Langkawi
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
As Langkawi increases in popularity, accommodation options, from affordable guesthouses through to luxury resorts, have multiplied. Selections are now diverse enough to suit every possible budget as well as personal preference, ranging from a sunny beachside bungalow to a jungle hideaway. Here's a round up of our pick of the bunch, from tiny budget to budget busting and simple through to... Read our full review of Great places to stay on Langkawi.
Pantai Cenang is Langkawi's most popular beach. Stretching two kilometres along Jalan Pantai Cenang, this beach resort area offers a bit of everything: mid- to high-priced beachfront hotels, driftwood-constructed beach bars, bistros and restaurants offering seafood and delicacies from many international cuisines. There are spas, markets, clothing shops and of course duty-free offerings to temp you to part with your tourist ringgit. The inland side of this main thoroughfare and just behind it is where you'll find most of the more inexpensive and backpacker lodgings and perhaps a respite from bustle of the beachfront.
Tucked away amid a century-old coconut plantation and bordered by wetlands, Bon Ton Resort Langkawi began as a seafood restaurant 20 years ago and has slowly evolved into a rather special place to stay. Eight traditional wooden Malay kampung houses and a Chinese provisions shop have been added over the years, creating a kampung-like setting for the popular resort. Traditional tropical... Read our full review of Bon Ton Resort Langkawi.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
This relatively new cement building with a spiffy paint job looks a bit out of place in this part of Pantai Cenang, but the right on the beach location and price tag make for an excellent beachside option. The basic rooms are clean and well maintained in addition to having flat screen TVs and both fan-cooled and air-con flavours are available. Across the street is an unnamed eatery that serves... Read our full review of Cenang Rest House.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
Located on the south end of Cenang beach just a stone's throw from Underwater World, Delta Motel is nestled beneath the tall trees and tropical gardens that border the beach. The 45 rooms and chalets all have small verandas, many with beach views. Most of the rooms have TV, air-con, attached bath with hot showers and a minibar. Breakfast is included and served at the beachside restaurant, which... Read our full review of Delta Motel & Restaurant.
Hands down the most unique accommodation choice in Langkawi is Tubotel, whose catchphrase is, “Don’t be square!” Located just north of the entrance to Pantai Cenang at the end of Jetty Pelancongan Cenang, this colourful curiosity has a prime waterfront location offering rooms at guesthouse prices.The colourful ambiance of your private drainage pipe awaits.The rooms are cocoon-like... Read our full review of Tubotel Langkawi.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
This monster motel gleaming in peach with unmistakable red rooftops operates on both sides of the road. A newer building sits right on the main road and opens up onto the beach, while the cheapest rooms are housed across the road in newly re-modelled buildings. The rooms are all of same standard, the difference is that there's either one double bed and a single bed or two double beds in each... Read our full review of AB Motel.
The Amzar Motel is located right on Jalan Pantai Cenang and has a wide variety of room options. In the newer building the simply furnished but clean and neat rooms have TV, air-con, hot showers and some include a mini-fridge. The seaside is just a short walk across the street. The more basic fan rooms and chalets all have TV and attached bath. While the Amzar certainly won't be featured in Decor... Read our full review of Amzar Motel.
Gecko Guesthouse is one of the original backpacker-type guesthouses in Langkawi’s Pantai Cenang. It’s conveniently located a short walk from Jalan Pantai Cenang, the main thoroughfare that runs parallel to Cenang Beach seaside. Originally built in the early 1990s, it was purchased by its present proprietor in 2003 and upgraded, yet has kept its old beach-style charm. Gecko’s... Read our full review of Gecko Guest House.
Finding a Pantai Cenang beachfront hotel at affordable prices becomes more challenging as Langkawi’s popularity grows, but one hotel that has managed to survive the times without a massive rate hike is Langkapura Inn. With rooms starting at 140 ringgit and having Pantai Cenang as its front yard, this is a flashpacker winner. Some of the rooms in the original hotel are a bit on the smallish... Read our full review of Langkapuri Inn.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
The Malibest Resort is easy to recognise from the beach by its wooded treetop chalets, which place you above the long stretch of sandy beach. The other rooms are in low buildings along the beach and just inland. With 92 rooms there's a wide variety of accommodation here all with satellite TV, air-con and ensuite baths with hot showers. All the rooms are clean and comfortable, some with wooden... Read our full review of Malibest Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Thanks to its year-to-year upgrades and remodelling, the Melati Tanjung Motel has a variety of room styles and interior designs to choose from. It's sort of a 'Legoland' of chalets, brick buildings and beachfront verandas and a popular choice with Western tourists as the motel opens up onto the beach in a very busy part of Cenang. Here you're just a few lazy steps into beach bars, cheapish... Read our full review of Melati Tanjung Motel.
