Mabul Water Bungalows

Our stay at Mabul Island Hotel was truly comfortable, offering a genuine taste of the island's scenery and the joy of diving. It was incredibly relaxing! However, a significant issue arose with this booking through Trip.com. The boat departure times for getting to the island were hidden in the order notes, specifically in the very last supplementary remarks, which most people wouldn't notice. So, upon arriving in Semporna town, we discovered that there are only three boats to Mabul Island daily: one around 10 AM, another around 12 PM, and the last at 4:30 PM. We had no choice but to wait for the 4:30 PM boat, meaning we didn't reach the hotel until after 5 PM, essentially wasting an entire day. The hotel cost is very high, including three meals and diving, so it's best to get to the island as early as possible to maximize your entertainment time. Otherwise, staying at such an expensive hotel isn't worth it. Secondly, you absolutely must dive in Sipadan. For scuba diving, you need an AOW certification, but even snorkeling is stunning – it's a true diver's paradise. Diving in Sipadan requires advance application as there's a daily limit on the number of divers. Thirdly, the three meals provided by the hotel were mediocre and lacked variety. For such a high hotel price, the food quality should be improved. The hotel's value for money is indeed just average. Fourthly, the Bajau people paddle their boats daily, even under the water villas, to sell seafood. The seafood is delicious, and bargaining is key – you can usually get it for a third of the asking price. However, the hotel's processing fee is a bit pricey at 60 MYR/kg. But the taste was pretty good. I love to travel but rarely write reviews; this time, it's because I encountered a pitfall and wanted to create a 'guidebook' for others planning to visit Semporna, to give them a heads-up. Overall, the water quality around Mabul Island Hotel is excellent, and it's perfect for photos. If you have a bit of a budget, it's definitely worth booking.

The rooms are a bit dated, but clean and tidy, and come with a spacious balcony. Most of the staff can speak Chinese, and their service is very enthusiastic, offering free airport transfers and island pick-up/drop-off. While the dining options aren't extensive, they cater well to Chinese tastes. It's true that there are many tourists taking photos, but it won't bother you much if you're just enjoying your own trip. Most importantly, the crystal-clear water allows you to clearly see fish, starfish, sea urchins, and turtles. The wooden cabins and walkways are surrounded by flowers, and occasionally Bajau people will paddle by in small boats selling coconuts and fresh seafood – these are truly unique features of the hotel.

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!

The overwater bungalows are expansive and the architecture is quite unique, with the connecting walkways adorned with various flowers, creating a beautiful environment. However, the overall facilities are a bit dated, and the dining is just average, though dinner was a bit more varied. The hotpot noodles were a pleasant surprise.

It was super convenient to go diving on the island; I could just head straight into the water and then return to my room to shower afterwards. While it's a 5-star hotel with island amenities, there were some minor differences from my expectations. Overall, it was a good experience.

The furniture was a bit old and the food was just so-so, but everything else was great.