Hotel Dengan Gym di Kedah, Malaysia

The hotel is located on a private island, which was a fun experience as we had to take the free shuttle boat provided by the hotel to get in and out. The boats ran frequently. One evening, even though it wasn't shuttle time, they arranged a special boat just for me to go back to the hotel and rest. I booked a one-bedroom suite, but the hotel upgraded me to a two-bedroom suite. Both were over 100 square meters, but the extra room added more functionality, which was perfect for us as we just wanted to relax at the hotel. The three of us had a wonderful rest. There's a private beach, though the sand isn't very fine, and the sea in Langkawi generally isn't the clearest. Breakfast was hit or miss; sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Compared to another hotel we stayed at, we were very satisfied here. We were the only three Chinese guests at the hotel. The front desk staff had a strong English accent, but my child's English is good, so it wasn't an issue for us. The swimming pool water wasn't crystal clear; it was a bit murky. The service in Malaysia felt very straightforward, without much smiling, which might be a cultural thing. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel.

The hygiene was on par with a domestic guesthouse – not great. Breakfast mainly consisted of flatbreads and various porridges, which I wasn't really used to. The rainforest environment, however, was fantastic, with monkeys, geckos, and all sorts of small animals that the kids loved. After the evening show, some people were exhausted, and if you accidentally took a wrong turn on the way back to your room, you’d have to climb up the hill all over again. On a positive note, the chef at the Western restaurant was incredibly talented, serving the best steak, pasta, and grilled prawns on the entire island – truly amazing!

We had a wonderful time in July. I particularly want to highlight the friendliness and hospitality of the staff. It's so lovely when everyone smiles at you, always and everywhere. The few issues that arose were resolved incredibly quickly. However, there are a few things to consider when planning your trip. A significant plus is the long, expansive beach stretching to the left of the hotel. The beach is quiet and calm. It's not the most popular section of the beach; it's a more secluded part, which was a bonus for us. No hustle and bustle, no crowds. There are several surf schools here because this part of the coast has waves during the season. For us, having surfing available was a fantastic bonus. For 10 days, there wasn't a single day with a calm sea. Every day had waves of varying intensity. Because of this, the water was always (!) murky. In July, the sunset isn't over the sea, but behind a neighboring island, yet it's incredibly beautiful on a clear day. Many families with children stay at the hotel. The main pool is noisy. But a major plus is the 18+ infinity pool on the 5th floor. This is where you'll find relaxation and quiet. My main complaint about the hotel is the constant smell of food from the restaurant in the main pool/beach area, even by the sea. It's a persistent smoky, unpleasant odor of fried oil. This bothered me significantly. The hotel has absolutely no private grounds for walking, just a small lawn near the restaurant and that's it. It's a 5-minute walk to the lively street with amenities. No complaints about the room cleaning; it was spotless every day, and our housekeeper Salim did an excellent job. The breakfast was quite varied, with many Asian dishes and a selection of European options. The yogurts and fruits were delicious, but the pastries were weak and not very tasty. The freshly squeezed juices were great. The coffee was average quality. The hotel also has a premium restaurant, Lancava. It's luxurious. All the dishes were outstanding, and the service was polite, attentive, and pleasant.

This was our first time checking in, and the reception requested identification (IC) for all guests. The room we booked was for 2 pax, but we had 3 pax. Prior to arrival, we had already called to check whether an extra bed could be added, and we were informed that it was not possible. We accepted this information at that time. However, upon check-in, the receptionist informed us that we had to either pay an additional RM150 per night to stay in the same room, or book another room at an additional RM436 per night. We find these options unreasonable and not customer-friendly. We then requested to speak with the manager. Initially, the manager refused to meet us, but later came out after some time. We explained the situation in full however, the manager continued to insist on the resort’s policies. Eventually, the manager offered a complimentary room upgrade, but we were still required to pay RM150 per night. While we accepted the upgrade as a compromise, we are dissatisfied with how this situation was handled, particularly the lack of flexibility and the initial reluctance to address our concerns directly. In addition, despite not placing any sign requesting room cleaning, housekeeping entered our room without prior notice or permission. This is highly unprofessional and raises serious concerns regarding guest privacy and security.

⭐We had a very enjoyable stay at Ombak Villa Langkawi. The resort is located in a peaceful setting by the sea and offers beautiful sunset views. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, with all the amenities needed for a relaxing stay. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout our visit, and the swimming pool area was a great place to unwind. The resort is also conveniently located close to the airport while still feeling quiet and secluded. Breakfast offered a good variety of options, and the overall atmosphere was calm and relaxing. The only minor downside was that some areas of the property could benefit from a little updating, but this did not affect our overall experience. We would happily recommend Ombak Villa Langkawi to anyone looking for a comfortable and affordable stay in Langkawi.