One of the few Langkawi resorts that front the most pristine stretch of white sandy beach in Pantai Cenang, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort takes the luxury five-star cake. If you’ve got the cash, this is a reasonable deal for its pricepoint, with a great location as well as style and space. Located on a stretch of property at the beginning of Pantai Cenang across from the picturesque Laman... Read our full review of Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
At the northern end of Pantai Cenang set amid swaying palms, motel-style Senari Bay Resort is somewhat camouflaged by a fairly mediocre facade. But beyond their nondescript gravel parking lot and reception area lays basic and affordable waterfront bliss. Cosy and quiet at Senari Bay Resort. The spacious grounds themselves are hard packed white sand, shaded by towering palms and other trees and... Read our full review of Senari Bay Resort.
Soluna Guest House is the new kid on the block among the guesthouses in Langkawi’s Pantai Cenang. Recently opened, this secluded little rural hideaway surrounded by coconut palms is tucked behind the Laman Padi Museum and is a great budget choice that is only going to improve as the tropical gardens start to flourish.The enviable main house.Passing through the blue gates, the first thing... Read our full review of Soluna Guest House.
In Langkawi’s ever-changing Pantai Cenang, more and more hotels are being built or remodelled, each vying for sea views as taller structures emerge. With their feet firmly planted in the ground, however, The Cabin is a simple accommodation option with a low price tag worth considering if you’re on a budget. At 150 ringgit a night, these quirky spacious twin and double bed rooms are a steal... Read our full review of The Cabin.
Pantai Tengah, the smaller of Langkawi's two most popular beaches, offers a wide choice of places to stay. Along the beach, with the exception of Charlie's Place, are the large beachfront resorts. On the inland side of the main road is where you'll find small but upscale boutique hotels, guesthouses and homestays, which contribute to the more bohemian feel of Pantai Tengah. Many places, like La Pari-Pari and Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat, are tucked away from the road and offer a more off beach but serene experience.
Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat was designed around its natural surrounds, disturbing as little as possible. There are two two-bedroom chalets and six individual studios available. Looking out the tall windows into the rainforest canopy guests can observe monkeys, birds and other wildlife going about their daily routines in the upper branches of the trees. Nature lovers will adore the serenity... Read our full review of Ambong-Ambong Rainforest Retreat.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
La Pari Pari is a popular haven for those seeking the quiet respite of laidback Pantai Tengah. Although located slightly inland from the main thoroughfare, they are just a 15-minute walk from the seaside as well as the livelier Pantai Cenang scene. La Pari Pari’s 1.5 acre tropical setting is worth dodging the odd mud puddle to reach. Bringing a touch of the ethereal to the island of... Read our full review of La Pari-Pari.
Villa Molek Langkawi Resort, Langkawi consists of 12 private villas plus one traditional Malay house located just off a quiet stretch of Jalan Teluk Baru, behind L'Osteria Restaurant. The villas each offer an air-con bedroom, shower and bathroom, kitchenettes with refrigerator, as well as a living-dining area and private terrace. The intimate grounds are relaxing and very quiet; the... Read our full review of Villa Molek Langkawi Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
This new budget hotel is rather appealing with its trendy modern design and easy 10-minute walk to the beach. The standard and superior rooms each have a choice of twin or double beds and enough walking space to be considered 'roomy'. The additional TV, air-con and laundry service make these simple yet fresh rooms quite a comfy budget option. Overlooking an almost scenic grassy field, their large... Read our full review of Favehotel Cenang Beach.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
The new Langkawi Cactus Inn raises the bar in Langkawi’s Pantai Tengah by providing lots of perks at an affordable price. Their nine sparkling new rooms include two family rooms that can comfortably sleep up to five people and six standard rooms, perfect for single or duo travellers — and they’re just a 10-minute walk away from the beach. Although general floor space may be minimal in... Read our full review of Langkawi Cactus Inn.
This tucked away beachfront hotel is located on the least congested end of Jalan Pantai Cenang as it nears the T-junction connection to Jalan Pantai Tengah. Look for the etched and weathered concrete sign on the side of the main road and you will find the resort beneath the towering trees. As you enter the traditional Malay-style reception and lounge area, you’ll see a gateway opening into a... Read our full review of Sunset Beach Resort .
( Read more on Agoda.com )
With their motto ‘Love Green, Love Nature’, Tstar Cottage delivers the goods by offering budget travellers white-sand beaches, surround-sound nature and even some wildlife smack dab in the middle of the Pantai Tengah’s seaside action. Set away from the main thoroughfare, the lush surrounding gardens should offer enough quiet and scenic privacy to keep low-maintenance backpackers... Read our full review of Tstar Cottage.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
Zackry Guest House off Panta Tengah is a 27-room guesthouse set in a hodge-podge cluster of buildings down towards the end of Jalan Pantai Tengah. The small pool to the left and the duck pond to right add to Zackry’s eclectic ambiance. As you arrive you walk down a short drive to the main reception area ; it’s hard to discern that it’s a reception area, but the building indeed houses... Read our full review of Zackry Guest House.
( Read more on Booking.com )
Jalan Datai is just off of Jalan Teluk Yu on the western side of the island. This area rises from the Kubang Padak River valley and meanders its way along the north coast at the edge of the mountains where they meet the Andaman Sea. There are only two options, both five-star resorts that climb the slope of the mountains from the beach along Datai Bay.
