F rom the sparkling, emerald-green waters of the Andaman Sea, The Datai Langkawi looks like

a tropical paradise of lush pristine jungle. Framed by giant rocks, this place is reminiscent of sceneries almost as dramatic as anything one can find in any exotic resorts in the Caribbean or French Polynesia.

This resort surrounded by rainforest lies above a half-moon cove on the northwestern tip of Langkawi on a land of nature preserves. Largely secluded, the cabins are built in a way that minimise the visual impact of the beautiful surrounding rain forest.

Rooms here are much larger than most hotels, with 54 Deluxe Rooms, 40 Villas, including 35 Superior Villas

and five Pool Villas, 16 Suites and the top of the range, a 2777 sq ft two-bedroom Datai Suite.

All of its individual villas are placed deep under the forest canopies and are very well hidden within the soothing lush greenery, complete with balconies and daybeds. You’ll realise that “quaint” and “charming” aren’t just adjectives, they are a way of life.

At every level of accommodation, luxury and comfort are generously specified, with an array of high-tech and modern trappings such as a Lavazza coffee machine, a Bose CD sound system, a 37-inch LCD TV and a DVD player.

It offers some of the best room arrangement I have seen for quite a while, with a nice king-size bed

astutely concealed from the entrance door by a poster wall to provide a better sense of privacy. The bedding zone opens out to a nice balcony view of the luxuriant rainforest.

The bedroom area features a plush king-size bed and a complementing corner bed. In the rear, it opens out to a private deck right smack next to the virgin tropical forest where sunning beds are neatly provided to digest the superb greenery view.

Clever touches such as the placement of a two-corner sofa creates an intimate lounging area right alongside the balcony. The bathroom is almost as spacious as the bedroom itself, an indulgence I find most appealing.

It is meticulously appointed with

078MICE & BUSINESS TRAVELServing Up a Paradise

April 2012

On an island famed for its natural wonders, The Datai stands out with its excellent service standard. By Tony Goh

Serving Up a Paradise

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April 2012

twin vanity mirrors, while the shower stall, bathtub and luggage storage are delicately segregated within the spacious bathroom.

The Datai features two swimming pools, and the one at the main building is decidedly more breathtaking amidst the view of lush forest canopies.

A partial view of the Andaman Sea can be enjoyed from here but the so-called ocean view may soon be gone as the verdant rainforest continues to grow taller. Another swimming pool is located right by the beach and it is often patronised by children.

Business in mindDatai has been designed to blend perfectly amongst the huge luxuriant

trees, which are still the home of sea eagles, lemurs, monkeys and flying squirrels.

For those who are not into jungle tracking, wild animals or bird watching, the private beach with its fine soft sand is the perfect place for some outdoor adventures such as snorkelling, swimming and sailing.

But more than just adventures, blending work with pleasure is something that comes naturally for today’s sophisticated travellers, and The Datai is well prepared to meet this expectation.

Located just next to the gift shop in the main building, the 775 sq ft meeting room is unpretentious with traditional design and simple furnishing.

Conference and meeting facilities

are available for small events such as seminars and private meetings, which are able to accommodate 60 guests. Facilities include full audiovisual equipment, IDD phone and facsimile lines.

There are four F&B outlets in the resort, with the main dining outlet aptly named The Dining Room. Located just below the main lobby, it serves some of the best Malaysian and Western cuisines. The Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A beautiful, stilted restaurant perched amidst the rainforest canopy, is known as The Pavilion, which cooks up authentic Thai treats that caters perfectly to Western and non Thai palate amidst an intimate setting.

The Beach Club, which is accessible either by walking down the hundreds of steps or by simply hopping onto a buggy cart, serves some of the best Western and local fares with a great view of the Andaman Sea to boot.

But what really impressed me when its comes to dining at The Datai is the fact that breakfasts, or any meal at most time of the day for that matter, can be served right up to the chamber, saving the time or hassle to go out for a morning coffee.

For those planning for a retreat this month, a special treat awaits with UK celebrity chef Rick Stein appearing as guest chef for three nights from April 13 to 15, where you will get the chance to indulge in a five-course dinner prepared by the award-winning chef himself.

Experience bar noneFor the ultimate body pampering, the resort features The Spa, which is intimately placed deep inside the

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thick blanket of rainforest. The spa reception area boasts an open-air theme with a gentle natural stream from the forest flowing right underneath.

There is a waiting deck at the spa reception where patrons can linger while waiting for their spa treatments. Further inside the forest and interconnected by the wooden planks are the individual spa villas where selective Balinese-style treatments are conducted.

Each spa villa features two massage beds, which are suitable for a couple seeking the ultimate head-to-toe spa treatments.

It also has an open-air rainforest deck directly facing the stream flowing through the jungle, offering a sense of tranquillity for guests to relax before or after a spa pampering session.

and personal service that keeps it intimate and special.

Drenched in glamourous, excellent, almost personalised service bar none, the Datai has built itself a reputation as one of the most desirable resorts on this legendary island, and indeed be the standard-bearer for luxury resorts in Malaysia.

The sensation of indulging in such a modern resort that can blend so naturally into the delicate tropical settings is a truly getaway experience to behold. I am quite certain that very few luxury hotels in Asia has a comparable setting to the Datai, which is surrounded by lowland tropical rainforest, generous layout, forest screening

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