Borneo Royale Hotel stands out for its prime location in the heart of Tawau town, offering easy access to local attractions, shops, dining places and the bustling night market, making it a convenient choice for both tourists and attendees of events held at the hotel. The ample parking and attractive views further enhance guests' overall satisfaction with the hotel’s placement.
The breakfast experience is generally praised for its diverse selection, catering to various tastes with both local and western options. Guests appreciate the lavish and extensive buffet, which provides a fulfilling start to the day. However, there is some feedback suggesting that the selection and taste of certain local dishes could be improved.
The spacious and comfortable rooms are a highlight for many with positive remarks on their size, cleanliness and functional amenities. These aspects, combined with the hotel's convenient location, contribute to a pleasant stay. Nonetheless, there are recurring concerns regarding maintenance and cleanliness. Issues such as outdated rooms, cracked bathroom mirrors, broken TV screens, leaking bathrooms, dirty carpets and questionable housekeeping practices are frequently mentioned and suggest a need for overall room maintenance and updates.
Cleanliness reviews are mixed with some guests admiring the clean and comfortable rooms, while others pinpoint the need for thorough cleaning or replacement of old, dusty carpets and musty-smelling towels, blankets and pillows. Bathrooms specifically require significant attention to meet basic cleanliness and functionality standards.
The hotel staff receives consistent praise for their friendliness and helpfulness, particularly from the housekeeping and maintenance teams, which contributes positively to guests' experiences. However, there are occasional mentions of less favorable interactions with some front desk staff, pointing to inconsistent service levels.
The beds are widely reported as comfortable, often providing guests with good night's sleep, though there are occasional complaints about old and unsuitable pillows.
Overall, Borneo Royale Hotel offers a satisfactory stay with key strengths in location, staff service and breakfast variety. Addressing the noted maintenance and cleanliness issues could significantly elevate the guest experience.
Categories
Free Wi-Fi
This hotel offers free Wi-Fi. It is also a well-reviewed hotel in Tawau, making it a strong choice for users looking for reliable internet connectivity.
Cheap
Provides a range of facilities including an outdoor pool and spa. Although larger, it often has competitive rates making it a good option for those wanting extra amenities on a budget.
Gym
Located in Tawau, this hotel provides a fitness center for guests, alongside other amenities like multiple dining options.
3 Star
Located in the center of the city, this hotel offers spacious rooms and is considered quite clean. It's a frequently booked option, particularly appreciated by both couples and families.
Honeymoon
Spa
Business
Room Types
Deluxe Double or Twin RoomThis air-conditioned room opens up to landmark views. The room is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV, minibar and a safe. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Junior SuiteThis spacious air-conditioned junior suite opens up to landmark views. The separate living room is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV, minibar and a safe. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Superior Double or Twin RoomThis air-conditioned room is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV, minibar and a desk. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Double or Twin RoomThis twin/double room has air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker and a flat-screen TV with cable channels.
Guest Reviews
7.1
Good
Review Summaries
Location
The Borneo Royale Hotel boasts a prime location that guests consistently appreciate. Nestled near the heart of Tawau town, it offers easy access to local attractions and amenities. Many visitors highlight the convenience of being close to a variety of shops, dining places and the bustling night market. The strategic placement makes it an ideal choice for those attending seminars or events at the hotel, as well as for tourists eager to explore the town. Despite some mentions of the hotel’s condition, the ample parking and attractive views contribute to a satisfactory overall experience.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Borneo Royale Hotel is characterized by a diverse selection of dishes that cater to various tastes, including local foods oriental and traditional English breakfast options. Many guests found the breakfast to be very good in terms of variety with some describing it as lavish and providing tremendous choices. The buffet breakfast receives praise for being nice and good with many appreciating the wide array of meals available. However, a few reviews noted that while the breakfast is acceptable and good, there is room for improvement, particularly concerning the selection and taste of certain local dishes like nasi lemak and nasi kuning. Overall, guests appreciate the decent balance of local and western varieties, making for a satisfactory start to the day. The hotel's location and room size also add positively to the dining experience, ensuring guests enjoy a fulfilling morning meal.
Rooms
Borneo Royale Hotel offers spacious rooms that are widely appreciated by guests for their size and comfort, making them ideal for those who need a bit more space to move around. Many guests have noted that the rooms are clean and come with functioning facilities and full amenities, adding a layer of convenience to their stay.
The hotel's breakfast options are also highlighted positively, offering a great selection to start the day right. The convenient location of the hotel is another advantage, particularly for those looking to explore the surrounding area with ease.
However, there are several concerns that potential guests should be aware of. Maintenance issues are a recurring theme with multiple reviews mentioning outdated and poorly maintained rooms. Problems such as cracked bathroom mirrors, broken TV screens and leaking bathrooms have been reported, alongside dirty and worn-out carpets. Additionally, cleanliness issues extend to smelly and unclean beddings, old pillows and questionable housekeeping services that require guests to explicitly request changes in towels, bedsheets and pillowcases.
While the hotel is situated above an older shopping mall that some find unappealing, the bright side remains the spacious and comfortable rooms, which can make for a restful stay if the maintenance and cleanliness issues are addressed.
Beds
Guests of the Borneo Royale Hotel frequently remark on the comfort of the beds, often describing them as comfortable and even soft. Many appreciated having a good night's sleep and praised the beds for their coziness. However, there are some mixed comments regarding the pillows with a few guests noting they were old and unsuitable. Despite occasional mentions of musty smells from the beds, the overall feedback generally highlights a positive sleeping experience.
Cleanliness
Borneo Royale Hotel has received mixed reviews regarding its cleanliness with some positive feedback highlighting the clean and comfortable rooms. However, there are several areas where improvements are needed to elevate the guests' stay. Many guests noted that the carpets, which appear old and dusty, should be cleaned more thoroughly or even replaced, as they often have cigarette burns and spots. Additionally, musty-smelling towels, blankets and pillows were a common issue, along with dusty floors.
The bathrooms require significant attention with several mentions of them being old, a bit dirty and sometimes lacking basic amenities like multiple towels and functional fixtures. Issues such as clogged sinks and poorly flushing toilets were also reported. The bed sheets and pillowcases did not meet cleanliness expectations for many, making it clear that an overall update in room maintenance is necessary to improve guest satisfaction.
Staff
Borneo Royale Hotel is consistently praised for its exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Guests often highlight the quick and efficient service provided by the housekeeping and maintenance teams. Visitors also appreciate the warm reception and assistance from most of the hotel's personnel, including the bellboys and cafe staff. The majority of reviews reflect a positive interaction with the team, which enhances the overall pleasant stay at the hotel.
However, there are some mentions of less favorable experiences, particularly with the female receptionists, who were noted as not being as friendly or helpful as expected. Despite these isolated incidents, the general consensus remains that the hotel staff is kind, courteous and dedicated to ensuring a comfortable visit. The cleanliness of the rooms and the staff's willingness to assist contribute significantly to the positive feedback.
FAQ
No, Borneo Royale Hotel doesn't have any pool.
Yes, a spa is available at Borneo Royale Hotel.
No, Borneo Royale Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Borneo Royale Hotel.
