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golf buggies readily available for those who don ’ t want to walk . Berjana is the largest meetings hotel , with a ballroom that can take up to 900 and a multitude of meeting rooms . Event manager Roger Chew explained that the property can cater for groups of up to 150 , and is designed to keep delegates away from the tourist guests .
Just along the beach is the fabulously grand Danna Hotel , styled around a central courtyard in traditional colonial fashion and overlooking the party Island 101 . The ten-year-old property has 125 rooms and suites and also offers 10 private villas with direct beach access . For meetings , its Peninsula Suite can cater for up to 100 with a further Stateroom for intimate gatherings of up to 12 . Further along the beach is a Ritz-Carlton which offers six event rooms , including its pillar-less Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 430 delegates , who can stay in a variety of suites and villas , many with private pools . The hotel is spread over a cove and nestles into a steep cliff , so the electric buggy crew are always on hand to whisk delegates around .
Many other well-known brands offer
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accommodation and facilities – think Marriott with Westin , Accor with a Mercure and a Four Seasons available , and a rumoured new Hilton resort appearing on the Nort East beach . But for something really memorable , The Datai property at the north of the island ticks all the boxes . The luxury resort has 121 rooms , suites and villas integrated thoroughly into one of the world ’ s oldest rain forests , all with enchanting views of the lush Langkawi tropical rainforest , some with the breath-taking Andaman Sea and Tarutao Island vista on the horizon .
Top 10 beach The curve of the island offers a beach which is effectively private and rated one of the Top 10 Beaches worldwide by National Geographic . The property ’ s location also offers extra privacy and security , and its meeting rooms offer ‘ Succession ’– style privacy for up to 48 delegates . There are five restaurants , from a Michelin-adjacent fine dining room that serves a ten-course tasting menu , to a Thai restaurant perched on stilts in the treetops , some 100 feet above the ground .
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Left : Island delights for delegates at Langkawi – home to one of the Top 10 beaches in the world |
Of key importance to many planners will be The Datai ’ s commitment to sustainability ; single-use plastic has been virtually eliminated , and the beach is free of any motorised transport that might damage the fragile environment . The hotel operates a zero landfill policy ; waste sorting is robust and the focus is on donation , recycling or upcycling . What ’ s left is incinerated in a state-ofthe-art machine – the Asher – which produces only steam and neutral ashes which can be left on the forest floor or mixed with concrete . With Malaysia remaining one of the worst offenders for marine plastic pollution , The Datai stands as a beacon of hope .
Generally the climate will be hot and humid – this is jungle territory . The island ’ s short dry season is from December until February . Visitors between March to November can expect the rainy season , but the showers are warm and the sun is never far away .
Wildlife galore For nature lovers there ’ s plenty of opportunity to meet the local wildlife . Flying squirrels , hornbills and a vast selection of birds of prey , the dusky leaf monkeys who will smile cutely and then steal your lunch , and Tokay geckos galore . It ’ s also worth watching out for the Colugo ( the flying lemur ), common palm civet and monitor lizards . There are lots of snakes , too , but most keep their distance .
For some groups the lack of a bustling nightlife may be a negative , and – despite the Duty-Free status – there are far better places for shopaholics . But for those wanting beautiful scenery and long quiet periods interspersed with a few activities , Langkawi could be the perfect choice .
When you leave , opt for a night flight . The fishing boats head out in a line of several kilometres , and then turn on green spotlights to attract the squid . Your farewell will look like a stunning necklace of emeralds across the Andaman Sea . n
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