Club Med has been preparing a new all-inclusive beach resort on the island of Borneo, and its scheduled opening falls this month. Based on the operator’s published announcement and trade coverage, the resort is set to welcome its first guests in November 2026. This article sets out what has been reported, where the sources disagree and what a prospective guest should confirm directly before booking.

What has been announced

Club Med Borneo opened reservations in March 2026, according to the company’s announcement carried by Hospitality Net, with the first guests expected in November 2026. Trade outlet TravelMole also reported the booking launch. The resort is in Kuala Penyu, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, and is marketed under the Kota Kinabalu name because Kota Kinabalu is the nearest major city and airport hub.

Reports describe it as an all-inclusive beachfront resort. Coverage also describes it as Club Med’s second resort in Malaysia, after Cherating, and its first beachfront property to be certified under the BREEAM sustainability standard. Treat those descriptions as the operator’s own claims as relayed by media outlets, and check the certification details on Club Med’s website if sustainability credentials matter to your choice.

Where the details differ

Two points are worth treating carefully.

• Transfer time. Sources give different travel times from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. One regional report cites about 90 minutes, while a local tour operator lists a road journey of roughly two to two and a half hours and a distance of around 138 kilometres. The difference may reflect traffic, road conditions or the route, so budget for the longer estimate until you have an operator-confirmed transfer time.
• Room count. Earlier announcements, made when the opening was expected years ago, cited around 400 rooms including suites. Those figures predate the current schedule and we have not found a current confirmation, so they should not be treated as final. Our guide to why resorts do not publish room counts explains why this number can be hard to pin down.

Room categories mentioned by one local agent include Superior and Deluxe, with pricing listed only as available on enquiry. We have not seen official prices, so none appear here.

What all-inclusive means at Club Med

Club Med’s model bundles accommodation, meals, many sports and activities and entertainment into one price, with some items typically excluded. Resort-specific inclusions can vary, and the published announcement is not a substitute for the booking terms. Before you book, ask specifically about:

• Which drinks are included, including premium brands and specialty coffees.
• Which activities carry a separate fee, such as diving, certain excursions or spa treatments.
• Children’s club ages, hours and any extra charges.
• Whether airport transfers are included or arranged separately.

Our page on what all-inclusive actually includes offers a checklist you can run against any resort.

A new resort means a first-season risk

Any resort in its opening months carries some uncertainty. Services can be rolled out in phases, restaurants may open on a staggered timetable and staff are still settling into routines. This is true across the industry, not a criticism of this property specifically. If you are considering an early stay, ask in writing whether every facility advertised will be open on your dates, and what the resort will do if something is not ready. Our guide to how old your resort is, and what build and refurbishment dates tell you covers how to read a property’s age and status.

Getting there

Sabah is reached by air through Kota Kinabalu, and international access usually involves a connection through a regional hub. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so consult your own government’s travel advice and the official Malaysian immigration guidance rather than relying on a booking page. Our guide on how far from the airport your resort should be is useful when a road transfer is long, as it is here.

Weather and timing

Borneo has a tropical climate with a wetter and a drier part of the year, and conditions vary by coast. We have not seen an official forecast tailored to this property, so check regional climate information for your dates and ask the resort what its wet-weather plans are. If you are travelling with children, ask what indoor activities are available.

Our assessment

For travellers who like the Club Med format and want somewhere beyond the usual Caribbean and Mexican circuit, a new Sabah resort is notable. It is also a long journey for many guests, so the transfer time and the early-season status deserve real scrutiny before you commit. Wait for the first confirmed guest accounts, or at least a full list of open facilities, before building a trip around it if your dates are fixed.

Sources: Hospitality Net announcement of the reservation launch; TravelMole coverage of the booking opening; local operator and regional press reports on location and transfer time. Verify all details with Club Med before booking.