Kinabalu Backpackers Lodge, Kota Kinabalu - Reviews & Contact Details

A word of warning… we have had some bad experiences with Kota Kinabalu Backpackers Lodge. We originally hired a tent from them which turned out to be broken. This was quite annoying as you can imagine, but they had borrowed the tent from someone else in turn and couldn’t get any refund from the original lenders. They had seemed like nice people nonetheless so we decided to stay with them for our second visit. All guest houses in Kota Kinabalu offer to pick people up from the airport for free, so we had arranged this in advance but we realised after some time at the airport that we had been forgotten about. When we made our own way by taxi to them, they claimed that they had not received the final email which had the flight details. I was successfully copied into the email which had been sent by my other half, it’s pretty rare for an email to just disappear and not reach it’s destination. Nonetheless, we said we would stay if they drove us to the airport on our way back out as the taxi fare is almost half the cost of the room. After a VERY long time talking, it was agreed that we would get a lift back to the airport and we would hold back the money we had spent on the taxi until we could be sure that we were being taken and they gave us a receipt which clearly said that we would pay the remainder later. It took a lot of persuading to get to this step, we were exhausted and using up vital time in our 2 day weekend break. We went out for a meal, when we got back we were told that there had been a misunderstanding and that we had to pay everything in full straight away. The girl who had promised us that everything was sorted out went back on her word and made out that we had misunderstood her (despite the receipt) because a family member was giving her a hard time for not taking all our money in one go. In the end, we had to leave and find another place to stay late at night. Basically, the people there are generally nice but completely useless if anything goes wrong, and have shown that they will go back on their word. Not impressed with a place that rents out broken tents, forgets to pick people up from the airport, and kicks people out late at night after going back on an agreement.

I can only recommend this hostel to anybody! Rooms are clean, service is excellent and staff very friendly, helpful and provides you with all of the information you will need for your trips eg to the 5 islands or Mt. Kinabalu! When I was there I had a lot of fun every minute I spent in the hostel. Besides it is just a five minutes walk to the market, the sea and most attractions in town.

This hostel was really great!! Like home away from Home and FREE airport pick up service is also fantastic...Really Good, and perfect service..staff always smiling..and really Comfortable. Good place to stay In Kota Kinabalu!!!

Our location is located in Town area which is very convenient, close by to Ferry Terminal to Island, Bank, Shopping complex, Sabah Tourism Board, Signal Hill to see all the Kota Kinabalu View, Restaurant and others market like Night Market and Sunday Market. Our facility also include breakfast which is FREE, 24 hours reception and security, no curfew / no lockout, aircondition room, hot and cold shower, laundry service, Free wifi and desktop internet access, complimentary tea and coffee and drinking water as well. Then we also have the cable TV, DVD and VCD movies, tour information and arrangement and also luggage storage. **call us one day before for airport pick up if you need it...:)