10 Best Family Friendly Hotels in Gaya Island for 2026

Check availability on Gaya Island Family friendly Hotels

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Our top choices for Gaya Island family-friendly hotels

A deck with seating and tables, overlooking a body of water during sunset.

1. Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Downtown Kota Kinabalu

Family-friendly paradise by the sea offers a relaxing pool, luxurious spa, and endless activities for kids of all ages.

RM410 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Oct - 31 Oct

2. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

Tanjung Aru

Splash into a paradise of aquatic fun where private beaches and waterpark adventures make this seaside resort a family dream come true.

RM775 total

includes taxes & fees

17 Nov - 18 Nov

A modern lobby with a seating area, a wall of framed items, and a decorative ceiling.

3. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre

Downtown Kota Kinabalu

RM128 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Nov - 3 Nov

A swimming pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by a modern building with large windows.

4. Hilton Kota Kinabalu

Downtown Kota Kinabalu

Experience family bliss at this Kota Kinabalu hotel where little ones splash in their own pool while parents unwind poolside.

RM364 total

includes taxes & fees

6 Nov - 7 Nov

A swimming pool with lounge chairs and palm trees, surrounded by wooden structures.

5. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

Downtown Kota Kinabalu

Family wonderland on the coast—explore kids' pools, luxury amenities, and friendly staff at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

RM379 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Oct - 31 Oct

A poolside area with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a water slide.

6. Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

Tuaran

Fun-filled family paradise with a private beach, waterslide, and golf course awaits at this resort with outdoor pools.

RM615 total

includes taxes & fees

5 Nov - 6 Nov

A rooftop pool with lounge chairs, a bar area, and a view of the sea.

7. Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre

Downtown Kota Kinabalu

RM253 total

includes taxes & fees

17 Nov - 18 Nov

A modern hotel with a swimming pool, large windows, and a view of the ocean.

8. Borneo Beach Villa & Suite

Karambunai

RM192 total

includes taxes & fees

11 Nov - 12 Nov

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Choose what matters most at family-friendly hotels in Gaya Island

Breakfast included

Pool

Top Gaya Island Hotel Reviews

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

10/10 Excellent

"Everything was 10 out of 10 breakfast was excellent. The only thing I don’t like is the bar by the pool it’s not necessary. There was a bar on the rooftop."

Gaya Island Resort

10/10 Excellent

"We had an amazing time at Gaya Island Resort. It is a luxury resort with great food and drinks, comfortable rooms, and incredible views/proximity to the ocean. Worth noting is that this is in a nature reserve, surrounded by jungle and ocean, and the resort embraces and supports this, which means coexisting with wildlife. You can walk out from the resort beach to their own protected reef and swim with dozens of species of beautiful fish (equipment is available for free). We didn’t see any snakes, though we watched for them constantly over 5 days and participated intently in multiple jungle walks. The activities were an absolute highlight - a deeper snorkeling excursion, walks, mangrove kayaking, and more available. I had booked it confident that the family members who prefer to lounge by the pool would be well-served, but they ended up coming on the excursions and having a great time. Definitely worth 4-5 days if you can swing it."

Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa

8/10 Good

"Absolutely lovely resort - the resort is beautiful and feels like paradise. The staff are all amazing, great service everywhere. The restaurants are reasonably priced (a bit more expensive than the mainland but seems reasonable given the location) and all the meals we had were really nice - we stayed for a week and had tried most dishes by the end , there isn’t a huge variety and only a few Malaysian options. Our room was up a steep hill but you can ask for a ride up on the buggy if you don’t fancy the walk. Everything does close up quite early (last order for a drink 10pm) but can see why as we were always the only people still around at this time - everyone seems to disappear about 8:30 so it can feel a bit of a weird atmosphere if you’re an evening person. There are lots of biting insects around so do take some decent insect repellent as the oil the resort provides didn’t seem effective at all. They light insight repellent coils outside each villa in the evening - it would be good if the resort could add these at the bar area at the Pantai restaurant too. A few things. The rooms just aren’t insect proof at all - eg there’s gaps in the door so we got bitten a lot. Each day we had to brush ants off our bed. When we first arrived there was a large number of ants (dead and alive) on the bed. We stayed for a week and the bedding wasn’t changed at all during this time, which was surprising especially as I had a couple insect bites which left a bit of blood on the bedding."

Frequently asked questions

What's Gaya Island like for family-friendly holidays?

You may want to consider the relaxing destination of Gaya Island if you've been thinking about a trip for the whole family. The snorkelling spots, beaches and island setting are just some of the things that make this a good destination for family holidays. Take to the air and fly into Kota Kinabalu (BKI-Kota Kinabalu Intl.), which is located 6.7 mi (10.7 km) from the city centre.

What's the best family accommodation in Gaya Island?

Gayana Marine Resort is a resort with a children's pool and 2 restaurants, and it's a top choice on Expedia for families. Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa is another good option for your stay with the kids.

When's the best time to book a family-friendly holiday in Gaya Island?

The hottest months are usually May and June, with an average temperature of 28°C, while the coldest months are February and January, with an average of 27°C. The rainiest months in Gaya Island are January, November, December and October, with each month seeing an average of 251 mm of rainfall.

What's there to see and do with your family in Gaya Island?

Kota Kinabalu Central Market and KK Plaza are interesting attractions that you and your family may enjoy exploring while you are staying in Gaya Island. Make sure that you have lots of time for activities such as Suria Sabah Shopping Mall and Sutera Harbour.

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Check availability on Gaya Island Family friendly Hotels

Our top choices for Gaya Island family-friendly hotels

1. Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

2. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

3. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre

4. Hilton Kota Kinabalu

5. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

6. Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

7. Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre

8. Borneo Beach Villa & Suite

9. The Magellan Sutera Resort

10. Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel

Choose what matters most at family-friendly hotels in Gaya Island

Top Gaya Island Hotel Reviews

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

Gaya Island Resort

Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa

The Magellan Sutera Resort

Frequently asked questions

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Kid Friendly Hotels in Gaya Island

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Gaya Island Family friendly Hotels

Our top choices for Gaya Island family-friendly hotels

1. Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

2. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

3. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre

4. Hilton Kota Kinabalu

5. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

6. Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

7. Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre

8. Borneo Beach Villa & Suite

9. The Magellan Sutera Resort

10. Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel

Choose what matters most at family-friendly hotels in Gaya Island

Top Gaya Island Hotel Reviews

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

Frequently asked questions

Explore a world of travel with Expedia