Kota Kinabalu Luxury: Imago View 2BR Condo Sleeps 6! (80B)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the dizzying world of Kota Kinabalu Luxury: Imago View 2BR Condo Sleeps 6! (80B). Forget those sterile, cookie-cutter hotel reviews. We're going real. I'm talking spills, thrills, and maybe a stray crumb or two. Let's get messy!
First up: The Big Picture - Is This Thing Worth It?
Honestly? Yeah, I think so. For a certain kind of traveler. Think families, groups of friends, or anyone who wants a bit more space and freedom than your average hotel room. This isn't a five-star, white-glove experience. It's more like… a luxurious, well-appointed apartment with a killer view, and a whole bunch of perks.
Accessibility - Navigating the Labyrinth (or Not)
Okay, let's be real. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did give it a quick once-over to make sure it's on the good side of things. The elevator is a must-have, obviously. The building itself? Seems alright - good for most folks. I wish I could give you more, but I'm not gonna pretend that I know what it's like to need to move around differently. If you have specific accessibility needs, PLEASE confirm directly with the property. I'm seeing "Facilities for disabled guests" listed, which is promising, but always double-check.
On-Site Eats and Booze - Fueling the Fun!
Alright, now we're talking. Restaurants and bars! The listing mentions several options, including the blessed Poolside Bar which is a winner in every tropical stay. Imagine: cocktail in hand, sun on your face, the gentle hum of conversation, and the (fingers crossed) epic view. The coffee shop is a big plus, especially for those early mornings when you need that caffeine hit. Restaurants themselves are advertised as serving Asian and International cuisines. Happy hour is mentioned - a MUST. I'm here for the good deals!
And Now, the Glorious Details - The Relaxation Station!
Okay, deep breath. This is where things get exciting.
- Swimming Pool: The outdoor swimming pool is supposed to have a view, which basically screams "Instagram-worthy." I’m totally there for this!
- Fitness Center/Gym: I'm not gonna lie, I'm a gym person. But it's always good to know it's there if you're feeling the guilt over all the cocktails.
- Spa: Spa! Yes! Massage! Double yes! The promise of a sauna, steamroom and maybe even a foot bath is enough to make me book this place just based on the thought. I’m mentally booking my body scrub and body wrap already – all in!
- Let's Talk About Those Add-Ons
- Spa/Sauna - Just a reminder of how wonderful these are.
Cleanliness and Safety - Keeping it Real (and Sanitized!)
Okay, the COVID-19 safety measures seem pretty comprehensive. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, staff trained in safety protocol, hand sanitizers everywhere… This is the world we live in now, and it's good to see they're taking it seriously. Room sanitization opt-out available. Cashless payment service – a win. Individually-wrapped food options. Okay, cool. Feels like they're doing their best. Hot water linen and laundry washing is a must!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Fueling Your Adventure
- 24-hour Room Service: Um, yes, please! If it's 3 am and you need a burger, they can help.
- Breakfast! Asian breakfast? Western breakfast? Buffet in restaurant? Breakfast takeaway service? My stomach's already rumbling!
- The Menu, baby: A la carte in restaurant, alternative meal arrangement, they mention soup, salad, desserts and vegetarian restaurant – perfect!
- And the Booze? Bar, Poolside bar, Bottle of water? They got you.
- Speaking of which, snack bar and coffee/tea in restaurant are there for when you're hitting low-blood-sugar territory, (which is frequently for me).
Services and Conveniences - The Nitty Gritty
- Cash Withdrawal & Currency Exchange: Essential.
- Doorman: Nice touch.
- Air Conditioning: Oh, thank God, Malaysia is HOT.
- Laundry Service: Always a lifesaver when you're traveling.
- Concierge: Helpful!
- They also provide Invoice
- And a Convenience Store
- Meeting/Banquet Facilities
- Meeting Stationery
- Seminars
- On-site event hosting and Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events all hint at this being more than just a quick in-and-out stay.
