For this vacation, the TravelGuys decided to go to Asia together. Our choice was a combination of Singapore and Langkawi, an archipelago of islands off the coast and north of Malaysia. If Bertrand was able to book his vacation well in advance, it was not the case for me, so I joined the trip already planned by Bertrand. But what a pleasure to stay in this hotel! Even if my rate was slightly higher than the one paid by Bertrand, the resort is really worth it. Sure, it’s expensive, most of you will have to make some sacrifices, but it’s worth it. Back on this incredible stay with a very high level of service and an extraordinary location in the jungle.

Booking

We booked in this property through the SPG website, as usual. If Bertrand was able to get a rate around 1000 MYR per night, I personally got a rate around 1300 MYR. I admit that it is a substantial budget for a night in a hotel, around 270 €. We have already introduced you to a number of resorts, such as the Laguna located on the island of Bali.

While the two properties may look similar, the level of service and especially the geographic location are very different. If, in Bali, the setting remains exotic, it is still very touristy and especially very concrete. None of this in Langkawi: most of the island is untouched by tourism, and this resort in particular. No other hotel shares its beach.

In fact no other construction can be seen from the hotelor its beach. The rate seems to us to be completely justified. We proceeded to the reservation without a hitch on the chain’s website.

Arrival

For some time now, we have noticed that the SPG application was no longer being updated prior to arrival at the various properties, particularly in the case of upgrades. This was the case here again. Prior to our arrival, I booked a transfer from the airport. Just to have fun, I decided tor eserve a Bentley, as we did when we came back from Abu Dhabi at the St. Regis.

Indeed, the limousine and its driver were waiting for us at the exit of the airport to take us to the Andaman. The journey from the airport takes about 40 minutes.

When we arrived, two baggage handlers took care of our luggage (the cabin luggage, as the hold luggage did not arrive at the same time) and then the check-in formalities were done in the lobby, seated.

And the visit of the lobby in video :

If Bertrand had benefited from a more advantageous rate and thus positioned in one of the standard rooms whereas I had reserved a room with terrace, we were both upgraded to the best room level available, the first floor rooms with a private pool (Luxury Pool Access).

The formalities were simple: in addition to the passport, we were asked for a credit card imprint, for a rather small amount.

We were also introduced to the entire resort, the bars, restaurants, as well as all the discounts we are entitled to as SPG Platinum members. Afterwards, the receptionist and a luggage handler accompanied us to our rooms.

Room

The two rooms we had with Bertrand were strictly identical, almost contiguous.

The rooms, in themselves, are not particularly spacious. They are equipped with a king size bed, a desk, and a lounge area.

A minibar (for a fee) is of course available as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.

Each room has access to a private terrace with deck chairs and access to the private pool.

The bathroom, located near the entrance of the room, is very well equipped: a sink, a bathtub and a shower. The toilets are in the same room. Like the St. Regis properties, The Andaman offers Remède toiletries of excellent quality.

A reasonable size room, but the access to the pool is something exceptional.

As the room is on the first floor, it does not benefit from an exceptional luminosity. But all the rooms of the main building are in this case, because the sea is a few hundred meters from the building, which is surrounded by lush vegetation.

And the traditional video to finish:

Hotel facilities and services

Spa and fitness

The property has a fitness room located on the second floor of the main building. From 6am to 10pm, a coach is available to help you with your exercises. The room is modest in size, but the property does not have a number of rooms that would warrant a larger size. The equipment is of good quality, and above all the coach really takes care of you, offers you a free metabolic assessment and plans your exercises with you. A pleasure for us, but also for him who obviously loves his job. This is good to see and rare enough to be noted.

The hotel also has a spa, which is not located in the main building, but in an annex building. It is therefore accessible by buggy, which can be ordered via a simple call to the reception.

The spa is located in a bungallow on the side of the cliff overlooking the beach.

Then one is taken further up to the treatment cabins which are themselves small bundgallows that follow one another along the way. The treatment is done in the open air and the view is just superb.

Pool and beach

The property’s bathing facilities are of exceptional quality. The pool is really nice, and has activities for children such as a slide.It is not large, but the property does not warrant a large pool. It is however very pleasant to relax.

The property has access to the beach, totally privatized. Loungers are of course available, and full service is provided from each of the loungers. The fact that the beach is totally private allows you to leave your personal belongings on the deckchairs and to walk around quietly.

