Megah D'Aru Hotel Kota Kinabalu Malaysia

Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu

Unbelievable Luxury? More Like… Mega-Hassle with a View? My Unfiltered Take on the Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu

Okay, here we go. Buckle up, because this isn’t just a hotel review. This is a therapy session, a confession, and hopefully, a helpful guide all rolled into one messy, honest package about the Megah D’Aru Hotel in beautiful, but sometimes baffling, Kota Kinabalu. I’m talking all things accessibility, Wi-Fi, those infamous views… and let’s be honest, the food (because, priorities).

First Impressions: The Grand Entrance? More Like a Grand Confusion.

Let's be real. The Megah D'Aru is trying to impress. Gleaming, imposing, and… well, a bit impersonal. The lobby is cavernous – you could probably land a small plane in there. (Maybe that explains the lack of helpful staff at times). The entrance does give you a sense of occasion, but after a long haul flight, I was just thinking, "Where's my free water, and can I please just sit down?"

Accessibility – A Mixed Bag (and the Elevator is Slow!)

Right off the bat, let's talk accessibility. They say they have "Facilities for disabled guests." And well, they do, I guess. The elevators (bless their slow souls) are actually pretty spacious and wheelchair accessible for you to get to the rooms. However, it's not perfect. Navigating the vastness of the hotel can be a bit of a workout, especially for someone with mobility challenges. You'll need some real stamina.

The Rooms: A Symphony of Features… and Clutter?

The actual rooms? Breathe. They're attempting luxury. I'll give them that. You get all the trappings: air conditioning (thank GOD), blackout curtains (essential for beating jet lag), a safe box that might actually fit more than your passport, and a mini-bar. And the FREE Wi-Fi is… well, it works. Praise be. (They also have LAN connections for the old-schoolers, bless their hearts).

I had a "High floor" room. Gorgeous views. Absolutely. But the “interconnecting room(s) available” made me wonder if there were other people in there, just hearing everything and it feels like an unspoken voyeurism. There’s a lot of…stuff: a "desk" (that I never used), a "seating area" (I sat on the bed, thanks), and the obligatory “complimentary tea” that was actually quite good. The bathroom? Surprisingly spacious. You get your tub, your shower, your “slippers” that felt kinda… cheap. Still, when you’re tired and just want a bath, any tub will do.

Cleanliness & Safety: Sanitized? Maybe Over-Sanitized?

Okay, let's get to the COVID stuff. They're definitely going overboard. "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Rooms sanitized between stays,"… you get the picture. All this stuff is in place, which is reassuring. However. It actually made the room smell like a hospital. Seriously. I'm not sure it’s meant to smell so… clinical. I'd call it a "clinical spa experience." And when I say the rooms were sanitized, that meant I needed to air it out because it did feel sterile.

Dining: From Buffets to… Not-So-Delicious Delights.

Right, the food. This is where things got seriously interesting. They have a whole slew of dining options. Restaurants, a “poolside bar,” a “coffee shop,” room service that's 24/7, a snack bar. You’d think you’d be, you know, fed.

The breakfast buffet? (Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, you name it). It was…massive. Overwhelmingly so. A dizzying array of choices. I felt like I was in a food maze. They had "freshly" squeezed juice that turned out not so fresh, and an omelet station that, let's just say, didn't quite live up to expectations. The A la carte restaurant in the hotel. A few options were available on the menu but weren't available. The staff didn't even know why. But hey, at least they take "cashless payments"!

The "happy hour" at the bar was…well, happy-ish. Drinks were decent. The poolside bar was a great way to pass the time, which was nice. But overall, the food experience was a bit of a letdown. More quantity than quality, I think.

Things to Do (and Relax): Spa Day… or Spa-N't?

They have a "Spa/sauna," "swimming pool," "fitness center," the whole shebang of ways to… relax. The pool? Lovely, with that view. The gym? Pretty well-equipped.

The spa? Okay, here’s where I had a serious moment of meh. I really wanted a massage after my flight, but it felt very commercial and impersonal. No one greeted me or explained what they were going to do, they just jumped in without context. The massage itself? Pretty standard. Nothing to write home about. I prefer the ones you find on the beach.

The Quirk Factor: Bits and Bobs

The "Doorman": He's there. He's… present. Didn't really do much.
"Luggage storage": Secure, and honestly, the staff did help with the bags. Huge plus.
"Babysitting service": Didn't need it, but good to know they have it. The hotel seemed pretty family-friendly.
"Shrine": Okay, I was intrigued here. There's a small, peaceful shrine tucked away somewhere near the hotel. It's a nice touch.
"Invoice provided": Very business-y. Felt like I was being billed for breathing in some instances.
"Room decorations": They tried. Flowers. A fruit basket. A bit… generic.
"Proposal spot": Whoa! I didn't know this. I'd hope I would find something more personal than a hotel!
"Hotel chain": Makes you feel like you're staying in a chain hotel.

