Back to Andaman Langkawi: the enchantment continues

While in Malaysia, I couldn’t resist spending a few days at the Andaman because our last experience here was so good. A not so simple decision to take: when we are impressed by a hotel we can tend to idealize it so much that we are strongly disappointed when we go back there. But I was willing to take the risk.

Our previous article was sufficiently complete that I will only go over some of the highlights of this experience here.

Arrival at the hotel: one already feels rested

The Andaman Langkawi being located at 40 km from the airport I had once again opted for the transfer service of the hotel. As soon as I got out of the baggage area of the airport I immediately spotted the hotel staff. My bags are carried outside where the property’s vehicle comes to pick me up. No Bentley this time because it is in maintenance, it will be a BMW 7 Series.

The road to the hotel is smooth and I find this lobby that I appreciate so much.

I am welcomed this time by the Guest Experience Manager in person. The check-in will not be done on one of the sofas of the Lobby as the last time but quietly installed at the bar with a good cocktail.

Already very soothing.

I let my eyes wander in the distance, in particular towards the swimming pool which already eyes me up.

At night it is not bad either.

We met in December during the cocktail party that the General Manager of the hotel gives every week for the platinum guests and those who stay at the hotel for a long time.

I am surprised that he takes care of the formalities himself and he tells me that when customers come often or, in my case, when Europeans make the effort to come back regularly, given the distance, they must have an even higher level of attention. I take this opportunity to note that unlike many properties that have everything to do so, they check the history of each customer at the time of booking to personalize the welcome.

The formalities are quickly completed and then I see a smile on his face. “I have a great room for you”. In December I really appreciated the upgrade to a “pool access” room and I think that the same treatment will be more than enough.

Being in low season there is more availability and I will get an Executive Pool Suite. A room that, from memory, is not given in upgrade (limited to standard suites) and is the last level before the presidential suite.

An Executive Pool Suite

Proud of of having surprised me, he accompanies me to my room.

The Executive Pool Suite opens onto a small hallway that leads to a large living room.

Next to it is the room itself.

With a nice office space.

Behind, a (large) bathroom.

A large bathtub, a beautiful shower, a second toilet, nothing is missing.

The set offers beautiful volumes, very airy and pleasant.

It is of course by opening the door of the terrace that we find the highlight of the show.

Of course, deckchairs and benches are available.

But on the side there is a nice small pool.

Comfortable in size, it is also of suitable depth. You can sit in it, immerse yourself in it…very comfortable and pleasant.

A few steps lead down to the beach without having to go through the hotel’s corridors.

And the shower means you don’t bring sand everywhere.

The visit in video…

And the suite in 360° view room by room.

Without any surprise the experience is more than pleasant. Between the size of the room, the quality of the bed, the terrace with swimming pool and the direct access to the beach, one would have to be in bad faith to complain.

Very good point that the Guest Experience Manager pointed out to me: it is the rainy season, showers are frequent, and the advantage of this room is that the terrace and the pool are covered. I’ll learn to appreciate it the next day when the rain actually comes.

Very pleasant to refresh in the evening when coming back from the restaurant too.

Talking about the restaurant… one of the many highlights of our previous stay was the quality of the food. What is the situation today?

An excellent culinary experience

This time I will frequent only two of the restaurants of the hotel : the Tepian Laut (Malayan specialities) and the Jala (fish and seafood).

The Tepian Laut to begin with.

Beef salad with lemongrass noodles to start. Nicely presented and very fresh.

The highlight of the show: a perfectly grilled rack of lamb, marinated and spiced to perfection, served still smoking on its grill.

Succulent, a real delight.

And of course the naans to accompany it all.

Let’s repeat once again that the hotel does not exploit the situation to make its customers pay a high price: it is so isolated on the island that it would be easy to abuse a captive clientele. This is not the case and on the contrary the prices are very “soft”, as if, aware of the situation, he did not want to seem to take advantage of it.

Second experience: Jala.

Last year we found his cuisine very fine, so much so that he would not be out of place among the good Parisian restaurants. Opinion confirmed.

The menu:

All the fish is caught by the hotel itself, which will delight lovers of short circuits.

On the 3rd evening the restaurant oragnized a special event with a huge buffet of fish caught of the day, cooked or grilled to order in front of the customers, all on the beach. A great idea.

Fisherman Buffet @ Jala Restaurant - The Andaman

My table:

A 5 star in a relaxed mode

The Andaman is a 5 star hotel but there are 5 stars and 5 stars. Each has its own codes and style. Here we are clearly in a vacation 5 stars in relax mode. Both the services of a resort and the individualized service expected of a large hotel.

The atmosphere is very relaxedand you can forget the stuffy pseudo-chic atmosphere of the trendy 5 stars. There is space, we are not crowded either at the pool or (especially not) on the huge beach.

The children do not make noise, you can leave your things, including ipad, on your deckchair, go for a walk and come back 2 hours later nothing has moved. In any case you will only see the hotel guests, this one being really isolated with no construction as far as the eye can see.

As far as rest is concerned, I am under the spell of its immense beach, calm, where only nature surrounds me.

Everything exudes tranquility.

You will not hear a sound, not a shout, not a voice, only the sound of the waves.

With the invisible hotel behind the trees, you would almost think you are on a wild beach.

A short walk from my room to the beach.

A little more animation at the pool, especially with children and families but nothing to do with what we suffer in many clubs and resorts. Everything is calm, relaxed and good-natured. The hotel doesn’t have that many rooms so when you offer a lot of space to a few people it usually works out well.

Andaman Langkawi: truly a paradise on earth

Our first impression is therefore confirmed: The Andaman is certainly one of the best hotels, if not the best, that we have visited in a holiday/seaside context. It retains all the characteristics of a 5 star hotel to which it adds a form of relaxation certainly due to its location. Isolated between the forest and the sea, it offers its clients a true bubble of tranquility without heavy codes.

To be discovered at any cost.

The complete photo album is here.

Our previous review is here.