gogless
Skip to main content
Get help with your reservation
List your property
Register
Sign in
  • Stays
  • Flights
  • Flight + Hotel
  • Car rentals
  • Attractions
  • Airport taxis
Coronavirus (COVID-19) support

Check for travel restrictions. Travel might only be permitted for certain purposes, and touristic travel in particular may not be allowed.

Read more

  1. Home
  2. All hostels
    Hostels
    • Apartments
  3. Malaysia
    Hostels
    • Hotels
  4. Sabah
    Hostels
    • Hotels
  5. Sandakan
    Hostels
    • Hotels
    • Car rental
  6. Harbourside Backpackers (Hostel), Sandakan (Malaysia) Deals

  • Info & prices
  • Amenities
  • House rules
  • Guest reviews (254)
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
We Price Match

Hostel Harbourside Backpackers

Harbourside Backpackers

1st Floor, Lot 43, Block HS-4, Harbour Square, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, 90000 Sandakan, Malaysia – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.3/10! (score from 254 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

8.9
Excellent
254 reviews
  • Facilities

    8.4

  • Cleanliness

    9.1

  • Comfort

    8.5

  • Value for money

    9.0

  • Location

    9.3

  • Total

    8.9

  • Free WiFi

    7.3

We used Harbourside Backpackers as our base between trips to Sepiloc, Pulau Selingan and Kalibantgan River. We probably spent ten nights there total. You will not find a cleaner hostel in all of SE Asia! The staff works so hard and they clean the whole place top to bottom everyday. They were always very warm and welcoming and very helpful. We have three young children and they doted on the kids.... and it was great to have Netflix for them to watch during a little downtime! We also appreciated having a kitchen and the free breakfast (sorry for all the peanut butter we ate!) Breakfast is eggs (provided, that you cook yourself), bread for toasting and instant oatmeal. Simple but enough. The location worked perfectly for us, across the street from a lively plaza, in the heart of the old city so lots of shops and restaurants. Great value, highly recommend!

Laura United States of America

The staff are very friendly and helpful at booking tours. There’s a cold and hot water station. Free tea and coffee and you can cook your own eggs and toast for breakfast. Great location. Nice chilling area with Netflix and cable. Really good wifi. Power plugs at every bed. Easy check in and out

Charlotte New Zealand

It’s impeccably cleans and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

Rebecca United States of America

This spot is great! The staff are very friendly and incredibly helpful with arranging any trips and give helpful information. From what I learned, don’t book any trips prior to arrival as the staff at the hostel offer better prices for packages. The bathrooms and the entire place really is spotless. It’s one of cleanest hostels I’ve stayed at in SE Asia. They include a continental breakfast and have a water station for you fill up your bottle. The hostel is conveniently located right across the mall and the harbor area.

Rebecca United States of America

Neat and clean rooms, arranged and well lit rooms, easily accessible

Vijeesh Malaysia

Organised the trip to The jungles. Quick on responding. Best service. Best location. Good price.

Daniel India

Location, right in the middle of downtown. Restaurant & shop just downstairs, a mall opposite the building. Waterfront & market just a short distance away. Its very clean. The common room has a big ass tv, strong Wi-Fi, 2 internet connected computers, kitchen & dinning table. The staffs were super friendly.

Sharif Malaysia

The staff was friendly and eager to help. The property is in a great location with walking access to many things.

Simone United States of America

The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were knowledgeable about the key tourist attractions in and around Sandakan. The location is very good, being close to the seafront, restaurants and a shopping mall. It was good that it included breakfast. The whole hotel was clean. The bed was very comfortable and the aircon worked well. It was good that there was free wifi. There was a fridge in the hotel lobby from which you could purchase water.

Thomas United Kingdom

The staff was so friendly and give us so many tip. He organized us aktivities and taxi also very cheap.

Verena Germany

Excellent location!

9.3
Highly rated for:
Kitchen facilities
Highly rated for:
Kitchen facilities
Highly rated for:
Very clean bathrooms
Highly rated for:
Very clean bathrooms
Highly rated for:
Kitchen facilities
A bed or beds in a room at Harbourside Backpackers
A bed or beds in a room at Harbourside Backpackers
A bed or beds in a room at Harbourside Backpackers
A bed or beds in a room at Harbourside Backpackers
A bed or beds in a room at Harbourside Backpackers
A seating area at Harbourside Backpackers
A seating area at Harbourside Backpackers
+30 photos
Close ×
Harbourside Backpackers

Lock in a great price for Harbourside Backpackers – rated 8.9 by recent guests!

to get started.

Harbourside Backpackers

8.9
Excellent
254 reviews
  • 9.3

    Excellent location!

