Almost paradise
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa promises guests a luxurious and memorable stay, writes
THE turquoise water of glimmering Andaman Sea spreads out as far as the eye can see. There’s a cluster of smaller islands dotting the sea as our plane makes a final dip into the Langkawi International Airport.
After collecting our luggage, we make our way to the arrival hall where a brand new BMW 7-series is waiting to whisk us to our getaway, the The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa.
Located near the Kuah Jetty, the resort is known for its exclusivity and serene surrounding, with a stunning beach and lush tropical trees, palms and pine trees.
The laidback set-up makes it easy to find any spot around the resort to relax. Everywhere I go the scent of white tea — the resort’s exclusive scent — seems to follow, invoking a certain calmness and peace.
THE ROOM
Check-in is fuss-free and to my surprise, my room has been upgraded from a deluxe room to a two-bedroom villa. This means more space to move around. And the best part is, our villa comes with its private swimming pool.
Located quite far from the rest of the resort, we are ensured some peace and quiet throughout our stay. And if you don’t mind a bit of exercise, you can actually walk all the way to the lobby and to the infinity pool near the beach. We decide to ditch the buggy service and walk all the way to the beach.
All the guestrooms come with the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, a mattress that is wrapped in 10 layers of bedding to ensure a soft and fluffy touch. And yes, the bed is super comfortable.
A bottle of complimentary chilled white wine, fresh fruits and chocolates await us on the table in the living room. And it helps that the staff had already switched on the air-conditioner of our villa. Like the rest of the property, our villa is set in neutral hues and minimalist design.
THE OUTDOOR
The world outside is more interesting, and after a quick freshen up, we head outside where the fun is.
Our first stop is the beach. Since it is mid-day, there aren’t many people at the beach and it can be very quiet. With towels spread out on the lounge chairs, we make ourselves comfortable while sipping cocktails from the Splash bar.
When the weather cools down a little, we head straight to the sea. The warm waters splashes on our skin and the hot sands beneath our feet immediately makes us feel relaxed.
As we watch the sinking sun over the horizon, families with little kids stroll along the beach while the dads are busy taking precious family photos.
We also love the infinify pool, which seems to blur the boundary between the sea and the blue sky above. Every hour there are passing fishing boats from a local fishing village as well as boats ferrying passengers from the Kuala Kedah jetty to the island.
The infinity pool also has a bar, where you can swim up to it and order your favour- ite drinks. There is a lack of shade in the inifinity pool area, so it can get quite hot by mid-afternoon. But for those who want to get a little bit of tan, this is where you should head to.
Another favourite of mine is the Rock Pool. As the name suggests, this manmade rock pool is a fun swimming pool for kids and adults alike. The rounded boulders and waterfalls imitate the many famous waterfalls found in Langkawi like the Telaga Tujuh Waterfall, Durian Perangin Waterfall and Temurun Waterfall.
There is also a Kids Club (charges apply) for children aged 4 to 12. The club has great facilities to keep the little ones entertained while the parents head out for some “me time”.
There is also a playground within the resort. For those who want a bit of adventure, you can head to the waters for some water sports activity like kayaking or windsurfing.
THE INDULGENCE
into the resort is the Heavenly Spa. After weeks of back-to-back work, I feel that the muscles on my shoulders and back are slowly protesting. The aching muscles on my lower back is my body’s way of telling me that it’s time to take a break and relax.
My appointment is at 10.30am and as I stroll to the Heavenly Spa located on the fringe of the resort, I take in the natural surrounding. The resort’s sister property, the St. Regis Langkawi is located just beside the spa. Being a sister property, guests from either resorts can use the facilities any time of the day.
My 80-minute spa session starts with a cup of warm cinnamon tea and ends when my therapist Nisa gently nudges me awake. As she leaves me on my own, I walk around the facilities and discover yet another pool overlooking the beach. Tucked away from all the spa rooms, this pool offers a sanctuary for guests who want a quick dip before heading back to their rooms.
At The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, they want you to eat and rest well. There is a wide selection of dining options here. For breakfast, I head to Seasonal Taste, an all-day dining restaurant that overlooks the infinity pool and the sea.
For the health conscious, it is worth checking out the SuperFoodsRX options for fresh, cold-pressed juices from the Westin Fresh by The Juicery juice bar. If you want a bit of a rustic dining experience, head over to Tide for the perfect beachside dining experience. At night, chill by the Breeze lounge and sip on speciallycurated cocktails, while feeling the night wind from the sea.
On our last night, we are treated with a special dinner at the Float, a jetty-turnedprivate dining venue that is connected to the beach by a long wooden walkway. Our buggy drops us at the mouth of the walkway and from there, it’s a five-minute walk to the main dining area.
Every now and then we pause to take in the beauty of the sunset. The sky is gorgeous with purple and orange hue, and there is nothing more romantic than this view.
That last night in The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa is made perfect with a scrumptious meal from succulent scallops to crunchy lobster tail, and mouthwatering dessert.