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3.5
#29 of 122 hotels in Kota Kinabalu
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu, a 100% Smoke-Free Hotel since 1 November 2017, offering 275 guestrooms with all the essential amenities for a refreshing experience with great value. Guestrooms are cosy with eclectic mix of stylish feature wall, anchored along efficiency with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi (inclusive of all public areas), LCD TV with satellite channels, electronic safe and power shower. Each guest floor from Level 1 to Level 11 offers common ironing room and hot & cold water dispenser. Located strategically in the heart of the city within Asia City complex, a mere 10-minute drive from the airport and walking distance to several local shopping centres, the hotel operates on the philosophy of “Smart, Clean, Simple”, offering a different dimension of accommodation to the business and leisure travelers – simplicity with a value-focus experience.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Indonesian, Malay
Location
No. 1 Jalan Singgah Mata Asia City, Kota Kinabalu 88000 Malaysia
Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu
574 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This was my second stay here but could not recall my experience. I stayed at the Georgetown’s Cititel Express recently and I found slight differences in room configurations. Booked a standard twin room with two twin beds but given one with two single beds squeezed in a space whereby movement is impeded. The room was not equipped with a kettle and iron. Water and iron are provided in a common room where an ironing and iron as well as water dispenser are placed. Hotel location is good. Seafood restaurants are nearby. Sadly some of the eateries around the hotel have stopped operations. Generally the services are good. The lobby should be provided with more chairs for guests.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I travelled from KL to KK in mid March 2022, booked directly into Cititel Express Hotel. As I reached the hotel, was greeted by courteous security guard. The receptionist was efficient and polite. What I like best is the huge free gated carpark in front of the hotel. When I needed to extend my stay, the sales personnel was kind enough to give a good discount package. The only negative comment is the room is small.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Hotel location is central in KK. Most of the interesting areas in KK are within walking distance.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
All u near is just near by here . Hotel cheap in 2 pm so don't come early . Small room with clean bed . 24 hour laundry near by , 88 food court , every Wednesday have morning market , fook yuen restaurant , all shopping mall and market with walking distance , Spa massage too . Taxi to imago shopping mall is rm20 , to airport is rm30 .
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is in an excellent location. However, this is totally offset by the very filthy state of the rooms (for the rating that the hotel is in) from poor cleaning service. When i checked in and went into the room, in the corner of the entrance door in the room, there was a huge ball of hair and dust entangled with it. The bathroom had steaks of dirt on the floor. When i left the room in the morning, i left the "no entry" sign on the floor, and when i came back, even tho the bed was made, the sign was still on the floor (which meant that the floor was not swept!!). I can go on and on, but you get the idea. I have very seldom given a one star in my over 100 ratings, but this one truly deserves the one star.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booking directly with hotel. Ms. Yana who took my booking last week,I requested to have complimentary decoration for my anniversary! Upon arrive Ms.Yana who checked me in and she told me housekeeping team have done the decoration, and Ms. Yana greets me “Happy Anniversary “ I requested to have wine glasses; too bad restaurant are closed.Ms.Yana tried her best to get me the wine glasses. Great staff great attitude never give up to find solutions to get all my requests done!
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Date of stay: September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staff were efficient, helpful and friendly. Wifi worked well. In a great location. Some very good restaurants, massage places very close by. A five minute walk to the shared taxi/bus station area, to the Sabah mall (also to pick up the cheap airport shuttle) and a short walk to the night food market. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THE HOTEL DESCRIPTIONS; Hotel name : Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu Date check in : January 28, 2019 (Monday) Date check out : January 29, 2019 (Tuesday) Duration stay : 02 Days & 01 Night. Room number : 219. Room rate : MYR180.00 (excluded breakfast). Remarks : 1st stay experience in this property.The receptionist is friendly and helpful. Nice guest floor decoration.
REVIEW ABOUT THIS HOTEL. * The room decoration is simple but nice. * Nice bathroom design, * But no closet, * No iron and ironing board. * No fridge. * Nice city view. * Strategic location.
THIS HOTEL IS GOOD TO RECOMMEND FOR? * Solo traveler : Yes * Leisure guest : Yes * Business guest : Yes. * Disabled guest : Yes. * Family with child's and friends : Yes * Meeting or seminars : No. * Wedding or big events : No. * Group or delegates : Yes. ............................
