
Best Luxury Hotels in Malaysia
The iconic soaring twin Petronas Towers stand sentinel over Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, nestled among skyscrapers (which look small by comparison) and fascinating Colonial-era buildings. It’s an alluring and vibrant Southeast Asian city, quite different to the country’s dreamy coastal resorts and places of spiritual contemplation. Colourful with amazing food and warm people, Malaysia makes for a wonderfully cheery hot weather holiday, with lashings of Far Eastern culture – whether you choose to remain in the centre of the city or retreat to the stunning shoreline. Here are our favourite hotels to stay at when visiting the country.

Kedah, Kuah
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa

The lavish seaside Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa is home to the ultimate, luxury getaway for all the family. There are 221 stylish rooms, suites, and villas – ranging from two to five bedrooms – with private infinity pools on offer. The hotel is perched near a Jetty point on the Andaman Sea and facilitates a range of on-land and at-sea activities to entertain guests of all ages. First-class dining options are on hand as well as alfresco, cabana and terrace eateries. Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa has a selection of child-friendly and adult-only pools and a lush, swim-up bar to cater to guests at all times. For guests wishing to keep active, the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® fitness centre is on hand in addition to an award-winning personal trainer to get you moving. The Wellness program prioritises wellbeing and Heavenly Spa by Westin™ provides complete serenity. For young guests, there is an exciting recreation centre and kid’s club.

Kedah, Pantai Cenang
Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi

For a tropical stay that combines the luxury you crave with the ethnicity of the area, the Meritus Pelangi resort certainly delivers. Nestled along the shores of Cenang Beach, the resort boasts a full kilometre of white sandy beach. A variety of suites and rooms each offer plush bedding, opulent amenities, and views of the lush scenery out every window. Premier dining abounds throughout the resort and you can also take advantage of an exclusive spa menu, two beautiful pools, and plenty of recreational opportunities, including biking and squash.
Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi

Kedah, Kuah
The St. Regis Langkawi

This 5-star luxury hotel is found on the southern tip of the Jewel of Kedah and is the true picture of seaside paradise. With the gorgeous flora and fauna of the rainforest on one side and the sparkling blue of the Andaman Sea on the other side, this resort is one of a kind. Your sophisticated beachfront holiday is complete in any of the hotel’s 85 suites, but you can experience the island in a unique way by booking one of the four over-water villas. Premier butler service, six restaurants, an oasis like spa, and chauffeured limousine service make this opulent hotel a great choice in Langkawi.

Kedah, Pantai Kok
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi

The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is a stunning beachfront hotel comprised of deluxe rooms, suites, and villas. The hotel’s design is inspired by nature, local architecture, and indigenous art. Each room has been carefully decorated with a modern, Malaysian twist and invites guests to step into nature with a blend of natural materials and light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Panoramic views of the ocean are the Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi’s signature and allow guests to marvel at the spectacular sunsets on the island. Situated in a private bay that is home to a 10-million-year-old rainforest, you can host unforgettable functions for up to 380 guests in one of six unique, indoor, outdoor, and overwater event spaces. Tranquillity is at its finest in the hotel spa where guests can receive treatments embracing indigenous healing and beauty practices. Guests can dine out in any of the Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi’s first-class restaurants, including one adults-only lounge.

Kedah, Pantai Kok
Berjaya Langkawi Resort

The unique Berjaya Langkawi Resort features individual chalets that float above the clear waters of the Andaman Sea in addition to those which are nestled in the verdant rainforest. The dining experience in this hotel invites guests to indulge in the sumptuous flavours of Malaysia and the rest of the world with a wide range of restaurants and cuisines available. Getting to and from the airport and around the resort is made easy with the transfer and shuttle services on offer. Guests can explore the natural beauty of the archipelago thanks to a range of activities available on land and at sea – including island hopping by jet ski, a round island tour by boat and jungle trekking. Berjaya Langkawi Resort is also home to 9 event spaces to suit any occasion, including the largest ballroom in the island, which can host up to 900 persons. The hotel is home to a delightful spa, swimming pool and fitness centre.