  • Highly rated for:
    Kitchen facilities
  • Highly rated for:
    Kitchen facilities
  • Highly rated for:
    Very clean bathrooms
  • Highly rated for:
    Very clean bathrooms
  • Highly rated for:
    Kitchen facilities
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “We used Harbourside Backpackers as our base between trips to Sepiloc, Pulau Selingan and Kalibantgan River. We probably spent ten nights there total.”
    Laura Laura United States of America United States of America
  • “The staff are very friendly and helpful at booking tours. There’s a cold and hot water station. Free tea and coffee and you can cook your own eggs and toast for breakfast. Great location.”
    Charlotte Charlotte New Zealand New Zealand
  • “It’s impeccably cleans and the staff are very friendly and helpful.”
    Rebecca Rebecca United States of America United States of America
  • “This spot is great! The staff are very friendly and incredibly helpful with arranging any trips and give helpful information.”
    Rebecca Rebecca United States of America United States of America
  • “Neat and clean rooms, arranged and well lit rooms, easily accessible”
    Vijeesh Vijeesh Malaysia Malaysia
  • “Organised the trip to The jungles. Quick on responding. Best service. Best location. Good price.”
    Daniel Daniel India India
  • “Location, right in the middle of downtown. Restaurant & shop just downstairs, a mall opposite the building. Waterfront & market just a short distance away. Its very clean.”
    Sharif Sharif Malaysia Malaysia
  • “The staff was friendly and eager to help. The property is in a great location with walking access to many things.”
    Simone Simone United States of America United States of America
  • “The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were knowledgeable about the key tourist attractions in and around Sandakan.”
    Thomas Thomas United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • “The staff was so friendly and give us so many tip. He organized us aktivities and taxi also very cheap.”
    Verena Verena Germany Germany

Located in Harbor Square in the heart of Sandakan town center, Harborside Backpackers offers air-conditioned accommodations.

Each room has a shared bathroom, which comes with a hot and cold shower.

Guest have access to a small, shared kitchen, TV lounge and common area with reading materials.

Harborside Backpackers is a 5-minute walk to a bus station. The nearest airport is Sandakan Airport, 5.6 mi from the property.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.5 for a two-person trip.

We speak your language!

Harbourside Backpackers has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Nov 9, 2016

What would you like to know?

Submit
No thanks

Thank you for your time

Your feedback will help us improve this feature for all of our customers

Close

We're sorry, but there was an error submitting your comment. Please try again.

Retry
Missing some information? /
Brilliant!

Most popular amenities

Free WiFi
Parking
Family rooms

Good for couples – they rated the facilities 8.4 for two-person stays.

ATM & Currency Exchange: Need cash? There's an ATM and a currency exchange service at this property.

낍 Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.3)

Saved to 373 lists

No credit card needed to book. We'll send you an email confirming your reservation.

Lock in a great price for your upcoming stay

Get instant confirmation with FREE cancellation at most properties on our site!

Find a cancellation policy that works for you

Starting April 6, 2020, your chosen cancellation policy will apply, regardless of the coronavirus. We recommend booking an option with free cancellation in case your travel plans change.

Availability

We Price Match

When would you like to stay at Harbourside Backpackers?

Reservations longer than 30 nights are not possible.

Enter your dates to check availability.

Your departure date is invalid.

Check-in date
Check-out date
 
Sleeps Room Type
Max adults: 1
Single Room with Shared Bathroom
  • 1 twin bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 2. Max children: 1
Double Room with Shared Bathroom
  • 1 queen bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 2. Max children: 1
Twin Room with Shared Bathroom
  • 2 twin beds
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 3. Max children: 1
Triple Room with Shared Bathroom
  • 3 twin beds
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
Max adults: 1
Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
  • 1 bunk bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
Max adults: 1
Bed in 6-Bed Male Dormitory Room
  • 1 bunk bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
Max adults: 1
Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
  • 1 bunk bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 4. Max children: 1
Family Room with Shared Bathroom
  • 2 queen beds
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 2. Max children: 1
Double Room with Private Bathroom
  • 1 queen bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date
+ Max adults: 2. Max children: 1
Twin Room with Private Bathroom
  • 2 twin beds
Something went wrong – please try again later.
+
Check-in Date
+
Check-out Date

Guest reviews

8.9
Excellent
254 reviews
Read more

Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Laura United States of America

    “We used Harbourside Backpackers as our base between trips to Sepiloc, Pulau Selingan and Kalibantgan River. We probably spent ten nights there total. You will not find a cleaner hostel in all of SE Asia! The staff works so hard and they clean the whole place top to bottom everyday. They were always very warm and welcoming and very helpful. We have three young children and they doted on the kids.... and it was great to have Netflix for them to watch during a little downtime! We also appreciated having a kitchen and the free breakfast (sorry for all the peanut butter we ate!) Breakfast is eggs (provided, that you cook yourself), bread for toasting and instant oatmeal. Simple but enough. The location worked perfectly for us, across the street from a lively plaza, in the heart of the old city so lots of shops and restaurants. Great value, highly recommend!” Read more

  • Charlotte New Zealand

    “The staff are very friendly and helpful at booking tours. There’s a cold and hot water station. Free tea and coffee and you can cook your own eggs and toast for breakfast. Great location. Nice chilling area with Netflix and cable. Really good wifi. Power plugs at every bed. Easy check in and out” Read more

  • Rebecca United States of America

    “It’s impeccably cleans and the staff are very friendly and helpful.”

