5-Star Hotels in Kedah, Malaysia

First, the pros: This hotel faces the sea and is backed by mountains, with every room being an independent bungalow (some are connecting rooms, two make up one bungalow). Each bungalow is nestled in the rainforest or perched over the sea. It truly feels wild; we saw dusky leaf monkeys and hornbills from our balcony, and large monitor lizards and colugos near our door and on the way to the restaurant. The mini-bar is all-inclusive, and yes, there's beer! Langkawi SkyCab is within walking distance. Now for the cons: 1> There are various types of sea-view rooms, but not many offer great views from higher up the hill. Most sea-view rooms have their views obstructed by the first row of overwater bungalows (we stayed in room 1239, see photo). It might be better value to book an overwater bungalow directly. 2> The bedding in the room was too damp and had an odor; those with sensitive noses might find it unbearable. 3> The breakfast was genuinely unappetizing. It looked plentiful, but most dishes didn't suit Chinese palates. 4> Hotel staff use motorbikes for transport, so you're guaranteed to be woken up by motorbike noise in the morning. Dining: We tried three restaurants. I recommend the Western restaurant at B&B. For the Thai restaurant, just go for the fried rice and noodles; the Tom Yum Goong and curries were quite mediocre. A main meal typically costs 150-180 RMB per person. Additionally, I left my Bluetooth earphones at the hotel. Due to battery regulations, the hotel couldn't ship them back, so I can't comment on that service. Summary: If you're looking for a relaxing experience immersed in the sea and rainforest, go for it. If you're particular about room details and hygiene, you might want to reconsider. I'd suggest booking a luxurious overwater bungalow or suite, or a more affordable rainforest room. Avoid the sea-view rooms, as getting a good view there is a gamble.

Very good location - able to check out nearby Cenang Mall and Night markets. Grab was easy to get as well, pickup and drop off was straightforward. Breakfast could be hit or miss - meats were relatively rough, curry and oriental food were good. Facilities were great for families, there is a Kids club, outdoor playground (shaded) and activity room. The only gripe I had with the hotel was cleanliness. There is a musky smell from the pillows and toilet/bath area. True enough, I woke up with an allergic reaction (puffy eyes and face) the first morning I was there. This was quickly resolved by asking for pillow change. However this was still not what I expected from the hotel, given its wonderful reputation.

Our family of three chose a two-bedroom suite, and it was incredibly spacious and comfortable. I highly recommend this place to friends and family visiting Langkawi. The facilities are new, the location is excellent, and it's fully equipped with everything you could need, including a steam oven and all sorts of kitchen utensils, all brand new. The best part is that the staff cleans the dishes for you the next day! The front desk staff during check-in was exceptionally helpful and accommodating; they even allowed us to pay the deposit in USD instead of Malaysian Ringgit. The doormen were always quick to open doors for us when we entered and exited. At checkout, multiple staff members from the lobby came out to bid us farewell, making us feel like cherished friends – it made me incredibly eager to return and visit them again. The staff's high level of professionalism and quality service really impressed me; this hotel is incredibly well-managed, and I felt everyone's smiles and kindness. The location is truly fantastic; you can walk to the commercial street, bars, and restaurants. We just asked how to get to the beach, and a staff member immediately drove us there in a small bus. I was genuinely moved by their staff's dedication.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the Westin Langkawi. The environment and service were excellent. The breakfast staff remembered our names and preferences every morning, and proactively helped us find a sea-view table by the window. The hotel's ecosystem is great, with many monkeys appearing in the evening. The main pool has an amazing view, and there's a very private adult pool near The St. Regis. The beachfront Tide restaurant has a wonderful ambiance, especially beautiful in the evening, and the staff are very enthusiastic. Sitting in the semi-indoor, semi-outdoor area, enjoying the 'blue hour' and delicious food, was incredibly pleasant, though it did get a bit warm later on. The downsides are that the room facilities are a bit old and the bathroom is small, but it was generally clean and tidy, so it was still acceptable. The hotel design is very good; rooms on both sides of the main building can directly access the breakfast restaurant, and a short flight of stairs leads to the lobby. Stepping outside immediately takes you to the path to the pool. Overall, the stay was satisfying. The hotel's location is convenient, and it's easy to get to Kuah Town for island hopping.

After arriving at Langkawi Airport, it only took about ten minutes to drive to the hotel, which was much closer than I expected. I was initially worried that being so close to the airport would mean noise, but I slept soundly every night and wasn't bothered by planes at all. The lobby is spacious and grand. There are two restaurants, Chinese and Western, located next to each other. The Western restaurant offers excellent sea views, and the Chinese restaurant has a wide variety of dishes. There are two swimming pools, and my kids loved them so much they spent half the day just splashing around. The hotel also has a private beach with fine, white sand that's very comfortable to walk on barefoot. The seawater is clear, and you can see small shells during low tide. The rooms are in two-story buildings, with four units per building, offering plenty of space and all the necessary amenities. If you need a buggy to get around the resort, you just call, and they respond quickly; the car arrives in about 5 minutes. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay, perfect for families with children.

The hotel is well-maintained, and the breakfast is consistently good! The fishing trip was a lot of fun, caught plenty of fish. However, I'd recommend booking the mangrove tour elsewhere (the hotel's mangrove tour didn't feature any bats). The beach is very clean, but there aren't many small creatures (like hermit crabs...). The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful. Choosing this hotel for our anniversary was definitely the right decision. All in all, it truly is one of Langkawi's top hotels.

The staff's attitude was generally good. Turndown service was provided in the evening, and there were welcome fruits. Since it was the Easter holiday, they even specially gifted chocolates shaped like bunnies and Easter eggs, along with a handwritten card which felt very ceremonial! The only area for improvement would be the restaurant's food, as the breakfast selection was quite limited.

The room was spacious and very clean. The turndown service was incredibly thoughtful and detailed. The hotel's landscaping is beautiful, and despite being in a rainforest, they've done an excellent job with mosquito and insect control. The breakfast offered a great variety. If I visit Langkawi again, I would definitely book this place.

The hotel's private beach was very clean and quiet. However, our family room had multiple patched-up water leaks on the ceiling, and the wallpaper was damp and peeling. The most concerning issue was a large clump above the headboard, at the junction of the ceiling and wall, which occasionally dropped small particles onto the bed. The hotel promptly addressed it, explaining it was a termite nest. They were very apologetic and offered a complimentary dinner. Still, it was quite worrying for a family traveling with children. Most of our meals were at the Sands restaurant, which had quite a few flies. We had to constantly swat them away during our meals. Hygiene definitely needs improvement. Most of the staff were friendly. Overall, the experience was okay, but many aspects could be better.

We had a wonderfully relaxing stay at The Danna Langkawi, and what really stood out was the team’s attentiveness. We had a very minor hiccup early on in our room, and the staff couldn’t have been more responsive and caring in how they handled it. They initially offered us a room change, which we politely declined since we were already settled in. But they followed up with us again, and ended up surprising us with an upgrade to a room with a beautiful sea and pool view, such a thoughtful gesture that we really weren’t expecting. Breakfast was great, the grounds were beautiful, and the whole stay felt calm and unwinding. It’s little touches like this that make a hotel memorable. We definitely felt well taken care of throughout our trip.