The Verdict: Is the Megah D'Aru Worth It?

Look, the views are legit. The location is good. It’s trying to be a luxurious experience. But for me, it was a bit like a perfectly packaged gift… that you don't really need.

The service can be a bit hit-or-miss (mostly miss). The food is fine, but not fantastic. The facilities are impressive, but the experience feels a little… sterile, overly sanitized.

Bottom line? If you are looking for a place that isn't cheap, expect the views, and are ok with the quirks. You'll be fine.

My advice? Go. Enjoy the view. Bring your own snacks, and maybe book a massage outside the hotel, if you are so inclined.

SEO and Metadata Stuff (because apparently, that's important):

Keywords: Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, review, accessibility, Wi-Fi, spa, swimming pool, food, clean, safety, Sabah, Malaysia, travel, luxury.
Meta Description: Unfiltered review of the Megah D'Aru Hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Honest insights on accessibility, Wi-Fi, dining, and the overall experience. Is it worth it? Find out here!
Title: Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu: My Honest (and Messy) Review!
Tags: Hotel Review, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Megah D'Aru, Luxury Hotel, Accessibility, Wi-Fi, Spa, Pool, Travel Tips.
Accessibility: Excellent as the hotel provides assistance.
Wi-Fi: Strong in all rooms and public areas.

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Megah D'Aru Hotel Kota Kinabalu Malaysia

Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to take a messy, glorious, somewhat-probably-over-caffeinated dive into my Kota Kinabalu adventure, starting right here at the hallowed halls (and maybe a little bit too air-conditioned lobby) of the Megah D'Aru Hotel. Prepare yourselves… this is gonna be a ride.

Trip Title: Kota Kinabalu: Tropical Chaos and Unexpected Delights

Day 1: Arrival, Air Con Battles, and That Darn Buffet

10:00 AM (ish) - Arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI): Okay, so my luggage almost didn’t make it. Apparently, my "oversized suitcase filled with 'necessary' items" didn't meet their definition of "carry-on." Commence mild panic. Thankfully, it eventually showed up, smelling faintly of… well, I'm not entirely sure, but hopefully not swamp creatures. The airport itself was hot, humid, and a sensory overload in the best possible way. The air practically vibrated with the promise of adventure.
11:00 AM - Taxi to Megah D'Aru: Found a taxi. Bargained a little (I'm on a budget, people!), but not well enough, I suspect. Oh well, live and learn (and regret later) I guess. The drive along the coast was… stunning. The South China Sea shimmering under the sky, palm trees swaying, everything a technicolor dream. Except…
12:00 PM - Check-in and the Great Air Conditioning War: Okay, the hotel. The Megah D'Aru looks pretty swanky from the outside. Inside, though? A/C set to Arctic Blast. Seriously, I'm pretty sure I saw frost forming on the reception desk. My room? A freezer. I spent the first 20 minutes fiddling with the thermostat, alternately freezing and scorching myself. Eventually, I think I found a comfortable middle ground – which will inevitably change at 3 AM.
1:00 PM - Lunch at the Hotel Buffet… and the Incident of the Dubious Chicken: Oh, the buffet. This is usually where I shine. I love a good buffet. But this… this was a learning experience. The sheer variety was overwhelming. The noodles. The fruit. The… chicken. Let’s just say, the chicken looked a little pale and… uncertain. I bravely tried a piece. My face says everything that needs to be said. (We'll see what happens later.) I stuck with the fruit after that. Much safer, I think.
2:00 PM - Room Exploration and the Quest for Reliable Wi-Fi: Okay, gotta admit, the view from my room is amazing. The sea stretches out forever, and there's a little balcony. The Wi-Fi, however, seems to have wandered off to join the dubious chicken. Constant buffering is my new friend. I've already spent 45 minutes wrestling with it, which is 45 minutes I could have spent actually doing things.
3:00 PM - The Nap That Didn’t Happen: Slept for 5 minutes then decided I am not an old lady.
4:00 PM- Sundown and the pool. It’s a must: Did a dive in the pool. It's pretty great.
7:00 PM - Dinner: Still feeling nervous about eating here. Decided to try again, and the food was pretty good.
8:00 PM - Bedtime: The aircon did a thing and it’s pretty good now.

