NeonHippy

Pangkor Laut is situated roughly half way between Penang and KL. The island is about 300 acres in size and is home to the Pangkor Laut Resort. PLR is the only resort on the island which enjoys the strapline 'one island, one resort'. In 2003 it was rated number 1 in the world by condé nast and has been described by Pavarotti as paradise. So we decided to give it a try for my wife's birthday.

PLR offer a variety of discounted deals and we were attracted by the residents package. At first sight this didn't seem like a good deal as the price was about the same as I could get from any travel web site. But reading the small print I realised that this included three meals a day leaving just beverages to be paid for. Setting off from Penang shortly after 9 a.m. the three hour drive meant we arrived in good time for the first speed boat across to the resort. The last few kilometers of the drive passes through a fairly industrialised area which did not bode well but on entering Marina Island things changed for the better. Checking in at the resort takes place at a well appointed office on Marina Island where the staff will confirm your elegibility for the residents package, take your luggage (which will not be seen again until you enter your accommodation) and take a photograph which is sent across to the island so that staff can recognise you. Registration is my one true area of complaint as although there is a large area of land associated with the office there is no residents parking. Instead you have a choice of two private car parks. One charging RM10 per day with the car left in the open and the other charging RM20 per day to park under cover. I chose to pay the extra and park my shiny brand new car under cover. That proved to be a mistake as the roof is a roosting place for birds and we returned to find the car covered in bird droppings.

After a short ride in the boat we arrived at PLR where numerous staff were lined up ready to take care of luggage and escort guests to the reception area. At reception each set of guests has their own staff member to greet them, deliver a short orientation briefing and deal with any questions. A nice touch is that you are provided with a Yes mobile wifi device which if kept charged provides 4G connectivity for your phone and pads all over the island. As we were staying for three nights we would be entitled to 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners. Rooms are not available until around 3 p.m. but this was not a problem, we knew we would leave early on the last day shortly after breakfast so elected to have lunch while our room was prepared. Leah, our host, booked a table at one of the restuarants, escorted us to our table and ensured that the staff there knew we were on the residents package and that they would be informed of our room number later. By the time we finished lunch the room was ready and Leah reappeared to escorts us to our villa.

We had chosen to stay in a beach villa and were very pleased with the choice. These are central to everything, have nice views and are very spacious. A minor draw back here is that the tree in front of our villa proved to be the roosting place for a large colony of fruit bats which tended to be a bit noisy at dawn as they returned to roost and squabbled over the best piece of branch. Although there are a number of restaurants in the resort, everyone uses the same restaurant for breakfast, and only two choices are available at lunch time and a different two choices for dinner. These choices do not include the more exclusive restaurants. Even so the food was excellent and with the residents package you get two courses each meal, either a starter and main or a main and desert. Beware, depending on the item some of the dishes can be very filling. For example my wife ordered a lamb biryani one lunch time expecting a few bits of lamb in a sauce and was presented with a whole lamb shank. On day 2 we skipped a course and on day 3 we skipped a meal. Which is a great shame as the food was first class and the highlight of any stay at PLR unless you avail yourself of the spa facilities which range in price from 300 to 1000 ringgets per session.

All of the staff were super attentive, polite, friendly and spoke excellent English and made us feel welcome and special. The resort is also home to free roaming but almost tame hornbills. You know you are staying somewhere exotic when food scraps are stolen by hornbills rather than sparrows.

The best beach and swimming is on the opposite side of the island to the resort and there are several walking options to walk of some of those meals or you can take advantage of the minivans that run frequently between the two locations.

To summarise, PLR is a great place to go and relax for a few days although there are squash, tennis and water sports on offer. The food is very good but menu repetition across restaurants would challenge a longer stay as there are no alternatives to the resort on the island.

JC3

Great description NeonHippy. I'm very tempted.
The YTL Hotels Group RESIDENTS' PACKAGE for residents of Malaysia, including its expatriates, are worth looking out for - there's a similar deal in the Cameron Highlands.
We stayed at the Andaman in Langkawi recently that also had a Malaysia Residents Rate (Starwood Group) but that didn't include lunch or dinner.
Sorry to hear about your car - watch out if you park at Penang Airport under the trees too. Same problem.

JC3

NeonHippy

Some photos

InVinoVeritas

Great write-up NH - I can see me and Mrs IVV will have to visit Pangkor Laut now

NeonHippy

You won't be disappointed but make sure Mrs IVV takes her appetite. Clearing Mrs NH's plate every meal ruined my waist line.

owned

I thought I stayed at the PLR, but looking at your pics it looks different.

The place I stayed at was near the airport and was on this beach.

owned

Ah, just checked and I stayed at the Pangkor Island Beach resort, which is on the main island.

I stayed 3 weeks and loved it, lovely sunsets, but the PLR looks a nicer place.

Here's the sunset from the beach resort.

NeonHippy

Stunning sunset. We missed this at PLR since the resort is sheltered on the east side of the island and thE beach restaurant is only open for lunch. Anyone with loads of dosh can stay in one of the estates which are on the west coast. They even get their own private chef.

Gunnar45

I see they also have an island resort near Kota Kinabalu.
As we never been to Borneo, this may be worth exploring.
And combine it with a boat ride to Labuan and then continue to Brunei....

owned

Can't remember where I stayed when I went to Kota Kinabalu but the first hotel was near a mall and miles from where all the action was. So I moved to a hotel in town.

Its worth noting that I went to Pangkor many years ago when the Island Beach Resort was the best place to stay on the main island. I've read some reviews today and it looks like its gone into disrepair. People complaining that its worn out and nothing works now. Shame as it was amazing when I was there. If you can get it for a really cheap rate it still might be worth the gamble as it has its own private beach and the location is great.

Gunnar45

It is called Gaya Island resort and located on an island in the national park.
So not the place if you want to see KK.
But suitable for a peaceful few days away from it all.
Their residents package is about the same price as the PLR.

NeonHippy

Panoramic view of resort

InVinoVeritas

Looks kind of....quiet.

NeonHippy

Well off season and mid week I would not describe it as busy more 'relaxed'. But to be fair to the resort this photo was taken at 08:30 as we were preparing to leave. The previous evening saw quite a few new guests arriving.

InFlagranteDelicto

Stayed there in 2010. I am not sure if things have changed, but you can go for the meals included option, or just pay as you go. If you are not a big eater, go for the pay as you go, because the meals are usually 3 courses and 3 of them a day was a little much. Stunning place, but small and maybe 2 nights would be the maximum I could recommend.