The front desk staff were pleasant and welcoming, taking the time to explain the facilities and amenities available around the property. However, the check-in process felt somewhat disorganized, as our passports were collected and we were asked to wait at the side without much further guidance. The room itself was spacious, clean, and comfortable. We were pleasantly surprised to find the bed beautifully decorated with towel art, along with a complimentary dessert after we made a special request, despite having no expectations of receiving anything from the hotel. My husband and I truly appreciated the thoughtful gesture, it made us feel warmly welcomed. Unfortunately, the breakfast experience did not quite meet the standards we would expect from a 5-star hotel. The staff appeared somewhat inexperienced, and service was inconsistent. When we arrived, there were no available tables, yet we were instructed to enter and find a table ourselves. This left us feeling awkward as we stood around waiting for other guests to finish their meals. What made the experience more disappointing was that a family who arrived after us was promptly escorted to a table, while we were left to continue waiting, which felt unfair. We also had to repeatedly request utensils as some tables were properly set while others were not. While these may seem like minor issues individually, together they affected the overall dining experience and fell short of the level of service we would expect from a hotel that positions itself as a 5-star property. Overall, we enjoyed the room, hospitality, and thoughtful touches provided by the hotel. The stay had many positive aspects, but improvements in breakfast operations and service consistency would go a long way toward delivering the luxury experience that guests expect.

Our stay had some genuine highlights, but unfortunately the inconsistent customer service left us disappointed, especially considering we stayed for 11 nights. The biggest highlight was the infinity pool by the Glass Bar & Restaurant. It was a wonderful place to relax, and being able to order food and drinks directly to the sun loungers made for some very enjoyable afternoons. The beachfront loungers were another great feature and perfect for spending time by the sea. The room was exactly as advertised, clean and comfortable, so we had no complaints there. Food was mixed. Breakfast was fairly mediocre with limited variety, although we enjoyed both lunch at the beachfront bar and dinner at the Glass Restaurant. The café was also disappointing as several of the pastries we tried were stale. Unfortunately, the customer service was where the hotel fell short. My husband and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary, and before arriving I emailed the hotel twice to ask about arranging a romantic beachfront dinner package. Neither email has ever been answered. After checking in, I asked again and was told someone would get back to me. Once again, no one ever did. In the end, we gave up and booked our anniversary dinner at another resort. We also arranged a late checkout the day before departure and even had our room keys extended, only to receive a call from reception on checkout day telling us we had overstayed because they weren’t aware of the arrangement. Housekeeping was another issue. After being out for most of the day, we returned around 4:30 pm to find our room still hadn’t been serviced. A housekeeper knocked just before 5:00 pm asking to clean. We asked for five minutes so I could get changed, but she returned almost immediately saying she was leaving for the day and we needed to hurry. When my husband explained that I was changing, she looked at him and commented that he was already dressed, which felt quite inappropriate and uncomfortable. Breakfast service was also frustrating one morning. The restaurant was busy and there were many uncleared tables. When I explained to the hostess that there was nowhere for us to sit, she simply acknowledged us without offering any assistance until I asked what they were going to do about it. Throughout the stay, many interactions with staff felt rushed, as though guests were an inconvenience rather than welcomed. I’m not sure whether this was due to communication issues or simply inconsistent service, but after 11 nights it became increasingly frustrating. This hotel has excellent facilities, a lovely pool, and a beautiful beachfront location, but the service unfortunately didn’t match the setting. With more attentive and proactive customer service, it could have been a fantastic stay.

The room was clean and cozy. This hotel is right on the beachfront with its own private beach! There are plenty of sun loungers, a large pool, and beautiful, unique grounds! The breakfast didn't impress me at all ((( The only thing that made breakfast bearable was a glass of champagne… everything else was tasteless and cold (and I have a lot to compare it to, having stayed at several other hotels on the island)… there is parking available. In the evening, we were treated to a fantastic fire show!!!! It was absolutely beautiful, held right by the sea! Splendid!!

Pros: 1. **Location:** Conveniently situated between Langkawi Airport and Cenang Beach, just over a 10-minute taxi ride from the airport. 2. **View:** Offers sea views (though not directly beachfront). 3. **Architecture:** The hotel's exterior resembles a cruise ship, and the lobby has an Islamic-inspired design. 4. **Staff:** The front desk staff are friendly and enthusiastic. 5. **Elevators:** Four elevators make getting around very convenient. 6. **Corridors:** The hallways feature a traditional Southeast Asian architectural style. 7. **Rooms:** Spacious rooms with partial sea views. 8. **Breakfast:** Wide variety of choices including Western, Chinese, and Malay options. 9. **Pools:** Located on the second floor, there's an outdoor swimming pool, an infant pool, a regular pool, and a dedicated pool for Muslim women. You can also order food to be delivered poolside. The changing rooms are very large. 10. **Shuttle Service:** Free scheduled shuttle bus service to the night market and Eagle Square. 11. **Luggage Storage:** Luggage storage is available. 12. **Nearby Dining:** There's a restaurant with a pool next door, which has a nice ambiance. Across the road, there's a Thai restaurant run by Chinese owners, offering good value for money. Areas for Improvement: 1. **Condition:** The corridors and rooms are a bit dated. 2. **Air Conditioning:** Some rooms have central AC, others have wall-mounted units. In some cases, the wall-mounted units didn't blow air, and we had to clean the filters ourselves, which were very dirty. 3. **Bathroom:** The bathroom lacks a modern feel. 4. **Breakfast Quality:** The breakfast quality isn't very high and also feels dated.

My stay at frangipani was better than what I expected. The resorts location is ideal for island vacation, perfect blend of untouched beach and resorts ecosystem is extraordinary. The staff is very helpful, polite and attentive. I found my room was very clean plus house keeping was to the point. The swimming pools are maintained well. All in all I would say its a perfect place to stay for couples and families. I would come back here again.