Day 2: Island Hopping, Seasickness, and the Unexpected Allure of Sand

7:00 AM - Breakfast (Round Two): Decided to be brave. Tried the eggs. Successful.
8:00 AM - Boat to the Islands: The air smells of salt and diesel.
9:00 AM - Island Hopping! (Specifically, Manukan Island): The boat ride was… bumpy. I’m not a natural sailor. My stomach gave me a warning early on. Land ahoy!
9:30 AM - Manukan Island Bliss (and Brusque Locals?): Okay, Manukan Island is what paradise should be. White sand, turquoise water, palm trees swaying… it’s Instagram gold. I spent the next hour snorkeling (saw some fish! Lots of them!), sunbathing, and generally trying to absorb as much beauty as humanly possible. But here's a thing: the locals aren't always the friendliest.
11:00 AM - Lunch and the (Brief) Return of Seasickness: Back to the boat. Got lunch. The rocking motion of the boat brought back some of the queasiness.
12:00 PM - Sapi/Mamutik Island: More islands. More beautiful beaches. More snorkeling (this time, with a slightly queasy stomach). I bravely ate lunch, which turned out to be a mistake.
2:00 PM - Return to Main Land and Exhaustion: The boat ride back wasn't fun. I swear I saw the horizon tilting.
3:00 PM - The Sand Revelation: Back to the hotel. Shower. After the sea, the most amazing thing was simply being on dry land. I felt like I could be on the sand forever, just feeling it between my toes, the sun on my skin, the sound of the waves… that's the kind of moment you hang on to, you know?
4:00 PM - Rest and Reflection: My body said: “stop!” Ended up napping.
7:00 PM - Dinner: Went out to the night market. Ate some street food. My stomach is now the boss and my bank account is suffering.
9:00 PM - The Night and Star Gazing: I went to look up at the stars. Realized I'm on the other side of the world right now.

Day 3: Culture Shock, Wildlife, and a Total Food Adventure

8:00 AM - Breakfast: I woke up and everything hurts. But I gotta eat.
9:00 AM - City Tour, Yay? (Maybe "Culture Shock" Tour is More Accurate): Hopped into a taxi and told the driver to take me somewhere "cultural." What I didn't realize was that "cultural" apparently translated to "intense sensory overload." Markets, food stalls, temples, the noise, the smells… it was an experience. I may have gotten lost a few times.
11:00 AM - Sabah State Museum: Okay, the museum was a much-needed dose of calm. Learn a lot about the history and the culture of Sabah. Actually found it fascinating. And the air conditioning! Bliss.
1:00 PM - Lunch at a Local Restaurant, or, The Great Laksa Experiment: Decided to be adventurous. I found a tiny little restaurant that looked like it was actually in someone's house. Ordered laksa. It was… spicy. Actually, it was nuclear. But it was also… delicious. I ate it anyway, wiping away the sweat, trying not to cry, and praying I didn't spontaneously combust.
2:00 PM - The Imago Shopping Mall: Took me a moment to get over the shock that a shopping mall was basically right beside this "cultural" place.
4:00 PM - The Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Drove out to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Saw some sun bears. Cute, but the humidity? A killer.
6:00 PM - Dinner, Part Two: The Night Market Return – and the Mystery Durian: It was time to go back to that night market. This time, I had a mission: durian. Yes, that infamous, pungent fruit. I'd avoided it until now. But I figured, when in Rome (or, you know, Kota Kinabalu)… Well, let's just say the smell hit me first. The taste… was a whole other experience. Creamy, custard-like, and vaguely onion-flavored. I'm still not sure what to make of it.
8:00 PM - Bedtime and a prayer for a toilet: Had to go to the toilet after the durian.

Day 4: Farewell, Friends, and a Promise to Return

8:00 AM - Breakfast (and a Quiet Moment): One last breakfast at the hotel. Had a quiet moment, thinking about all the things.
9:00 AM - Last-Minute Souvenir Scramble: Panic! I forgot to buy gifts! Rushed around finding a shop that seemed to have a few.
10:00 AM - Packing and Pre-Departure Meltdown: I did not want to leave.
11:00 AM - Check-Out and Taxi: The final moment.
12:00 PM - Farewell Kota Kinabalu: It was time to go.
1:00 PM - At the Airport: I didn't want to leave.
**2:00

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Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu - Let's Get Messy and Honest!

Okay, spill it. Is this place really as ridiculously fancy as it looks in the pictures?

Alright, buckle up. Honestly? YES. And NO. It's... complicated. The lobby? Majestic. Seriously, you could land a small helicopter in that space. Marble, chandeliers, the whole shebang. I felt like I should be wearing a monocle and complaining about the lack of Earl Grey, even though I *hate* tea. But then... well, more on that later. The pictures absolutely nail it. It's luxury, alright. Just... it has its quirks. Like, the air conditioning, which could turn the room into a walk-in freezer if you weren't careful. And the sheer *amount* of staff... I felt guilty ordering room service! You see FIVE people, all smiling, just to deliver a club sandwich. Felt like a king... but also a bit like I was holding up someone's entire day.

What about the rooms? Are they worth the mega-bucks?

