Pantai Kok and Cenang are on the western side of the island therefore sunsets can be seen there. Best view for sunset is atop Gunung Raya. Best beach on the island is Datai. The whole access is now blocked by a rich German who have built a bungalow there. How he managed to buy the forest reserve land and block the public road is anyone's guess.
Other than that, Pantai Kok is the next beach that is considered OK. Other beaches are muddy and dirty unless you hire a boat to take you to P.Payar or Koh Lipe.

Andaman and Datai are both managed by Landmark so they are sister hotel. Andaman is just beside the Datai golf course. Both tours you mentioned are two entirely different tours so if possible try both. Island hopping is actually 2 islands instead of 3 islands as done formerlly because the third island is just across a narrow straits, Pulau Singa Besar and Pulau Bras Basah. First they will take you to view the hill formation that resembles a pregnant lady (hence Pulau Dayang Bunting) from the sea and then drop you off for a small hike to a fresh water lake just beside the sea.It's called Tasik Dayang Bunting. There's lots of catfish there now. After that they take you to Pulau Singa Besar and if you want they can arrange(the boatman must be informed 1 day in advance) for BBQ lunch. P.Singa Besar is an animal santuary with a wooden walkway from the jetty to the beach with a lookout point in between.
Mangrove tour is a tour of the mangrove ecosystems that covers the Kilim river and also Kisap river. You will be taken to bats cave and also if the tide allows the boat will navigate through a cave. Lunch can also be arranged either on one of the poontoon of a guy we call 'Mat Sabun'.Food is so, so only and the other choice is Barn Thai Restaurant. The unusual concept of Barn Thai is that the restaurant is built around the mangrove trees and situated deep inside the mangrove jungle. Eagle feeding is nothing to shout about actually, just throwing chicken skins into the air for the eagles to swoop down to take the food. Actually it is destroying the eagles habitat by making them lazy to hunt food for themself.

If you have to choose one, then it should be mangrove tour. Arrange with the boatman in the jetty behind the Galleria (the place where they exhibit Tun Dr.Mahathir's gifts and momentos) in Kisap. You can ask for Talib there or if he is not there try to get his number. Ask him for the full tour ie. mangrove and river cruise, bat cave, Barn Thai Restaurant for meals, light fishing on an island off Tg.Rhu and also a view of flying foxes perched on trees on an island off Tg.Rhu. Theres also a place called 'hole in the wall'.When you view from far it is a wall but as you approach nearer (by boat, off course) there's an opening for boats and yachts to go through into the Kilim river systems.
If you get hold of Talib, you can say Wong(former boat repairman but is in Cameron now) recommended you. Maybe you can get a good price from him
Good Luck and enjoy Langkawi.

Oh yes! for awesome limestone cliffs ask the boatman to navigate through 'Selat Tikus'. Fantastic views of two cliffs with a narrow straits and also a tower like limestone formation jutting out from the sea.

When I was staying there, I thought nothing of it. Vision cookwares are damn! expensive in Kl compared to there. Chocolates are so much cheaper in Langkawi. Try venturing in shoe shops selling Clarks, Hush Puppies, I find them very expensive in Kl comparing to Langkawi.

I am now without any Vision cookwares at home and I cannot get myself to buy in KL because it was so much cheaper there. Cashew nuts is cheaper there.

Nah! alot of eletronic stuffs are duty free as well in mainland Malaysia so no price difference. Sometimes it is more expensive in Langkawi.

- Sky bridge is included in cable car as the sky bridge is on the mountain where the cable car is heading. Not to be missed!
- Nice beaches that is easily accessible will be Pantai Kok and other than that , I don't recall any nice beaches. Maybe you can walk across to Pulau Burau when the tide is low. Best beach is P.Payar but will take a whole full day.
- Might as well visit the ' Laman Padi ' in front of Pelangi Resort in Pantai Cenang. They have paddy fields for exhibition.
- Eagle thingy is just for photo shoot to show that you are in Langkawi.LOL
- Waterfall ,hmmmmm...... Mostly tourist goes to Telaga Tujuh in Burau Bay, need to hike up though and be careful not to venture too far near the edge. Many tourist has fallen to their deaths here. No joke but they are not publicised. Other waterfalls are Temurun in Datai ( it's dry season so I don't think there's water), Durian Perangin in Kilim (beware of leeches) and the one near the Book Village near Ulu Melaka.

