Jalan Teluk Baru, Pantai Tengah, Malaysia
Quiet jungle location, a five-minute walk from the beach
Bright, tropical rooms and cottages with private, furnished balconies
All rooms have kitchens or kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, and safes
Free breakfast served in cafe or room
Japanese eatery and Good Earth cafe with weekly wine specials
Spa with massages, body treatments, and facials
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free on-site parking
Lots of hills and stairs to navigate
Children under 12 not allowed (a pro for some)
Pool is small
Located in the jungle, a short walk from the beach, Ambong Ambong is an upscale and intimate property with only 11 units (ranging from Studios to multi-storied cottages). All rooms feature bright, airy decor and come with private balconies and kitchenettes or kitchens. Facilities include a beautiful pool area surrounded by tropical greenery, a cozy bar that serves drinks (but not food), a business corner with a computer and a printer, free Wi-Fi, and a privately operated spa and Japanese restaurant. While it's a great choice for quiet-minded couples with cash to spare, kids under 12 aren't allowed. Travelers with children looking for a similar alternative may want to consider the charming eight-room Temple Tree at Bon Ton instead.
Scene
Quiet, upscale boutique hotel aimed at vacationing couples
Ambong Ambong is a quiet, four-pearl resort hotel that attracts travelers from around the world. The lobby is housed in a simple stand-alone building up a flight of stairs, and features dark-wood floors, a few red Chinese lanterns, and big windows that let in lots of natural light filtered through the property's abundant jungle greenery. A small bar sits off to one side and there are a couple of casual seating ares with low chairs and coffee tables for guests to hang out. Navigating the hilly resort might prove difficult for travelers with compromised mobility (although a driver is available for those who need help getting around). Children under 12 are not allowed, and most of the guests here are vacationing couples.
Location
In the jungle, a short walk from beach and an easy drive to local attractions
Abong Abong is located in a quiet jungle area at the end of Pantai Tengah, a five-minute walk from the beach and a 20-minute walk from Cenang. Nearby attractions include UnderWater World, a six-minute drive away, and multiple eateries can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes on foot. Langkawi International Airport is a 20-minute drive away, while the Langkawi Cable Car and Langkawi Sky Bridge take around 35 minutes to reach by road.
Rooms
Bright, airy rooms and cottages, all with kitchen facilities and balconies
Abong Abong offers a variety of lodging options, from 495-square-foot (46-square-meter) Studios clear up to 1560-square-foot (145-square-meter) Triple Storey Two-Bedroom Cottages. All have similar decor schemes, with light parquet floors, lots of light wood in the trim and furniture, big windows, and bright pops of color in the form of tropical wall art and vivid throw cushions. All rooms have furnished terraces looking out at the lush landscape with tropical birds and monkeys -- who may try and share the balconies with guests. Also standard are air-conditioning units, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, coffee- and tea-making facilities, safes, irons, and either kitchenettes with fridges and microwaves or full kitchens. Bathrooms are sleek and modern, with vessel sinks and walk-in rainfall showers. Suites add wooden bathtubs on the balconies. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
Features
Lovely swimming pool, free breakfast, spa, and free and fast Wi-Fi
Ambong Ambong's most attractive feature is its small but beautiful swimming pool, surrounded by lush jungle greenery and flanked with lawn chairs for sunbathing. Breakfast is included in room rates and can either be a delicious hot option served in the cafe at a set time or a continental spread delivered to rooms at the time of guests' choosing. There's also a small bar that serves drinks (but not food) and a privately run Japanese restaurant on the property. The spa, also privately operated, offers massages, body treatments, and facials. Wi-Fi is fast and free throughout the property and there's plenty of free on-site parking.