"Poor food lets the whole place down. Except for the Thai food in Pavilion, we had a poor to mediocre dining experience in Lobby, dining room and breakfast. It's just not worth this kind of money. Perhaps surviving off long-standing reputation. Nature lover into intermittent fasting. Go for it. Don't bother snorkeling as we did the sea is unclear most days (as told afterwards by their staff). Breakfast seating can be confusing and dealing with multiple wait-staff a nightmare. One even took away my just-brewed handcarried UK English Breakfast tea that i had just made whilst I was at the buffet. Poor."

"It rained every day. Nothing the hotel can do about that. But there is very little to do if it's raining. Beach, pool, rainforest tours, golf, tennis - all cancelled or unappealing. Spa and gym ok, but there's a limit to how much time you can spend doing those things. A wealthy guy was hosting a 30th birthday party at the hotel for the first two days we were there. First night, the Thai restaurant was closed and the revellers partied by the pool into the early hours of the morning. We all got to listen to them having fun... On the second afternoon we were asked to move away from the pool area around 4pm so the birthday 'nightclub' sound and lighting system could be set up. By 5pm the party construction was in full swing and it was no longer possible to stay at the pool bar. I am sure the birthday party guests had a great time all night long, but the other hotel guests were relegated to second class citizens. At no point during those two days did hotel management apologise for the disturbance or lack of access to hotel facilities. Food at the pool restaurant was very poor, as was food at the pool bar. The Thai restaurant was lovely, as was the Malaysian restaurant - where the staff were amazing. Breakfast was wonderful. We had a pool villa in the forest - really nice and only a shame that the bad weather meant we couldn't make the most of it. One annoyance was the TV system, which is terrible (it rained so much we attempted to watch a couple of movies but gave up). Generally, all the staff are lovely and attentive and the setting is beautiful. But it's a long way to go and a lot of money for a mediocre experience and a seeming lack of care from the hotel manager. We checked out two days early - no one asked why. We provided feedback as requested (the usual post-stay survey email) but never had a response."

"Nice great verry well Will come back"

"We've just come back from another 10 day stay at The Datai and it was every bit as wonderful as our previous visits. The entire team made us feel welcome from the word go and it was a joy to see so many familiar faces. We stayed in a beach villa and had a marvellous butler in Shakim who was exceptional. It was maintained by housekeeping to a very high standard and any requests were handled promptly, nothing was too much trouble. The location is of course very special and you are constantly aware of the respect held for the rain forest and its inhabitants. There are lots of opportunities for some wonderful walks - along the bay hopefully glimpsing sea otters, and in the forest hopefully seeing the monkeys and hornbills. There are buggies always available but we preferred to walk everywhere, the scenery is so special. The food is amazing! From the sumptuous Seafood Buffet at the Beach Club, the atmospheric Gulai House and the Thai Pavillon, we enjoyed some delicious dinners. But the perfect start to every day was the buffet breakfast - 178 [?] steps up The Grand Staircase and you arrive at the Dining Room - to be greeted by many smiling faces including Shaiful, Dhines, Dhean and Chini, all of whom added so much to the experience. Don't miss Amir's Roti Canai or Eddy's delicious egg dishes - it's a simple pleasure just standing watching them create, always with a beaming smile. And a mimosa or two at the end usually helped with the walk back down to the beach..! Thank you too to Mus and Dayah at the Gulai House who made our visits there such fun, and to Mojnu at the Beach Club - he knows how much we enjoyed our evenings there! The Boutique run by Yanti and her delightful team have some lovely items to tempt you - though I suspect we might have bought all the soap and fridge magnets! All in all, a wonderful place to be. Stephane, the GM, and his team ensure each visit is memorable and we can't wait to go back again next year. Thank you to you all - we're missing you already!"

"I stayed in a Beach Villa (Villa 7) at The Datai Langkawi from 10–14 May. The natural setting and beach are exceptional, but the overall experience was disappointing due to repeated service failures, inconsistent communication, and a lack of accountability. Throughout the stay, there was a recurring pattern where requests were initially declined or met with incomplete answers, only to be fulfilled after I pushed back. This should not be necessary at a property of this level. The most persistent issue was the in-villa TV and Apple TV/AirPlay system, which did not function properly from day one until check-out. Technicians attended multiple times, but the issue was never resolved. No alternative solution, compensation, or meaningful apology was offered. Reliable connectivity is a basic expectation, and in my case it disrupted an important daily routine. Housekeeping and maintenance were also inconsistent. The beach deck and table were left uncleaned for two consecutive days, and the private pool did not appear to be properly maintained. Some of the villa amenities also felt dated and below expectations. During a paid boat excursion, for which I paid RM700 for return transfers to Tanjung Rhu jetty, coordination was poor. After getting drenched in the rain, I requested dry clothes to be brought from the hotel. I was initially told this was not possible due to driver logistics, but after insisting, it was eventually arranged. This reflects a broader pattern where solutions were available but not offered unless pushed. Communication was another issue. I was informed that there were lifeguards stationed on the beach, but I did not observe any during my stay. Staff responses were often incomplete, requiring follow-up questions to obtain accurate information. On one occasion, I was told a specific cheese was unavailable, only to later find that several other options existed. More concerningly, as someone who understands Malay, I overheard staff making remarks in Malay in my presence that came across as dismissive in tone. This created discomfort and should not occur in a professional hospitality environment. The butler service was polite but lacked consistency and reliability. Requests often required follow-up, and initiative was limited. At departure, the butler became completely uncontactable at the airport when I required assistance with luggage, despite prior arrangements. This gave the impression that responsibility ended once I had checked out. Food quality across the resort was generally underwhelming relative to the price point. The only standout experience was at The Thai Restaurant, which was excellent. Other dining options did not meet expectations. Despite the number and consistency of issues, there was no meaningful apology, service recovery, or gesture to acknowledge the impact on the stay. The Datai Langkawi is a beautiful property, but luxury hospitality is defined by execution and consistency. Unfortunately, this stay was characterized by the need to repeatedly push for reasonable requests, and that detracted significantly from the overall experience."