IN A COUNTRY AS green as Malaysia, it should be little surprise that the best hotels for families here prioritize getting kids out into nature. Borneo, Langkawi, Desaru, Penang and even KL — this list is a tour of the country’s geographic highlights.
ONE&ONLY DESARU COAST, MALAYSIA
This beachfront retreat offers the perfect getaway for families, just 90 minutes by fast ferry or 2.5 hours by car from Singapore. The hotel’s KidsOnly club offers a range of activities, including Malay games, nature collages, batik painting, and more. Kids love their outdoor trampoline, adventure playground, and The EcoLab for hands-on nature activities. For older kids and adults, the sprawling ClubOne is an outdoor activity haven with tennis and padel courts, billiards, table tennis, Teqball, archery, bicycles, football, and painting. Relax at the end of the day at their family-friendly Ember Beach Club.
oneandonlyresorts.com; rates from US$690
BOOK YOUR STAY AT ONE&ONLY DESARU COAST VIA BOOKING.COM
FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANGKAWI
At the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, families have loads of fun activities to choose from, including rock climbing, interactive cooking classes, and eco-adventures. Kids will be thrilled visiting the Geopark Discovery Centre, biking through botanical gardens, and playing at Lutong Kids Club. Poolside treats like frozen chocolate-mango bon bons and fruit-truffle popsicles add to the fun. Join the ‘Swamp Skipper’ (the resort’s Naturalist) in a ‘floating classroom’ (a boat), for an eco-adventure in the mangroves, where 4- to 12-year-olds and their parents can see troupes of cheeky macaque monkeys.
fourseasons.com; rates from US$646
BOOK YOUR STAY AT FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANGKAWI VIA BOOKING.COM
SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA, KOTA KINABALU
There’s a lot for families to love at this beautiful Borneo resort, one of the best hotels in Malaysia to go green. There are guided walks through the lush Rasa Ria Reserve and bicycle tours for more adventurous exploration of its scenic surroundings. Spacious family-sized accommodations include Garden Wing Deluxe rooms that come with a sofa bed and Ocean Wing Junior Suites that have extra-bed options for kids. On-site you’ll find enriching activities at the kids’ club—mask-making, batik-painting, a back-of-house tour, etc.—plus a kids’ pool with slide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy banana-boat rides, water-gun wars and karaoke.
shangri-la.com; rates from US$149
BOOK YOUR STAY AT SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA, KOTA KINABALU VIA BOOKING.COM
THE RITZ-CARLTON LANGKAWI
The refined luxury of the Ritz-Carlton Langkawi might be lost on its younger visitors, but the resort’s two-story Eco-Discovery Center is sure to impress. This treehouse-style club aims to edutain kids on the island’s natural assets, with an observation deck and various hands-on eco-ranger activities. There are also child-friendly facilities like a kids’ pool and toilets, a movie room, and toys, while family activities include enjoy kayaking and SUP boarding. At mealtimes, parents will appreciate the Beach Grill, an open-air oceanfront diner with an adjoining pool, where kids can splash while adults relax.
ritzcarlton.com; rates from US$498
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON LANGKAWI VIA BOOKING.COM
SHANGRI-LA GOLDEN SANDS, PENANG
Conveniently located in Batu Ferringhi, this popular beachside resort offers stunning sea views and multiple play areas for kids. They’ll have a blast in the Adventure Zone, an indoor playground with slides and obstacle courses. There’s also a range of fun outdoor facilities: the Splash Zone water-play area with slides and fountains; the children’s Island Pool, which offers plenty of shade; and a nine- hole pitch-and-putt golf course, perfect for beginners. For a bedtime they (hopefully) won’t protest, Family Combo rooms come with a treehouse-inspired loft bed.
shangri-la.com; rates from US$77
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON LANGKAWI VIA BOOKING.COM
Runners-up:
• Berjaya Langkawi Resort berjayahotel.com; rates from US$112
• Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur fourpointsklcitycentre.com; rates from US$252
• Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre marriott.com; rates from US$609
• Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu shangri-la.com; rates from US$178
• Westin Langkawi marriott.com; rates from US$180
Lede and hero image courtesy of Four Seasons.
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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