Kota Kinabalu Safety
 

Hi,
My family (2 adults and 4 children aged 10, 7, 5 & years)are booked to stay at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu in the new year.
I'm wondering if the area is safe these days after the kidnappings by pirates a few years ago. As far as I know there are currently no travel advisory warnings. We won't be going to far from the resort, probably just the surrounding rain forest and some snorkeling around nearby islands.
Any updates would be most welcomed.
In addition, is there anything we should be careful with considering the ages of our children? I did read some stories about cholera and foot & mouth disease.
Thank you.
Simon.

Note that the kidnappings a number of years ago were not from Kota Kinabalu or anywhere close to it, but from small islands some distance away.

I assume you have done your reading about health issues. If not, go to www.cdc.gov/travel You will all need routine vaccines or boosters (tetanus, MMR, polio) and travelers vaccines (Hep A and typhoid). There is no malaria in the coastal areas, but if you were headed into the deep rainforest, those areas still have malaria.

Cholera? no. I haven't heard of any outbreaks, nor is it an issue for travelers even when it is present. Foot and mouth disease? Not an issue for people, but only for cattle.

As you know, there are two Shangri-Las near Kota Kinabalu (neither are in KK). One, the Tanjung Aru, is close enough that you can catch a shuttle into the city for a bit of shopping or a good restaurant. The other, Rasa Ria, is far enough away that you are effectively captive at the resort.

Thanks Kathie,
I read about the Cholera here -
http://www.sabahtourism.com/advisory.php?lg=1
and the other issues here -
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-c...dvice/Malaysia
Thank you.
Simon

The cholera outbreak isn't mentioned in my sources, so it was interesting to raed about it. As I mentioned, cholera really isn't something that travellers contract.

The kidnapping incidents were a number of years ago. The warning sounds really alarmist to me (I guess the Aussie gov't is as political about their travel warnings as the US is.)

Are you going to Sarawak as well as Sabah?

You may have seen my trip report from last year - Kathie's Borneo Trip Report, posted early December, 2005. A pretty different trip from yours, but it may give you some ideas.

The biggest problem your likely to have at the rasa ria is sand flies. It was their practice a few years back not to spray the beach.

I was in Borneo during the kidnappings about 6-7 years ago. They occured off the island of Sipidan, an hour north by plane frrom KK

Sand flies and jelly fish are the main problem here.Because of the hotel eco policies they will not spray the beach or do anything non eco-friendly. However what a fabulous hotel. Try and get to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary.It was our highlight.Also a day trip to the rain forest on the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. Take a look at our website
www.leightravelclub.com

We've stayed at both resorts. The Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru is a far better resort, in my opinion, it is better situated for day trips to the islands and the town and there are far less sand flies there.

Simon,
I stayed with a group at the Shangri-La. VERY nice place but check this out. When we left and arrived home in the States, we found extra things (Muslim prayer book, ladies bras, those nasty dried shrimp things etc) stuffed into our luggage. After some detective work, we figued out it was done at the Shangra La. Weird huh? Just check your luggage before you leave for little "extras" so you won't have any hassels with the Customs people! But it was a lovely Hotel!
Susie

Kidnapping was at Sipadan. Far from Kota Kinabalu. Any Shangrila resort would be safe.