LANSE OCEAN SEAVIEW HOLIDAY HOTEL(Semporna store Chinese concierge)

The location is great for getting around, right by Haifeng Pier. Other than that, everything else is terrible. The hotel is dirty, messy, and old. The staff barely have any service awareness, and the room's facilities are simple and outdated. Overall, it felt like staying in a cheap motel. For around 1000, it's definitely not worth it. I don't recommend staying here. I stayed one night and then switched to a much better hotel next door for the same price point; they're not even in the same league.

This hotel is conveniently located next to Semporna's Rinjani Hai Feng, just about 100 meters from Semporna Jetty, making getting around super easy. Downstairs, you'll find plenty of dining options like KFC and Starbucks, along with convenience stores and local specialty shops. Its proximity to the departure pier is perfect for island hopping tours – you can walk to the meeting point in minutes and even board your boat right downstairs. The seafood market is only 300 meters away, as are famous smoothie shops and a whole street of restaurants. The rooms are spacious, with comfortable bedding, new facilities, and excellent natural light and ventilation. They're pristine and tidy, the beds are incredibly comfy, and all the amenities are well-maintained. The front desk staff are warm and attentive, and they speak Chinese, which made check-in quick and smooth. The room service was also top-notch. For instance, the front desk guy was really thoughtful and we had no trouble communicating in Chinese. You get an amazing sea view from your window. When you pull back the curtains, you're greeted by the stunning gradient blue ocean, and you can even watch the sunset from your window in the evening. Waking up to that sea view right from your bedroom is truly spectacular.

The biggest surprise when choosing Lanhaiwan (Lan Hai Wan) was its location and the views. The hotel is in a prime beachfront area, within walking distance of the pier, seafood market, and popular internet-famous restaurants. Some rooms even offer expansive sea views, and the building's exterior features the distinctive local LEPA boat design. It's incredibly convenient whether you're heading out for diving or just enjoying a relaxing vacation. Activities are right downstairs, and in the evening, I enjoyed a beer and watched a football game at the restaurant. Haha, it was so relaxing!

The hotel exceeded my expectations overall. I was really pleased with the room, and the front desk staff were warm and thoughtful. The facilities were complete and clean, offering excellent value for money. Plus, its proximity to the pier makes it incredibly convenient for island hopping tours.

The room isn't huge but it's clean, functional, and has everything you need. You can even watch the sunrise over the ocean. The hotel's location is super convenient, and the breakfast restaurant has amazing views – it's not open to the public, which is a nice touch. After breakfast, you're right at Haifeng Pier, with restaurants, supermarkets, and a seafood market nearby. I highly recommend it; convenience truly is king here. It saved us so much time and hassle. For the three days we were there, the entire town had water and power outages, but the hotel must have its own facilities because our water and electricity supply was perfectly fine. Definitely recommend! I heard the owner of this whole area is a highly respected Chinese person, which is great to hear.

This hotel is called 'Aranya Hailan Seaview Hotel' on other platforms, but on Trip.com, it's listed as 'Holiday Inn.' For 600-700 RMB a night, or even over 1,000 RMB on weekends, you might think you're getting a real Holiday Inn experience? You'd be sorely mistaken. The 'extra-large seaview room' is only about 10 square meters, just enough space for one bed, and it's a trapezoidal shape with a window barely a meter wide. It's on par with a 60 RMB guesthouse near a university gate. I've attached a picture for you to see. Paying over 700 RMB was a total rip-off for me.

The room was spacious, but the king-sized bed was made of two mattresses put together, which was a bit uncomfortable for me as I like to sleep in the middle. The room had great natural light, and the AC was very cold. There was also a mini-fridge and a safe. The hotel has a restaurant, but I didn't have time to try it. The price was very reasonable. If you turn right out of the hotel, there's a massage place that charges 300 THB an hour and gives a really good massage. Further down on the right, there's a 7-Eleven and a Japanese restaurant. If you walk to the end and turn right, there's a Chengdu Mala Tang place that's super cheap, with large portions that will definitely fill you up. The hotel is a 5-minute walk straight ahead to the airport. If you're taking the airport bus to and from Phuket Town, make sure not to get off at the airport on your way back. You can get off at the second to last stop, which is directly in front of the Mala Tang place, and it's much faster than going all the way to the airport.