The rooms... Ah, the rooms. Okay, this is where the story gets good (or, you know, messy). I sprung for the "Deluxe Ocean View" because, well, I'm a sucker for a view. And the view? Stunning. Unbelievable. Picture postcard-worthy. Turquoise water, islands in the distance, the whole shebang. I spent a good hour just staring out the window, feeling… well, pretty darn luxurious. The bed? Huge. So comfortable, I almost missed my flight because I couldn't tear myself away. The bathroom? Massive. Seriously, you could hold a small party in there, probably. (I didn't, obviously. I mostly just took really long, luxurious showers.) Now, the *kicker*: The first room they gave me? The air conditioning sounded like a jet engine taking off. I'm not exaggerating. I called down to reception, and they were super apologetic. They moved me to another room immediately. This one was *better*, but still had a slight humming... enough to keep me slightly on edge. I did wonder if they'd given me "the noisy room". But, you know, eventually it was overcome by sheer comfort. And the view... it was like, "Okay, AC hum, you win this round... but the view... I win."

The food! Tell me about the food! Is it all Michelin-star worthy?

Okay, food. Ah, food. This is where things got... interesting. The main restaurant, "Seashells," was, again, visually stunning. The buffet breakfast felt decadent. Like, every kind of fruit imaginable, eggs cooked any way you want, fresh pastries... I ate my weight in pain au chocolat, and felt slightly guilty later. Dinner, though... was a mixed bag. One night, I had a truly incredible seafood dish. The freshest fish, perfectly cooked, amazing flavors. The next night? I ordered a steak. It was... okay. Bit overcooked, frankly. And not the price! The prices are what you would expect. I did make a friend, though, with one of the staff members at the poolside. I watched him work with no end of professionalism, sometimes even when he was clearly having to deal with the hotel's slightly chaotic system (I won't go into the details. But let's just say things can go wrong in the service sometimes). He recommended a local restaurant that was 10x better, and 1/3 of the price. That was a win. So, yeah, food: Hit and miss. But the breakfast buffet? Worth the price of admission. Absolutely.

The Swimming Pool! Is it as gorgeous as the pictures make out? How's the vibe?

The pool... Oh, the pool. Yes, it's gorgeous. Infinity edge, overlooking the ocean, with cute little cabanas draped in white fabric. Very Instagram-friendly. The vibe, though... that depends. It can be quite lively, with people chatting, sipping cocktails, and generally living their best lives. There was one afternoon where a group of extremely loud (but, to be fair, fun-loving) people were clearly having the time of their lives, which meant I had to relocate, but that's about it. And the staff are always there, flitting around, making sure you're comfortable. Sunscreen? Check. Extra towels? Check. Cold drinks? Constantly. One day, I felt a light sprinkle of rain, and a staff member immediately came with a large, fluffy towel, apologizing for the weather. The rain was great.

Is it kid-friendly? Because I'm travelling with the little terrors...

Hmm. Kid-friendly... It depends on your definition of "kid-friendly". There's a kids' club, which I peeked into (because, you know, curiosity). It looked... safe. Clean. Probably fun, although it felt a little sterile. Honestly, I'd probably feel more comfortable sitting at the bar. The main pool is lovely, but you'll need to keep a close eye on little ones. And the general atmosphere is... well, quite polished. Think slightly more formal than the average family holiday. I didn't see a lot of screaming children or epic meltdowns, which either means the kids were incredibly well-behaved... or they were shipped off to the kid's club and the parents used the time in peace. So, yeah. Check the club. Check their activities. Maybe pack a LOT of distractions. Or just make sure you're in agreement with the other half.

What sort of people stay there? Are you going to feel out of place in your jeans and t-shirt?

Right, the people. It's a mixed bag. You see couples, families (as mentioned), groups of friends, and, of course, the occasional solo traveler (like yours truly). Dress code is mostly casual. You *could* get away with jeans and a t-shirt, but honestly, people do make an effort. There's a general air of 'slightly fancy vacationer'. I, for one, love to dress up when I travel. If you're a person who enjoys getting glammed up, then the atmosphere is perfect. If you're a jeans-or-tracksuit person? You *can* get away with it. But... you might feel a bit underdressed.

Any major downsides? Or little things that annoyed you?

Okay, here's the truth. There were a few things that got under my skin. The air conditioning (already mentioned, but worth repeating). The prices, which, while expected for a luxury hotel, can sting. The fact that things aren't *always* perfect, even though you're paying a premium. Small things like lukewarm coffee at breakfast or slow service at the bar. But, honestly... Those things are quickly forgotten when you're sipping a cocktail by the pool, watching the sunset.

Would you go back? And would you recommend it? Bottom line!

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Megah D'Aru Hotel Kota Kinabalu Malaysia

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Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Megah D'Aru Hotel, Kota Kinabalu