Larapan Water Village Reviews

We had a wonderful stay at this water villa resort in Semporna. The property is truly impressive, beautifully designed, and very well maintained. Everything was clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully arranged, making the stay both relaxing and enjoyable. One of the highlights was the crystal-clear seawater surrounding the villa. The stunning views and peaceful atmosphere created a perfect tropical getaway. The resort also provided a complimentary one-hour snorkeling trip nearby. It was an amazing experience, as we were able to see a variety of beautiful and colorful coral reefs just a short distance from the property. The host was exceptionally friendly, kind, and attentive, always making sure guests felt welcome and well taken care of. He brought us to visit a nearby local village, which gave us a unique opportunity to experience the local culture and community. It was a memorable and meaningful part of our stay. The food was another pleasant surprise—delicious, freshly prepared, and served in generous portions. Every meal was satisfying and enjoyable. Overall, this resort exceeded my expectations in terms of accommodation, hospitality, and dining. Highly recommended, and I would definitely return again.

Better than I expected! We stayed for 3 nights and it was very comfortable, perfect for a lazy traveler like me. The service and food were both great, and the portions were generous! I'll definitely choose to stay here again next time I need a relaxing getaway.

This is a very understated overwater bungalow, only available for booking on Trip.com. It's about 10 kilometers from the port, and the owner is a Malaysian Chinese. If you're looking to take those 'influencer-style' photos, showing off luxury and extravagance to the world, then this might not be the place for you. However, if you want peace and quiet to enjoy your vacation, this is definitely a great choice. Downsides: - There's occasional trash in the surrounding area, which isn't the hotel's fault. - The decor and facilities aren't luxurious. Upsides: - They offer a unique Bajau historical and cultural knowledge tour and exploration (something other overwater bungalows don't have). - They take guests by boat to beautiful large coral reefs for snorkeling. - The bungalow has its own marine life enclosure, perfect for families with young children or those who can't snorkel, allowing them to enjoy marine life during low tide. Finally, there's a fantastic local staff member named Shafry, whose Chinese name is 'Wanshidao' (Mr. Know-It-All). When you go snorkeling, he'll dive to the seabed to catch sea cucumbers, giant clams, clownfish, and all sorts of marine creatures for you. He's also an excellent photographer, perfect for guys who are constantly scolded by their girlfriends for not taking good pictures (like me 😅). He can help you with anything, just remember to tip him! ~~

They offer Chinese-speaking staff, which is great for Chinese travelers. The food also suits Chinese palates; my friends can't stop raving about how fresh and delicious their flower crabs were. We'll definitely be back!

This hotel is like a 1960s PVC nightmare, constantly creaking and groaning with even a slight breeze. It kept me awake all night – a complete insomnia package! Several children were crying from fright. We had to check out after just one night, losing nearly 20,000 for two of the best and largest rooms, not to mention the cost of changing flight tickets and other damages. This was the worst island experience of my life! The door couldn't even lock. I can't imagine how bad the other rooms must be!!

The butler speaks Chinese, the island is very pleasant, and snorkeling excursions are free. All three meals were fantastic.

Absolutely fantastic! Manager Huang was incredibly kind. The two standout staff members were the 'little dark-skinned brothers' – one who took photos and another who handled the diving, along with the old captain. They were all exceptionally warm and attentive. The cleanliness was superb, and it was incredibly comfortable. This was, without a doubt, the most comfortable night of our entire trip. While the price was higher during Chinese New Year, the enthusiastic service from the staff mentioned above made it feel incredibly good value for money. The captain was also wonderful. The overall service was excellent, the environment was stunning, the water was crystal clear, and the nights were incredibly quiet, comfortable, and thoughtful. You don't even need a fancy seafood dinner here; experiencing this environment and the genuine hospitality is more than enough.

The hotel is about a 20-minute boat ride from the pier. The owner speaks Chinese and even arranged free snorkeling and a guided tour of a Bajau village. The hotel includes three meals a day, and the food is decent. The room isn't huge, but it's perfectly fine for two adults and one child.

Excellent view, wonderful service, clean and cozy room, highly recommended

💀💀 Absolute nightmare! Disgusting! Couldn't sleep a wink! We moved out after the first night, forfeited over 7,000 RMB, couldn't get a refund! The owner's attitude was truly repulsive. I've stayed in so many hotels as a diamond member, but this is my first ever negative review. Highly NOT recommended. While you can visit popular 'water houses' and take pictures when traveling locally, paying such a high price for a place this terrible just isn't worth it, in my opinion. It's incredibly frustrating. 1. **Hygiene**: The hygiene was appalling. Stains on the sheets and a foul smell on the pillows. 2. **Environment**: At night, there was a constant sound of insects hitting the wall panels, making it sound like someone was walking on them. Combined with the terrible hygiene, my wife didn't sleep at all. 3. **Service**: Severely lacking. When we reported issues, the owner's attitude was incredibly arrogant! On the first day of check-in, due to a flight issue, the owner offered a concession which we still haven't received. After arriving at the hotel and discovering all these problems, we wanted to cancel, as it was simply unlivable. However, the owner refused to budge, wouldn't give us a refund. Plus, the owner is just a finance person, based in Guangzhou, not even locally. When I asked him to escalate the issue, he flat out told us he had no one above him, that he made the decisions! And the 'butler' also told me to just deal with this finance person. I don't understand the logic. There was no way to report problems; management has serious issues. The platform's customer service also tried to mediate multiple times, but to no avail. 4. **Facilities**: The facilities were also extremely inadequate, and transportation was severely inconvenient. If you exceeded the set time, the fee was over 500+ RMB. Booking their recommended local tours was also 40% more expensive than elsewhere. Once we were trapped, the continuous rip-offs began. It was so irritating.

It was a lovely and relaxing stay. Mr. Danny is very friendly and accommodating, and all the staff are incredibly kind and always very helpful, whether it's for a photoshoot or a morning walk, everyone is happy to lend a hand. You can even have a little chat with them. The food is outstanding and always freshly prepared.

The environment is fantastic, and my kids loved the three meals a day. If you stay longer, the daily menu even changes. This overwater bungalow is a must-try if you're visiting Semporna. The only minor inconvenience is that the fixed pick-up and drop-off times are a bit too strict.

The water villa's setting was absolutely fantastic – incredibly comfortable! The ocean was stunning and incredibly photogenic; we even caught the sunrise. The owner was incredibly kind, and the service was superb. If you're visiting Semporna and looking for a water villa, I highly recommend Le Le Bang!

Absolutely incredible stay! Loved our overwater villa and how relaxing the whole vibe is! The food is delicious, I felt like I just relaxed and ate the whole time. There are two cats on the premises, very cute and friendly.