Review of Pan Borneo Hotel Kota Kinabalu 4*

The hotel is clean, and many Chinese tourists stay at this hotel. The buffet is good, and the restaurant overlooks a swimming pool. There is also a gym at the hotel, but I think it needs serious upgrading. But I have only been to this hotel once last year. Maybe it has been upgraded. Public transportation in Sabah is so-so; I would not recommend the mini bus to tourists. However, one can take a taxi or Uber to the hotel. But if one drives a car, ample parking spaces is available at the shopping mall which is adjacent to the hotel. Park at Level 3. Fook Yuen Cafe has opened another branch near this hotel. Whether Fook Yuen is halal; I am not sure. I have been trying to locate the 'Halal' logo at this premise but still I failed. Although the shop spelled its name in Jawi, my eyes still fail to see the 'Halal' logo. As such, I don't eat there. The cafe looks nice tho. But fret not, there are many halal restaurants nearby such as Sinar Mustika, and a few mamak restaurants. There are also two 24/7 sundry shops nearby. Walk a bit further, one can experience the 'tamu' which is the weekly wet and dry market at Putatan, which is usually held on Sunday, though unofficially it starts on Saturday. You can buy local delicacies such as local pastries and savouries (tapai is my favourite which is fermented sweet rice, it is halal by the way), penjaram, cendol, and so many other food. But be sure to ask the locals first on where the tamu is located for the week, because the local authorities may relocate it. While you are in Putatan, do not forget to visit the Tun Mustapha Memorial Centre, which is a museum commemorating Tun Mustapha, one of the many local heroes of Sabah. Take Uber or taxi here, because I do not see any bus stops nearby the building. Soluxe Hotel is also within walking distance to two big supermarkets; Servay and Giant. Here you can find almost everything you need, and these place are also the place where local shops for groceries. We also have Maybank, RHB, and Bank Rakyat near this hotel.