The beach seen from the spa. Absolutely no one around, reserved for customers.

In the middle of nature, a feeling of calm and tranquility and what a view…

We never get tired of looking at our photo album !

The hotel is hidden behind the lush vegetation.

At the end of the afternoon the place lends itself ideally to a last drink before going home to change for the evening.

A video tour of the whole :

At the pool as well as at the beach, each of the tablets has a sign to access the menu via a QR Code as well as the WhatsApp number to place an order. Ingenious, we wonder why it’s not like that everywhere!

Exploration activities offered by the hotel

Unlike most hotels that allow for outside excursions,Andaman’s isolation dictates close exploration, and the hotel offers in-house excursions directly, reserved for hotel guests. More than 30 activities are offered by the hotel staff. Some are paid, others are free.

We tested the morning walk offered for free, and limited to 12 guests. The guide was passionate and very friendly, and took us for 1h30 to explore the surroundings of the hotel in search of local fauna and flora, even on the beach. Really nice.

Bars and Restaurants

The property has three bars and four restaurants. For the sake of the blog, we dined at each of the four restaurants during our four nights at the property.

Restaurants

The hotel’s restaurants are located near the lobby, and near the beach. Those near the Lobby qualify for the 20% discount for SPG Platinum members, not the others. In all cases, it is a full success: all the restaurants are excellent!

The Restaurant

The main restaurant, called The Restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has an international menu with many Asian dishes, but also European and some brasserie dishes (pizzas, burger). The food is of excellent quality, the service is attentive and the bill is very low: less than 25 euros for a starter, a main course, sparkling water and a bottle of wine.

Jala

Jala is a fish restaurant located on the beach, open only for dinner. It offers a limited and very refined menu, as well as a display of fresh fish that must be chosen, as well as the cooking method, sauces and accompaniments.

It is certainly more expensive than the main restaurant, but it is largely justified: the quality is worthy of a starred restaurant: Tomato consommé and snacked scallops, Fillet of sea bass with zucchini crust and mashed potatoes, Banana in 4 ways and chocolate cake. A treat.

The Japanese Restaurant

For our third night, we made reservations at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, especially for the Teppanyiaki Experience, where the chef operates in front of you. It is a fixed price that includes the teppaniyaki itself of course, but also two starters and a very simple dessert.

If the teppaniyaki is well done,it obviously does not equal that of the Japanese chefs. Let us note the extremely tasty miso soup and the matcha ice cream very well done. Addition around 50€ per person with wine.

Tepian Laut

For the last evening, we booked at the Malay restaurant of the hotel, located on the beach. Unfortunately, it was raining that evening, and our reserved table was placed outside, so we had to change for a better sheltered table.

This is not a classic Malay restaurant, but a gastronomic one and all the dishes have a modern touch. The service is very attentive: a waitress comes to wash your hands as is the tradition, and the service is very polite.

We really enjoyed it: it’s fine but still very copious, as usual in Asia. See for yourself: the table is full! And to wash down all that spicy food, a good ice cream!

Bars

The Jentayu Lounge

The bar located in the lobby is also very pleasant, its terrace being totally open to the pool and the sea. The cocktails are good although not very dosed, and especially not very expensive. It is at the Jentayu that you will have to use the drink coupons given at check-in.

Tiki Bar

The Tiki Bar (pool bar) is also nice: We were invited by the general manager for a drink on the first night, and most of the managers were present to introduce us to the hotel, talk about their experiences and give advice on the area. The Gin Tonic was excellent!

Beach Bar

The Beach Bar is very pleasant. In addition to traditional drinks and snacks, it also serves Chicha, which perfects the sea view experience. The staff is attentive and friendly, but that’s kind of the leitmotif of the property.

The bar offers a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm, where most drinks are offered at a discount that varies according to the temperature. For us, it was 31% that day… We would have preferred it to be in degrees fahrenheit…

Departure

The departure formalities were rather simple. A provisional invoice was left under my door (the old-fashioned way!) the night before, and the debit confirmed the next morning.

Bottom line

A stay that will remain in our memories as the best resort ever visited until then. Apart from the small renovations that need to be done in the rooms, everything was perfect: the level of service, the warmth of the staff, the restaurant and bar, the facilities and above all the absolutely unspoiled and heavenly location.

The photo album is available here.