Where is it? The Four Seasons Langkawi offers luxury bungalow-style accommodation in Tanjung Rhu, on the northern tip of Malaysia's Pulau Langkawi. The resort is situated on a private stretch of pristine, white sandy beach (right) that is hidden from other holidaymakers. Day-trippers are discouraged.
Are we talking about those too-good-to-be-true pictures you see on hotel websites? In this case, they are true. What you see is what you get. The gigantic floor-to-ceiling glass doors in each of the resort's 20 beach villas open onto a small patio, with a private jacuzzi, just steps from the beach. The resort also has 68 two-storey pavilions, which offer units on each floor, a two-bedroom villa with a private lap pool and a three-building royal villa, which has housed kings and presidents.
How peaceful and secluded, exactly? Even when it's almost full, you hardly see another soul on the resort's 20-hectare spread, except at meal times or at the activity centre or the spa. The two pools are at opposite ends of the resort. If you want to avoid people, you can hide in one of the cabanas and have a foot massage. The spa offers yoga classes as well as a number of holistic treatments
in rooms bigger than most Hong Kong apartments.
Is it just for couples? Although the place exudes an air of romance, it's perfectly suitable for family holidays. The pavilions and villas are large enough for a bed (or two) to be added without things becoming cramped. There is a lot to occupy children at the activity centre, including painting classes.
What else is there to do besides lie in the sun? The resort's three restaurants offer a good balance of western and Asian fare. Souvenirs can be bought in the nearby town, which is a short trek away, and the hotel offers excursions led by the in-house naturalist, Aidi, to the neighbouring mangrove forest, where you can catch a glimpse of mudskippers and wild monkeys. Aidi doesn't approve of feeding the eagles but you can watch other tour operators do so.