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.
The Shore Suites
Booked via AirBnB – https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1124208279858032247?guests=1&c=.pi129.pkpast_trip_share_virality&s=67&unique_share_id=a7938dbd-91dc-4ad3-be07-d222f7b68d74
Contact person: Emerlia
Contact number: +60 16-841 2625
Google map link to its location: Here
I stayed here for 2 months and it was more on the expensive side but it was perfect! It was an open plan apartment with a bedroom, kitchen, sofa area and bathroom – it cost around RM 1,300 per week and you can get a discount if you are there for long period of time.
It had the perfect location, overlooking the water and the central market, and was a 5-minute walk to the MRF office which was ideal. The great location meant that I could practically walk everywhere in the city!
The particular AirBnB I stayed in was run by the friendliest people who were very quick to respond with any queries and I actually became good friends with them whilst I was out there! The apartment itself was incredibly clean and there was a cleaner who came in twice a week.
The airBnB had a key card to get in and out and I felt very safe within and around the building as a single female traveller. There are lots of supermarkets close enough to walk to, as well as a gym (Republic Fitness), which was a great gym with everything you could need as well as a great view over the city!
Although you can definitely find cheaper places to stay, I couldn’t fault this AirBnB!
Jiran Hostel Kota Kinabalu
Contact phone and email: +60 16-3031330 and jiranhostelkkreservation@gmail.com
Google map link to its location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dddqGCCVSqYejrnG8
My room cost me RM 60 per night (the room cost can vary, you can compare with the other room options while booking and if you want to change the room on arrival, they are very easy-going with that, so nothing to worry about) I stayed from 6th February to 6th April. The place is 7 minutes walk away from the MRF, but it can be ten minutes, including waiting on the sidewalks for traffic. You can use Grab for the days you do not feel like walking; it will take 5 minutes through Grab. This is a backpackers hostel, but they are very flexible with long stays. You just have to let them know two weeks prior if you want to extend your stay. They have a couple room, only women’s and mixed dorm of 5 bunk beds, 2 women’s dorm of 2 bunk beds, one mixed room of 5 bunk beds and one mixed dorm of 2 bunk beds. There are three shower rooms,3 toilets and three sinks, which is a common area for brushing and freshening up.
They also have snacks and water bottles on the wooden rack to buy in case you need it,you can just look at the cost and keep the money in the box below. You can also store your luggage with them until 5pm on your arrival day, you can extend it but you have to pay for the extension and you just have to let them know about it in advance.
They do not have cooking facilities at the place; however, there are options to heat up food in the microwave. If you would like to drink tea, they have teabags and biscuits. There is a refrigerator to store your things, but it does not have a freezer to store ice cream or ice popsicles. There are two water filters too to fill up your water bottles, and there is a toaster too.
The staff are extremely friendly, and they are very helpful. I had a lot of clothes, so they got me a hanging rack just for me beside my bed 🙂 They also changed my pillow as I had neck pain, and they got me a pillow as per my choice, which helped me get a better night’s sleep; however, this will only be possible if they have extras. You can also ask the staff about exploring around; they have a lot of knowledge about Kota Kinabalu and around the area.
If you wish to store items with them if you are travelling, they are extremely helpful. I kept some of my things when I was travelling; the things were exactly as they were when I returned.
The place is extremely clean, and you cannot wear your shoes inside the hostel; they provide slippers. You can keep your shoes on the shoe rack and wear the slippers they provide from the shoe rack. They change the bedsheet every week, and they clean the room and the whole hostel every day. On your bed, you have spaces around it to keep things and under it if you want to keep a suitcase or clothes. There are three hanging hooks where you can hang your things. There is a curtain attached in front of your bed to maintain privacy. There is a light inside your bed for you to read books or do anything you like. There is a wooden rack attached to the light. You can keep showcase stuff or small things if you like. There is also an option of washing your clothes and hanging them on the clothes drying rack on the roof just outside the window in the living room.
To enter and exit the hostel, you will be provided with one key tag and one room card. The key tag helps you unlock the main door, and the room card helps you unlock your room door. The room card only works for your room; you cannot access other rooms with it, nor can someone from another room access your room. Inside your room, they provide you with lockers to keep your things. In the locker, they provide you with a pillow and towel. The locker is not very big, but it has sufficient space to keep your bags, pouches, books, or anything you like. On the key tag, there is the key to your locker, which can only be accessed by you.
It was very safe to go back to the hostel after work, but it is good if you have a friend group or a friend if you are coming back to the hostel late at night.
There is a shop just a shop near the hostel. It has affordable groceries, and the satff over their is very friendly too. There is Tong Hing Supermarket, a few shops in front, and you can find anything there. It is a bit expensive, but it is worth it ! There is a gym across the street; it is called ‘Level Up’ its really good. They have a space for only women; it is not very big but it is good for warm-up and cool down. There is a bell bar and weight machine inside the room, and there are mats inside the room too. There are a lot of machines in the gym; there is a boxing bag and water tank inside the gym too. The staff over here are very friendly too. There are options of signing up for one day and a month. You can try signing up for a day and see how you like it or not. I signed up for two months, and I had a great time! The best part is it is open 24 hours!
Opposite the gym, across the street is Suria Mall and there are eating places in Wisma Sabah too. If you go straight from the hostel, you will reach Gaya Street in three minutes, which has a lot of shops, restaurants and cafes. Most of them are extremely affordable. There are night markets on Friday and Saturday from 6 pm- 10:30 pm and a Morning Market on Sunday from 6 am- 12 pm.
There is a laundry place called ‘My Dobi’ on the other side of the street beside 7-Eleven. It is a bit expensive and gets a bit quiet at nighttime; I suggest you can go to ‘Beezee Laundrette ‘. This is the link towards the shop: https://magicpin.com/malaysia/Kota-Kinabalu/Penampang/Other/Beezee-Launderette/store/23b7372. There are multiple cafes around this place; if you want, you can sit and work while your laundry is done. I would highly recommend October Cafe and Woo Cafe it has good food and a lot of options to choose from. There is an art and cafe shop in front of the laundry shop to shop for art and have coffee. I got most of my work done sitting in the cafes; it helped me a lot! There are a lot of good restaurants in Wisma Sabah too, but some of them close early, so you can check the timings beforehand so you do not miss out on them for the day.
Lastly, there is Salt&Paper right beside the hostel; it is a stationery shop, and it is a very cute shop. They have a lot of beautiful goods. There is Shoney’s Dining and Bar on the left side of the hostel; they serve really good food too. I mostly took rice from them as there were days I did not really like eating anything that much. Their rice is very tasty, and they serve it very hot too! Apart from that, they have very tasty steaks too! There is Fook Yuen and Bakery-Gaya Street shop before Gaya Street; they have such tasty dumplings and the apple juice is a must-try!
Would I recommend this place to others? Absolutely 🙂 This place is a gem; please do stay here if you get a chance too, and you are going to have a great time. I promise you, it will not upset you 🙂
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!
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