The lobby area of the Datai is nestled among the rainforest foliage high above the beach. Wildlife can be seen at most times during the day, including monkeys, exotic birds and large monitor lizards, and the air is filled with the sounds of their chattering. This five-star resort offers you, in addition to the pristine beach, several restaurants, a spa, pools and a bar looking over the Andaman... Read our full review of The Datai Langkawi .
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
This area lies near Telaga Harbor, the Panorama Cable Car and the core area of the UNESCO-supported Geopark. Accommodation highlights in the area include the Berjaya and a rather funky Geopark Hotel and backpacker/flashpacker spot in Oriental Village.
One of Langkawi’s most luxurious options, waterside The Danna offers colonial-era style with a tropical estate feel and boasts the island’s biggest swimming pool. If you’re looking for a serious splurge, this is one hotel to put on your shortlist. The elegant arrival portal. From the outside, intricate wrought iron balcony railings add to a sophisticated look that is both subtle and... Read our full review of The Danna.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
This long stretch of white-sand beach runs along the north shore of Langkawi and overlooks the islands of Thailand that float off in the distance. This area offers a variety of accommodation, from small locally-run guesthouses through to two five-star resorts. This beach is amazingly underdeveloped and is often all but deserted, however a new watersports company now offers banana boat rides, jet-skis and parasailing.
Langkawi’s relatively undeveloped Tanjung Rhu area has a stretch of sandy shoreline perfect for travellers seeking some quiet patch of seaside to call their own. Although the majority of accommodation in this area tends to be in the four or five star category, Tanjung Puteri Motel, sitting on a headland overlooking a secluded stretch of beach should keep budget travellers happy. Just a... Read our full review of Tanjung Puteri Motel.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
While most visitors opt to stay on one of Langkawi's beaches, accommodation is available in Kuah town as well. There are quite a few choices in a variety of price ranges here. Many of the new but inexpensive hotels are located in Pekan Rabu and the Langkawi Mall (the older shopping district on the main road past the central traffic lights).
This is one of the best-value deals in Kuah town. Though situated further away from the town centre on Jalan Kalibang, it's a little gem. The Resort has 71 chalets situated on the grounds behind the lobby and an on-site restaurant. All the chalets have king-size beds, mini-bar, hot water showers and air-con. There's a large swimming pool, children's pool and playground. The Thai/Malay and Western... Read our full review of The Twin Peaks Island Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Located on the seafront across the canal from Wonderland Restaurant is Bella Vista Resort. The large castle-like resort is in the heart of the Kuah waterfront and offers a variety of accommodation with four-star amenities. The unique architectural design of this rather out-of-place looking hotel is worthy of an Instagram moment at the very least. Rooms have a very modern European starkness with... Read our full review of Bella Vista Waterfront.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Langkawi’s Kuah offers plenty of accommodation options across all budgets, but those looking for a little luxury will find waterfront The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa a good choice. Picture perfect pool. Being a bit of a mishmash of old meets new, the quaint developing township of Kuah and its picturesque waterfront makes a great home for the Westin and a solid base camp splurge for... Read our full review of The Westin Resort & Spa.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
Nowadays Langkawi boasts enough budget accommodation to make camping to save money unnecessary. Nevertheless, camping options have increased as adventurous visitors look for an opportunity to sleep under the stars. Here are a few of our favourite tent-worthy spots. They don’t call this Green Valley for nothing. In Pantai Cenang, Rumours Guest House have cosy new dorms for just 25 ringgit... Read our full review of Camping on Langkawi.
If staying amid nature is a priority for you, Panorama Langkawi Country Resort may fit the bill. This newly refurbished, sprawling resort is nestled at the base of Gunung Raya and has a laidback country appeal that you won’t find elsewhere in Langkawi, with modern amenities at pretty affordable rates. Not a white plastic chair in sight. The resort’s practical architecture reflects a subtle... Read our full review of Panorama Langkawi Country Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
Cradled between the foothills of Langkawi’s 550-million-year-old Gunung Mat Cincang and the theme park setting of the Oriental Village, Geopark Hotel offers a rather special blend of diverse entertainment. With just 30 rooms and reasonable prices, Geopark Hotel is an attractive flashpacker option, especially for those with kids in tow. The bright and sunny Geopark Hotel. With dark wood... Read our full review of Geopark Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
For those seeking a traditional backpacker environment away from Langkawi’s tourist-busy beach areas, the Box Chalet inland towards Kedawang, nestled next to paddy and with a gorgeous sunset view of distant foothills, is a good choice.A little pea-pod to call your own.Located four kilometres north of the main Kedawang Road on Jalan Batu Belah, this intimate establishment is easy to miss amid... Read our full review of The Box Chalet.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Rebak Island Resort sprawls across most of privately owned Pulau Rebak, offering a diverse array of higher-end rooms and seaside suites set amid tropical, well-manicured grounds that provide a creature comfort-filled retreat from the madding crowds for individual travellers through to families. Next best thing to being there is the speed ferry panoramic shot. Pulau Rebak is one of the Langkawi... Read our full review of Rebak Island Resort (Vivanta Resort).
( Read more on Agoda.com )
The Travelfish newsletter is sent out every Monday and is jammed full of free advice for travel in Southeast Asia. You can see past issues here.