I flew to Kuala Lumpur without any further plans for Malaysia and spent a little over a week there trying to figure out what to do next. Many people recommended me to visit Langkawi, and as it’s only a one hour, cheap flight away from KL, I decided to give it a chance. I knew that I wanted to stay in Pantai Cenang area as this is the most popular beach with all the restaurants and shops. It’s also strategically located only 10-minute drive from the airport and close to all main attractions.

My choice of accommodation was Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa which is located on the other end of Cenang beach making it quieter and more tranquil than some other hotels. There are 355 rooms in total, and the architecture is inspired by traditional Malay villages.

The resort area is enormous, 14-hectares in total, but even though they were fully booked when I stayed there, it didn’t feel crowded at all (except at breakfast).

Check-in

The check-in process was smooth and quick, and I was given a welcome drink and a wet towel for refreshment. Because I was there a couple of hours before the check-in time and the resort was fully booked, I had to wait for the room to be ready. I left my bags in the reception area and went to Cba, their beachside restaurant, to have lunch and wait for the room to be cleaned.

The Room – Junior Suite

I stayed in the Junior Suite which is bigger than the regular rooms and has a bathtub. The regular rooms are in a two-story building which has four different apartments whereas I only had one neighbor.

My room had a terrace with fantastic sea view, and I really enjoyed just sitting there and enjoying the view. Apart from the sea view room, you can also choose lake or pool view. The only complaint I have about my room is the wifi which worked very well when I arrived but then suddenly got remarkably slow.

Facilities

The resort offers excellent facilities like two outdoor swimming pool areas, gym, spa, leisure center and watersports center. You can do all kinds of activities like tennis, mini golf, and cycling.

Horizon Pool is more for children and families whereas Cascade Pool area is adult’s favorite and also has a pool bar.

The Beach

Meritus definitely has the best spot on the beach because it’s the last building on this side. The location is also perfect for watching the sunset, and I saw some pretty impressive sunsets during my stay there. The resort has a kilometer-stretch of a white sandy beach, and instead of beach umbrellas, all the beach chairs are put under trees which in my opinion is a more elegant option.

Restaurants

There are two restaurants in the resort area: Cba and Spice Market. Both of these restaurants offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The breakfast at Spice Market starts at 7 a.m. and one hour later at Cba.

Cba

Cba is located on the beach and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. They also offer delicious fresh juices and smoothies.

Spice Market

Spice Market Restaurant is decorated like a traditional spice market, and the most interesting detail is a high window bringing in the light. The menu features some of the best Asian cuisines, including Indian, Chinese, Malay, and Thai.

Booking the Hotel

If you would like to stay at the resort, check out Booking.com or HotelsCombined for the latest prices and availability.

Things to Do in Langkawi

If you get bored of the resort life and want to explore areas outside of Pantai Cenang, here are some ideas what you can do. Langkawi is a great place for nature and outdoor activities, so I highly recommend trying some of these things.

Langkawi Cable Car and Sky Bridge

You can take Langkawi Cable Car up to the top of Mount Mat Cincang. This 15-minute ride offers breathtaking views of the sea and rainforests. When you make it to the top, you’ll also have an option to visit Langkawi Sky Bridge which is a 125-meter long pedestrian bridge giving you some fantastic views.

Tanjung Rhu Beach

If you would like to visit a secluded and quiet beach, I highly recommend a day trip to Tanjung Rhu where you can have the beach all to yourself. You can just take a Grab or Uber there if you don’t have a rental car/scooter.

Hiking

Langkawi also offers some great hiking options like summitting Gunung Raya, the tallest mountain on the main island, or Gunung Mat Cincang which offers stunning views.

Waterfalls

There are three waterfalls in Langkawi, Seven Wells Waterfall being the most famous one as it’s located just next to the cable car. I was in Langkawi at the end of the dry season so the waterfalls didn’t look that impressive but I heard they are a lot more beautiful during the rainy season.

Island Hopping Tour

Island Hopping Tour is the most famous tour in Langkawi, and it’s an excellent opportunity to explore some of Langkawi’s beautiful islets.

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