A private beach at Datai
Cover A private beach at Datai

A list of fine vacation abodes to elevate your holiday experience

Does a quick getaway beyond the four walls of your home sound heavenly? Check into one of these luxury hotels in Langkawi that offer enough distractions that you won't feel the need to leave its confines for a socially distanced vacation.

See also: New Boutique Hotel Takes Up Residence at Lee Rubber Building

The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi

Tatler Asia
Villa Kenari at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
Above Villa Kenari at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi

WHAT: One of the most prestigious names in luxury hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is a sprawling beachside resort with 70 guest rooms, 15 suites and 29 villas, yet it feels intimate and cosy surrounded by such incredibly lush nature. It's located along the quiet stretch of Pantai Kok, a short distance away from the Langkawi Skybridge Cable Car—which also means you have Langkawi's highest peak Gunung Machinchang as your neighbour. 

WHY: Voted by Condé Nast's readers as one of the Top 5 Resorts in Asia in 2019, it overlooks the Andaman Sea with the lush rainforest in the back. The villas are quite literally their own sanctuaries. For instance, Villa Kenari boasts a 25m private pool with a deck overlooking Burau Bay. For added privacy, opt for Villa Mutiara, accessible via a bridge over a mangrove lagoon, and comes with its own private beach.

Pampering is elevated at the over-the-water spa pavilions shaped like a birdcage. Signature treatments are inspired by local traditions, such as the Mandi Bunga Ritual with indigenous herbs and flowers that are believed to dispel bad energy.

DID YOU KNOW? Upon arrival, you will make your way across the Walkway of Wishes where you can write down your wish on a stone and place it in a fountain filled with water from the legendary Lake of the Pregnant Maiden located on a nearby island. We cannot guarantee your wish will come true but it sets that escapist tone for the rest of your stay.

See also: The Coolest Hotel Pools In Malaysia

The St. Regis Langkawi

Tatler Asia
Sunset Royal Villa at The St. Regis Langkawi
Above Sunset Royal Villa at The St. Regis Langkawi

WHAT: A luxury abode close to island's main town of Kuah, The St. Regis Langkawi has all the trappings you've come to expect from the brand—think intuitive butler service, sublimely appointed accommodations, the sabering of champagne in the evening (a tradition that dates back to the early 1900s)—set in an idyllic corner of the island with a gorgeous sunset to boot. 

WHY: A hotel stay really doesn't get any more luxurious than the Sunset Royal Villa, hovering over the sea with a view of a series of islands in the horizon, including the famous Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden). The four-bedroom villa is designed to be tropical haven with its own clear tempered glass flooring in the living room looking into the water below—so you can also enjoy the outdoor inside.

No stay here is complete without a meal at Kayupati, a Bill Bensley-designed restaurant that takes advantage of its on-the-sea location with floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining area. Here's a tip: Come sundown, grab a spot (and a cocktail) on its sundeck to enjoy a truly spectacular sunset. 

DID YOU KNOW? The entrance to Kayuputi is made up of a century-old wooden door from the Dutch embassy in Yangon. 

See also: These 6 Restaurants & Bars Across Malaysia Have The Best Views

The Datai Langkawi

Tatler Asia
Rainforest Villa pool at The Datai Langkawi
Above Rainforest Villa pool at The Datai Langkawi

WHAT: The Datai is a destination in its own right. Perched on the edge of Datai Bay about 30km from the airport, it is enveloped in the lushness of an ancient rainforest, with sounds and sights that soothe the soul.

WHY: Its privacy, for one; it even comes with its own private beach and a sea calm enough for a leisurely swim. And then there is the view from the lobby at the top of the hill, looking out to the bay; it will make you stand still for a few moments to drink in the amazing sight.

If you're one of those who enjoy being close to nature, book one of the rainforest villas raised on stilts with their own private lap pools. Imagine waking up to the sounds of the jungle with a gurgling stream cutting through—bliss!

DID YOU KNOW? It's located near the award-winning The Els Club Teluk Datai, designed by legendary golf player Ernie Els.

See also: The Best Golf Courses In Malaysia

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi

WHAT: Another property designed by the renowned Bill Bensley, Four Seasons Langkawi in Tanjung Rhu stretches across 48 acres of land with a mile-long beach with the whitest sand you could possibly find on the island. Accommodations come in the form of pavilions (with separate lower and upper levels) or villas, spread a distance away from one another to ensure privacy. 

WHY: Aside from the fact that it's a well-designed resort on a beautiful ground, there's plenty to do here, whether it is exploring its vastness on a bicycle, taking in a game of beach volleyball, or stretching out by the whisper-quiet adult pool with a book. One of the top activities here is a guided tour to the protected mangrove forest nearby where you can learn why Unesco has named Langkawi one of its Global Geoparks.

DID YOU KNOW? In Crazy Rich Asians, Araminta Lee's bachelorette party was filmed at Four Seasons Langkawi. 

See also: 6 Stunning Beaches In Malaysia To Visit In 2021

Temple Tree

WHAT: Temple Tree consists of charming historical houses repurposed into comfortable rooms for travellers, located just around the corner from the bustling Pantai Cenang.

WHY: For a uniquely Malaysian stay, you can't go wrong with Temple Tree that boasts eight historical buildings relocated from all over Malaysia to this site and lovingly restored. Each is named after the state they come from such as Negeri Sembilan House, Johor House, and Penang House, or the purpose it was built for, like Plantation House (formerly a two-storey Malay artisan's dwelling), Estate House (used to house workers at a rubber estate), and Colonial House (built by Arab goldsmith traders in Penang). 

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