It is a waste if you don't something from Langkawi though especially chocolates, ciggies or kain pelikat.

Actually there's a seaside restaurant in Pantai Tengah (it was called lighthouse but I am not sure if it is still called that). Have a coffee or dinner here and you can actually watch the sunset from here. Another nice place will be Pantai Kok or Burau Bay.

It doesn't really make a difference if 2 of you are renting or 5 of you are. It is a car. Car rentals are available in airports. You don't have to look for them, they will look for you when you come out from the arrival hall. Normally, you deliver the car back to where you take it or if you want to return it else where, discuss with the car rental guy.

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Added on March 3, 2010, 10:46 pmAnother option is enjoy yourself in Penang first and take the first ferry to Langkawi which is at 8.00 or 8.30 am the next morning. You arrive in Langkawi around 11.00 am. Rent a car for half a day and round Langkawi till 4.00pm and take the ferry back to Penang at 5.00 pm and reach Penang at 8.30 pm. The schedule for the ferry was initially designed for day trippers from Penang to Langkawi. You won't be able to buy cigarettes and liquors though but for chocolates or some little items the customs won't bother you.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 3 2010, 10:46 PM

Langkawi is a very safe place and crime rate is low. Even if there are crimes, it is usually drug related. Why do you want to overnight in the airport anyway? Helang Hotel is just outside the airport entrance, in fact just like next door. I think they close the airports after the shops are closed and if there's no arrival or departures for the night.

That is a isolated part of Pantai Cenang on the way to airport and the beach is muddy. The beach area is actually within the wave breaker covering from Pelangi Resort till Langkawi Lagoon in Kuala Triang. Yes, it is within paddy fields near the beach. Nearest neighbour is Bonton Restaurant. You can't really swim there and there's no facility for anything, are you sure you want to holiday there?

There are alot of motels ranging from RM45 - RM60 along Pantai Cenang without air cond. But get mosquito repellant though. You can sleep 3 in a room actually so about RM15 per pax. Go to Breakfast BAr in Pantai Cenang and ask the breakfast bar guy, he should be able to tell you more details.

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Added on March 7, 2010, 4:04 amMight as well lounge around some hotel lobby. I am sure they won't chase you out especially those 5 star hotel. Can get to use their restroom to freshen up.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 7 2010, 04:04 AM

All three of them are almost the same but AB or abu bakar motel seems to be pretty popular. Maybe because it is a chalet type but sometimes they give dormitory style lodging and this one is across the road and not by the beach. If you book before going sometimes Awana Porto Malai cost just RM30 to RM40 more but the jump from no star motel to a 4 star hotel is quite a bargain. Maybe you can cramp 4 to a room and still pay the same price for each person but it will be more comfortable. Check Awana before you go, you might be suprised!

I am not to sure myself but I think a call to Air Asia can confirm this. Just a phone call will clear this up,

Most trips can book at the counters in jetty point.

The cheaper one by the long steel ferry Express Bahagia, I think is about Rm120 - Rm 180 depending on how you bargain with the counter in jetty point. I must say the trip will be louyah! You depart at about 9.30 am , reach 1 1/2 hours later and by the time you get your snorkels and go ashore , it is lunch time liao. Lunch is a lousy fried rice with frankfurters and mineral water. Finish lunch spend another 2 hours they will usher you back to ferry for return trip.

The other one, Langkawi Coral, even more expensive. Price wise, you got to check there, probably more than RM200 per pax. The food is better and they will go to their own barge or platform and not the beach. They also provide boat rides to the beach though. Their boat is more comfy!

Last resort, contact East Marine on the island. I don't know their number but can easily find out there. It is a diving center but they also will take snorkellers to P.Payar.Check their lunch package and price with them but I think they will be better.

The best is charter a speedboat if you have 10 person. Bargain hard with the boatman, probably can get RM1200 with snorkelling equipment. Just buy a tub of KFC and carbonated drinks there. Pay RM5 levy per person for the island. Start journey from jetty at 9.00am and reach there one hour later. Can go back anytime you want but before 4.30 pm. Cheaper than the above is you have 10 person but the boat can take 12 person. The boat ride is more faster and more thrilling. Take your choice. For boat charter can contact Keng Chuan Motors behind CIMB bank in Kuah. This rich fella has nice boats.