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Date of stay: January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked through hotels.com and upon arrival they asked for a printout of the voucher. It doesnt help if we send by email or show the email on the ipad in front of them. Our room was not very clean (there was hair in the entrance and toilet), checking in of 30minutes (without counting waiting in line) and very very small rooms.
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Date of stay: December 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from CititelExpressKK, Hotel Manager at Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu
Responded 22 Jan 2013
Dear Valued Guest, Greetings from Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu and thank you for staying with us. Please accept my sincere apologies for keep you waiting during check in process. Sometimes we may encounter some website booking was not sent to us on time due to technical error. Therefore, in order to verify the booking and the payments, we may spend more time to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding between our guest and the hotel. We feel sorry that it has taken you so much time. We also noted your comments on the cleanliness and will definitely look into this for improvement. We hope that you do have a nice trip to Kota Kinabalu. Best regards, Sherry Yee
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A brief browsing of views from our members here indicates this is a 2 or 3 star rate hotel before I came here but with only one night stay for me opened my eyes- this hotel means business...it is a 4.5 star hotel!
Arrival driving by road, I was worried about heavy traffic and fight for roadside parking lots. More worries as the last time I was in town got a ticket for not having a parking coupon on a roadside lots. The heavy traffic was there...but lots of empty park lots in the private carpark that is free for hotel residents. No problem there.
Check in prompt and friendly. Very efficient and professional. Two speedy lift provides access to 12th floor and have to swipe the room card in it before the lift is operable means only resident is accessible to rooms for security purpose. Entry to rooms is with 2 touch-n-go cards.
Our room has a double queen bed with ensuite toilet/shower cubicle with overall estimate 12 ft width by 30 ft. It has window overlooks the carpark bays and the Hilton Hotel (that hotel costs twice to stay there!!) The window latch is a no go for small toddler as the short height and very easy to exit! Air cond is cool and quiet and room carpetting helped reduce the noice. There is no external noise from residents but from the karaoke joint in the city below. On 12th flr can hear, cannot imagine if from lower floors! This room has a door to a connecting room.
The normal water heater jug, coffee/tea sachets, toiletries and ironing including sandals and water bottles are provided. Toilet door is folding type with no bath tub provided but has strong hot water and shower cubicle with bath gel.
My opinion giving 5 stars is based on ease of parking, the ease of check in, surprisingly clean room (yes! cheers that!) all the basics aircond and amenities and for the on-the-go businessman is the location to street restaurants, banks and public transport. Being a busy body businessman, I find no fault in this hotel.
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Date of stay: June 2017Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here for 3 nights.Almost got killed of hypoxia to be honest because the room Is too small And stuffy and can feel the difficulty to breath.Don't believe? thn try it. The breakfast and food was below average. No basic stuffs such as toothbrush and etc. Coffee makers absent. Have an iron room and hot waster dispenser beside lift. Heavy traffic area. Good location at the city center and walking distance to the sea side and main Centers.
Beds and pillows not comfortable! Had body ache and neck stiffness and pain causing discomfort and lack of sleep.
Well can stay here for a night but not for a Long stay.
If not aircond ,I'm very sure you can die of suffocation!
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from CititelExpressKK, Hotel Manager at Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu
Responded 21 Aug 2016
Dear Snuffboxdude, Thank you for staying with us and feedback in TripAdvisor. We are sorry to hear that you feel stuffy in the room. The philosophy of our Express hotel is smart, clean and simple. We aim to provide friendly service and value for money accommodation by providing smaller room with essential amenities so as to pass on saving to our guests and yet do not compromise on safety, security, cleanliness and other features such as comfortable bed, strong shower, and good hygienic air conditioning system. Should you plan to re-visit Kota Kinabalu, we would like to recommend our bigger room located in the highest floor of the hotel building, such as Superior Triple or Double Deluxe with more amenities such as mini fridge, coffee making facilities, slippers etc. Once again, thank you for staying with us and we look forward to welcoming your return to Kota Kinabalu. Regards, Sherry Yee
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dear Sir/Madam,
The cheapest way to get to the hotel is by the Airport Bus. The cost per way is RM5.00 per adult and RM3.00 per child below 12 years. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth available at the airport. However, the shuttle service is only available from 0800hrs until 2015hrs depending from which terminal you depart and the drop-off point is a mere 10-minute walk to the hotel. For convenience, you may get a taxi from the airport to the hotel at RM30.00 per way.
Thank you.
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