- Babysitting service If you need it.
- Airport transfer and Taxi service : Always super nice.
For the Kids - Because Families Matter
- Babysitting service
- Family/child friendly
- Kids meal
- Kids facilities
Access - The Tech Stuff
- CCTV in the right places.
- CCTV outside property
- Elevator
- Check in/out is described as both express and private.
- Front Desk is 24-hour
- Fire Extinguisher and smoke detectors are always welcome.
Available in all Rooms - The Good Stuff
- AC: Crucial.
- Free Wi-Fi: The Internet is key, but you already know how I feel about free stuff.
- Additional toilet
- Alarm clock
- Bathrobes (YES!)
- Bathroom phone (lol, retro)
- Bathtub (luxury!)
- Blackout Curtains: Bless.
- Coffee/Tea Maker: Necessary.
- Desk
- Extra long bed
- Free bottled water (I’m a water-drinker!)
- Hair dryer
- In-room safe box
- Internet access – LAN and wireless
- Ironing facilities
- Laptop workspace
- Mini bar
- Non-smoking: Huge plus.
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Satellite/cable channels
- Separate shower/bathtub
- Shower
- Slippers
- Sofa
- Telephone
- Toiletries: The tiny bottles are where it's at.
- Towels
- Wake-up service: For those early-morning adventures!
- Window that opens (important for me, I like to breathe fresh air)
Getting Around - The Mobility Factor
- Airport transfer: A godsend after a long flight.
- Car park [free of charge]
- Car park [on-site]
- Taxi service
- Valet parking (if you're feeling fancy).
The Quirky Factor - What Makes This Place Tick?
Okay, here's where my inner travel critic comes out. I wish I could tell you more about the "vibe" of the place. Is it lively? Is it chilled out? Is there a cool rooftop bar? I'm imagining sipping cocktails, watching the sunset. The listed Pool with view is probably not to be missed.
My Verdict – Should You Book?
Look, if you're looking for a comfortable, well-equipped condo with a killer view and a bunch of amenities, and safety is high on your list, Kota Kinabalu Luxury: Imago View 2BR Condo Sleeps 6! (80B) is probably a solid bet. It’s an ideal base for a group or family. The location seems good, the facilities are plentiful, and the promise of relaxation is strong.
NOW FOR THE HARD SELL – MY UNBEATABLE OFFER! (Because SEO demands it!)
BOOK NOW and get:
- A FREE upgrade to a room with a view (subject to availability - mention this review!).
- A complimentary welcome drink at the Poolside Bar (subject to bar rules and hours)
- Early check-in/late check-out (again, subject to availability – but worth asking!).
- A 10% discount on all spa treatments (because, why not?)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, chaotic mess that is Trip Planning: Kota Kinabalu Edition! KK Sutera Avenue? 2BR, 6 pax? OPP IMAGO? 80B? Let's do this. This is gonna be less "pristine itinerary" and more "a journal entry where I spill my guts and half-remember things." Consider yourself warned.
The Pre-Trip Panic: AKA "Where's My Passport?!"
Phase 1: The Blissful Lie (Weeks Before): "Oh, a trip to KK! Lovely. Sun, sand, seafood… I'll pack light, be organized, and definitely start learning some basic Malay phrases." (Narrator: That did NOT happen.)
Important Checklist:
- * Passport checked (and hopefully not expired, take it from someone who knows how to get a last-minute emergency one - don't be that person!).
- Flights booked (hopefully not a red-eye, unless you like arriving looking like a zombie).
- * Accommodation confirmed (pray the photos don't lie – they almost always do).
- Currency exchange sorted (because paying airport prices is a crime against humanity).
- * Passport checked (and hopefully not expired, take it from someone who knows how to get a last-minute emergency one - don't be that person!).
