One of the best things about living in Malaysia would definitely be the amazing beaches our country has and one of Malaysia’s most popular beach destinations is Langkawi, located in the northern state of Kedah. Only a one-hour plane ride away, its accessible location, laidback lifestyle, tranquil beaches and duty free goods make this island a favourite amongst Malaysians and European tourists alike.
Relatively quiet, the island of Langkawi is a sleepy paradise with endless views of vibrant green paddy fields occasionally interrupted by the odd village house or food stall. Given its pastoral landscape, it’s not hard to point out the island’s most active and bustling spot that is Pantai Cenang, undoubtedly the island’s most populated beach and street. Pantai Cenang is best described as a beach with a strip of stalls, restaurants and shopping centers that runs parallel to it. These days, it’s even more populated with the imposing façade of a new shopping mall, fast food chains along with a slew of ongoing development.
Pantai Cenang is also home to a good mix of budget chalets and luxurious 5-star hotels so if you’re looking for a place to stay with infinite options of restaurants and a bustling beach atmosphere, your best bet is this beach strip that’s quickly resembling Patong Beach in Phuket sans the rowdiness. The less populated end of Cenang is where you’ll find resorts such as Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa Langkawi, where it’s as private as it can get on an active street and close enough to be part of the fun.
Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa Langkawi is one of the first resorts to be built on the island, formerly known as Pelangi Beach Resort. It recently went through a multi-million dollar face lift when we were there last year and having stayed there back in 2008 without any complaints, my recent stay echoed that experience and much more.
Modeled after the traditional Malay village house, Meritus Pelangi is one of those resorts that cleverly balances old world charm with modern amenities. The main building is a magnificent wooden structure with high ceilings and once you step in, you know right away you’re in paradise.
The check-in process is easy breezy, none of the queuing up that most of us are accustomed to. Instead, a hotel staff will offer you a seat at the hotel lobby along with a tropical drink and he or she will check you in. Next, a buggy will transport you to your room along with your luggage. During your ride, you’ll notice that the hotel has no shortage of greenery and it is maintained perfectly.
The room we got was a Garden Terrace room, a single story chalet that has a view of the sea. The spacious 500sqf room came with a king size bed, day bed, massive bathroom with an equally massive bathtub, wardrobe and all the refineries and amenities that one associates with a 5-star resort. The room had a verandah, which was a nice spot to sit out and enjoy the pages of a book. Indoors, the dim lighting lulls you into your best beach and holiday mode; complementing the timber décor harmoniously. The bathroom was one of the largest I’ve ever encountered that featured his and hers sink, closet, bathtub as mentioned above, handheld shower and a rain bath along with picturesque views thanks to the large windows.
If you’re a TV junkie, there is a flat screen television but be warned that the channel subscriptions are minimal. There is a movies-on-demand feature but during our stay, it was not available in our room. Our room’s cable signal wasn’t very clear but hey, no one goes to Langkawi to be glued to their TV sets!
The chalets are sprawled out on the resort’s 35 acre of lush tropical greenery with 352 guesthouses built on stilts, in single and double story layouts, some with ocean views and some with views of the perfectly manicured garden and well kept lakes. All rooms also come with complimentary Wi-Fi. For guests wanting to mix business and pleasure, the resort has 12 meeting rooms with large bay windows that lets in natural daylight.
One of Meritus Pelangi Langkawi’s highlights is the Pelangi Spa, tucked away in a private enclosure surrounded by bamboo trees. Here, guests can enjoy all types of relaxing and rejuvenating traditional Malay therapies in a Zen-inspired environment.
Guests can also experience the resort’s impressive state-of-the-art fitness center, that overlooks the beach. Meritus Pelangi has tennis and squash courts and you can also book your tours and sightseeing trips with the front desk.
If you do have the opportunity to stay here, Meritus Pelangi Resort Beach & Spa Langkawi has a solid variety of dining establishments. Spice Market is the resort’s main restaurant and this is where we had our breakfast every morning. The buffet selection is generous, offering cuisine choices from local Chinese, Malay and Indian dishes to Japanese and European selections. In short, there’s really something for everyone. In the evening, drop by the Pelangi Lounge, the resort’s lobby lounge for some live music. The Pelangi Lounge also serves a wide array of desserts, liqueur, snacks, coffee specialties and tapas, making it a perfect pit stop on your way back from the pool or beach.
Our favourite place in the resort, besides the room and beach has got to be Cba, the newly introduced beachside bar that serves up some of the most reasonably priced cocktails in a 5-star resort and the happy hour is something that must not be missed. The food at Cba infuses an Asian twist to global flavours and it is truly an amazing spot to have a good meal, watch the sunset and sip some of your favourite cocktails.
Apart from Cba, guests can also arrange for a private dining session on the beach. While we were there, we spotted a private function on the white sandy beach during sunset and it couldn’t look more picture perfect. Just ask any of the friendly hotel staff or guest services and they will be more than happy to help.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa and having stayed here twice, there’s no reason holding us back from returning. Just 15 minutes from Langkawi International Airport, 30 minutes from Kuah Jetty, less than 30 minutes to Kuah town and just a short stroll to the vibrant Pantai Cenang stretch, the resort’s location is without a doubt convenient but the beauty of it really is the tranquil atmosphere of lush greenery and old world ethnic charm. It really is one of the resorts that have it all, whether you want a chilled out vacation or an activity-packed holiday.
Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa Langkawi is rated ‘Fantastic’ on Agoda with a score of 8.2 based on over 2,700 reviews. Book your stay at Agoda for amazing deals and discounts plus, read what other guests have to say about their stay at this fabulous resort before deciding. For on-the-go access, download the Agoda app on your iOS and Android devices.
