jpdx, PatMike, Duke777 & bseller, thank you very much! We've now got a 5 night reservation. I've never had a bad Luxury Collection stay, and have had some truly outstanding ones...probably the best of any SPG properties. I suspect that we will have a great time here as the setting looks to be both magnificent and relaxing--exactly what we'll be looking for.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions for hiking on the island other than the hotel offered nature walks? We're pretty active, but I have a feeling once we get there we might just end up on the beach the whole time.

The only thing left to decide if we'll want the convenience of a rental car. From reading here it seems driving on the island is easy and getting a taxi at the hotel might not be, but I'd rather not drive if it's cost effective and relatively easy to get a car & driver or taxi. Is it possible to rent a car at the hotel just for a day?

Duke777, I initially started looking at Langkawi because of the new St. Regis, and was bummed that its opening was delayed. If you don't mind me asking, did you book the boat tour through the hotel? How much was it?