Παραθαλάσσια ξενοδοχεία στην τοποθεσία Σεμπόρνα

"The hotel's primary focus on Chinese guests is evident in its services and amenities, which are predominantly in Chinese. This should be clearly stated in the hotel description on the booking websites. The villa itself is well-maintained, spacious, and equipped with everything you need. The beds and linens are of good quality, the toiletries are nice, and the bathroom is modern and clean. The air conditioner is quiet, but the external unit is quite noisy. The exterior and garden are lovely and clean. The breakfast buffet was subpar, with cold food and coffee that required guests to microwave (completely in Chinese) it themselves, which was also a major inconvenience. Yet, the variety and quality of food was good and tasty. The staff seemed indifferent to the lack of coffee and food, and the lady who came to ”check” on us only brought coffee when we asked. Overall, our stay was satisfactory, but this place definitely needs to improve its hospitality and guest service. Given the above this place is too overpriced."

"This is such a relaxing island, perfect for a vacation! 🌴 We went during the rainy season, which is considered off-peak, so there weren't many people. Every day at noon, there's a boat to pick up and drop off guests. We stayed for three days, and compared to peak season, it felt like there were never more than 20 guests in total. It's incredibly suitable for families with children, with shallow beaches, 🏖️ turtles, lush greenery, and an exceptionally beautiful natural environment! There are three hotels on the island, and Dragon Pearl seems to have the best facilities. They offer water villas, beach villas, and garden villas. The rooms are spaced appropriately, so you won't be bothered by neighbors. The beach villas have loungers on the porch and under the coconut trees in front, as well as hammocks, giving it a private beach feel. All rooms are equipped with life jackets 🦺, and upon arrival, there are clear signs in both Chinese and English advising guests to always wear a life jacket when in the water and to avoid swimming after 6 PM. The beach is large, the shallow water area is extensive, and the water is incredibly clear – like jelly! You can see the bottom even in two to three meters of water, making it perfect for snorkeling. Every day, island-hopping boats come to snorkel near the pier, where there's a clownfish nest. You can spot turtles daily from the pier, and the island even has a dedicated turtle hatching program, with occasional lectures and release events for baby turtles. The front desk and dive center can also arrange activities like scuba diving 🤿 and snorkeling. This was my first time trying scuba diving here, and because there were so few guests on the island, I got one-on-one instruction from the coach. I saw two turtles up close, truly within arm's reach! I even swam alongside a turtle during the ascent – incredibly lucky! For snorkeling, a dedicated staff member accompanied us with a swim ring 🛟, actively searching for turtles throughout the sea. The service for these small, boutique groups was fantastic! The island's front desk has Chinese-speaking staff, and while the dive center coaches speak English, you can always understand them through gestures and simple explanations. The reception area has a restaurant and a small shop, so the facilities are quite complete and convenient. Perhaps because it was the off-season and there were so few people, the meal options were a bit simple, but the food was delicious and definitely plentiful enough to fill you up. Finally, regarding the season, the rainy season wasn't bad at all. It didn't rain every day. We stayed for four full days, and it rained twice. The first time was at noon, a heavy downpour, but it was a thunderstorm that passed quickly and didn't disrupt our afternoon island-hopping and snorkeling. The second time was on the day we left; the rain was quite heavy, starting around 4 or 5 AM with loud pitter-patter sounds and thunder and lightning ⛈️ that you could hear from inside the room. It rained on and off for most of the morning. The temperature dropped a bit, but it was actually quite comfortable without the scorching sun. The waves were a bit stronger than usual, but I have to commend Dragon Pearl Hotel's location; as we walked along the beach, we could clearly see that the wind and waves calmed down significantly in front of the hotel. Even with the rain, the island-hopping boats for snorkeling kept coming. It was an incredibly comfortable trip! It's definitely worth visiting and worth revisiting!"

"The front desk staff were very friendly and spoke good English. The room was quite small and basic. The balcony faced directly onto another room, so privacy was an issue when opening the door. Facilities were decent, and there was hot water for showering. There was no soundproofing, so it was quite noisy. The cleanliness was subpar and definitely needs improvement; I only felt comfortable using my own disposable bedding. I'm unsure if other overwater bungalows here have the same issue. The owner's wife was helpful with bargaining for seafood, but the cooking fee was quite expensive. The taste, however, was good. The restaurant had a nice ambiance, especially in the evenings. However, both lunch and breakfast were very basic. Breakfast was quite oily and lacked fruit. Snorkeling was 100 MYR for only half an hour, which felt like poor value for money. The pricing for activities could be much more transparent. It would be great if they clearly listed all activity costs at the front desk. I had specifically informed the owner's wife that I wanted to go snorkeling, but when I came out, I was told the boat had just left. They neither provided an exact departure time nor called us, which was quite frustrating. You couldn't directly access the sea from the room; you had to go down near the restaurant. At high tide, it was quite deep, around 2 meters. We saw starfish, and it's rumored that sea turtles appear at night, though we didn't see any. There was only one return boat trip per day. If you wanted to travel at other times, you had to charter a boat for 500 MYR. Compared to other overwater bungalows, this place is relatively cheaper. Overall, I'd say it's just about acceptable, depending on individual preferences. Personally, next time I would opt for a more expensive option with better facilities."

