We review the best luxury hotels in Langkawi, Malaysia. Choose between Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, which we loved when we stayed there, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Ritz-Carlton Langkawi, St. Regis Langkawi, Tanjung Rhu, The Andaman Langkawi, The Danna Langkawi, The Datai Langkawi, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, and Vivanta Rebak Island.
Langkawi is located on the northwest coast of Peninsula Malaysia, close to the Thai border, Langkawi is a mystical island of wild scenic beauty and aquamarine seas. It is the largest in an archipelago of 104 islands scattered across the Andaman Sea, separated from the mainland by the Straits of Malacca.
Tourists visit the dense jungle, fascinating wildlife, centuries-old limestone caves, majestic waterfalls, and white sand beaches. As Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO Geopark, the geology and ecology are guaranteed to astound.
Langkawi is actually an archipelago of 100 islands, 30 km offshore in the Andaman Sea. The majority of travelers will stay on the large Langkawi Island, where the majority of the area’s 750 hotels are located.
I have compiled a list below containing the best luxury hotels in Langkawi, Malaysia. I list the hotels that I consider to be the best of the best. I will be reviewing each of these hotels in detail so that you know what you’ll get if you book a stay.
1. The Datai Langkawi
The Datai Langkawi (pictured above) is just 30 minutes from Langkawi International Airport, and we think this is currently the best luxury hotel in Langkawi. With its tropical rainforest setting and secluded, white sand beach on the Andaman Sea, The Datai Langkawi provides the ultimate escape.
Choose from several room styles, including the luxurious Beach Villas, which feature separate living areas that flow effortlessly into a lush, enclosed outdoor garden, complete with a rain shower and 32-foot private swimming pool. Make time for treatments at The Datai Spa. Later, savor Thai specialties along with rainforest and ocean views at The Pavilion, local curry, and Indian specialties in a superb setting at The Gulai House, or a mix of Malaysian and Western cuisines at The Dining Room.
2. Ritz-Carlton Langkawi
Ritz-Carlton hotels almost always offer the best club lounge in a city or a resort, usually with at least 5 food offerings a day, and the food is great! None of your snacks and continental breakfast. Ritz-Carlton breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the real deal and are of excellent quality. The volume is enough to fill you up, too.
Sadly, although Ritz-Carlton Langkawi is undoubtedly one of the best luxury hotels in Langkawi, it is one of the few Ritz-Carlton hotels that does not have a club lounge.
With its rainforest location and authentic experiences, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, specializes in the extraordinary. Step into a world where luxury takes the form of contemporary style infused with elements of nature and tradition. Here, you are as apt to explore the jungle as you are to indulge in fine cuisine or entrust your heart’s desire to the enchanted Walkway of Wishes. Additional amenities at this five-star Langkawi resort include:
- Accommodation with rainforest views
- Private pools in the villas
- The island’s only overwater spa
- Three pools, including a beachfront pool
- Four distinctive dining experiences
- Locally inspired activities
- Ritz Kids program
- Pillar-less Grand Ballroom
- VIP Salon and other meeting venues
- A selected number of soft drinks from the in-room Honor Bar replenished daily
- No executive club lounge
Book a stay here with our luxury travel concierge for extra benefits in addition to your usual Marriott Bonvoy status benefits and points.
3. The St. Regis Langkawi
Lavish is the word at The St. Regis Langkawi. How else to describe the exquisite overwater restaurant, KayuPuti, or the colossal Sunset Royal Villa with tempered glass floor panels in the living room?
Of course, the other 88 accommodations are equally elegant, with mahogany flooring, rainfall showers, and balconies that open to the jungle or Andaman Sea (and several include private plunge pools). The resort sits close to Malaysia’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, offering ample opportunities for nature walks and watersports. Reflect upon a Bespoke Ritual before a traditional massage at Iridium Spa.
4. Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
Flanked by tropical rainforest, limestone cliffs, and the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea and tucked away within a UNESCO World Geopark, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi’s Malay-style pavilions and villas offer both quiet, romantic havens for lovebirds as well as versatile family-oriented retreats.
The Four Seasons is located on the quieter northern side of the island, along a mile-long sandy beach in beautifully landscaped gardens. The resort feels secluded, yet the airport is only 25 minutes away, and the hotel is a short boat ride from the Klim Karst conservation area, where you can spot macaque monkeys, sea otters, and the unique walking mudskipper fish.
Four Seasons Langkawi is partly in the numbers. 48 acres and 91 rooms. A heck of a lot of beaches and very few people. Malaysian people are the secret ingredient. They love life (and especially food) and take the responsibility of hospitality very seriously. They smile a lot. The staff at Four Seasons Langkawi are simply amazing when it comes to remembering how you like your coffee, your favorite wine, and where you like to sit.
The hotel offers a private hideaway for couples seeking a relaxing break at the same time as accommodating families. With just 91 rooms arranged in dispersed villas, there is plenty of space for all kinds of travelers, and I would have few concerns about being disturbed by children if you are a couple on a romantic break. The public spaces have calming, high blue walls, tranquil reflection pools, and huge green spaces, with the architecture brilliantly reflecting the Arabic and Asian history of the island. Bill Bensley has done a splendid job redesigning this luxury getaway.
Four Seasons Langkawi offers all the services expected from a 5-star resort hotel. Three restaurants, bars, a spa, gym, tennis courts, water sports, and swimming pools, including an adults-only quiet pool with private cabanas. We love the pool-side service with mini treats such as frozen watermelon, and strawberry smoothie offered every 30 minutes or so. There are a few nice surprises, like the complimentary bike hire (48 acres, remember) and the ping-pong tables.
Even the entry-level room, the Pavilion room on the ground floor, is large with great amenities. Whilst officially the room is 68 m², it feels larger with a spacious bedroom, huge bathroom complete with a walk-in wardrobe, and outdoor spaces at the front (sun-loungers, table, and chairs overlooking the gardens) and rear (outdoor jacuzzi and shower in a walled garden). The super-comfy Four Seasons bed ensured we slept soundly, waking to enjoy the plentiful hot water, unique toiletries, and fresh coffee from the Nespresso machine. Soaking in the outdoor jacuzzi under the stars with an after-dinner glass of champagne (helpfully, a half bottle is included in the minibar) is the perfect end to the day!
Wake up with a morning swim in your plunge pool before enjoying breakfast on the deck, then head out to explore the mysterious mangrove forests, winding rivers, and ancient sea stacks that create our unique landscape. Find some balance at The Geo Spa, then sit down for authentic Malay cuisine at Ikan-Ikan before toasting the spectacular, jewel-tone sunset with a cocktail at Rhu Bar. Tomorrow, there will be even more wonders to see.
Four Seasons Resort Langkawi is one of the best hotels in Langkawi.
5. The Andaman Langkawi
This luxury beach resort has incredible wildlife and is nestled in a 10-million-year-old rainforest on an island bay off Peninsular Malaysia’s northwest coast.
A 50-minute taxi ride that ends in a sloping drive down through the jungle will get you to the hotel, which sits in a high-sided bay. The open-air reception area looks out upon distant islands, and there’s a large lagoon-style swimming pool and an excellent, award-winning spa to enjoy.
All rooms are sea-facing, though some have better views than others. Deluxe rooms are spacious but only have Romeo & Juliette balconies, which are too small to sit out, while the others have larger seating areas and are the ones to pick.
The Andaman is often the fifth hotel to be considered by the luxury traveler in Langkawi. The hotel is very close to the Datai and shares a similarly excellent beach, but the hotel itself is not “real luxury” like the best hotels featured in this review, which is reflected in the price.
