Gecko Guesthouse Langkawi

I was unsure where to stay in Langkawi and spent a long time deciding, but I’m glad we picked Gecko Guesthouse. The location is great, with a relaxed five-minute walk to the beach. Our deluxe room was large, with a big washroom, and its spot near the entrance meant no noise at night. In fact, it was quiet in general. There’s a handy seating area right outside the room for drying clothes, which really matters when everything gets wet. The common area is a nice place to meet other travelers. Tiger beer is 6 Ringitt and cocktails are 10 Ringitt, hard to beat, though there’s no food. They also have a kind of barbecue night with live music. There are lots of cats who mostly do their own thing but are fun to play with. The staff were helpful, and the grounds are green with plenty of plants. Check-in and check-out were easy, and they don’t ask for a deposit. I’d definitely stay at Gecko again if I return to Langkawi. Loved it!

The location is good and I loved the cats. The place itself is nice, but the dorm beds weren’t very comfortable and creaked whenever someone moved even a little. You also have to make your own bed; they just leave the sheets and pillowcase for you. There was no shower gel or shampoo in the bathrooms. The facilities could use some improvement.

Gecko Guest House has a pleasant common area, and the location is very convenient, near lots of restaurants and an easy walk from the beach. Our room, though, was disappointing and quite different from the photos on Booking.com. The listing seems to show only the nicer rooms, so what we got was much more basic than we expected. The location and shared space give the place potential, but our room didn’t live up to the impression the photos created.

I stayed in the clean, comfortable 10-bed mixed dorm and had a great time. There’s plenty of covered outdoor seating, which was especially handy during the hot and rainy parts of the day. The friendly staff were happy to help plan excursions around the island. You’re only a few minutes from the beach, and there’s a nice long road nearby for running, jogging, or walking for exercise. Since it’s a touristy area, it’s easy to find transport to other parts of the island. There are lots of cats, so being a cat lover helps, but you don’t need to be one to enjoy this hostel.