More about hotels in Kedah
About Kedah accommodation
Kedah is Malaysia's rice bowl on the mainland and, just off its coast, the duty-free island of Langkawi. Most visitors come for Langkawi: limestone islets rising out of the Andaman Sea, a cable car that climbs to a curved sky bridge, and beaches that range from lively to almost empty. Cross back to the mainland and the pace drops right down, with paddy fields running to the horizon around the state capital, Alor Setar.
Where you stay depends on what you're after. Langkawi covers everything from backpacker guesthouses to five-star resorts with their own stretch of sand, while Alor Setar is more about cheap, practical rooms for a night before or after the rice-field drive. Here's how the two compare.
Where should you stay in Kedah?
- Pantai Cenang: Langkawi's main strip. The busiest beach on the island, with the widest choice of hotels, bars and restaurants, and easy access to water sports. Good first choice if it's your first trip.
- Pantai Tengah: Right next to Cenang but quieter, with a calmer stretch of sand and fewer day-trippers once the sun goes down.
- Kuah: The ferry and duty-free hub, home to Eagle Square. Handy if you're arriving by boat or want cheap shopping close by, less about beach time.
- Datai Bay: The quiet, forested northwest tip of the island. This is where Langkawi's most exclusive resorts sit, tucked between rainforest and a private bay.
- Alor Setar: Kedah's mainland capital. Simple, well-priced hotels near the airport and the paddy fields, useful if Langkawi isn't the only stop on the trip.
How much is Kedah accommodation?
Alor Setar and Langkawi's inland guesthouses are some of the cheapest beds in northern Malaysia, while Datai Bay's resorts sit at the other end of the scale entirely.
- Budget stays: From AU$15 per night. Basic guesthouses and hostels around Alor Setar and inland Langkawi.
- Mid-range hotels: From AU$35 per night. Comfortable rooms with a pool, usually a short walk or ride from Cenang or Tengah beach.
- Beachfront resorts: From AU$70 per night. On-the-sand stays with beach access, mostly around Pantai Cenang and Kuah.
- Luxury resorts: From AU$250 per night. Rainforest and beachfront villas at Datai Bay and Tanjung Rhu, well away from the crowds.
What is Kedah known for?
Your hotel is just the base. Here's what most visitors build their trip around.
- Langkawi Sky Bridge: A curved suspension bridge over 100 metres up on Mount Mat Cincang, reached by a steep cable car ride with the whole island laid out below.
- Eagle Square (Dataran Lang): A giant eagle statue in Kuah marking the meaning of Langkawi's name and a popular first photo stop off the ferry.
- Pantai Cenang: Langkawi's liveliest beach, good for jet skiing, parasailing and watching the sunset with a drink in hand.
- Kilim Geoforest Park: A boat tour through mangrove channels and limestone cliffs on the island's northeast side, with stops to watch eagles and spot monitor lizards along the water.
- Pulau Payar Marine Park: A day trip south by boat for snorkelling over coral gardens, with an underwater observatory for anyone who'd rather stay dry.
- Underwater World Langkawi: An aquarium in Pantai Cenang with penguins and a large collection of marine life, an easy half-day if the weather turns.
- Alor Setar's rice paddies: Endless green fields around the capital, best seen from the Kedah Paddy Museum's viewing deck or on a slow drive through the back roads.
- Kuah night market: A rotating weekly market for local food and snacks, a good way to eat well without booking a restaurant.
What are the best hotels in Kedah?
- The Datai Langkawi: Set deep in rainforest at Datai Bay, this is the island's benchmark luxury stay. Expect a private beach, a rainforest canopy walk on site and one of Langkawi's best-rated properties.
- Four Seasons Resort Langkawi: Beachfront villas at Tanjung Rhu, each with its own pool. A quieter corner of the island, well suited to a honeymoon or a proper splurge.
- Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa Langkawi: A large, low-rise resort right on Pantai Cenang. Good pools, a long stretch of beach and an easy walk to the strip's bars and restaurants.
- Casa del Mar Langkawi: A smaller beachfront hotel on Pantai Cenang with a more personal feel than the big resorts nearby, still with direct beach access.
- Aseania Resort & Spa Langkawi: A solid mid-range pick between Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang, with a large water park pool that's popular with families.
Tips for booking a stay in Kedah?
- Decide island or mainland first: Langkawi covers the beaches and the Sky Bridge, Alor Setar covers the rice paddies and museums. Most trips only need Langkawi, but pair the two if you want the paddy-field drive as well.
- Book ahead from December to February: This is Langkawi's driest, busiest stretch and lines up with Aussie summer holidays, so the well-rated beachfront resorts fill up early.
- Check how you're arriving: Most visitors fly straight into Langkawi. If you're coming by ferry from the mainland, staying in Kuah near the jetty saves on transfers.
- Pick your beach by mood: Cenang for nightlife and water sports, Tengah for a calmer version of the same, Datai Bay or Tanjung Rhu if you'd rather not see another guest all day.
- Book the cable car in advance: The Sky Bridge queue gets long by mid-morning, so an early slot or a pre-booked ticket saves a good chunk of the day.
- Bring cash for the night markets: Stalls in Kuah and around the island are cheap but mostly cash-only, and it's the best way to try local food without a sit-down bill.
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