Casa del Mar Langkawi is a 4-star beachfront hotel on Pantai Cenang beach, with a small and intimate setting and Mediterranean-style architecture. With 33 rooms and suites, the atmosphere stays relaxed rather than busy. Langkawi International Airport is a ten-minute drive away, so arrival days are short and simple, and the hotel suits couples and anyone who prefers a smaller resort.

The hotel offers five room types, all with natural timber flooring and glass doors that open to the sea breeze. The Seaview Room has a balcony on the upper floor, while the Seaview Studio Suite adds a private courtyard facing the pool and beach. The Beachfront Studio Suite gives direct beach access. The Seaview Junior Suite has a separate bedroom and living area with two sea-facing balconies, and the one-bedroom Seaview Deluxe Suite adds a furnished lounge and a hammock on its large balcony. Complimentary airport transfers come with the two larger suites.

Pantai Cenang beach has jet skiing and banana boating through licensed partners. Further afield, you can arrange snorkelling at Pulau Payar Marine Park, an hour away by boat, as well as guided fishing, island hopping and a sunset cruise. On land, options include a three-course Malay cooking class, a mangrove tour and a three-hour jungle trek. The hotel does not publish a kids club or an evening entertainment programme.

The swimming pool sits steps from the beach, with a jacuzzi open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm for slower moments. The fitness room has cardio and strength machines and free weights, open on the same hours. Satkara Spa uses handcrafted natural products in the spirit of Malay traditions, with Traditional Malay Massage, Warmstone Massage and a Cenang Moor Mud Body Wrap, each beginning with a sweet orange oil foot ritual. The spa opens from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm, so booking ahead is wise.

Dining is shaped around three venues. La Sal Restaurant serves modern Asian and Western dishes from breakfast through to dinner, with afternoon tea from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and a DIY barbecue on the beach each evening. La Luna is a private beachfront table for a seven-course degustation, with one table available each night. La Sal Pool Bar offers wines, spirits and cocktails made with local ingredients, and meals can also be served in your room.

Langkawi is a UNESCO World Geopark with 99 islands, and its beaches have bright white sands and shallow, swimmer-friendly waters. The ferry terminal at Kuah Town is a 35-minute drive away. Across the island you can ride the Langkawi Cable Car, browse the duty-free shops, visit a weekly Pasar Malam night market or play one of three golf courses. Bird watching is at its best from October to April.