Langkawi is mere 1-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur; there are various airlines which fly that route daily. Upon arrival at the airport, we were met by the driver from The Andaman and chauffered to the resort in a very comfortable Lexus. The resort is about 35 minutes drive from Langkawi airport along relatively traffic free, meandering roads during which sights such as the Marina and day to day island living can be witnessed.
The beautiful, tranquil Datai Bay
The Andaman is a five-star Luxury Collection Resort, located in Langkawi Island; it is tucked between a 10 million year old rainforest and the tranquil Datai Bay which has an 8,000 year old fringing coral reef. Datai Bay was named the 9th Best Beach in the World by National Geographic in 2011; it is made up of coral sand which is softer than sea shell sand, and doesn’t get too hot in the sun, creating ideal conditions for a romantic walk along the beach with waves lapping at one's feet.
At the lobby, we were served a refreshing welcome drink and presented with a cold towel. Check-in was very efficient, after which we were escorted to one of the Executive Pool Suites, our luxuriously appointed home for the next three days. There are a total of 178 air-conditioned luxurious rooms and suites in The Andaman, most of which have been recently refurbished.
As we stepped into our suite, we were wowed by the gorgeous room and its spaciousness. A haven of luxury and privacy, the 86 sq-m suites offer partial views of the sparkling Andaman Sea. In addition to the amazing views, our suite also came with 34 to 52 sq m of outdoor space, which included a private plunge pool, cabana daybed and two lounge chairs.
Not only that, the suite includes a separate living area, bedroom and spacious bathroom with an eye-catching freestanding bathtub. The suite also comes with a 46-inch LED HD television, iPod docking station, Italian coffee machine, dining furniture and a well-stocked complimentary mini bar. There is complimentary wifi throughout the hotel to help you stay connected at all times. We loved our suite so much, that we hardly left the room except for meal times and to snap photos on the beachfront.
Plush daybed sofas are complemented by solid teak furnishings.
Comfortable king-size Luxury Collection pillow-top bed
The bedroom ceiling is fitted with mirrors, we couldn't resist but snap some selfies
The bathroom is gorgeous, fitted with a separate rainforest shower, a free-standing bathtub, separate toilet, dual vanities, and a dressing table with a mirror. A full range of Luxury Collection eucalyptus products are provided.
Italian coffee machine and complimentary mini bar
Soaking up the sun in our private outdoor terrace area
The beautiful landscape makes it the perfect backdrop for photo after photo
This macaron tree was left in our room for our enjoyment during turndown service. Brilliant idea, playful, ideal for the surroundings and delicious as well!
From our suite, we could also get a view of the tropical rainforest and its abundant wildlife, including the rare colugo, dusky leaf monkey, hornbills and more.
As I mentioned earlier, we spent most of our day in and around our private plunge pool, however we made a mental note of the hotel's kid-friendly pool complete with a water slide - would love to return here in future with #babysumokids in tow ;) Furthermore, there is a Young Explorers Club in the resort whereby little ones are invited to participate in educational excursions that revolve around nature and exploration.
At The Andaman, there is no shortage of good food as the resort houses four restaurants, namely The Restaurant, Tepian Laut, The Japanese Restaurant and Jala as well as two bars, Jentayu Lounge and Beach Bar which offers signature cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Whichever dining venue you choose, you can be assured of a fantastic view.
The Restaurant is the resort's all-day dining venue which offers breakfast buffet as well as local and international favourites on its a la carte menu for lunch and dinner. At the time of our visit, The Restaurant was closed for renovation so we had breakfast at Level 2 Foyer area - great choice of food offered at breakfast time, with a nice view of the nature and tropical rainforest.
Tepian Laut is located near the pool area, with views of the pristine beachfront, and offers a casual dining experience. For lunch, we tried the Fish and Chips as well as watermelon salad, both competently prepared. In the evenings, they offer local cuisine from different states of Malaysia as well as themed buffet nights such as BBQ nights.
The Japanese Restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine, and houses two teppanyaki counters as well traditional tatami rooms. Dine on favorites such as sushi, sashimi, tempura and more. Open for dinner only.
Jala is set in the lush tropical rainforest, overlooking the glistening blue waters of Andaman Sea. The menu highlights local seafood, which are proudly displayed at the fresh seafood display every evening for guests to choose from. The dining venue is made even more unique with the restaurant's signature sand floor. On the first Saturday of the month, this award-winning restaurant also offers Brunch by Jala (read about our experience here), a champagne brunch with Veuve Clicquot and a luxurious spread of seafood, cheese and desserts.
If you're looking for a unique dining experience, consult the Food and Beverage Concierge to find out more about the private dining on offer. A romantic, memorable dining experience can be arranged by the hotel team with a beachfront setting on the tranquil Datai Bay - read about our experience here.
Private dinner on the beach
Sunset at Datai Bay
V Botanical Spa takes "being one with nature" to a whole new level, as it offers open-air spa villas perched on a hill with breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Each villa is tucked away in the lush tropical rainforest, hence providing guests with utmost privacy. It offers unique treatments and experiences, such as the signature Kahuna Wave massage as well as yoga and meditation classes. We experienced the V Signature Couples Romance Getaway package, which included a 80-minutes Signature Kahuna Wave Massage at V Botanical Spa, followed by a healthy 3-course V Healthy Cuisine lunch at The Restaurant. Read about our spa experience here.
Not only blessed with a stunning 10 million year old rainforest as its backdrop, beneath the glistening waters of the bay fronting The Andaman lies another underwater rainforest - the 8,000 year old coral reef. During the terrible tsunami on 26th December 2004, the coral reef absorbed all of the wave's energy that morning, suffering severe damage but saving many lives.
As part of the resort's noble coral conservation project, guests are presented with the opportunity to give back to nature through its unique Coral Nursery and coral reef activities. We met up with Dr. Gerry, Head of Marine Environment and discover more about their coral reef conservation activities such as coral clearing and the Artificial Reef Project (ARMS). There are also private guided snorkelling, coral and fish feeding, coral transplating, and coral painting activities; great for families, as children would get to learn more about corals while having fun.
Thank you to The Andaman for hosting our stay, we will be back! :)
Location: The Andaman, PO Box 94, Jalan Teluk Datai, 07000 Pulau Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
Tel: +604 959 1088
Website: http://www.theandaman.com/
GPS Coordinates: 6.429376, 99.675843
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that big boy no more jiggle? hahaha. I'd want a holiday like that too!
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