Langkawi is made up of nearly 100 islands in the Andaman Sea, the same sea that is home to Phuket, Koh Lanta and many other popular island getaways in Thailand. Langkawi, though is part of Malaysia, so it attracts a different crowd than the party scene you’ll find on many Thai islands.
Langkawi is known as a more relaxing getaway, with lots of sightseeing opportunities. Langkawi is a popular destination for honeymooners and families, with a wide range of Langkawi hotels to choose from. Whether you are wondering where to stay in Langkawi with a family, or just looking for a quiet place to stay in Langkawi, we’ve rounded up some of the best hotels in Langkawi.
Wondering how long to stay in Langkawi? Generally its recommended to stay between 3-5 days in Langkawi as it is a fairly small island but it depends if you are visiting to relax or on honeymoon or just getting away to Langkawi for the weekend.
We will cover off all types of accommodation in Langkawi from Hostels to luxury Langkawi resorts as well as how to decide where to stay in Langkawi 2023, the best Langkawi hotels, best places in Langkawi to visit, the best places to stay in Langkawi, hotels near Langkawi attractions, Langkawi neighborhood guide and many more.
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Pantai Cenang – Best place to stay in Langkawi Island
The most popular destination in Langkawi is Pantai Cenang beach, and is probably the best place to stay in Langkawi if you want a decent social scene to explore. This is where you’ll find the widest price range of Langkawi hotels, with options for every budget. Pantai Cenang beach is a 2km stretch of beautiful white sand beach and clear waters. One of the best restaurants along this stretch of beach is a french bistro called MY french Factory, however if you want to enjoy some Malayasia cuisine, check out Cenang Hawker Center.
There are lots of beachfront bars and restaurants, as well as cafes and souvenir stands catering to tourists. Watersports are very popular in Pantai Cenang, with many rentals available. This is also the area most likely to be crowded in the high season, so make sure to reserve your hotel in advance.
Best places to stay in Pantai Cenang Langkawi
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Pantai Cenang:
Bed Attitude Hostel Cenang
Arch Dormitorio Cenang
Tubotel
Budget Hotels in Pantai Cenang:
Langkawi Village Budget Rooms
Dar Yasmine Motel
Luxor Empire
Mid range Hotels in Pantai Cenang:
Best Star Resort
The Gemalai Village
Cenang Plaza Beach Hotel
Sandy Garden Resort Langkawi
Family Friendly Hotels in Pantai Cenang:
Rainbow Lodge
Casa Idaman Motel
The Coconut
Sunset Villa Inn
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Pantai Cenang:
La Villa Langkawi
Camar Resort Langkawi
Casa del Mar, Langkawi
Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi
Pantai Tengah – Where to stay in Langkawi with family
Pantai Tengah has some of the best hotels in Langkawi for families. It’s not far from Pantai Cenang, but offers a more quiet place to stay in Langkawi. Many of the resorts here are of the all-inclusive variety, so naturally there are fewer restaurants and shops than Pantai Cenang as there’s little need to leave the resort.
Pantai Cenang is not far, even walkable depending on where you stay, so Pantai Tengah is very convenient to the social scene, without having to stay in the midst of it. The Cliff restaurant is the most popular restaurant in the are and the views from here are incredible!
While the beach is beautiful and the seas are generally calm and clear (although less so during monsoon season), watch out for jellyfish – keep an eye out for signs on the beach which will alert you to when they are in season. The northern end of the beach features some climbable rocks, just be careful as these can be very slippery.
Best places to stay in Pantai Tengah
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Pantai Cenang:
Geopark Hotel
Bed Attitude Hostel Cenang
Boxpackers Langkawi
Budget Hotels in Pantai Tengah:
Cenang View Hotel
Sunset Beach Resort
Mid range Hotels in Pantai Tengah:
Delta Chenang Resort
Perintis Motel Cenang
Arch Studio Cenang
Family Friendly Hotels in Pantai Tengah:
White Lodge Chalet Langkawi
Royale Chenang Resort
Landcons Hotel & Resort
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Pantai Tengah:
Villa Molek
Pantai Kok – Cool Places to stay Langkawi
Another quiet spot in Langkawi is Pantai Kok, just 15 minutes from the Langkawi Airport. Telaga Harbour and Oriental Park are popular destinations in Pantai Kok for shopping, drinking and dining. Pantai Kok is where many of Langkawi’s attractions can be found. The Langkawi Cable Car is particularly popular, as it’s allegedly the steepest cable car on earth, whisking tourists over 700 metres above sea level.
If you choose to stay in Pantai Kok, there are luxury resorts with private beaches, but the public beach does not have any restaurants or hotels directly on it. Pantai Kok beach is one of the less popular secluded beaches in Langkawi, although on the weekend it can get busy with local families enjoying some fun in the sun.
