Kota Kinabalu

Scheduled to begin taking reservations in the winter of 2019, the highly anticipated white-sand beach getaway will provide guests with unparalleled comfort along the sunny shores of Sabah, Malaysia. A new node in the Alila Hotels and Resorts luxury brand, the beach front resort offers 152 bedroom and suite options along with 74 private ownership villas with one and two-bedroom options. Never far from the sound of rolling waves, the hotel houses diverse dining options, sky lounge and bar, kid's club, library, boutique shops, swimming pools, outdoor wedding chapel, and events center. The villas are nestled within the 5-hectre estate, amongst meticulously maintained gardens, forests, and water features. All villas are connected to the beach and lagoon areas and furnishes panoramic views of the Mengkabong River. Inspired by Borneo's longhouses, the villages merge refined character with the spirit of the region. Constructed with local timbers, off-form concrete, woven rattan, painted screens, and tribal artefacts, these villas represent a balance of both chic and ecologically smart design. Rooms are designed to allow natural airflow and equipped with luxurious private swimming pools to ensure maximum comfort. Conveniently situated, the beachfront resorts are only a short drive from Kota Kinabalu and Mount Kinabalu. Alila Dalit Bay is due to open toward the end of 2019, and may be tentatively included in Remote Lands itineraries scheduled for late 2019.

Surrounded by 400 acres of lush tropical vegetation, some of which is in a nature reserve, the Shangri-La Rasa Ria is set on a beach looking out onto Dalit Bay. The resort’s 490 rooms, all featuring traditional Malaysian decor, complimentary broadband Internet access and cable television, are divided between the freshly renovated Garden Wing and the new Ocean Wing. Visitors should note that the Rasa Ria resort also operates an adjoining nature reserve and orangutan rehabilitation center. Some of the wildlife inhabiting the reserve include the icon of Sabah, the orangutan, as well as various hornbill bird species, peacocks, bear cats, wild rabbits, iguanas and more. A highlight of the resort’s recreational offerings is the tandem 18-hole Dalit Bay Golf Club & Spa. Dining options include Tepi Laut Makan Street, conjuring the delectable world of Malaysian street food stalls; Kozan for Japanese teppan-yaki (hot-plate grilled dishes); Naan, which serves northern Indian cuisine; and several terrace bar/lounge options. The Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is a 40-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and about 30 minutes north of Kota Kinabalu town.

Located just 10 minutes from the center of Kota Kinabalu, the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort’s 492 rooms are divided between two wings – the Kinabalu Wing, with views of the ocean and Mt. Kinabalu, and the Tanjung Wing, with views of the South China Sea. All rooms come with complimentary broadband Internet access and satellite television. Dining options include Café Tatu for breakfast and dinner, where a variety of open cooking stations offer Mongolian, Tandoori, Asian noodles, dim sum, pasta, and more; Coco Joe’s Bar & Grill, a beach barbecue restaurant; Peppino for Italian and Mediterranean in a chic setting; and Shang Palace for gourmet, traditional Chinese. There are also three bar/lounge options. The property’s CHI Spa comprises five individual Island Villas, three Couples’ Villas and an open Yoga Pavilion, all located on Pulau Bayu, the resort’s private island, and there is also a state-of-the-art health club with juice bar and sauna. The Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort is a 10-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu Airport.

Your overnight accommodation on Mount Kinabalu, Laban Rata Rest House, is a simply furnished mountain lodge situated at 10,791 feet above sea level. The Pendant Hut includes a dormitory-style bunk bed room as well as a private room, which accommodates up to four and which can be reserved for you. The lodge is not heated, however Pendant Hut does provide state-of-the-art sleeping bags to go on top of your basic beds. There is a communal lounge area, library, toilets and shared bathroom facilities in the rest house, and the Laban Rata canteen, where dinner is served, is a short walk away.