. Foreign ATM withdraw is always cheaper, but at the risk of not finding one right away...

Thanks.

LarryU

Personally, I would opt for the taxi. I have visited KK several times and have never encountered any issues regarding airport transportation via taxi. Arranging for taxis around the KK area itself is another matter entirely and one that I found to be not especially enjoyable.

As far as safety is concerned, I have walked all through the area during the day but I have been warned on several occasions to be careful where I wander at night. In my case, it was not an issue for me because I am usually awake in the early AM so I turn in fairly early at night.

Regarding ATMs, I don't think I have ever encountered an airport that lacked ATMs so I suspect that would not be a problem. That being said, I cannot vouch for this personally because I always arrive in KK via KL so I already had cash. Please note that there are two separate terminals at KK and I have typically used the low cost terminal inhabited by Air Asia, which I found to be perfectly acceptable. In fact, when I flew from KK to SIN last January, I used the main terminal, which was in horrific shape (i.e. no A/C) due to extensive renovations that were in progress.

jyu174

Thanks for the info. We will also fly in via Air Asia (from Macau), terminal 2, I think.

For airport taxi, do they use a voucher-based system like in KL? Or the driver just tells me it's RM 20?

camsean

I've never felt remotely unsafe wandering around KK at any hour. I'm pretty sure I remeber there being an atm within the arrivals area, but I don't want to confirm 100%.

For sure go with the taxi. rm160 is crazy for a rm20 taxi trip.

Squzair

Hi,
I have a trip planned for Kota Kinabalu and due to some changes. I will now be bring along my parents-in-law. So, we'll now need 2 rooms.

We've got 3 kids (5,3 & 1) and plan to get a roll-away for my eldest child, as well as a crib for my baby, while the other shares the bed with us. Based on some feedback, the LM @ KK is generous with Plats. So, does that mean we can get confirmed upgrade to the suite as well as lounge access? And if so, how are the suites & lounge access, is b'fast in as well or should I book the b'fast package??

As for my parents-in-law, I'll need a room for them, so should I get them a b'fast package or is there any chance of them upgrading both rooms or perhaps just one room but lounge access for both rooms?

Hmmm, I gotta figure out the best way to keep everybody happy...
thanks for any input from any recent stays.

Cheers!
Sqmy

ac777

I just finished 2 stays at LM KK-- excellent hotel, excellent location and the Exec Lounge staff were extremely efficient and friendly. We had suite upgrades confirmed way before we arrived. The lounge has fantastic ocean views. I'd suggest book the two rooms but for your paents-in-law pay extra points to have them upgraded to the Club Floor. You won't regret it. You can give your parent's in law your suite and then you will be set!! You can have breakfast at the restuarunt--but the sevice is poor. ( BTW don't forget the Chinese/fresh seafood restuarunt across the street)

MAN Flyer

I got a Suite and lounge access no problem when I stayed there earlier this year.

I agree the lounge has great views out over the sea, and you get some decent views on aircraft on their climb out or on short finals to BKI itself!

MACH81

I spent one night this past august, before heading to the Shangri-la (the one closer to the city, the name escapes me now). I have no status but I've been upgraded to the executive floor, because the hotel was very busy, no lounge access though. The room was huge but we there was an horrible noise coming from the closet area just outside the bathroom; I believe it was coming from the ventilation system but it was not related to the AC which was switched off. We asked to be moved to another room and they did. The room was smaller but still very large with two bathrooms (1 br and 1 toilet). Service was ok, a little slow. Room service efficient.

Squzair

Tks very much for the very updated info ...
will book the 2 rooms ....
just a superior room for myself -> for upgrade to suite? & lounge access?
and a seaview room withe lounge access for my parents-in-law.

And hope that the upgrade gets reflected early so that I can make changes if needed.

Cheers!!

MAN Flyer

That's the Tanjung Aru. The Rasa Ria is the one about 30 minutes outside town with the Orang-utans.

MACH81

Right! How could I forget. Lovely stay!

MattTaiwan

Took some pictures in Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu @ my Flickr!

Zinzan

Nice photos, MattTaiwan! Thanks for sharing.^

larrylim

Just had a 3N stay here on corporate rate. There were cheaper rates after my reservation but since mine was prepaid, no changes were allowed.

My first impression was that the hotel looks old, dark and gloomy. As a Corporate Preferred, I was upgraded to SPG floor with half city and sea view.

The room was average-sized and definitely looks dated, with paint peeling off on the table, chair, etc. The bathroom was small, shower door was creaky and toilet flush was not working properly. There were 4 complimentary bottles of water but no fruit platter.

There was a day when we weren't given the 4 bottles of water, so we asked the housekeeper who happened to be cleaning the room next door. She said she forgot, but also went to get the bottles from somewhere else instead of her trolley. I wonder if she really forgot, or ran out and was too lazy to get them?! We also found one of the plates we used was just wiped and not washed because I could still see the oil and marks.

LCD TV was the smallest I've seen in a Starwood hotel so far and there were not many channels. I had very bad reception so I called "Solutions" and they sent an engineer. He couldn't repair and said that he'll be back but never returned.

Later in the day, we found a note under the door which said there would be "a minimum 2 hours" power shutdown at midnight due to a scheduled maintenance. I thought we should've been informed earlier or prior to check-in.

The swimming pool is very small and as expected, gets quite crowded.

I think the only plus side is the hotel's location - it's located in town and surrounded by Warisan Square, City Parade, the waterfront and market. The jetty is also a mere 20 minutes walk, which is where you'd go for island-hopping.

Would I stay here again? Probably but only if they have good offers running because I could find a better hotel for RM330/night.

my44

Larry Lim, I have to agree on certain aspects of the hotel as it is getting older and older. My last stay, I noticed the shower handle was broken but I am sure it wasn't the case for every room in the hotel.

About the "small" LCD TV, bear in mind that back in 2004/05 when the hotel was first opened, LCD unit at any hotel was a luxury rather than a commonplace item. That 19" or 21" LCD unit was well ahead of its peer during that time.