Best places to stay in Pantai Kok
Budget Hotels in Pantai Kok:
Api-api Eco Resort
OYO 90660 Rayyans Roomstay
Mid range Hotels in Pantai Kok:
ZEN Rooms Basic Pantai Kok
Berjaya Langkawi Resort
Family Friendly Hotels in Pantai Kok:
The Danna Langkawi
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Pantai Kok:
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
The Danna Beach Villa
Kuah town – Where to stay in Langkawi for shopping
Kuah is Langkawi’s main town, and the main entry point to Langkawi Island for anyone traveling by ferry. Kuah is not a beach town, so if you are coming to Langkawi for the beach, Kuah is not the best place to stay in Langkawi. However, many travelers can only handle so many beach days before wanting to explore some cultural attractions.
Spending a few nights in Kuah at the beginning or end of your Langkawi vacation is a great way to experience some of the local culture. Kuah is also regularly cited as the best place for duty-free shopping in Langkawi.
Best places to stay in Kuah
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Kuah:
Best Seven Inn
Motodorm Langkawi
Budget Hotels in Kuah:
Sunderland Motel
Hotel Asia
We Hotel Langkawi
Geopark Hotel Kuah Langkawi
Mid range Hotels in Kuah:
Goldsands Hotel Langkawi
Eagle Bay Express
Citin Langkawi by Compass Hospitality
Langkawi Seaview Hotel
Family Friendly Hotels in Kuah:
Chill Suites Langkawi
Bayview Hotel Langkawi
Riverra Inn Langkawi
Rizqee Homestay
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Kuah:
Bella Vista Waterfront Resort, Kuah Langkawi (also very family friendly)
Datai Bay – Where to stay in Langkawi for peace and quiet
If you are ready to splurge on some of the best hotels in Langkawi, check out Datai Bay. Datai Bay is the best place to stay in Langkawi for those seeking an exclusive, five-star experience. There are just a handful of resorts here, and they cater to wealthy travelers.
The beach is fairly small, just 1.5 kilometers long and 30 yards wide, but it is shared exclusively by the resorts here, and is only accessible to guests of these resorts. There are fewer activities and attraction options in Datai Bay, but it is the best choice for a quiet place to stay in Langkawi.
One of the most popular attractions near Datai bay is The Els Club Teluk Datai, a rainforest 18 hole golf course.
Best places to stay in Datai Bay
Mid range Hotels in Datai Bay:
Saujana Private Villas
Family Friendly Hotels in Datai Bay:
Villa Hutan Datai
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Datai Bay:
The Datai Langkawi
Padang Matsirat – Hotels in Langkawi near airport
Padang Matsirat is where the Langkawi airport is located, and like Kuah, it is not a beach town, but offers several cultural attractions. The Rice Burning Field mounment a historic place where the whole village burned to stop invaders. As well as historic tombs and a batik art village here. The most likely reason to stay in Padang Matsirat is to be near the airport for an early morning departure, or late night arrival. However, you may just want a couple of days after your beach vacation to explore the tourist attractions in Padang Matsirat.
Best places to stay in Padang Matsirat
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Padang Matsirat:
Dorm Master
Budget Hotels in Padang Matsirat:
Sabandy Guesthouse
Perdana Serviced Apartment & Resorts
AL Firdaus Homestay, Langkawi
Teriang Village Inn
Mid range Hotels in Padang Matsirat:
Bella Cottage
Villa Suria
Wave Langkawi Inn
Family Friendly Hotels in Padang Matsirat:
The Smith House
SeaRenity Suite
Kencana Homestay
Myangkasa Akademi & Resort Langkawi
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Padang Matsirat:
Wings by Croske Resort Langkawi
Ombak Villa Langkawi
Aroha sea view villa * Private pool *
Tanjung Rhu – Best beach on Langkawi
Similar to Datai Bay, Tanjung Rhu is an exclusive, quiet place to stay in Langkawi and is considered the best place to stay in Langkawi for honeymoon. However, unlike Datai Bay, Tanjung Rhu offers some beautiful public beaches in addition to luxury resorts. There are fewer restaurants and shopping areas, here, but it’s a great place to take a day trip to Kilim Geopark & Mangroves, as this is where the boat tours depart. If you’re wondering where to stay in Langkawi for couples, this is the best area for you.
Best places to stay in Tanjung Rhu
Budget Hotels in Tanjung Rhu:
Sunset Bay Cottage
DAOH’S Guest House
Mid range Hotels in Tanjung Rhu:
Red Coral Villa
Family Friendly Hotels in Tanjung Rhu:
Tanjung Rhu Resort, Langkawi
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Tanjung Rhu:
Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia
Kutum’s Cottage @eagleyevillage
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