Langkawi, a captivating island nestled in the Andaman Sea, beckons travellers with its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and tropical allure. As a family, this part of our Malaysian Holiday Itinerary with kids was to relax and have a beachy holiday free from the cities like Penang and KL. We got this and more at our an idyllic getaway, we found our perfect haven at the Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, where we relaxed, ate, swam, and had the most amazing time! Join us as we give you tips on what to expect at the amazing Langkawi getaway with kids.
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1. Pelangi Beach Resort with kids:
From the moment we stepped foot into Pelangi Beach Resort, we were enveloped in a warm embrace of hospitality. The resort’s stunning tropical setting and serene ambiance instantly whisked us away into a world of relaxation and tranquility. The lush gardens, swaying palm trees, and the inviting azure sea were a sight to behold, leaving us in awe of Langkawi’s natural beauty. They greeted us warmly and told us to have a seat while we waited. As it was only 7:30am, the kids slept on the lounges as we had been up since 4:30am for our early early flight from Penang! They said they would let us know when our room was ready which was great. We left our luggage in reception (there isn’t a room or security so if you don’t want to do this bring locks and a chain).
2. Luxurious Accommodations for Families:
Pelangi Resort caters to families of all sizes, offering a variety of accommodations to suit different needs. Only 3 hours later we were told they had our room ready early, they weren’t able to give us a beachfront room (which I was disappointed as I was so excited about!) instead they gave us a suite. The suite was in a perfect location super close to the pool and the restaurant its really well placed. It was enormous, I’m pretty sure the bathroom was as big as our entire room was meant to be! So for 2 adults and 3 kids, the upgrade was very well received! The daily cleaning service was great, and heaps of drinking water was always provided and refreshed – we never ran out. The Suite provided ample space for all of us to unwind and enjoy our private sanctuary. The kids loved having their own cozy corners with their own balcony, while we marvelled at the scenic views from our balcony. We had a break for the first time in ages, and a morning view of the pool from our own lounges while not waking up the kids added to the holiday feeling we had hoped to get at this stage of our Langkawi trip.
Note – we were not paid or had any affiliation with Pelangi at all, we just really enjoyed our time there!
3. Splash and Play:
The highlight for the kids was undoubtedly the resort’s expansive swimming pools. The family pool with its waterslides and splash areas provided endless fun and laughter. Our suggestion is head into town and grab your kids a small inflatable ring – one that would just fit around their waist (not the big ones). Our kids used them to go down the slides and it seemed safer and it went faster – they will definitely thank you for this! The other pool at the other end of the resort had a pool bar which was great, and it was very empty there. We only went once as the walk there took ages when the other pool was out the front of our room. But if you are down that end of the resort having that pool there would be great!
They also have a button you can press to order drinks – this did work well albeit it took a little bit sometimes but it did still work well. I tended to get my drinks outside the resort at the marts and then just keep in the fridge!
4. Adventures Await:
Langkawi’s captivating natural wonders were at our doorstep, and Pelangi Resort helped us explore them all. The resort’s team organised exciting activities like island hopping tours, wildlife encounters, and mangrove boat rides. Our little adventurers were thrilled to discover Langkawi’s rich biodiversity and marvel at the vibrant marine life. We used the hotel’s tour table to organise our tour to the sky cable and our trip to the mangroves. I think we probably should have organised our own trip to the sky cable, they really only did the transport in the end as it took the entire 4 hours just to do the sky bridge etc! I would suggest probably just getting transport there and back rather than what we did! The morning we went it was still cloudy, and every time we looked at the mountain the other days it was also cloudy for most of the day as it is so high up! So don’t let it disappoint you, the clouds move and you can see the view well once in a while. It’s still a great thing to do and the kids LOVED the glass bottom floor of the cable car!
The mangrove tour conversely I would highly recommend the hotel tour. We got a lovely BMW which drove us the hour or so to the tour. This is hard to get in Langkawi and some buses and taxis literally wont even have the seats bolted to the floor! We went on some grabs which were not great as well, so for the big drives secure some good transport where you can. We arrived in our BMW, he explained the process, and everywhere we had a trip solo and were at the front of the line. The trip was perfect and the mangroves were unbelievable. Definitely do this tour with kids! Then we walked back out and had our driver waiting for our air-conditioned ride home. So in short, this is the PERFECT tour to book through the hotel!
Definitely go to visit and see this! It’s such a great photo and the kids loved seeing it. Our 2 year old thought it was amazing! Beware though that there is pretty much nothing else out there at the moment. The ferry still wasn’t running due to covid I think, so the Jetty was super empty unfortunately with not much open at all besides a couple of souvenir stalls. We went into the mall to get money out and get lunch and all we really found of interest was McDonalds. We soon found others from our resort had done the same thing with their kids! McDonalds is interesting in new countries so it was a fun experience anyway, but if you don’t want that just know that you are about 45minutes from Pantai Cenang and there isn’t heaps out there.
5. Treasure Trove of Dining Experiences:
The dining options at Pelangi Resort were really good for the whole family. From sumptuous buffet breakfasts with fresh Roti and curry at Spice Market Restaurant to lunch with a wine and view at the Grill, we indulged in a delightful array of flavours. We ate in town alot, with so many flavours.
