The Datai Langkawi

Astonishingly good

Everything about the Datai is exceptional. The place itself is fabulous. We stayed in the most basic room (Deluxe) and it was large, well designed and 5 star. The resturants are all excellent and provide a decent range of food (we stayed 7 nights and had ample variety). Considering the quality of the food and the resort the prices are reasonable (think UK mid priced eating out prices). The thing that takes Datai up a notch above the best in the world is the service. Personal yet non intrusive, friendly, helpful etc etc. I would even consider going back for a week (despite a 12 hour flight) as its close to Langkawi airport and is just incredible when you are there. We also stayed for 3 nights at Pangkor Laut Resort and although thats clearly a great resort its light years behind the Datai. Brilliant.

Fantastic

Amazing, 5 star luxury. We stayed here on our honeymoon and the staff couldn't do enough for us. We stayed in a jungle villa which are detached rooms and beautifully decorated. They are connected by small pathways down towards the beach, don't worry about walking in the rain to the restaurants - the staff come and pick you up on a golf buggy. Three restaurants (one near the beach) all great food. I definitely recommend this hotel. The datai bay beach is just paradise. Quite quiet, away from it all, you'll need to hire a car if you want to get out and about.

An amazing place

I cannot begin to say how amazed I was by the Datai. We had booked a deal in the rainy season and managed to get upgraded to a Jungle villa as we had booked 7 nights. We arrived and were welcomed with fruit juice and cold towels. We sat and overlooked the pool down towards the sea as we filled in out forms - all very civilised! We were there taken to the villa which was deep in the jungle and very wonderful. The only drawback of the jungle villas is that they are quite dark - surrounded by jungle and all! But if you don't mind that the luxury of looking out over a river in flood with monkeys swinging from tree to tree and your very own villa gecko more than makes up for it in my book.

The complementary mineral water in the mini bar and fruit basket mean that you need never go without a quick inexpensive snack. I was worried before I went that the food in the resort might be prohibitivley expensive as there are no local eating establishments within easy reach. But the range of restaurants was amazing (You can use the Andaman restuarants as well - and I reccomend the Gulai house) and the prices reasonable for the UK / USA. We spent on average £100 per day and for that had breakfast, lunch, dinner, wine & cocktails every day as well as beauty treatments at the spa and a romantic dinner on the beach one night.

Little touches like the chilled water and cool towels by the pool, the complemetary 1/2 bottle of red wine that we found in the room, the free watersports and the exeptional service honestly made this one of the most memorable holidays I have ever had.

If you do feel a little trapped there are free nature walks every day, and a car to hire for a day is only about £15.

I can really reccomend the Datai for a wonderful stay. And if you were wondering how rainy the rainy season is we went in early october (the rainiest month) and had 2 solid days of rain , 3 mixed days and 2 clear days. So mixed weather but I cannot thing of anywhere I would rather be rained on than here!

Great Place

The service at this hotel is fantastic and the facilities are excellent.

We stayed in one of the villas in the rainforest and it had all the mod cons one would expect in a 5 star hotel. DVD player, Bose cd player, big bath, walk in shower, lounge area with 2 sofas, 2 verandas etc.

The villa was deep in the forest, so deep that you needed lights on to see across the room even when it was sunny. So no chance of sunbathing there. Some of the villas are higher up the hillside and you could get some sun there. But the whole point of this place is to experience the rainforest at close quarters.

Expect to see monkeys, monitor lizards, hornbills, squirrels, eagles, kingfishers and woodpeckers.

The food is great, both at the Datai and at the Andaman next door, The best being The Pavillion that serves Thai dishes.

The hotel is located a fair way from everything else on the island and you'll need a car for the odd day to get out and explore. The Bon Ton at Pantai is a great place for lunch or dinner and the sunset there is fantastic.

Please e-mail me if you want more specific information about the hotel and the island.

Wonderful

We stayed at the Datai in December 2001. The hotel and its location are beautiful. The service and food were excellent. The hotel is very quiet and relaxing but I would say it's geared towards an adult market. It is not a family resort. The walk down to the beach is not far but it is steep, although you can always wait for a buggy ride.

