The following testimonials were writted by interns who found a number of interesting places to stay while undertaking their internship. Some range from long-term rentals while others are short week-long rentals. Hopefully you find this resource useful as you plan your stay with MRF.
Because I was with MRF for a year, I got a private apartment rental found through a website like Mudah.my.
I ended up choosing a two-bed apartment in Waikiki Condominium on Tanjung Aru beach https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waikiki+Condominium/@5.949202,116.043674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x323b682957666eff:0xf0e95551f4598dc8!8m2!3d5.949202!4d116.0462489!16s%2Fg%2F1td9smwf?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
The apartment was fully furnished, with two bedrooms both with a double bed, two bathrooms, sofa, TV, washing machine, balcony with furniture, kitchen with fridge/freezer and an electric hob. I had to buy kitchen utensils, towels and bed sheets.
I stayed for a year and paid RM 2000 per month for a two-bedroom apartment (I rented one of the rooms out to another MRF intern for the 6-months they were there which halved the costs). Bills were extra, I think RM 100 a month, and I paid this at the machine in the office building of my energy supplier, I can’t remember where it was but my landlord was very friendly and helpful and told me where to go. They were happy for me to pay rent in cash monthly as I didn’t have a Malaysian bank account, and came to collect it from my door at a time that suited us both, I found them much easier to deal with than any landlord I’ve had in the UK! I was only able to rent the apartment because I was there for a year, unfortunately I can’t comment on the availability there for shorter periods.
I bought a motorbike for the duration of my stay and it was a 10 minute ride to the office. The other intern who stayed with me got a grab each day and I think it cost approximately RM 10 each way for a 15 minute trip.
The apartment block wasn’t very busy, and I would have liked it to be more social, but I met some nice people there, there was a gym and swimming pool on the ground floor for all residents to use which was very nice.
The block was very secure, with guards at the gate 24/7 and a good lock on the door.
There weren’t many places to eat within walking distance, I usually rode into the market to buy food to cook or would eat somewhere a ride away, there was a supermarket up the road in walking distance, but the food was better in the market in the centre.
I would recommend this place, or an equivalent private rental if you’re there for a long time. Although getting grabs is easy, I think without your own transport it could be a bit isolating.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jsr3eoKLRSbWFf9k8
Stayed for about a week before leaving KK.
Rate: RM30-40/ night (can walk-in to negotiate with the lady)
Near to the Filipino market and mall. The area is a little crowded with weird people sometimes, Need to carry your backpack up to the 3rd floor (no lift). 10 mins to MRF office building.
Mix/ Female dorms available
Perks: Free tasty breakfast, filtered water machine, affordable laundry, small kitchen to cook, friendly lady staff
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NwSPTSbcALaaC5W2A
Stayed for a few days
Rate: RM30/ night
5 mins walk to MRF office building, my room had a mouldy smell 🙁
Mix/ Female dorms available
Perks: good location, many things to eat nearby, right next to the night market/ durian street, small kitchen to cook, common area & balcony to chill
Hostel above Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh (location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NYL8CtYWbWSqZakz6)
They provided monthly stay for RM300 per month (very affordable). 5 mins walk to MRF office building.
I stayed for about two months in the female dorm. They had private rooms for rent at a higher rate.
The location is good, right above the weekend market. Many things to eat, shops and banks nearby. A huge kitchen to cook with free to use utensils, pots & induction cooker. Free washing machine to do laundry.
Downside: Old hostel with shaky bed frame & mouldy mattress. No water filter machine available, buying bottled drinking water is necessary. Toilet is a little lack of maintenance & dirty. If you are allergic to dust, this may not be the place….
Homy Seafront Hostel
homyhostelkk@gmail.com +60 10-2502018
I paid around €7 per night for a 16-bed dorm via Hostelworld. The hostel also offers smaller dorms (4-person) and private rooms. Prices may vary depending on the room type and season.
It’s cheaper to book through Hostelworld than directly at the reception, so I’d recommend going through the app or website for better rates.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from the hostel to the MRF office, mostly just going up one street. I actually enjoyed the short walk in the mornings.
It’s a hostel with a big common area (TV, kitchen setup), three showers, and two toilets. The dorms are fine—though be prepared for the occasional loud snorer!
There’s a microwave, hot water dispenser, and a fridge, but no stove or pans. So, you can’t cook proper meals, but heating up food and storing snacks is possible.