Rooms at The Andaman can be dated and small, and there are reports of bits and pieces needing fixing (and them not being fixed immediately). The reception staff can apparently be slow and clueless on occasion. All that said, this is a great hotel for families looking for a cheaper hotel with a fantastic pool area and a good beach. The monkeys in and around the property are fun, although the kids club has rather unmotivated staff. While this hotel is not comparable to the true luxury options, it is around half and sometimes as little as a third of the price, so offers a cheap bargain on Langkawi.
6. The Danna Langkawi
Located on the marina surrounded by yachts, The Danna mixes luxury with British colonialism. The Danna is located right by the cable car to the Skybridge, Langkawi’s main attraction, and near the main beach, so you are well located for some island exploration.
The rooms are modern with a colonial feel. Four-poster beds, big windows, and balconies look over the water and the beach, which feels more Mediterranean than Asian. The hotel boasts the largest pool on the island, layered over three tiers. This is perhaps one of the best hotels in Langkawi if you are looking to enjoy sailing, fishing, and other water activities or if you want to feel close to the sea rather than the beach.
This hotel is a great hotel for families with kids because of its enormous infinity pool and games room, but also because it’s near some of the island’s most popular attractions, from zip-wiring through the jungle to riding the Langkawi cable car.
7. Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa
Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa mixes with ethnicity and sits on the shore of Cenang Beach with a full kilometer of white sandy beach. A variety of suites and rooms each offer comfortable beds, opulent amenities, and views of the lush scenery out every window.
There are two beautiful pools with slides for the kids and drinking and dining right by the beach. The fragrant spa is built with all-natural materials using lots of dark wood, and there’s a sea-view fitness suite with a steam room and sauna. Children have their own small waterpark and even a petting zoo with animals.
8. The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa is one of your best Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Langkawi and is a Rewards Hotel Category: 5 hotel if you want to redeem loyalty points for your stay.
Nestled on a pristine beach by the Andaman Sea, this family-friendly resort places you near Langkawi Jetty Point for weekend excursions to the mainland. Walkthrough iconic Eagle Square or stroll through the tropical gardens at Lagenda Park. After you’ve explored the Kuah area in Langkawi, eat at one of their many on-site restaurants, serving authentic island cuisine and international favorites. Treat yourself to a luxury service at the award-winning Heavenly Spa by Westin™ or relax in your spacious suite or villa with views of the ocean. Refresh your spirit by the sea in Langkawi.
9. Vivanta Rebak Island
Vivanta Rebak Island sits on a small private island off the main Langkawi Island and is only accessible by boat. This is the only hotel in Langkawi that sits on a private island, although it’s easily connected to Pantai Cenang, where the boats depart every hour for a short ride.
Imagine being on your very own private island. Where the blue Andaman Sea flirts with the secluded beaches and vibrant jungles across 390 acres of discovery. This island has a tropical climate, stunning rock formations, and a lush forest that goes back 100 million years.
This 5-star resort in Langkawi is kissed by crystal clear waters that teem with marine life, making it perfect for exciting water sports and recreational activities. This exclusive resort offers spacious and elegant chalets in beautifully landscaped grounds.
Get there by taking a 20-minute taxi ride to Port Cenang from the Langkawi airport and then take the 2-kilometer speedboat ride to the resort.
The disadvantage of this hotel is that it’s right under the flight path of the planes landing at Langkawi Airport, so it can be noisy. The rooms at the Vivanta are rattan chic. The beach is beautiful. This is a true island escape if you don’t mind the occasional plane overhead.
10. Tanjung Rhu
if you want to get away from it all, Tanjung Rhu is another great choice in Langkawi. This five-star resort is on its own secluded beach on the island’s north coast. It is a little cheaper than most of the hotels featured above, but it has everything you’d expect of a five-star hotel: a spa, a handful of restaurants and pools, and a beach so pretty that it’s regularly used for advertising shoots. if you are looking for romance, book one of the private dinners on the sand.
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