Johnpound46 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 I was in (on?) Langkawi in September 1988. It was very quiet back then, I don't think I saw two other tourists for a whole week, my girlfriend and I were about the only ones. We stayed at a guesthouse in Kuah, forgot the name, it was run by a very nice Indian man, I think his name was mister Vellu, and his four sons. The guesthouse will probably be long gone by now. Went to the beach, went to Telaga Tujuh, rode around the whole island on a motorbike that we had rented from mister Vellu, and it was really a quiet and very nice week. As I understand it, Langkawi is now almost always quite crowded with tourists, there are no more cheap guesthouses. Anyone been there recently? I'd love to get some recent info. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post roamer Posted August 20, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted August 20, 2014 I'm your man! My first trip to Langkawi was also bout 87/88 so I know where you're coming from exactly. Kuah changed a bit in the fact the waterfront area is more landscaped, overall it's more developed but still a quiet town. Changes at the beaches, really not as bad as might think. When I first went there I stayed up at Pantai Cenang , just a few bungalows and the Pelengi Beach resort, very peaceful but almost nowhere to eat in the evenings. I went back in 2005 so was dreading it, lets face it around 87/88 you needed a torch on places like Chaweng on Ko Samui to find the way back to to your bungalow at night, long before 2005 the place had given into mass tourism with all the negative effects that brings so I really wasn't expecting much on Langkawi. Well, i was pleasantly surprised, Pantai Cenang had developed but really low key. Most of the beach still bungalows, nothing more than 2 floors allowed, nice range of eating places along the road, only 1 to 2 bars allowed on the beach, and this remains the same over the island. Duty free island so alcohol very cheap compared to the rest of Malaysia or even Thailand, quiet and relaxing. One big change is the cable car up the mountain, stunning views. Langkawi doesn't depend on tourist dollars and is all the better for it. The busy time are the winter months when it gets pretty booked out by Scandinavian retirees escaping their winter, otherwise very leisurely. Been back many times since 2005. Nothing remains the same forever but I think you will find the changes not all bad. I like to stay at AB motel on Pantai Cenang, location superb, reasonable reviews below and they have a website. Not sure about Kuah guesthouses, back then people would often stay in Kuah and take day trips to the beaches due to lack of accommodation, restaurants etc, these days I would guess most people bypass it. Hope you enjoy a trip back. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1096282-d450986-Reviews-AB_Motel-Pantai_Cenang_Langkawi_Langkawi_District_Kedah.html 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass69 Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 It's funny watching the Saudi girls parasailing at Pantai Cenang...looks like the flying nun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horstthaivisa Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Has anybody experience how to travel by own car (registered in Phuket) from Phuket to Lankawi ? Is it allowed to take the ferry boat trasnporting the car to Lankawi ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazykopite Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 From what I know when you enter into Malaysia your insurance is invalid you need to buy insurance on the border at immigration you should also by law show your Thai number plate in English and I understand that they immigration can be very strict on the depth of tinted windows on the vehicle having said all that I know of one or two people who have travelled into the country having done none of the above that I have mentioned hope this helps a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtsabai Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Any fishing and/or women available? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTIRIOS Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 ...sorry......but what would you expect after 26 years..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thairastawoman Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Can you compare with some faous places in Thailand ? Is it more like Phuket or more like KOH PHANGAN or KOH CHANG ? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roamer Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 (edited) Can you compare with some faous places in Thailand ? Is it more like Phuket or more like KOH PHANGAN or KOH CHANG ? Thanks. Simple answer. Nothing like any of these. Or at least not like they are now. This is a very different place, different culture. Let me put it this way, Penang ( next door) is a largely Chinese island. LK is a largely muslim island...but probably nowhere else in Malaysia are they so relaxed about this, duty free alcohol etc. However they keep it under control, hence the limit on beach bars etc, you can have a good time...don't go over the top. If your idea of a good time is partying with bar girls then forget it, this place is not for you. Should you fly into LK then the first thing you notice (or maybe not( is that the airport is surrounded by rice fields. The beach comes alive at about 5pm when the local kids come around and play football. Big island, very cheap car /bike hire. You want women, take your own, be aware Thai food limited. Ps. If I had to compare it to a Thai island it would definitely be Koh Samui @ 1986-92. Edited August 23, 2014 by roamer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFREDO Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I like LANGKAWI! But, I bring my family or at least my GF with me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakseeda Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Langkawi is ok ... if you are muslim... or if you want duty free booze... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALFREDO Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Langkawi is ok ... if you are muslim... or if you want duty free booze... NO muslim, NO want duty free booze, BUT, I like LANGKAWI! I bring my family, two boys (6 -10) or at least my GF with me, all OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roamer Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Langkawi is ok ... if you are muslim... or if you want duty free booze... NO muslim, NO want duty free booze, BUT, I like LANGKAWI! I bring my family, two boys (6 -10) or at least my GF with me, all OK. Likewise. The duty free booze is a bonus. You can be a non-muslim teetotaller and still have a great time on a very picturesque and laid back island. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BwindiBoy Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I stayed on Langkawi for five nights in 2009 and, whilst it was probably just on the "too quiet" side for me, it was the most relaxed I have EVER been in my entire life. Loved it! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siam2007 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Langkawi is not for the typical "Thailand tourist". too quiet, no "sanook", no girly-Bars, little to no nightlife. but it makes for a VEEEEEEERY relaxed holiday. it is quite a big island and once you leave the few touristic beaches and travel inland or to the North, you feel like there is no tourism at all. sadly, the islands nicest beach by a margin (Tanjung Rhu, veeeeeery far away from all the other beaches as it is located on the Northern coastline) is now mostly inaccessible to the public, as two 5-star-resorts have somehow annexed it with the approval of local authorities. and yes, as the island has Duty-free-status, alcohol, both at shops as well as in Resto's and Pubs is inexpensive. Even those imported beers from Europe that cost an arm and a leg even in alco-friendly Thailand (let alone Malaysia) are very affordable ! ah, another ERDINGER HEFE WHEATBEER please ! oh, and car-rent is dead-cheap, for a small car you won't pay more than 50 RM (500 Baht) a day. a plethora of small car rent businesses await you at the arrival area at LGK airport, same at the jetty where the ferries from Malaysia Mainland and Thailand arrive. but then again: it is VEEEEEERY quiet and certainly not for everyone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roamer Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Langkawi is not for the typical "Thailand tourist". too quiet, no "sanook", no girly-Bars, little to no nightlife. but it makes for a VEEEEEEERY relaxed holiday. it is quite a big island and once you leave the few touristic beaches and travel inland or to the North, you feel like there is no tourism at all. sadly, the islands nicest beach by a margin (Tanjung Rhu, veeeeeery far away from all the other beaches as it is located on the Northern coastline) is now mostly inaccessible to the public, as two 5-star-resorts have somehow annexed it with the approval of local authorities. and yes, as the island has Duty-free-status, alcohol, both at shops as well as in Resto's and Pubs is inexpensive. Even those imported beers from Europe that cost an arm and a leg even in alco-friendly Thailand (let alone Malaysia) are very affordable ! ah, another ERDINGER HEFE WHEATBEER please ! oh, and car-rent is dead-cheap, for a small car you won't pay more than 50 RM (500 Baht) a day. a plethora of small car rent businesses await you at the arrival area at LGK airport, same at the jetty where the ferries from Malaysia Mainland and Thailand arrive. but then again: it is VEEEEEERY quiet and certainly not for everyone Yep. That's a pretty good sum up of Langkawi. Met a few "typical" Thailand tourists over the years deciding it wasn't their bag.For me it's a pretty perfect chill out place but as you say not for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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