Hospitality News
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, overlooks a private bay on the Malaysian island of Langkawi. The five-star resort is set amid a lush tropical rain forest along the shores of the Andaman Sea. Opening on 21 September 2017, it is Ritz-Carlson’s first beachfront resort in Malaysia.
Designed by Philippe Villeroux of Kuala Lumpur-based Tropical Area Architects, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, has been designed to reflect the natural beauty and vibrancy of the nearby traditional villages, incorporating influences from the local culture in the architecture and the interior design.
Hotel guests are welcomed to the resort along the Walkway of Wishes, which has a water fountain inspired by the island’s mystical granter of wishes, Tasik Dayang Bunting, a.k.a. The Lake of Pregnant Maiden.
Hotel guests are invited to write their wishes on a flat stone, which is then placed into the water in the hope that it will come true.
Will the hotel prove popular with ecotourists? Its proximity to three conversation areas, including the Kilim Ecopark, should be one of its key draws. Guided jungle walks will surely be popular with hotel guests.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, is the second Ritz-Carlton hotel in Malaysia. Ritz-Carlson already has a five-star hotel in the nation’s capital, The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.
Accommodation
The resort hotel has 75 guest rooms, 15 suites, and 29 villas, which were designed with traditional Malaysian architectural elements in mind. Included are intricately-carved wooden features, large picture windows, and dramatic gabled roofs.
All rooms have rain forest views. Deluxe rooms measure 802 square feet or 75 square metres. One-bedroom junior suites measure 1,076 square feet or 100- square metres.
There are one, two, and three-bedroom villas measuring from 2,152 square feet or 200 square metres to 6,996 square feet or 650 square metres. Most villas have ocean views. A few of the villas have rain forest views.
The Villa Mutiara is targeted at multi-generational families or other groups, offering deluxe accommodations for up to eight people. The villa has two pools and access to a private beach.
Food + Beverage
The resort has four food and beverage outlets, each one with a unique vibe and a different menu. They all overlook the Andaman Sea with spectacular ocean views.
- Langkawi Kitchen – serves a mixed Chinese, Indian, and Malay menu. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Beach Grill – serves Western comfort food and signature cocktails. Open for lunch and dinner.
- Hai Yan – serves mouth-watering seafood prepared Chinese style. Open for dinner only.
- Horizon – an adults-only venue serving “unusual” wines. The perfect spot to watch the sun set into the Andaman Sea.
Facilities
The resort has a luxurious spa with a full menu of locally inspired spa treatments. There are five cocoon-shaped pavilions built on stilts over the sea. They are connected by over-the-water walkways.
Other facilities include an outdoor tennis court, a fully-equipped gym, and an infinity swimming pool. Indoor and outdoor yoga classes are offered with classes led by qualified instructors.
Other activities include diving, guided jungle walks, deep-sea fishing trips, and sailing trips through the archipelago,
There is a full programme of activities targeted at children and their families. Included are kite-painting, treasure hunts, and nature tours.
At sunrise and sunset, there is a contemporary performance of an ancient ceremony known as tarian payang, a traditional gesture of thanks and respect for the rich bounty of the sea and land. The ceremony is held twice-daily on the beach
Location, Location, Location
Langkawi is located 30 kilometres off the coast of Northern Malaysia. It is a part of the state of Kedah, which is near the border with Thailand.
Langkawai is officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah. Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands.
The resort is located on the eponymous main island of Langkawi, which has a population of nearly 65,000 people. Ferries link the island with the mainland.
Tourist attractions include the Langkawi Sky Bridge, the Langkawi Cable Car, Eagle Square, Underwater World Langkawi, Langkawi Wildlife Park, Pantai Cenang – the list goes on.
Kuah is the main town. Night markets with stalls serving Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian dishes are especially popular with locals and tourists alike. Duty-free shops are also popular. Two thirds of the island is mountainous and dominated by tropical jungles and rain forest. There are also three main conservation areas including the Kilim Geopark.
Surrounded by the sea, Langkawi offers a variety of water-based activities. The beaches, however, are not as pristine as at some other tropical resorts in Southeast Asia. The waters, for example, are not always clear. And jellyfish are sometimes a problem.
Transport
The hotel is located a 10-minutes’ drive from Langkawi International Airport. The airport is a hub for AirAsia, which offers flights from Langkawi to other travel destinations in Malaysia as well as to a couple of travel destinations in China and Singapore.
China Southern Airlines offers service to Guangzhou, China. Scoot and SilkAir fly from the island to Singapore.
Three domestic airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, also serve the airport, with flights to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Langkawi Ferry Services operates a fleet of 12 vessels, operating daily voyages between Langkawi and Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis, Penang, and Puala Payar Marine Park in Malaysia and Satun in Thailand.
LFS also operates a service between Penang and Medan, Indonesia.
Where
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi – Telephone: (604) 952-4888.
Click on hotel website for more information, availability, and special offers: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi.
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