Phase 2: The Mild Anxiety (A Week Before): "Okay, I should probably Google 'things to do.' And, uh… where IS my passport? Did I put it in the… the… checks every drawer, under the bed, and inside the fridge… Oh, god, I packed it in a box with my winter clothes. In July. Seriously, I'm a moron."
Phase 3: The Full-Blown Meltdown (Hours Before Departure): "What if I forgot something?! What if my luggage gets lost?! What if customs agents hate me?! Did I print out the flight confirmations? Does this shirt make me look fat? This is it. This is how I die. Alone, in a KK airport holding my oversized luggage."
Day 1: Arrival & Disorientation - "Welcome to the Tropics, You Clueless Tourist!"
Morning: Arrival and Check-in (and the Great Luggage Debacle)
- The flight! Remember when getting on a plane was cool? Now it's just a cramped metal tube full of crying babies and the constant threat of someone reclining their seat into your face. (First impressions of airline: "I bet they're paying the pilots with peanuts")
- Arrived at Tawau International Airport! Woo! Smell the humidity! (Seriously, that sticky air is a character in itself.) The taxi ride to Sutera Avenue was a blur of new sights, sounds, and the unsettling feeling that the driver really likes his horn. (Side note: Is there a universal language for taxi horn communication?)
- Reaching the Sutera Avenue (80B). Okay, the apartment is… well, it's better than the photos, but not quite as spacious as the virtual tour suggested. Immediately started the internal debate: "Is this 'clean enough' or 'good enough'?" (Spoiler: The answer is usually "good enough" after a long flight.)
- * The Biggest Challenge: Unpacking. The worst part of traveling, because you're forced to face all of your clothes and make decisions about what is "important" vs. "I might wear it."
Afternoon: Exploring Sutera Avenue & IMAGO Shopping Mall (Survival of the Fittest)
- Needed serious sustenance after the flight. Found a local warung (stall) near the condo. Ordered something that looked delicious. It tasted like… adventure! (aka I had no idea what it was, but I ate it anyway. Tasted ok!)
- IMAGO shopping Mall: A labyrinth of air-conditioned bliss! This is paradise. The best thing to do – find a place to rest and watch the local people moving around.
- Got "lost" (read: wandered aimlessly) for a solid hour. Found some fantastic bargains, then promptly regretted my impulse buys.
- The first major argument that you were traveling with a large group- how to share an elevator.
Evening: Dinner & Poolside Chill (The Great Seafood Debate)
- Dinner time! The classic conundrum: "Authentic local cuisine" or "safe, familiar chain restaurant"? We compromised (sort of) and ended up at a place that claimed to serve authentic Malaysian seafood.
- The seafood: The fish was amazing, the prawns were tiny and the bill gave me a near-cardiac arrest. But hey, the ambiance was nice.
- The pool! Spent way too long just floating around because the water was the perfect temperature and the sun was setting. Briefly considered becoming a professional pool lounger.
- Finished the night with a round of "guess the local fruit" (I failed miserably).
Day 2: Island Hopping & Snorkeling (The Sea, The Sun, and the Sunburn!)
Morning: Jesselton Point & Boat to Manukan Island (The Tourist Trap Tango)
- Prepared for the day, and applied sunscreen liberally (I swear I learned my lesson about the sun burns, but I didn’t).
- Jesselton Point. The starting point for all island-hopping tours. A bustling hive of boat operators, hawkers, and the perpetually lost-looking tourists (me).
- The boat ride: We were told "20 minutes!" It felt like a lifetime of choppy waves and questionable safety standards. I clung to my bag of Dramamine for dear life.
- Manukan Island: Paradise! (Until the crowds showed up. Then it was "Paradise, except for the three thousand other people.") The water was crystal clear, the sand was blindingly white.
Afternoon: Snorkeling & Island Exploration (A Fish-Eyed View)
- Snorkeling! The best part! Seeing a clownfish literally staring down at you, it was epic. Almost choked from excitement.
