How to Find Luxury Hotels in Borneo

Located in Southeast Asia, Borneo is one of the largest islands in the world. With lush jungles and a stunning array of wildlife abounding, Borneo is a popular destination for eco-tourists and adventurers from all over the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport.
• Visa.

Stay in Style in Borneo

1. To book accommodations, contact Sabah Tourism Board at 011 6088 212121 or visit the Web site (see Resources below). Live like a king in Brunei, a very wealthy country in which most hotels fall into the category of luxury accommodations. Visitors to the country will be hard-pressed to find a hotel that is not a monument to extravagance, with a price tag to match.
2. Dive into luxury in Kalimantan. Kalimatan has plenty of luxury accommodations that cater to divers. Many of these hotels offer dive packages as part of your stay. Expect stylish, comfortable rooms and top-notch service in these establishments.
3. Stick to familiar chain hotels in East Malaysia, which is not a popular tourist destination. Though luxury accommodation are somewhat hard to come by, chain hotels abound and offer comfort and quality.
4. Find hotels that cater to business travelers if you're looking for added amenities.

Find Reliable Transportation in Borneo

5. Get some tough wheels. In Brunei, there is one main road that goes through the country and into the surrounding jungle. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended to make navigation easier through this beautiful scenery.
6. Stick to the taxis in Kalimantan. Most hotels will arrange transportation via taxi for their guests, and if you're in Kalimantan to dive, it's likely you won't be venturing too far from your hotel, anyway.
7. Fly the East Malaysian skies: Because much of East Malaysia is covered in dense jungle, distances between towns are long and roads are scarce.

Look for Adventure in Borneo

8. Go native in Brunei. Check out the two national museums, then take a taxi boat to the beautiful water village where the houses appear to float.
9. Swim with the fishes in Kalimantan. Kalimantan is famous for its excellent diving opportunities, and most of its tourism centers around this activity.
10. Go wild. East Malaysia has several amazing wildlife parks where visitors can get up close and personal with jungle life.

Tips & Warnings

• Know that the island of Borneo has three regions, each part of a different nation. Kalimantan is part of Indonesia, East Malaysia is part of Malaysia, and Brunei is a small sovereign nation on Borneo's northwestern coast.
• Be aware that citizens of the United States, the UK, Japan, Canada and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter Brunei. For those who do need a visa, it must be requested in advance at a Brunei embassy and takes three days to process.

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