Visiting Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

It was a quick weekend trip to Kota Kinabalu that Zest Air so graciously accorded to us a few weeks ago. And what a grand time we all had despite our short stay. The place, the people, the tastes, and the sights all combined to give us beautiful memories to bring back home. I won’t keep the suspense much longer. Here’s a glimpse of our visit to Kota Kinabalu:

Our Zest Air flight arrived at Kota Kinabalu right before noon time. We were greeted with a delicious lunch at Cafe Boleh located at the Pacific Sutera, the hotel where we were booked. This 5-star hotel certainly offers luxurious accommodations.

The Pacific Sutera – A Place To Stay In Kota Kinabalu

When my roommate Earth and I checked into our Deluxe room, we were so happy with the comfortable arrangements with each of us having our own bed.

The room was spacious enough for the two of us and had all the amenities that modern travelers expect.

We loved the fact that it was a Sea View room although we really did not have much time to enjoy the room because we were out most of the time.

Still, there’s nothing to complain about since there were a lot more interesting things to see around this Malaysian territory.

The Pacific Sutera Hotel: Overview

Part of the Sutera Harbour Resort, the luxurious 5-star The Pacific Sutera Hotel features 500 immaculately appointed rooms and suites with contemporary décor and dramatic views of either the sprawling golf course or of the sea and nearby tropical islands.

The grand entrance and high-ceiling lobby lounge offer an uninterrupted, panoramic view of the ocean and is a popular meeting point for leisure and business travellers. The Pacific Club guests enjoy the magnificent views from the top floors where breakfast and cocktails are served in the exclusive Pacific Club Lounge.

The Pacific Sutera is a 15-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and 10 minutes’ by car from the city centre. For guests who drive, free parking is available.

Out of the room and into Kota Kinabalu’s streets, I could not help but notice the mix of rustic and urban sights and sounds. The city holds loads of shopping, dining, and entertainment establishments.

Bargain shopping can be experienced at the Karamunsing Complex where gadgets sell for less.

The Suria Sabah mall is also home to a lot of the brand name shops.

Tourists should not miss the Gaya Street Sunday Market too. It’s literally a market on the street as the entire length of Gaya Street is closed off to traffic every Sunday to give way to the vendors and shoppers. This is a great activity if you are looking for a cultural experience that immerses you into the lives of the locals. It’s just too bad that we were not able to explore the market as we were already headed off to catch our flight home.

The taste of Kota Kinabalu is also exciting yet not too adventurous for those who are not as brave to sample exotic cuisines. The Café Boleh is Sutera Harbour Resort‘s only 24-hour restaurant, serving a wide selection of Western and Malaysian dishes a la carte.

Cafe Boleh

Just a few minutes away is the Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant which is a lakeside floating restaurant that specializes in seafood dishes. This gives you a taste of the local flavors with the view of the yachts in the lake.

What’s a trip to Kota Kinabalu without an outdoor adventure? Head on out to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park for some water fun. On your way there, you can enjoy the greenery and the natural landscape as the ferry takes you to the marine park through the Malaysian islands of Palau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutic, and Pulau Sulug. The trip itself is already a great experience in itself. The activities at the marine park give you more exciting things to look forward to.

The luxurious accommodations at The Pacific Sutera, the flavorful food at Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant, and the exhilarating water adventure at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park are just some of the things to enjoy in Kota Kinabalu. You can reach this destination through any one of Zest Air’s Manila to Kota Kinabalu flights every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

The Pacific Sutera
1 Sutera Harbour Boulevard,
Kota Kinabalu, 88100 Sabah, Malaysia.
Phone: (6088) 318 888    Fax: (6088) 317 777
http://www.suteraharbour.com

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