The Datai Langkawi

We had very high expectations of this place when we booked for my birthday in November and on the whole it was truly magical. Wonderful friendly staff who go above and beyond, efficient service, incredible food and a breath-taking environment of peace, clean air and rainforest sounds. There were only a couple of minor things if I was to be picky: 1) some inconsistency in service between the bars - we visited mostly the beach bar during the day, and lobby bar of an evening, and it was only 2 days before we came home that I finally managed to ascertain that they did indeed have soda water (I like this mixed with wine/ice as a refreshing spritzer) - I asked a few staff and was told that they had no such item and look confused when I was trying to describe soda water as if they had never heard of it! so for the first 5 days I was having to just have ice in my wine (due to the heat it needed to be kept cold)which wasnt ideal! Little things like staff knowledge of products felt a bit lacking. We were kindly given a room after checkout for a few hours until our departure at 5pm to shower/change, but they didnt contact us to tell us it was ready until 1 hour before were were due to leave (they knew where we were at the point) - so I had to chase for this information at the last minute. Then we got lost trying to find it said room and staff didnt seem that interested in properly directing us at that point so were wandering around for over 15 minutes to find the room to allow time to shower etc before being picked up which felt stressful/rushed ahead of a long journey back to the UK. One other little point of note is that whilst this resort does incredibly well in terms of environmental education, no plastics, respecting the natural environment etc, I was quite shocked to see tetra pack milk cartons in the room mini fridges (which were then replaced every day even if only a splash had been used!) - why on earth they cant place jugs of decanted milk into the fridges in the rooms I dont know ! seems a bit at odds with the low waste ethos of the place.... We had wonderful interactions and chats with the nature centre staff, special shout out to Dev who has a wealth of knowledge and passion about his role at the Datai and would always come say hello and have a chat when he saw us. The spa is worth a mention too, we had pre-booked a massage before arrival (highly recommend doing this) and loved it so much we booked another for later in our stay. The spa manager Louise was so lovely and friendly, even helping track down the oil they used on their cold face towels so I could take some home - divine stuff! The wildlife and forest sounds were just so moving and humbling to be part of that environment and felt so immersive and moving, I actually cried when we left. Food in every restaurant (we ate at every one during our stay) was outstanding and very plentiful and excellent value for money with the half board option (we quickly learnt we were over-ordering after the second night as they are very generous with HB allowances alongside HUGE portions! The Thai was probably our favourite although the Malay was also very good. We ate the degsuation tasting menu on the day of my birthday and it was incredible. All in all this was a real bucket list stay and I would come back in a heartbeat. Just needs a little bit of tweaking with staff training here and there.

Let me just state The Datai is just worthy! A place that was refined trough ages in a jungle like setting without ever feeling the downsides of a jungle scenario. You can witness wildlife closeby but never in an unwanted way. That was never a bug or lizard in the rooms or nearby for instance. Every detail was thought to secure and provide tranquility. It's a serene heaven. Some highlights of the stay: Negatives: - There is not much to mention but some things could be improved. Firstly I would say for the half board price tag there could be an inclusion of afternoon tea or small buffet lunch. However I much appreciated that non alcoholic drinks were complimentary and most of them were amazing. The Datai ginger ale is just something to remember! - The malay restaurant could use a little refinement and it was the only place were I saw mosquitoes. There should be more repelent scents, candles or diffusers in this area. - The dinner at the beachfront restaurant is great but after sunset it gets really dark in this place, maybe some tables could be left under the roof for people who prefer lighter ambiance. - the daily piano performance is great but maybe the artist could change location every other night and consider adding more night culture events or entertainment. - a small detail but I dont like the aesthetic of the room bathtub with the hole space under it. Just seems like a place to gather dust or unwanted pests. - some tables at breakfast have stains. Maybe they should consider changing the tops or apply some kind of protection. I get the feeling some bathroom appliances will suffer the same fate. - stains in some floor parts around the pool areas. I understand it is difficult to maintenance the condition of the materials but these stains deter from a pristine look in this area. Positives: - amazing adult only pool. The ambiance is gorgeous and serene and the water clean with nice temperature. There were although some stains in bottom pool tiles which is something to improve. At midday it could also benefit from a quick bottom cleaning. - huge private beach. Although it is not one of most clear waters Asian beaches (nothing compared with other beaches in southeast asia) it still is beautifull in its one. The complimentary kayaks and paddle boards were in perfect condition and it was always a pleasure to use. The resort with the back mountains views we get from the sea is just gorgeous! - the service was top notch troughout! - must say I got the best mangos is my life at this resort and consistently everyday! - beach cocktail party/event was a very nice touch! - the a la carte breakfast menu is amazing. Nasi Goreng was perfect everyday! - Thai restaurant was my favorite. The setting, the food and service was perfect! I would only consider to elevate the decor (and maybe remove the stange dolls at the entrance). - bath amenities are amazing with natural local floral scents. - complimentary walks with the biologist was very interesting. I would reconsider the price of some activities which are on higher side. The food at the other hand is a fair price for the setting and good quality troughout the resort. - there are few limited places for some complimentary activities like yoga which was almost all full. Even in the spa is not easy to get an appointment. - the real highlight is the serenity, the fluidity of the resort, everything runs smoothly, everything is calm and the ability to see closeby the rare friendly black monkeys everyday is something I will never forget. For is my intend to return to this amazing place I will give some suggestions to improved the overall feeling of the stay: they could consider increase slighlty the daily price and include more complimentary activities, more wellness focus activities and events, sound healing, pilates, aromatherapy rooms for instance (I miss those organic oil burners we see in some Asian hotels all around). I mean this resort has everything to be a top wellness center!! Some improve refinement in restaurants layout and flower arrangements could also make womders. I would also increase night entertainment or events. That being said the most difficult thing is to maintain the huge resort struture, the materials condition and the grounds which overall very good for the setting. Until the next time Datai!

やはり設備や建物が綺麗なところです。 コンシェルジュのスタッフは、とても丁寧に対応してくれ、心強かったです。 アクティビティのスタッフも親切丁寧で良かったです。

チェックイン前の1時半に到着したものの、チェックインが3時半になり、夕食の予約も混んでたのか、スタッフも確認すると言いながら、返答なしで、結局、そのスタッフは、戻って来なくて、違うスタッフに確認したら、言ってた予約時間は、取れないとのことでした。混み合っていたのでしょうが、少し残念でした。 後、レストランのメニューも写真があれば、いいなと思います。

The location is breathtaking, surrounded by ancient rainforest and a pristine beach, it feels truly special and incredibly peaceful. The food across the resort was excellent throughout our stay, consistently high quality and beautifully prepared. What really sets The Datai apart is the people. Every member of staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely kind, making us feel welcome from the very first moment. A very special thank you to our dedicated host, Debra, who was outstanding. Thoughtful, proactive, and incredibly warm, she made everything effortless and personal. Her attention to detail and genuine care elevated our entire experience, and she is a true asset to The Datai. Her managers should be very proud. The Datai is one of those rare places you immediately want to return to. Highly recommended.

Ambiente calmo e pacífico

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