"Our stay at the Sagittarius Water Bungalow was absolutely fantastic! From our butler Xiao Gu to all the staff on the water bungalows and even the owners, everyone was incredibly nice. The rooms are equipped with smart Xiaomi home devices, clean and tidy. Opening the curtains reveals the beautiful 'jellyfish sea,' and the scenery is simply captivating. The food at the water bungalows is also delicious; breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are all included in the price. Airport transfers and boat rides to the island are also covered, making it excellent value for money! We stayed for five days and four nights and didn't want to leave. The atmosphere on the island is also great, with KTV and song requests every night – the owner and his wife sing really well, by the way! The water bungalows offer a lot of entertainment, including sea fishing, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, and drone photography. The local staff (Xiao Hei) are also happy to help with photos 📸. You can even get your diving certification and go on island-hopping day trips, keeping you thoroughly entertained. We came to Semporna specifically to get our diving certification, and the water bungalow's own dive shop is highly recommended. The instructors are very responsible and dedicated. I'd like to thank Xiao Li and Instructor Mohd Rizal Baba Selleh. The prices are fair, and the teaching focuses on the safety and skills of the students, which is very reassuring. The dive shop owner's wife is also super nice. All in all, this trip was incredibly worthwhile, and we'll definitely be back! I'll also be recommending it to my friends and family 😊"

"This resort was exactly as I imagined. Each room is a standalone cabin with papaya trees planted nearby. The view from the room itself was beautiful. They took us snorkeling in the afternoon, and the underwater world was filled with nothing but starfish and scattered corals. During our stay, Semporna was experiencing power and water outages, but the resort seemed to have a generator, so we still had an outlet in the room to turn on the lights and fan. Since we had a flight the next evening, the person in charge was so considerate and allowed us to check out late. At dinner, two children were performing a dance in the dining area, like some kind of Muslim gathering. They didn't interact with us; we just ate nearby and enjoyed the children's adorable dance. We'd love to stay here again if we have the chance. 😊"

"This village is all about beachfront holidays, and its pros and cons revolve around that. **Pros:** The private, secluded cabins offer unbeatable ocean views. You can lie on the terrace lounge chair at night, accompanied by the sound of waves and sea breeze, under a sky full of stars. During the day, various fish and birds keep you company. It's a diving resort, with both scuba diving and snorkeling available. I heard the diving is good, but I didn't try scuba. The snorkeling right off the beach near the village entrance wasn't great. So, we hired a private boat to go snorkeling elsewhere, which was excellent; we saw multiple sea turtles. **Cons:** What made it great also made it less so. The cabin is drafty on all four sides, and the air conditioning is really weak and blows directly onto the bed, almost making me sick. However, it was still better than opening the windows. The ocean waves in the morning were definitely louder than a bus downstairs. The most bizarre thing was that only the terrace had curtains; the rest of the cabin didn't. So, the morning sun shone directly onto the head of the bed, which I guess is due to its orientation. These are points where opinions might differ. Most frustratingly, aside from scuba diving and snorkeling, there are no other entertainment options in the village. Under the tropical sun, everyone just retreats to their rooms. Plus, scuba and snorkeling are handled at separate locations. I have to complain about the somewhat old facilities. You can see sea fish through the gaps in the wooden floorboards. The bathroom had various issues: the toilet needed two flushes (and I, being an engineer, still can't figure out why), the overhead shower only produced about a third of its normal water flow, with the rest squirting out horizontally onto the partition. Luckily, there was a handheld shower that worked for one day. The next evening, the handle broke off when I tried to turn it on, and water started gushing out. So, two security guards came, both claiming they were just security. The last time, around 11 PM, I was already in bed when three people arrived, again stating they'd fix it tomorrow. The next day, both showers were repaired... The food was... edible, I guess. In short, this village is a matter of personal taste."

"Moments of pure bliss. Watching the sunset from the Doris lobby, the fiery clouds were absolutely stunning. I felt completely at ease, truly relaxed. I even thought to myself, 'I can truly enjoy myself here.' Despite that, my dedicated attendant still approached to ask if I was bored, then stayed to watch the sunset with me and even serenaded me with Chinese songs. All the staff here are young men, and I estimated their number to be double that of the guests. No matter where you choose to sit, they'll readily pick up a guitar and sing for you. Butler Tan arranged a special service for me. Their genuine smiles will forever remain etched in my memory. An unparalleled experience – it's like a more affordable Maldives, and truly the best Semporna has to offer."

"Beautiful environment, excellent service, a great place for family trips. The owner is a Malaysian Chinese, speaks fluent Mandarin, and has a wonderful attitude. The fried cassava for breakfast is delicious, and the rice noodles are good too."

"The views are absolutely stunning, and all three meals were delicious. Especially the tuna and sashimi available every day—it was much better than I expected. The Bajau people wait under your room daily to sell seafood; you can buy it or not, but make sure to bargain. Bargaining is part of the fun!"