Kedah, Pantai Cenang
PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort

Proudly included in the Pan Pacific Hotel Group’s luxury portfolio is the lavish, family-friendly PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort. The hotel hosts an array of elegantly furnished, contemporary rooms, suites and private villas overlooking blue skies and clear waters or lush, green hills. Situation along the Pantai Tengah beach and a stone’s through from Pantai Cenang where guests can marvel at the Temoyong night market every Thursday. There is a choice of two world-class restaurants where you’ll embark on an adventure full of flavour and variety in CASSIA or Lancava and a lively Ocean View Lounge provides guests with entertainment and soothing vistas. PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort is home to 24-hour business and fitness centres as well as SUASANA Spa where guests are pampered and rejuvenated in traditional Malaysian style. Children are welcome to enjoy the wonders of the Jungle Camp, swimming pools and jacuzzi while the adult-only Sky Pool delivers a calming retreat. This hotel is the ideal location for any occasion with seven high-tech function rooms and the crown jewel that is the Garden Ballroom.

Kedah, Tanjung Rhu
Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

Nestled between the rainforest and the tranquillity of Datai Bay, the Andaman has 178 luxurious rooms and suites, each outfitted in a contemporary Malaysian style. That means plush bedding, top-of-the-line amenities, and lush views of both the rainforest and the water. The resort offers premier diving opportunities in the 8,000-year-old coral reef that fringes the shores. The spa offers a one-of-a-kind menu and the nature walks organised by the resort enable you to take in everything the area has to offer. Premier dining and a lovely bar round out all the perks you can take advantage of at The Andaman.
Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection

This heritage building dates back to the 1930s and is counted among Southeast Asia’s Grande Dames. The Majestic Wing is the original, neo-classical part of the hotel with bedrooms for adults only, while the Tower Wing is its family-friendly 12-storey annexe completed in 2012. Both have an art deco feel to the interiors and each has its own pool. The Colonial Café, the Bar, the Tea Lounge, the Writer’s Room, the Drawing Room, the Orchid Conservatory and the Cigar Room are all in the Majestic Wing, with the Contago Restaurant in the Tower Wing. The hotel also has a pool and spa, inspired by Charles Rennie Macintosh’s Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow.
The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection

Perak, Pangkor
Pangkor Laut Resort

Take the 15-minute boat ride from Marina Island to Pangkor Laut Resort where you can check into your overwater or jungle villa with up to four bedrooms. Some come with butler service, an outdoor tub, a private pool and a dining pavilion, overlooking Emerald Bay in the Strait of Malacca. The resort is built beside a rainforest (listen out for the resident macaque monkeys), which you can explore with the resident naturalist. It encompasses two swimming pools, a spa village employing Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai practices, yoga facilities, squash and tennis courts and seven restaurants.

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur

Set on the top seven floors of a towering skyscraper, the Banyan Tree is a sleek and modern space that can be found in the very centre of the Malaysian capital. Clean lines and bright surfaces are enlivened with plenty of splashes of colour to appeal to those who are young at heart. There are just 55 rooms for guests to choose from, which helps to add to the feeling of opulence, and being attached to Pavilion Mall you are two minutes from shopping heaven!

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur

Park yourself at the centre of the Malaysian capital’s action, at the Intercontinental. You can easily walk to the Petronas Towers, Skytrain, KLCC Park and shopping mall from here. But you’ll also enjoy the trappings of a resort, with a palm-fringed outdoor pool, the Sompoton Spa and a fitness centre. The high-rise hotel has 473 decorated in earthy tones, with huge beds and comfy workstations. Tatsu Japanese Cuisine, Tao Chinese Cuisine and the Serena Brasserie are the hotel’s restaurants, with Bentley’s Pub and OneSixFive available for drinks and snacks.

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Comprising 65 storeys and providing guests with views of the Petronas Towers, the Four Seasons perfectly combines style with convenience. The crisp white furnishings of each of the 209 guest rooms are teamed with light blue walls and textured wallpaper to provide a very light and airy look that creates the illusion of extra space. Guests can take in views of the city from the infinity pool that is set on the seventh floor, while this floor also boasts a large and fully loaded gym and spa. Lovers of authentic Cantonese cuisine will want to make sure that they reserve a table at the hotel’s celebrated Yun House restaurant, while a blend of Chinese, Malay and Indian dishes are served in the Curate restaurant.