The Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort is one of the best luxury hotels in Borneo and an option worth considering if you are planning a holiday in Malaysia. Here is a detailed explanation of the facilities and activities that await you at one of the most outstanding Borneo hotels.
The Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort is located within the municipality of Kota Kinabalu, the largest city in Malaysian Borneo. The resort is a 45-minute drive away from Kota Kinabalu's international airport, where a limousine service transfers guests to their luxurious holiday abode.
Despite its proximity to the city, the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort enjoys an advantageous location on a quiet bay, secluded from the hustle of town by a nature preserve that will surely captivate visitors who are privileged enough to stay at this resort.
As proof of its outstanding position as one of the leading hotels in Borneo, the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort has recently received the Conde Nast Traveller Award as the best hotel for leisure facilities in Asia.
Accommodation Options
Quality of accommodation is a defining element when it comes to a luxury holiday. There is an increasing number of hotels in Borneo that provide accommodation to the highest standards, but among those, the Shangri-La Rasa Ria stands out magnificently.
Accommodation at this resort is available in the form of rooms and suites. Rooms are spread across two wings, with the garden wing offering rooms with views to the sea and / or the nearby rainforest, and the ocean wing offering premier accommodation in a more private setting.
There are two types of suites: executive and specialty, both of which have been decorated in traditional Malaysian style. Suite rooms offer amenities like flat screen televisions, a pillow menu, boutique toiletries, and a sitting-dining area affording some of the most spectacular views offered by hotels in Borneo.
Dining and Wining
Guests staying at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria can choose from six restaurants serving the best of contemporary Western and Asian cuisine. The Coast restaurant serves dishes like blow-torched scallops with dragon fruit and cashew nuts in a stylish and modern environment.
Malaysian, Japanese, and Indian cuisines are also represented in their own dedicated restaurants. Meals can be accompanied by the best wines that Borneo hotels have to offer, like the unique Nuit St George's Pierre Andre. More informal meals can be had at the resort's terrace bars.
The Shangri-La Rasa Ria also has two lounge bars that are ideal for having a leisurely drink any time of the day and for enjoying the magnificent Malaysian sunsets.
Family Holidays
Although not many Borneo hotels offer luxury family holidays, the Shangri-La in Kota Kinabalu excels as a family-friendly top-class option. The spacious and well-equipped rooms and suites can perfectly accommodate every member of the family, and staff are always on call should guests require additional services.
The interests of youngsters aged 4 to 12 are catered for at the hotel's supervised kid's club, which offers the most varied range of activities, including kite making, coconut leave weaving, origami, signature hunts, and beach games. There is also a dedicated kid's pool available.
The nearby nature reserve makes for an ideal family day out, as there are plenty of interesting guided walks suitable for children and adults alike.
Relaxation and Indulgence
Luxury hotels in Borneo are known for their superb spa facilities. The Shangri-La's spa tops the lists in terms of choice of treatments and quality of the experience. Guests are welcome into the spa with a relaxing foot ritual, after which they can indulge in the treatment of their choice. Some renowned signature treatments at the Shangri-La's spa include a two and a half hour long herbal wrap, a marine elixir wrap and full body massage, and the Sabahan experience, an exotic ritual that uses the best of local natural ingredients.
Sports and other Activities
The resort is unique among other hotels in Borneo, as it runs a nature conservation project at the nearby nature reserve, where guests can visit an orang-utan sanctuary and learn about other local species.
Water sports feature prominently on the resort's leisure offer, as it is possible to practise kayaking, windsurfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, and other activities like fishing, island cruising, or visiting sea gypsy villages.
The Shangri-La also stands out among other Borneo hotels for its 400-acre golf and country club, which also houses a golf school set against the backdrop of the imposing mount Kinabalu.
Other leisure facilities include swimming pools, a gym, tennis courts, bicycle hire, horseback riding, and river excursions.