Luxury Hotels - Malaysia or Thailand for a beach resort?

Hi
we are debating between these for our next Asia trip. We love Thailand but have never visited Malaysia.

The Four Seasons Langkawi looks good as does the Ritz Carlton in Krabi....

We have two small children (aged 3 and 6) who travel with us but we don't use kids clubs at all and they are happy to do what we are doing.

Just curious as to where you would recommend?

thanks
C

We had one of our best ever family holidays in Langkawi. Stayed at the Westin and it was fabulous.

I second the Westin Langkawi.

Also, FWIW, Malaysia and Singapore are separate countries...perhaps a geographical oversight....

Oops! Mistake rectified.

I have been to fs langkawi (and langkawi afew times). Weather is patchy- when are you going?

Have been to both and Four Seasons Langkawi hands down over the Ritz Krabi. The Ritz doesn't have a beach, it's built on an rock ledge and the Four Seasons has a spectacular 3 km long wide sandy beach.

Also second FS Lakngkawi. Had a fantastic 8 day stay in April a couple years ago.

Definitely FS Langkawi. I have stayed at around 15 lux resorts in se Asia with kids and this is one of the best. Brilliant kids Club that you will love even if you did not think you wanted or needed one. It is located right behind the family pool (at the beach) and kids can go for 1/2 hour or more and reach you by shouting loudly (though the kids club ladies will call you a more appropriate way, of course). Our son - and we - never wanted kids clubs before coming here, but this one was soooo well done and caring and great, that our son just loved to go there: batik painting, yoga for kids, beach games, sailing, fish feeding, great handicrafts etc. But also if you choose not to use the kids club, the hotel is great for kids: Beach, pool, restaurants etc.

How about a nicer room at the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang in Penang or the Pangkor Laut resort if you want Malaysia? Haven't been to either in a long, long time so don't know if they are luxury level but they probably aspire to it and are both on the beach.

Is there anyway to get to LGK other than through KUL?

Musken FS langkawi kids club >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12788422-post4.html

Overall we still rate the kids club at Langkawi higher, but The FS Mauritius kids club was better for him at this age, so let's say the two share the gold medal. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkawi_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destin ations
- singapore (silkair/SQ and airasia)
- penang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penang_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinat ions
- subang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Abdul_Aziz_Shah_Airport#Airlines_and_destin ations

Is there anyway to get to LGK other than through KUL?

We flew there from SIN.

Thanks for all your great advice. The FS Langkawi looks lovely but we think we have decided on Thailand for this trip; the Aman in Phuket. Friends have never been so we will leave Malaysia for next time, maybe later in the year to do it justice as a trip on its own. DH is itching to get back to Bangkok as it's a city we have visited seven times and is totally under our skin...

C

Thanks for all your great advice. The FS Langkawi looks lovely but we think we have decided on Thailand for this trip; the Aman in Phuket. Friends have never been so we will leave Malaysia for next time, maybe later in the year to do it justice as a trip on its own. DH is itching to get back to Bangkok as it's a city we have visited seven times and is totally under our skin...

C

Can I seriously suggest that you look at Khao Lak rather than Phuket for a family holiday. Much better, great hotels and only one- one and a half hours north of Phuket.

There are some fantasic rates to be had at the JW Marriott and Le Meridien. I can help if you are interested PM me.

Thanks for all your great advice. The FS Langkawi looks lovely but we think we have decided on Thailand for this trip; the Aman in Phuket. Friends have never been so we will leave Malaysia for next time, maybe later in the year to do it justice as a trip on its own. DH is itching to get back to Bangkok as it's a city we have visited seven times and is totally under our skin...

C

Amanpuri in Phuket is way better than any of the hotels discussed so far in this thread. Great choice.

Also, FWIW, Malaysia and Singapore are separate countries...perhaps a geographical oversight....

Malaysia may have different ambitions? ;)

Amanpuri in Phuket is way better than any of the hotels discussed so far in this thread. Great choice.

+1

If Malaysia still is the option the resort Pangkor Laut offers exceptional privacy and one of the best Beaches in SE Asia. With that said it can't reach 4S/Aman service levels but the hard product is very appealing.

Amanpuri in Phuket is way better than any of the hotels discussed so far in this thread. Great choice.

Agreed.

How about a nicer room at the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang in Penang or the Pangkor Laut resort if you want Malaysia? Haven't been to either in a long, long time so don't know if they are luxury level but they probably aspire to it and are both on the beach.

I second this opinion.

The Rasa Sayang is one of the nicer Shangri-La resorts, and certainly the best resort in Penang. It is situated on Batu Ferringghi Beach with great views of the Andaman Sea. The architecture and grounds are stunning, but beware, it is not a private beach.

A awesome comprehensive VLOG tour of the Rasa Sayang Resort from one of my fave YouTubers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmDMnl_cwDE

I would prefer Penang to Langkawi as there are too many monkeys at the latter.

I also suggest the Indigo Pearl Resort at Phuket. Great for families, and very new.

Amanpuri in Phuket is way better than any of the hotels discussed so far in this thread. Great choice.

So is Trisara... ^

So is Trisara... ^

Yes, Trisara is even better.

Trisara & Amanpuri in Thailand.

Four Seasons Langkawi in Malaysia.

That's it.

Rasa Sayang? I don't think so.

Would a combo of Trisara and Amanpuri be a wise combination? Or would people here just stick with one. I'm planning for a RTW trip in a few years and wonder if a long stop to see both is best or 3-4 nights at just one and move on from there.

Would a combo of Trisara and Amanpuri be a wise combination? Or would people here just stick with one. I'm planning for a RTW trip in a few years and wonder if a long stop to see both is best or 3-4 nights at just one and move on from there.

Do a combo but then I love resort hopping.

Would a combo of Trisara and Amanpuri be a wise combination? Or would people here just stick with one. I'm planning for a RTW trip in a few years and wonder if a long stop to see both is best or 3-4 nights at just one and move on from there.

Good plan & since you still have time to plan for 3/4 nights at each.
Have done this on a number of occasions sometimes Amanpuri first & vice versa :)

I love both Amanpuri and trisara. Both great and different so a combination is perfect. There is a trip report/comparison by me here if you do a search.

Would a combo of Trisara and Amanpuri be a wise combination? Or would people here just stick with one. I'm planning for a RTW trip in a few years and wonder if a long stop to see both is best or 3-4 nights at just one and move on from there.

I think combining both resorts can be a great idea if one has enough time for a minimum of three or four nights at each resort, otherwise I would advise picking one and staying long enough to relax and enjoy.

A lot of guests combine these two resorts - it works really well. Musken did it last time, I seem to remember, and I have certainly done it a couple of times. They are so different from each other, yet both excellent in their own way. Good idea as long as you have 3/4 nights at each.

I agree that combining both is better, if possible - despite the superficial similarities, they really are quite different.

Here's Musken's trip report comparing the two (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1197666-trip-report-amanpuri-trisara.html), as well as mine (which also includes Amanpulo) (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1341069-trip-report-amanpuri-trisara-amanpulo.html).

I haven't stayed at the Amanpuri but the FS Langkawi was incredible. We spent several nights in one of the beach villas with private pools and thoroughly enjoyed everything.