Hin Loi Guesthouse is located in Tanjung Aru Town. It is right above Kedai Kopi Hin Loi (兴来茶室), which has been operating since the 1920s. The guesthouse is near Kota Kinabalu International Airport and roughly 5 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu city center.

What used to be the owner’s family home now provides accommodation for budget travelers. There are 4 guestrooms in total. The two larger rooms have attached bathrooms, while the other two share a bathroom.

The common area has a small kitchen; I don’t think it is equipped for cooking anything fancy. Filtered water and bottled water are provided. As for entertainment, Hin Loi Guesthouse has complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the building.

Each room includes complimentary breakfast for two at the kopitiam downstairs. Each person gets a choice of breakfast food and a drink. The eatery operates from 6:00am to 5:00pm. A different operator takes over in the evening.

For breakfast, char siew pao (叉烧包) and roti kahwin (烘奶油咖椰土司) are local favorites. As for drinks, coffee gives the much-needed energy boost to start the day.

Hin Loi Guesthouse is sufficiently comfortable for budget travelers. Its close proximity to the scenic Tanjung Aru Beach is a plus. The guesthouse has a second premises: a double-storey terrace house nearby.

Address: 9, Jalan Serih, Tanjung Aru, 88858 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Contact: 010-946-9460
Business hours: 24 hours

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Roommates Guesthouse Penang is a budget accommodation in downtown George Town where backpackers can really stretch the dollar. The main unit is located at Chulia Lane (Lorong Chulia) just off the bustling Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia).

In response to popular demand, a second unit at Market Lane (Lorong Pasar) was opened in 2013. My visit to the second unit, aptly named Roommates 2, is just a stone’s throw from the original one.

Roommates provides bed and breakfast at attractive rates starting from RM28.00 per night. This is just a fraction of what it costs at most budget hotels. Most rooms are suited for 2 persons (using double-decker beds with hotel-grade mattresses), but there is also a large room which caters up to 8 guests. Each room is equipped with the comfort of air-conditioning, not shabby at all.

Beside serving as a place to spend the night, Roommates also serves as a spot for guests of different nationalities to mingle around. It is nice get acquainted with new friends here (hence the name “Roommates”) who are on the same quest to explore the world at their own terms.

In addition, there are pillow couches, television, bookshelf and travel brochures serve to keep everyone comfortable and entertained.

Towels and personal lockers are provided. Roommates 2 has three bathroom stalls in the common area downstairs. This is usually sufficient for roughly 15 guests in total.

Toiletries and most consumables are not provided in the price of the bed, but the 24-hours 7-Eleven convenience store is just a short walking distance from Roommates. In terms of laundry service, a washing machine is available at token price (detergent provided).

As a bed-and-breakfast establishment, Roommates provides complimentary breakfast from 7:00am. Before venturing further into the heritage district of George Town, start the day with a helping of bread slices (toaster available), jam and margarine, boiled eggs and coffee.

Stay connected to the outside world with Roommates’ free Wi-Fi service, although I find the connection is too slow at certain times. Perhaps a fellow roommate is streaming live video of an on-going World Cup match.

The staff at Roommates is very friendly and certainly gives the guesthouse a warm sense of hospitality. Typical check-in time starts at 1:30pm and check-out is due at 12:00pm on the following day. Comprehending the unpredictable backpacking schedule, Roommates provides the convenience of 24-hours check-in. There is no lock-out period at night, but guests are expected to be courteous to other roommates during late hours.

Name: Roommates
Address: 17B, Lorong Chulia, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-261-1567
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: http://www.roommatespenang.com
Coordinates: 5.41856 N, 100.33725 E
Directions: From Lebuh Chulia, turn into Lorong Chulia (watch for the road sign at the intersection). Roommates is on the left facing the intersection between Lorong Chulia and Lorong Pasar.

Name: Roommates 2
Address: 54B, Lorong Pasar, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-262-0482
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: http://www.roommatespenang.com
Coordinates: 5.41849 N, 100.33754 E
Directions: From Roommates, walk along the lane directly ahead (Lorong Pasar). Roommates 2 is located on the left. It is not as clearly marked as Roommates, so watch out for the whiteboard in front.