The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa is truly one of the island’s most ideal resort as its location is pretty perfect. With its own private beachfront facing the pristine Andaman Sea, yet remaining very near to Kuah town, it really has the best of both worlds. Do read about my earlier stays in this splendid resort here and here.
We never fail to be impressed with The Westin’s warm welcome, starting with the grand pickup at Langkawi Airport itself. Riding in classy comfort – in a BMW 7-Series no less, we wished the smooth ride had been longer! Check-in was a breeze and before long, we were whisked away to our lovely Private Pool Villa. We have stayed in different abodes in our previous visits (and they were all great!) but we really loved the setup in this villa. I mean, just look…
The road leading to the Private Villas
Our villa
There’s a kitchenette, dining table, plush living area, 42” flatscreen tv and of course that superb king-sized Heavenly Bed, not to mention the gorgeous bathroom and that incomparable view from our window!
The private pool capped the luxury in this villa – we could soak there for hours gazing out at the azure Andaman Sea.
And then there’s the Heavenly Spa, of course. It’s the ultimate pampering – to do nothing but just give in to the magical hands of the therapists as they worked on our tense muscles. Pampering sessions can be had either at the spa and even on the beach!
The ultimate pampering!
This time round, we dined only at the resort’s signature restaurant – Seasonal Tastes and Tide, their cosmopolitan restaurant. Besides the sumptuous food, both restaurants fete guests with some of the most stunning views of the ocean.
Breakfast at Seasonal Tastes is a must. This restaurant serves one of the best breakfast buffets on the island. Local temptations, Asian favourites and the regular western dishes are all available, together with lots of fresh fruits and salads for a healthy touch.
Breakfast at Seasonal Tastes is always exciting and must not be missed!
At Tide, we just had to try their fresh daily catch of seafood, all caught by local fishermen.
THE WESTIN LANGKAWI RESORT & SPA
Jalan Pantai Dato Syed Omar
07000 Langkawi
Kedah
Tel: +604-960-8888
Website:
http://www.westinlangkawi.com/
Although we were reluctant to leave our cosy villa, we decided to checkout some of the island’s cool spots. Driving one of The Westin’s Mini Cooper, we took a leisurely drive through the island’s tropical roads to Smiling Buffalo which reputedly served some of the best coffee in Langkawi. This rustic laid-back cafe is located within the boutique chalets of Panji Panji. We enjoyed our latte made from freshly ground coffee beans and waffles in this al fresco cafe amidst leafy trees.
SMILING BUFFALO
Panji Panji
965 Kuala Cenang
07000 Langkawi, Malaysia
+6 017-3643319
www.facebook.com/Smilingbuffalocafe
Get some Laksa Power and slurp it up at the beach!
Nasi Dagang is an East Coast specialty and Langkawi is not known as the home of nasi dagang. But one man has made this a must-eat item in Langkawi and that’s Pak Malau. Nasi Dagang Pak Malau has become something of an institution here – the place looks like a postcard of rural Malaysia.
Located beside picturesque rice fields and not far from Makam Mahsuri, the open-air eatery is Instagrammable from every angle. Menu-wise, there are just a few dishes and mind you, these can sell-out early. Most people come here for breakfast or brunch. When we were here just after 12 noon, only the Kari Ikan Tongkol was left and some beef curry gravy. Nevertheless, we drenched these onto the slightly-chewy fragrant rice and polished off everything clean. I swear the fresh air, splendid views and the “kampung” vibes had something to do with our hyped-up appetites there!
NASI DAGANG PAK MALAU
Jalan Makam Mahsuri
Kampung Mawar
07000 Langkawi
Open: 8am – 2pm (closed on Monday)
This was truly a staycation with a difference. Not only did we get to be pampered at the lap of luxury at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, thanks to the resort, we also got to experience a few scenic dining spots on the island. We will be back, for sure!