Fall in love again at The Danna Langkawi…

Khaleej Madame takes you on a fantastic holiday getaway in one of the most famous islands of Malaysia, Langkawi, also known as The Jewel of Kedah.

Getting there

Located off the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia, Langkawi is an enchanting archipelago of 104 tiny deserted islands sprinkled over the emerald green Andaman Sea. Accorded in 2007 the status of the very first UNESCO GEOPARK in Southeast Asia, the island is famous for its rich geo-diversity, unique flora and fauna and a vibrant blend of local cultures.

Air Asia does several rotations all day long between the capital and the island, with flights available almost every hour. By booking well in advance, you can expect to find tickets for as little as AED 100 each way.

After landing at the Langkawi international airport, the arrivals procedure was quite smooth, thanks to the new terminal boasting international standards and we managed to get through the airport in just 20 minutes from touch down.

The Setting

The Danna Langkawi takes pride in honouring their legacy of offering luxury lifestyle. It is a 5-star resort built with Colonial – Mediterranean inspired architecture, surrounded by breath-taking nature and breezy sandy beaches.

The Danna Lngkawi is strategically located a mere 20 minutes’ drive from the airport, on a quiet beach situated right at the foot of Gunung Machinchang mountain, a must-see attraction on the island. Approaching the resort, the huge white mansion makes quite an impression being visible from a fair distance as you drive down the hill towards it. This 5* property is the only colonial design hotel on the island and is imbued by heritage and traditions.

First Impressions

The welcome is warm, as we were expecting by the fact that The Danna has been voted Best 5* Hotel in Langkawi five years in a row and ranks amongst the Top 25 luxury hotels in Asia.

As part of the arrival experience at The Danna, guests are treated to

a 5 mins leg and shoulders massage by the spa staff while you wait for the check-in procedure to be completed and sip on a refreshing apple, lime juice and clove welcome drink.

Sumptuous leather, vibrant carpets, high ceilings and chandeliers set the tone in the lobby. Beautiful scents of jasmine perfume the air consistently throughout the hotel.

The General Manager, Mr Aamir Khan, a hospitality industry veteran with an impressive track record managing luxury properties across the world – including prestigious openings in the UAE – was kind enough to welcome us and spend time with us during our stay. He told us more about the history and specifics of The Danna, a true Malaysian born, developed and managed property.

Accommodation

The Danna Langkawi features 125 rooms across 10 categories all located in the main building of the hotel with colonial features. A new section of the hotel consisting of 9 one bedroom villas and a two bedroom villa with contemporary design, was recently added to the property right on the beach.

Whether you stay in the Merchant, Marina or Viceroy Category, the rooms located in the main building are all generous in size, with surfaces ranging from 65 to 1080 sqm, larger than the average hotel in Asia.

All rooms and suites come with a private balcony, separate bathtub and rainforest shower. Rooms in the main building offer either sea and pool view, marina, rainforest or harbour village and mountain view.

During our stay, we had the chance to experience the newly built villa section of the hotel as we were treated to ultimate luxury in a 1 bedroom villa right on the beach. The villas maintain guests’ privacy as the main focus by featuring oversized private pools.

Bounded by lush greenery and the tranquillity from the Andaman Sea, the villas provide guests with a serene ambience, a refined living room, an upholstered bedroom equipped with sophisticated amenities and designed with touches of contemporary luxe.

Well suited for wanderlusters in search of a premium beach holiday, The Danna Langkawi Princess and Empress Beach Villas measure no less than 490m² and 1080m² for the 2 bedroom unit.

The main feature of our villa was definitely the stunning 60 sqm infinity pool surrounded by a tropical garden and com

plemented by a private sun deck and sun loungers.

Bathrooms are as outstanding as the rest of the villa. Fitted with bathtub and stand alone rainforest shower that will help you relax after a day out exploring the island. Surrounded by lush tropical garden, guests can enjoy relaxing views through the bay windows while taking a bath or shower.

A patio connected to the dressing room and featuring a private in-villa massage area with couple massage beds reveals the level of detail that has been put into the design of the villas at The Danna Langkawi.

Not only do the villas feature contemporary interior design, modern technology with an oversized 65 inch flat screen in all rooms, espresso coffee machine, Bluetooth enabled audio system or ipad docking stations complete with an iPad mini, but they also offer a host of additional benefits to their guests. Complementary return airport transfers, daily refilled minibar, daily afternoon snack served in your room, 4 pieces of laundry daily, 24hrs personal villa butler and Netflix unlimited series and movies (yes, Netflix comes free in all villas!) are some of the perks that are part of the stay package at The Danna villas.

Leisure and Wellness

The Danna Langkawi houses the largest 3-tiered infinity pool on the island, a true masterpiece also featuring a Jacuzzi and kids area.

Other leisure and entertainment facilities at the hotel include a Kids Club, a games room, a pool room and a reading room offering beautiful views of the sea and surrounding islands.

Located on the top floor of the hotel with a panoramic view of lush greeneries and the marina, the Danna Langkawi Spa offers a wide variety of massages and treatments. With 7 single and 2 couple suites, the spa is a haven for those wishing to spend a special moment of relaxation during their stay.

Several facials as well as special treatments and massages for the feet, hands, back or shoulders are also available for those who would particularly like to focus on these parts of the body.

We opted for 60-minute aroma therapy massage. A real awakening of the senses – a gentle massage based on essential oils, delivered wonderfully by our expert therapist.

The spa also includes a steam room with free to access for hotel residents.

Culinary Experience

From the crack of dawn to the sunset, The Danna Langkawi is the quintessential choice for luxury travellers who are ready to indulge in the art of living. The F&B offering at The Danna Langkawi comprises: Two main restaurants, a coffee shop, a pool bar, a cigar lounge and a bar.

Our selection :

Planters

Overlooking the infinity pool and the Andaman Sea, The Planters serves a daily buffet breakfast and is open for lunch and dinner too. It offers a sumptuous variety of Asian and Western-inspired cuisine. The open-kitchen concept allows guests to appreciate the chef’s culinary skills and inhale the fresh aromas of their works of art in progress!

A special mention to the freshly baked croissant, probably the best on the island, and served directly to your table by the welcoming hostess. Absolutely worthy of the authentic French croissant you would find at any Parisian bakery!

We also enjoyed dinner twice at the restaurant and appreciated its extensive menu. A must-try at Planters is the Malay tasting platter. A generous sampling of 8 traditional Malay dishes including seafood, beef, chicken and vegetarian dishes cooked and seasoned in local spices.

Guests can also enjoy classics of International, Pakistani and Indian cuisine at Planters.

Terrace

This fine dining restaurant is located next to the 3-tiered infinity pool. The Terrace offers a choice of Italian cuisine and fresh seafood dishes. It is open for lunch and dinner. The bar and pavilion are perfect for couples to share special romantic moments together.

A highlight for us was the antipasti platter – good for two, which includes a mouth-watering selection of duck smoked to perfection, absolutely amazing bresaola beef as well as fresh buffalo mozzarella and vegetable carpaccio served with tomato jam.

Final Verdict

We had a truly phenomenal stay at The Danna Langkawi. The hotel’s reputation of being the best luxury property on the island, earned and maintained over the years, is undoubtedly well deserved. The hard work and passion for hospitality demonstrated by its staff is evident at every level.

Attention to detail and the level of service offered at The Danna Langwaki will ensure that you are guaranteed a truly special and memorable stay – be it couple’s retreat or a family trip.

One thing is sure: we will come again!

To do / to see in Langkawi