I went to Sabah during Easter and stayed in Rasa Ria with my two kids (one is also 6, the other is also 2). Since they only enjoyed beach and swimming pool, I didn’t go out much. But my aunt who lived there drove me around to different places & hotels one night.
Like Rasa Ria, Nexus was not in downtown. If you want to go out to town, it took around 30-45 minutes.
And I personally think Rasa Ria is a bit more beautiful than Nexus. If you want to stay in that area, Rasa Ria may be a better choice.
Both Magallen and Tanjung Aru are in town. I didn’t really go inside but from the outside, it seems to me that Magallen is more like a hotel while Tanjung Aru is like a resort. I have read that a lot of HK people like to stay in Magallen because it is more convenient if you want to go out to other islands. I have seen some of the pictures by other BK moms and they are nice. Tanjung Aru is near the beach and it is a resort. I think if I go again next time, I will choose Tanjung Aru.
I highly recommend Tanjung Aru for you as my friend went to Magallen. The Magallen is much big than Tanjung Aru, but there are some comparation :
Tanjung Aru : near to airport,
next to Tanjung Aru Market (satay food)
no shuttle bus
kids/adults activities
private ferry ($40 per head)
private beach
長朗 to see the sunset
excellent services
room with nice if seaview
many Korean & Japanese
Magallen: also near to airport
no food nearby
shuttle bus to town
bowling and library and kids/adults activities
private ferry ($45 per head)
slow services especially the front desk
(no one help you to carry luggage from car to lobby, from lobby to room, delay 1-2 hrs to get the room as services are very very slow) ===> that is why my friend is unhappy even she paid a deluxe seaview.
spacious rooms
may be more HK tours
See you can get some idea for your choice. I choose Tanjung Aru with its excellent services and the price is cheaper than Magallen.
As I booked with lower price than my friend, she got not the 100% good feeling. For me, that is surely excellent choice.
Nexus is a bit old hotel from other information and Rasa Ria is good to stay in the hotel only. Rasa Ria is a choice as there is a zoo inside the hotel. It can stay for 1-2 days.
I prefer to stay either in Tanjung Aru or Magallen, so it is fully booked very often. It needs 2-3 months in advance booking. I stay for Tanjung Aru for 4 nights...is not enough for me. I totally like the islands, feeling of resort and doesn't like going to town. Because the town looks like 70's of Hong Kong and very no interesting.
其實係Tanjung 食buffet , that is not expensive. 1 adult is about $200 complimentary with 1 child. That means $200 for two. you can try if you don't want to go out after come back from island.