Review: Ritz Carlton Langkawi
Ritz Carlton Langkawi review – in a sentence
Completely luxurious and ultra convenient beach getaway, nestled in the ancient Malaysian rainforest.
Design: 3/5
Rooms and common areas feature modern, polished design schemes with a touch of traditional Malay influence. If you follow me on Instagram / read my other reviews, you'll know I'm a bit of a design obsessive and I tend to favour characterful interiors over more modern, "corporate" schemes… So I did find the design schemes lacking in character, for my tastes, here.
However, I absolutely LOVED the bathroom in my Rainforest View room – I'm not joking when I say that the free standing tub was genuinely big enough for two (when does that EVER happen?!), and I squealed over the Diptyque amenities, too.
I did also love the setting of the resort, which essentially has its own little secluded bay – pictured below you can see the view of the Beach Bar and Grill, with buildings modelled on traditional Malay "bubus" (or fishing traps). This is the real "wow" design moment for the Ritz Carlton Langkawi, in my book.
Food & drink: 3/5
Breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Langkawi was truly one of the most impressive spreads I've seen. In a true reflection of Malaysia's diverse cuisine, the breakfast buffet includes a wide variety of traditional Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes – from dim sum to traditional nasi lemak. Don't leave without trying the roti canai and teh tarik, in particular!
There's also an a la carte offering of contemporary western classics, as well as complimentary champagne (that's actually pretty decent) – definitely revealing one of my most basic / toxic traits, here, but I do love a little breakfast mimosa while on holiday.
I would really recommend a quick YouTube search, as there's heaps of vlogs that will show you in comprehensive detail just how vast the brekkie spread is.
Moving on from breakfast, sadly the other food offerings are much more mixed. I can vouch for the informal Thai food on offer at Horizon, and its position as a panoramic sunset bar definitely makes it the best spot for your dinner. But I found the Chinese fare on offer at Hai Yan average and overpriced… Not a good combo. The Beach Bar and Grill is perfectly fine for a quick lunch, and I did actually have a pretty decent laksa there. But overall, I found the dining options at the Ritz Carlton Langkawi to be lacking and severely overpriced.
If you were staying for any extended period (I was only staying for 3 nights), I'd recommend getting out of the resort for some more authentic cuisine, particularly for your evening meals.
Location: 5/5
Situated on the west side of the island, the Ritz Carlton Langkawi couldn't be more conveniently located, really – it's literally just above the airport and a super speedy 10-15 minute taxi journey will get you from airport to resort. Considering that most international travellers will need to catch a flight to Langkawi after a longer leg into a nearby Asian flight hub (KL, Hong Kong, etc.), this is a major plus!
To-do: 4/5
The Ritz Carlton Langkawi is essentially in its own little enclave of Langkawi, with a beachfront location but surrounded by rainforest. Couple this with the top-tier commitment to guest experience that you'd expect from a Ritz Carlton property, this means you've got a plethora of activities at your fingertips – from complimentary water sports to guided nature walks, there's something for everyone.
Having said that, this is the perfect place for a "fly and flop" break, too – if, like me, you make your way to Langkawi after an action-packed few days in Malaysia's capital, then the sleek and stylish adult-only infinity pool overlooking the Andaman sea might be your preferred "activity"… no judgement from me!
Reasons to book:
Ultra convenient
Modern, luxurious experience
Heaps of amenities
A great family-friendly option, with plenty of facilities for little ones (I'd recommend the Ritz Carlton over The Datai on this point)
Reasonably affordable, compared to other luxury options on the island
Any negatives?
As a fully fledged resort, I found there was quite a "purpose built" feel to the property – in contrast to, say, The Datai, where I felt there was a much more integrated and cohesive feel between the hotel and its natural surroundings.