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Added on March 25, 2010, 4:52 amThey have 3 hotels formerlly, Langkasuka, Helang and Delima Hotel. Delima tapao first because the hotel was built in a hurry and 1500 rooms , how to service. Like Langkasuka , the hotel is built with wood, very hard to maintain. So Langkasuka closed is not really suprising.
It belongs to Tan Sri Ting from Sarawak so most building materials from Sarawak. Sucessful businessman because close to Dr.M but he has got lousy sons. I seen his son bringing Hongkee gals in their private jet and holiday in Sheraton Beach, last time also partners but not sure now.
Now concentrating on Bakun project liao, not interested in Langkawi, since Dr.M no more PM.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 25 2010, 04:52 AM

Yeah already suspoected Delima belongs to Langkasuka group because Langkasuka & Helang owned by Tan Sri Ting Pek Khing...The once so called riches man in Sarawak. Delima was built for LIMA at the point of time & Mahathir wanted it to be ready b4 LIMA. Thus the quick job & failed after a year or two. Even in early 2000, Delima already converted to student hostel.

It was converted into a college, fly by night college, ha,ha,ha. Lagenda college or something like that. That failed too and cheated alot of East Malaysian students, pity them. If you see Langkasuka and Delima and also the FAILED water park behind Langkasuka, they are on the same plot of land. The water park closed because the pool is leaking, ha,ha,ha. To rectify it cost millions, that's why they gave up.

Before that, Tan Sri Ting wanted to dismantle Delima Hotel and carry all the materials to built a resort in Hainan Island,China. Didn't go through, don't know why. Delima also have a lot of unpaid bills to the suppliers in Langkawi. They are also the owners of Mahsuri Hall beside Helang, venue for LIMA.

If you deal through hotel, everything can be paid by credit card. More expensive though. Island hopping is strictly cash if you are dealing direct at jetty.

Better to go by flight as ferry services are cramped and long. The ferries they use now are not comforable at all and if you hit waves, barfing is the norm inside.

As for car rentals from airport, you can actually haggle till they relent. They want your business more than you want the car. Also it is only two person, you can go for cheaper car like Wira or even Kancil. I did get a Kancil before for RM50 a day. Petrol consumption is less too.

Awana is a good choice for the price and the quality of accomodation.

Why buy only 1 carton of Mild 7 when you have 2 persons going, buy two cartons and get another carton and smoke there and the loose ones, they don't really mind.

The only nice seafood is found in Kuah town at night. Don't eat at Pantai Cenang. They are catered for tourist hence, tourist prices. Hunt for Orchid Restaurant in Kuah town. It is a coffee shop in the mornings and afternoons and at night the seafood restaurant takes over. Always eat prawns in Langkawi because they are freshly caught in Langkawi. There is another one in the same row as Orchid, it is called Teo Seafood. It is nice but I heard from forummers here it has become very expensive. But the food in Orchid is better.

You don't have to be a swimmer for snorkelling. For P.Payar trips they provide you with life jackets and you can wear them and snorkel.

Have a nice holiday!

For sunsets try Lighthouse Restaurant in Pantai Tengah(adjoining Pantai Cenang). no guarantee on postcard view though.

Nice pub with band for hangout- Black and Henry Pub in Sheraton Beach

You can take island hopping in Awana jetty, a bit expensive from Kuah's jetty, normally from Kuah around RM30 - RM50 per pax but got to wait until they fill up the boat.

Best Star located in Pantai Cenang actually quite new, built in 2006, I think. There is one room there on top of a tree by the beach, LOL. quite OK larr, for the price. The same price also can get Awana Porto Malai. No worry larr, beach hotel means there is a beach. Beach is public property so anyone can BBQ.

Most probably they do but even if they don't have you can buy BBQ kit very cheaply. Or buy those aluminium foil container, big ones and some iron gauze from hardware shops. Clean the gauze and oil it. Some charcoal and satay sticks, kau tim.

Awana is about that price and before you go, check with MAS. Check their room and air ticket package.

Langkawi Express, You get down in Arau, Perlis. You still have to take a taxi to Kuala Perlis jetty. Might as well get off in Alor Setar, you still have to take a taxi but cut short the journey to Perlis. My advise take bus if you want to take public transportation. Take the night service and reach there in the early mornings. Lepak over teh tarik for a while and take the first ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi and be there at 9.00am.