My companion went on the nature trails and found them both enjoyable and informative. I treated myself to the spa and as a frequent international spa user I have to say it is one of the best I have experienced.

The only comment I would have is that the wardrobes were rather damp, but that may have been due to the recent heavy rainfall.

I would have no hesitation in returning and have recommended it to all family and friends that can afford it.

Travelled extensively - This is the best so far!

Myself and my wife have travelled extensively around the World staying in over a good 1000+ hotels. This was by far the best so far!

We opted for a Pool villa which was nice although be aware the plunge pool is a plunge pool and very cool... too cool in fact for us to use during the days.

The villa was excellent and a small problem with the cd player was rectified in 5 minutes. DVD players are provided with free libraries of cd/dvd.

Free activities includes Hobies, treks, snorkelling, fitness, etc. Horse riding on the beach (chargeable) was excellent as were the cable car and (natural) waterfalls.

This was a honeymoon for us and so we wanted quiet which the Datai provided - Don't go expecting to party everynight. This being said, the location is as far on a limb as you can go so the main town is not an option... We did however have a few good drinks in the many bars around the complex.

If like us you go for a room only (not sure if they do anything other than this - except maybe breakfast). Then expect to budget at least 100 pounds a day for food and drink for a couple. ie. First dinner in main restaurant was 150squid for table d'hote and bottle of wine. Not bad for London, but quite costly if you compare to a local restaurant in Malay... You can eat reasonably in the beach bars during the day and room service is reasonable averageing around 30-40 quid for 2.

Although some kids went - would not recommend it, not even for teenagers - very very quiet. Andamann is much better option and still gives access for the parents.

Not many creepy crawlies considering you are in the jungle (don't leave light on overnight though - or say hello to thousands and thousands of creepys in the morning on strangely enough every Thursday night?). Monkeys are friendly... and Golf course is excellent.

Excellent service (98 out of 100) 99% of the time... Very good and very friendly as per the usual Malaysian standard.

Very nice place if somewhat overpriced but definately worth it....

Enjoy!

Truly Fantastic

We have visited The Datai twice, May 2002 & Dec 2003 and would return again in a heartbeat.

The setting is truly amazing, food fantastic and the staff great, they can never do enough for you.

The resort is very quiet and peaceful and not really suited to children. If you like nothing better than resting by the pool reading a book listening to the sound of nature followed by great meal in the evening then it's the place for you.

You must also try the spa, it has a fantastic setting.

Mixed feelings about the Datai

You can't fault the setting of the Datai, it's beautiful. I was interested to read the other reviews particularly the comments on the villa's and food. Our villa was very dark because the windows were surrounded by jungle, and we moved to a room in the main hotel after a few days because it was beginning to make us feel depressed ! Our new room was light and had good views of the bay, which the villa's don't have.

The food was ok but strangely bland for an asian hotel. It was particularly noticeable in the Thai resturant. The Food and Beverage Manager had just started at the hotel and he had just come from Raffles in Singapore. He agreed that the food was bland and explained that because the majority of the guests at the Datai were Japanese, they minimised the spices and seasoning used. Now it's a number of years since I stayed at the Datai so it maybe that they've resolved this issue.

Clearly this is a popular hotel as it wins awards every year but for me it just didn't make the grade. It lacked those little touches that make a hotel great. For example if you ordered a drink it came with cashew nuts which I love, but after 7 days of cashew nuts you never want to see one again.

Datai one of the best in the world

where do you start? Location, weather, fantastic friendly, courteous staff (how do they remember every guest's name?), excellent food. This hotel lived up to and exceeded expectations. One week here is worth months anywhere else. Deluxe rooms are beautifully furnished and have great views. Suites are the size of Belgium! Villas are tucked away in the rainforest - fantastic for wildlife - monkeys, hornbills, etc. etc.

we'l be back again and again

Pure Heaven

Set among the rainforest, an absolute delight. If you can afford it go for a villa rather than a deluxe room - it will be worth every penny.

Good choice of restaurants and staff who can't do enough for you.

Not ideal for kids, more adult orientated.

One of the best beaches I've ever seen, shared with just one other hotel (The Andaman) which is further along the bay.

Do as much or as little as you like it's all good.