To get the most out of your Bako experience, try staying at least one night. There are different types of rooms with different prices depending on what level of comfort you’re after. You can find details about each room type at this web site, from which you can also make an advanced booking.
Considering that I was staying just one night, I opted for the cheapest ‘hostel’ room. Despite some negative reviews I read online, it really wasn’t that bad. And it only cost RM15!
It was a shared dorm with three other people. In cities, I avoid shared dorm rooms like the plague, but I’ve never had an issue with people in shared rooms at national parks. The types who come to these kinds of places are generally well-mannered and considerate, and everyone’s so tired from hiking that they tend to sleep early. I ended up sharing a room with a friendly biologist couple from Russia who made us all tea on the veranda.
The shower and room, I felt, were clean enough, especially considering that it’s under $4 USD.
But if you want your private space, AC or other amenities, go for the more expensive options. The couple I stayed with complained that everything but the hostel was sold out by the time they tried to book. So be sure to make a reservation once you know your travel dates.
As for food, there’s a cafeteria with scheduled lunch, dinner and breakfast times. The food, of course, is going to be considerably pricier than what you’d find in the city, but it’s not that bad.
One thing I would recommend, though, is to bring your own snacks from town. They sell snacks at headquarters but it’s all processed sugary stuff. If you want something simple like nuts, you need to bring your own.