  • Rebecca United States of America

    “This spot is great! The staff are very friendly and incredibly helpful with arranging any trips and give helpful information. From what I learned, don’t book any trips prior to arrival as the staff at the hostel offer better prices for packages. The bathrooms and the entire place really is spotless. It’s one of cleanest hostels I’ve stayed at in SE Asia. They include a continental breakfast and have a water station for you fill up your bottle. The hostel is conveniently located right across the mall and the harbor area.” Read more

  • Vijeesh Malaysia

    “Neat and clean rooms, arranged and well lit rooms, easily accessible ”

  • Daniel India

    “Organised the trip to The jungles. Quick on responding. Best service. Best location. Good price.”

  • Sharif Malaysia

    “Location, right in the middle of downtown. Restaurant & shop just downstairs, a mall opposite the building. Waterfront & market just a short distance away. Its very clean. The common room has a big ass tv, strong Wi-Fi, 2 internet connected computers, kitchen & dinning table. The staffs were super friendly.” Read more

  • Simone United States of America

    “The staff was friendly and eager to help. The property is in a great location with walking access to many things.”

  • Thomas United Kingdom

    “The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were knowledgeable about the key tourist attractions in and around Sandakan. The location is very good, being close to the seafront, restaurants and a shopping mall. It was good that it included breakfast. The whole hotel was clean. The bed was very comfortable and the aircon worked well. It was good that there was free wifi. There was a fridge in the hotel lobby from which you could purchase water.” Read more

  • Verena Germany

    “The staff was so friendly and give us so many tip. He organized us aktivities and taxi also very cheap. ”

Got a question?

Find more info in the questions and answers. Need something else? Send your own question to the property below.

About Harbourside Backpackers

Welcoming Booking.com guests since Nov 9, 2016

We speak your language

The property usually replies within a few days

Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.

  • Can I use my own sleeping bag?

    yes, you can


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Do you offer luggage storage?

    Yes, we do offer luggage storage for free


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Are sheets and towels included?

    yes, there are included


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Do I need a lock for the lockers?

    No Need. We provide the key for you.


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

Previous question and answers from this property

See what other travelers asked before staying at Hostel Harbourside Backpackers

Most recent questions
  • Can I use my own sleeping bag?

    yes, you can


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Do you offer luggage storage?

    Yes, we do offer luggage storage for free


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Are sheets and towels included?

    yes, there are included


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

  • Do I need a lock for the lockers?

    No Need. We provide the key for you.


    You found this answer helpful

    You found this answer unhelpful

Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.

Area Info *
Guests loved walking around the neighborhood!
Excellent location – show map
Restaurants & cafes
  • Cafe/Bar The Best Brew
    0.1 miles
  • Cafe/Bar Balin Roofgarden Bistro & Bar
    0.4 miles
Closest Airports
  • Sandakan Airport
    5.9 miles
  • Lahad Datu Airport
    57.6 miles
* All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What would you like to know?

Submit
No thanks

Thank you for your time

Your feedback will help us improve this feature for all of our customers

Close

We're sorry, but there was an error submitting your comment. Please try again.

Retry
Are you missing any information about this area? /
Brilliant!

4 reasons to choose Harbourside Backpackers

Why book with us?

Prices you can't beat!

Manage your bookings online

The staff speaks English

Booking is safe

Amenities of Harbourside Backpackers Great facilities! Review score, 8.4

Most popular amenities

Free WiFi
Parking
Family rooms
Kitchen
  • Shared kitchen
Pets
  • Pets are not allowed.

Activities
  • Tour or class about local culture Additional charge
Internet
  • Free! WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Parking

    Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs MYR 10 per day.

  • Street parking
Transportation
  • Public transit tickets Additional charge
Front Desk Services
  • Lockers
  • Concierge
  • ATM on site
  • Baggage storage
  • Ticket service
  • Tour desk
  • Currency exchange
  • Express check-in/out
Cleaning Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry Additional charge
Business Facilities
  • Fax/Photocopying Additional charge
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Key card access
General
  • Shuttle service
  • Convenience store (on site)
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Vending machine (drinks)
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Shops (on site)
  • Family rooms
  • Non-smoking rooms
Languages Spoken
  • English
  • Chinese

What topic(s) do you want to know more about?