- Underwater life: The colours! The fish! (One of them looked at me with a look of pure disdain) I even saw a sea turtle! (Or maybe it was just a particularly large rock. My eyesight isn't the best.)
- Explored a bit of the island, stumbled upon a hidden beach, got lost in the jungle for a bit. Good times.
- Major mistake: forgot to reapply sunscreen. Ended up looking like a lobster by the end of the day. Lesson learned (again).
Evening: Sunset Dinner at a Seaside Restaurant (and the Mosquito Massacre)
- Sunset dinner at a restaurant on the beach. (Romantic, right?) Well, until the cloud of mosquitos descended.
- The food: Delicious, but the constant swatting was a bit distracting.
- The sunset: Still spectacular. Worth it.
- Returned to the apartment ready to collapse and slather ourselves in aloe vera.
Day 3: Culture, Caves, and Culinary Adventures
Morning: The Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village (A Blast From The Past)
- The Museum: More interesting than I expected! Glimpses of Sabah's history and culture.
- The Heritage Village: A collection of traditional houses. Pretty cool to see how people lived in a very old time, but also very very humid, and you know I always forget my hat.
Afternoon: Mari Mari Cultural Village (Touristy, but Totally Worth It)
- Okay, I know it’s a bit touristy, but it’s genuinely fascinating.
- Learned about the different indigenous tribes of Borneo.
- Tried the traditional food (some of which was… adventurous. Let's just say I'm not a huge fan of rice wine).
- Learned how to blow a blowpipe, and immediately felt like a secret agent.
Evening: Local Market & Street Food (A Foodie's Pilgrimage)
- Explored a local night market. The sights, sounds, and the aromas of local produce!
- Tried all sorts of food. The durian (the infamous smelly fruit)! I had one bite and then ran away screaming.
- More local food: fried noodles, grilled seafood, and too much teh tarik (pulled tea).
- This is where someone lost their wallet. A search ensued, which involved a lot of frantic phone calls and a heartfelt plea to the universe.
Day 4: Relax, Reflection, and Retail Therapy - "The Last Day of Freedom"
Morning: Lazy Morning by the Pool & Souvenir Shopping (aka "Buying Things I Don't Need")
- Slow start. Because, let's be honest, the first few days were exhausting.
- Lounged by the pool. Enjoyed the sun.
- Last-minute souvenir shopping! The perfect time to buy things you don’t need.
- More shopping. At the time I thought I was buying gifts for my relatives But they were all for myself
**Afternoon: Massages & Farewell Lunch (The "Pretend
Kota Kinabalu Luxury: Imago View 2BR Condo (80B) - Ask Me Anything (and I’ll Probably Over-Share!)
Okay, spill the tea. Is this place ACTUALLY luxurious? And what's up with "Imago View"?
Alright, alright, buckle up. “Luxury” in Kota Kinabalu? Well, it's relative, isn't it? This Imago View condo? For KK, it's *definitely* leaning luxurious. Think swanky hotel with the convenience of a condo. The views? Oh, the views. Seriously. They're why they named it "Imago View." You're looking *right* at the Imago shopping mall. Which is both amazing (shopping, food, all the things!) and…slightly annoying when you're trying to escape the tourist hordes. But the ocean? You can see the ocean AND the islands. Pure Instagram gold, folks.
I remember the first time I saw it. I practically squealed. My husband, bless his heart, just rolled his eyes, probably already calculating how much we'd be spending on durian shakes downstairs. He’s a pragmatist. Me? I'm all about the dramatic sunsets. Which, by the way, were *incredible* from the balcony. Worth every penny. Or Ringgit, rather.
Sleeps 6? Seriously? Is it cramped?