Putamayo – seafood restaurant with kids
Putumayo in town is one of the seafood restaurants. We loved it so much we went back twice! The rustic setting and open-air dining area added to the island’s laid-back charm, allowing us to savour our meal in a serene and picturesque environment. Apart from the warm weather of course! But we were pretty used to this by this stage. The restaurant’s warm and attentive staff further enhanced our dining experience, making us feel like welcomed guests in their own home. For an unforgettable dining experience that blends flavours from around the world with Langkawi’s natural beauty, Putamayo Restaurant is a must-visit destination for food lovers exploring this enchanting island. The Indonesian Butter Chicken is amazing! We got some brilliant tiger prawns and they even de-shelled them for us. This restaurant is an absolute must in Langkawi with kids.
The Yellow Cafe – Cafe on the beach
The Yellow Cafe in Langkawi proved to be such a great experience for our family with kids. Nestled on the sandy shores, this charming beachfront cafe offered breathtaking views of the turquoise sea, creating the perfect setting for a relaxing meal. The kids were thrilled to explore the sandy beach and play by the water while we savoured our delicious meals. The cafe’s friendly staff went above and beyond to accommodate our little ones, ensuring their dining experience was enjoyable. The menu featured a delightful array of local, but mostly international dishes, catering to various palates. From mouthwatering seafood to flavourful pizzas (the best we had had in Malaysia so far), there was something to please everyone in the family. The cocktails are brilliant, and for my Husband who doesn’t drink, the virgin Pina Coladas were a massive hit! The Yellow Cafe’s warm atmosphere, delicious food, and stunning beachfront location made it a memorable dining spot that we highly recommend to families visiting Langkawi.
The Cliff – good views and great food
We had seen this restaurant way on the other end of town and thought it looked good. We walked in and found it was full of international tourists so we all must like the look of it; sitting literally over the ocean you cant miss it at the other end of the beach from Pelangi. The food was lovely and the view gorgeous, we found the view was better standing though, the walls were a little high to see much once you sat down! It was more expensive than other places in town, I guess the view allows it that. It also had a feel that it was marketing towards international tourists rather than local tourists which would bump the price. It’s worth a try out if you have the time, but I would make sure I visited the other restaurants above first if you don’t have the time to do them all!
6. Walking through the town and duty free shopping
I usually cant quite work out why people would duty free shop, and Langkawi was apparently known for it. I was keen to see why! We didn’t go into the malls with the clothes and other goods like that, but I did think it was a good time to pick up some cheap food and food souvenirs! I quickly realised this is a VERY cheap place to pick up things like this. I got a packet of crunchy Pepero x10 as I had been seeing them around and thought it was worth a try. They were 19.50RM (about $6.50AUD). I didn’t quite realise how cheap this was until I tried to get more at KL duty free airport. they were 59RM for the same packet! (about $20AUD). If you have duty free shopping to do I suggest this is a great place to do it! They also have funny things in the stores that the kids love like these massive pretend chocolates. The kids spent AGES doing this.
Throughout town you will also be looking at heaps of great clothes and cotton shops. There is the usual basketball singlets etc, batik clothing, and souvenir shops. We looked for basketball singlets and they were selling the sets for 85RM there (they were 49RM in Melaka!) which is still super cheap at under $30AUD, but were more expensive than we had found. They did take 60RM after some bartering so it is doable but no-one really wanted to go below that and were happy for me to walk away! As a side note – I have washed and dryer this basketball singlets and shorts lots of times now and surprisingly they have held up pretty well! We probably should have got more! (photos of my boy modelling them!).
Make sure you check out the main area at Pantai Chenang after dark. Everything is pretty chill during the day but after dark it has this amazing carnival feel. Some great toys the kids can fling into the air, bubbles galore for the littles to draw you into the stalls no doubt (but it works) and a few restaurants with bean bags and fire shows on the beach. We even saw a transformer show which is really just people dressed up, less show and more there for photos, but the kids again loved this. Its an amazing feeling there after dark and I just loved being there. If it’s too much for the kids catch a grab down to the other end (put the Cliff Restaurant into your grab even if you don’t want to eat there, that’s where you want to stop) and then just walk back. Don’t do it the other way as the main road is a one way road and it’s not as easy to do it the other way!
Conclusion:
Our stay at Pelangi Beach Resort in Langkawi was a dream come true. The resort’s perfect blend of tropical luxury and family-friendly amenities created an atmosphere of joy and relaxation. Langkawi’s natural beauty and the warm hospitality at Pelangi Resort made this vacation an unforgettable experience for the whole family. From thrilling adventures to tranquil moments by the sea, and incredible food at amazing prices, every day was a treasure trove of memories that we will cherish forever. If you’re seeking a tropical paradise for your family escape, look no further than Pelangi Beach Resort in Langkawi – a destination where the magic of the island and the comfort of the resort seamlessly intertwine to create an unforgettable journey for all ages.
As always ask me any questions you want in the comments and I will do what I can to make your Malaysia stay with kids the best experience possible!