Submit
No thanks

Thanks for your help!

Your opinion helps us figure out what kinds of info we should ask properties for.

Back to property

Whoops! It looks like something went wrong submitting this. Try again?

Retry
Missing some info? /
Awesome!

House rules Harbourside Backpackers takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

2:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Check-out

6:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 13 and above are considered adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

There's no capacity for cribs at this property.

This property doesn't offer extra beds.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Cash only

This property only accepts cash payments.

The fine print

Please inform Harbourside Backpackers of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

FAQs about Harbourside Backpackers

  • Harbourside Backpackers offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Tour or class about local culture

  • Harbourside Backpackers is 1,500 feet from the center of Sandakan.

  • Check-in at Harbourside Backpackers is from 2:00 PM, and check-out is until 11:00 AM.

  • The following parking options are available to guests staying at Harbourside Backpackers (subject to availability):

    • Parking
    • Street parking

  • The prices at Harbourside Backpackers may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

8.9 Excellent 254 reviews 100% real guest experiences
  • Awesome: 9+

    145

  • Good: 7 – 9

    97

  • Okay: 5 – 7

    9

  • Poor: 3 – 5

    2

  • Very Poor: 1 – 3

    1

Categories
  • Staff9.1
  • Facilities 8.4
  • Cleanliness 9.1
  • Comfort8.5
  • Value for money 9.0
  • Location 9.3
  • Free WiFi7.3
High score for Sandakan

There was a problem loading the reviews.
Try again

Filters
We Price Match
We Price Match
Low rates • No booking fees • Find something cheaper? We'll refund the difference!

Search

    Error: Enter a destination to start searching.
    +
    Check-in Date
    +
    Check-out Date
    Like this one but not totally sure yet? Show similar properties

    Show more

    2

    The Best of Sandakan

    Click here to see more properties near popular landmarks in Sandakan

    Most Popular Cities

    • Sepilok
    • Bukit Garam
    • Pulau Libaran
    • Sibuga
    • Sandakan

    Save time, save money!

    Sign up and we'll send the best deals to you

    Error: Please enter a valid email address.

    Error: Oops! An error has occurred.

    Thanks! We've sent you an email so you can confirm your subscription

    List your property

    • Mobile version
    • Your account
    • Make changes online to your booking
    • Contact Customer Service
    • Become an affiliate
    • Booking.com for Business
    • Countries
    • Regions
    • Cities
    • Districts
    • Airports
    • Hotels
    • Places of interest
    • Homes
    • Apartments
    • Resorts
    • Villas
    • Hostels
    • B&Bs
    • Guest houses
    • Unique places to stay
    • Reviews
    • Unpacked: Travel articles
    • Travel communities
    • Seasonal and holiday deals
    • Car rental
    • Flight finder
    • Restaurant reservations
    • Booking.com for Travel Agents
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs
    • About Booking.com
    • Contact Customer Service
    • Partner help
    • Careers
    • Sustainability
    • Press center
    • Safety Resource Center
    • Investor relations
    • Terms & conditions
    • Partner dispute
    • Privacy & cookie statement
    • Corporate contact
    Booking.com B.V. is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and is supported internationally by 198 offices in 70 countries.
    Extranet login
    Copyright © 1996–2021 Booking.com™. All rights reserved.
     

    Booking.com is part of Booking Holdings Inc., the world leader in online travel and related services.

    • Booking.com
    • Priceline
    • Kayak
    • Agoda
    • Rentalcars
    • OpenTable
    Start of dialog content

    Verified reviews from real guests.

    We have more than 70 million property reviews, all from real, verified guests.

    How does it work?

    • 1

      It starts with a booking

      It starts with a booking

      The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.

    • 2

      Followed by a trip

      Followed by a trip

      When guests stay at the property, they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff is, and more.

    • 3

      And finally, a review

      And finally, a review

      After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.

    If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.

    Sign in and leave a review
    End of dialog content

    Check-in date

    Check-out date

    « »
    Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
           
           
           
           
           
           
    Close calendar

    Save big in Sandakan

    Get exclusive Booker deals by email

    For a limited time only

    Error: Please enter a valid email address.

    Error: Oops! An error has occurred.

    Awesome! You're now subscribed


    Soon you'll receive news about top-rated hotels, irresistible deals and exciting destinations!
    Sign in to continue
    Sign in to your account
    or use one of these options
    Don't have an account yet? Create your account
    1254240,1263530,1270970,1265120,1264270,1242850,1266220,1263030,1270950,1270380,1261140,1206800,1267600,1269970,1271550,1216210,1266370,1261900,1223930,1264960,1267000,1264400,1264550