Hotel Review: Shangri La Rasa Ria

Just 40 minutes’ drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport you come across a lush tropical rainforest that meet the seas of Pantai Dalit, and Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort.

Set amidst a nature reserve, the resort enchants with its natural magic, as the resort’s traditional Malay feel blends harmoniously into the surrounding vegetation. The 499-room resort is set on 400 acres of tropical forest and divided into two wings.

The Ocean Wing guest facilities are being extended, and when finished in April, will have an added 83 rooms. This will bring the total to 173 sea-facing Premier rooms. Guests staying in the Ocean Wing are greeted by a lobby with a lush courtyard, showcasing vertical walls of granite and columns of cascading water.

Rooms each have separate gardens and courtyard entrance and feature a private balcony with a large daybed an oversized bathtub overlooking the South China Sea. The rooms are tastefully appointed and even include a pillow menu and scent menu. Guests have exclusively reserved access to a swimming pool and Jacuzzi pool. The room rate includes a buffet breakfast in an exclusive venue. Guests also have access to personalised express check-in and check-out and dedicated concierge services.

In the Garden Wing, all ground-level rooms have a private lanai accessible through the Garden. Rooms consist of Superior Rainforest, Deluxe Gardenview, Deluxe Seaview, Executive Seaview, Executive Suite and Specialty Suite.

Rooms have 24-hour in-room dining, complimentary broadband internet access, IDD telephone and voice mail, cable TV and in-house movies, tea / coffee making facilities, mini-bar, in-room safe, hairdryer, bathrobe and slippers.

The choice of restaurants at the resort will ensure everyone’s taste is catered for. Coast Restaurant & Bar serves up Western contemporary while the Coffee Terrace is where to go for the international cuisine and buffet. The award winning Naan Restaurant brings you the flavours of India and Teppan-yaki Kozan is all Japanese cuisine. For Western and Asian snacks there is the Pool Bar at the Garden Wing Pool. Snacks and beverages are available at Tepi Laut, the Lobby Lounge, Sampan Bar and Golfers Terrace.

The resort is home to an eco-friendly 18-hole/ Par 72 championship golf course, club house, putting green and driving range. To relax and unwind there is the Spa at Dalit Bay. Even the kids have their own fun club and a free-form swimming pool includes a children’s pool. Other recreation facilities include horseback riding, cycling, nature walks, tree-top canopy walkway, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, fishing, Rasa Ria boat tours, tennis and much more.

Unique to the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort however is the Orang-utan Education Centre, where you can meet Sabah’s icon. The Orang-utan Care project aims to rehabilitate the most iconic species in Sabah. Guest have the opportunity to visit a viewing platform where they can see these playful and checky animals in their natural habitat, while being educated on the importance the orang-utans rehabilitation.

Contact Shangri La Rasa Ria

Phone: (60 88) 797 888

Fax: (60 88) 792 777

Email: rrr@shangri-la.com

Location: Pantai Dalit Beach, Tuaran, Sabah, 89208, Malaysia