Six? Yes. Cramped? Let's be honest, it depends on your family. My family? Probably. We're a loud, chaotic bunch. But the condo itself is surprisingly spacious. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms (PRAISE BE!), and a living area that isn't a postage stamp. They have a sofa bed, which is…well, it's a sofa bed. My sister slept on it, and she *claims* it was comfortable. I’m taking that with a grain of salt, she's always trying to one-up me.
We had four adults and two kids. We survived. Barely. The kids were mostly in the pool. The adults? Well, we survived on coffee and air conditioning. But seriously, if you have two small kids, or two adults who don't mind sharing a bed... then it's totally doable. If you're expecting absolute personal space? Maybe not.
The pool, I’ve heard it's great. Deets!
The pool. Oh, the pool. This is a *major* selling point. It’s an infinity pool, overlooking…well, the Imago mall and the ocean. Again, the views! And it's got a separate kiddie pool area (bless them!), which is vital if you have small humans in tow.
Okay, here's the truth bomb, and this is crucial: they have pool hours. Like, specific times you can and *can't* splash around. This nearly caused a full-blown meltdown from my niece one afternoon. She was convinced the pool was secretly a portal to another dimension (she's got a vivid imagination). But hey, you can’t have everything. And the pool *was* clean, and the kids *did* love it. And I got to relax on a sun lounger, sipping a coconut water (from the 7-Eleven just downstairs – winning!), and that, my friends, is the definition of a good vacation. Even if the pool hours are slightly soul-crushing for the tiny humans.
How close is it to the "action"? Restaurants, shops, etc.?
Right. Location, location, location. This place is *fantastic* for that. You’re basically *in* the Imago mall. Legit. Like, walk out the lobby and BAM! Shopping. Food. Movies. Starbucks. Everything!
The restaurants are a mixed bag, though. You’ve got your typical mall fare (which, hey, sometimes that’s all you *want*). But, you also have some decent options. The best food is actually a short grab ride away or a 10-minute walk. I ate the most amazing seafood at a little place called "Welcome Seafood Restaurant," and I still dream about the grilled prawns. The main area for other restaurants is a short grab ride away.
What about transportation? Is it easy to get around?
Getting around is pretty straightforward. Grab is *everywhere* – like, more accessible than oxygen. Seriously, you barely have time to request a ride before one's pulling up. You can also hire taxis, but grab is cheaper and more convenient. Walking is possible to certain areas, but be warned: it's hot and humid. And traffic can be a beast.
We actually got stuck in a Grab once – it was a total adventure. The driver was super friendly, though, and we ended up chatting about…well, I can't remember, but it was memorable. Public transport? I wouldn't bother. Unless you’re feeling particularly adventurous.
Any downsides? Be honest!
Okay, here comes the real talk, because I'm not one for sugarcoating. It's not *perfect*, because what is?
Firstly, the noise. Living next to a shopping mall means... well, sometimes it can be noisy. Especially if you're unlucky enough to get a room facing the road. I'm a light sleeper, so I was prepared, and I brought my earplugs. (Pack them. Seriously, pack them!) Secondly, the kitchen. It's functional, but not exactly "chef's kitchen." It's fine for making breakfast, but if you're planning on cooking gourmet meals, you might be disappointed. Thirdly, the aircon. We had to call the staff for assistance with the aircon. It's not that it didn't work, it's that it wasn't working *well*. They got it fixed quickly, I'll give them that, but it was a bit of a hassle.
Would you go back? And what's your biggest takeaway?
Would I go back? Absolutely, yes. Despite the minor annoyances, the pros far outweigh the cons. The location is unbeatable, the pool is fantastic, and the condo itself is comfortable and stylish.
My biggest takeaway? Just take it easy. Don't sweat the small stuff. KK is an amazing place, and this condo is a great base for exploring it. Go with an open mind, and ready to embrace the chaos. And the humidity. And the delicious food. And the occasional minor air conditioning struggles. And the pool hours! (Ugh, still). It's a holiday, embrace the adventure, and enjoy those stunning sunsets. They're worth it, I promise.
