Century Langkawi Beach Resort

Really poor service and no cleanliness. The staff showed zero hospitality, with no welcome or goodbye, and we had to carry our own luggage. Breakfast had very limited options and wasn’t very good, so don’t pay extra for it.

The rooms and facilities felt dated, but the setting is lovely, by the ocean in a forest with lots of monkeys. It was very quiet in summer, and the pool was nice. The owners, Sheraton, seem to be keeping it going with a skeleton crew until a full renovation. From check-in to checkout we didn’t see any employees outside the front desk or restaurant. I hoped to get a drink from the fully stocked pool bar, but no bartender turned up. The fitness centre building was closed for repairs, yet its door was wide open and no one was around, so we went in. I doubt any of the four employees would have cared if they knew. We found a good price on a Chinese booking site and stayed one night. I wouldn’t stay more than a night or two or expect 4 star resort service, since you’re mostly on your own.

The layout was nice, and our room had a pleasant garden view from the balcony, but the resort looks run down. The blind meant to separate the bathtub from the room was worn and didn’t do its job, and there was no hose in the water closet. Reception was awful, and there was no signal for the TV. It felt creepy at night. There was no ventilation in the bathroom or the coffee house where we had breakfast. Breakfast was okay, but there weren’t enough utensils, so we had to wait for a clean batch of glasses.

The staff were very friendly and polite, the pool was fine, and the food was okay. There is a beach, but it’s tiny, and internet is only available in the lobby and restaurant, where it’s incredibly slow. The rooms are old, worn and a bit smelly. They charge extra for almost everything, and hotel prices are two or three times higher than normal. For the total cost, I expected much better. It’s presented as a 5 star hotel, but I’d say it barely reaches 3 stars.