Best Luxury Hotels in Malaysia

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.

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.

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.

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.

An island off the coast of an island, this idyllic 40 acres resort, is part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and is an excellent choice if you’re keen to spot some of the native wildlife, not least as the hotel provides its own guided nature walks. Guests are hosted in 120 contemporary villas, crafted using locally sourced materials — book a Canopy Villa to be close to the beach, a Bayu Villa if you’d like an outlook of the tropical mangrove or a Kinabalu Villa for lofty sea views. Several restaurants include the adults-only Fisherman’s Cove, serving freshly caught seafood.

Also part of the Shangri-La, the sleek Tanjung Aru, like its sister property, has extensive facilities for recreation and dining. This hotel is a short walk from the beach but has clear views of the South China Sea from many of its public areas and Tanjung wing bedrooms. Popular with families, the themed parties at the Cool Zone Kids’ Club and the water play area (with three slides, a giant bucket splash and a water balloon war station) are a hit with little ones. Meanwhile, parents can bliss out at Chi The Spa, with Bornean treatments, yoga, t’ai chi and pilates classes.

Set on two miles of clean beach, this resort has two areas – the Ocean and Garden wings – designed for adults and families respectively. There are enough amenities to ensure you never need to leave, other than for an excursion further into the rainforest. Lagoon-style swimming pools, croquet and putting lawns, tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, a spa, a watersports centre, a children’s club and creche are all found onsite. Guests can dine in Malaysian, Indian and Japanese restaurants, with snacks on the coffee terrace and drinks in the lobby lounge.

Spend your stay in a colonial Straits Settlement mansion that dates back to the roaring 20s. The riverside period property has been sensitively restored to retain its original porcelain flooring, detailed artwork and teakwood fittings; these are complemented by antique furnishings and opulent silk textiles. Dine on Nyonyan and Kristang dishes in the restaurant and book in for some pampering at its Spa Village — it’s the only one in the world to take inspiration from Peranakan culture. Majestic by name and majestic by design, bedrooms at the hotel feature dark hardwood floors, ceiling fans, clawfoot bathtubs, Persian-style rugs and four-poster beds.

This colonial heritage hotel sits high above sea level, close to Tanah Rata and offers an intimate country house ambience. Muslin-swathed four-poster beds, tall French doors, shuttered windows, dark wood and elegant antique pieces evoke a plantation mansion look in the 56 bedrooms. It sits beside a gold course and accommodates an award-winning Spa Village, where you can book treatments inspired by tea. Also on site are a library, a dining room, an alfresco restaurant serving Malaysian hotpot, a tea room and a bar with a snooker table.

Situated right on the beach, the Hyatt Regency is just a 15-minute drive from the town centre. The hotel offers watersports, has two stunning outdoor pools with lounge areas and a spa. Rooms have wooden flooring and furnishings, minibars, tea/coffee makers and some have private terraces with sea views. Guests can play tennis, go to the gym and take excursions organised by the front desk. The Hyatt Regency has three dining options; Kampung Restaurant for authentic local food; an award-winning Italian Bistro with an open kitchen and split-level dining room; and Coals on the Beach for Malaysian tapas.

Built around a large lake and wetlands, the Mangala Resort accommodates guests in villas designed to integrate with their natural surroundings. Public spaces are found within small-scale pavilions, with greenery and wooden decking joining the structures together. The Lakeside Restaurant serves signature local and international dishes, both inside and al fresco. Once barren mining land, the grounds now bloom with palm plantations, exotic flowers, herb gardens and fruit trees, forming an environmental conservation area. Take an eco-tour, a nature walk to spot the indigenous wildlife, or book a treatment at the onsite full-service spa.

Evoking the architecture of 17th-century Malay palaces, this tranquil resort emphasises local traditions. Its philosophy follows the Malay principle of Sucimurni, focusing on purity of spirit, health and well-being and has devoted a mini village of structures, gardens and pools as its spa area. The two main restaurants’ names give a hint as to what may be expected from them; Di Atas Sungei means ‘Above the River’ and Nelayan means ‘Fisherman’. Plus there’s the Teratai Terrace beside the pool, for healthy fare and steamboat dinners — movies are shown here nightly at 9 pm. Bedrooms overlook the sea or the resort’s tropical gardens, while beach villas have private verandahs.