The staff were always very friendly and helpful. The atmosphere among guests was relaxed and international.
The place is generally clean. Amenities include free water, a basic breakfast (toast, cornflakes, instant coffee, tea, and biscuits), strong Wi-Fi, AC (though it’s often quite cold inside—around 17–19°C).
There’s a big locker for your bags and cameras throughout the property. However, my flip flops and an umbrella were stolen from the open shoe area at the entrance, so I’d recommend not leaving anything unattended outside.
The walk is safe overall, though you pass a local harbor area where people sometimes stare quite a bit—nothing aggressive, just curiosity, but worth noting.
There’s a supermarket right next door, a good laundry place nearby, KK Waterfront for food and nightlife, Jasmine Massage (a bit pricey, but the Thai massage was amazing). Also, there’s a gym 5 minutes away in Center Point shopping mall and restaurants right next to the hostel.
Yes, I’d recommend it to others—if they’re okay with shared rooms! It’s budget-friendly, includes breakfast, and has great staff and location. Just keep small personal items secure.
Name of Place: LAVENDER LODGE
Contact person: DANIEL OR RUBY
Contact number (Whatsapp): 60168305119
Location: Lavender Lodge, 6, Jalan Laiman Diki, Kampung Air, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Costs: Stayed for a month, got a rate of 900MYR+ (shared room and bathroom). They give special rates for long term rentals. Other options: private rooms with private bathrooms.
Location: It’s a leisurely 12-15minute walk to/from MRF office. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, snack bars along the way.
Accommodation: It’s a laidback hostel/dormitory. There’s a fridge and you have the option to cook in the morning. They have a water dispenser, an electric kettle, microwave, and a mini oven.
*My room is on the 3rd floor, overlooking the main road. At night, when the seafood restaurant across opens, I can hear the drumbeat festivity but somehow, I’ve grown accustomed to the sound.
Amenities: Complimentary tea. There’s a mini dining area; a great place to chat with other travelers. Near the reception area is a mini library; there’s also an iron/ironing board and blow dryer should you need to use one. There’s a clothesline on the 4th floor to hang wet clothes (especially after a diving/snorkeling trip). As for the internet, there are times it lags.
Staff: 5-star rating. They’re the friendliest! It’s a home away from home because of them.
Security: As a general guideline for solo female travelers, I exercise caution when walking after 8pm.
Accessibility: There’s a convenience store, a laundry shop, and a pharmacy conveniently located nearby. There are several restaurants around the area. It is close to Gaya Street; a 10-minute walk to the weekend market. Centre Point is a 5-minute walk from the Lodge: there’s a gym, supermarket, and ATM, plus they have a vintage-ish movie house/bowling complex. Getting around Centre Point can be tricky, it took a while for me to familiarize the place.
*For Catholics, there’s Sacred Heart Cathedral, 3-5 minutes by Grab, 20 minutes by walking.
I really enjoyed my time in the Lodge. I was looking for an accommodation where it’s not too congested, where it’s homey, where the room is spacious, the place is clean, the staff are friendly, with nearby amenities to meet my needs; Lavender Lodge ticked them all.
AJ Suites – 17 Jalan Pantai
Booked through AirBnB – https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/34036693?source_impression_id=p3_1746692671_P3bjnKfePTTx5Cvn
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QBsJDdjNB3m3GBXp8
Costs – I stayed here for two months, paying 5,760 MYR for the whole stay.
I only had to walk 5 minutes to the office as it was located right next to Gaya Street, so the options to eat there were plentiful. This was necessary as the accommodation does not have any kitchen facilities however, the room was spacious and had an ensuite bathroom. I would use Grab to get to most places not within walking distance and back from the gym at night, as the main road can feel rather uncomfortable when walking alone in the dark.
The landlord Alvin was always super accommodating and would reply quickly, I had some issues with security and my aircon, both of which were promptly resolved with just a message on WhatsApp.
I will say the main redeeming quality of this place was the location as it is so close to everything, but there was very little storage, limited cleaning or cleaning supplies provided and as aforementioned I had some issues with the place’s security (my keys were left in the incorrect place by staff and another guest trying to access my room). I will say its rather expensive for the overall quality of the room, but the landlord is lovely and always happy to help.
I hope this helps you find somewhere you love during your stay in KK, as it is such a wonderful city and MRF is a fabulous environment to work in!
