Langkawi with kids: where to stay and what to do!
As a parent with small kids, going on a wanderlust adventure seems a little far-fetched. Chaos is par for the course, but with that comes the unpredictable tantrums, the inability to sit still for more than 10 minutes and their sheer stubbornness, which will then put your patience to the test.
But we love our kids more than anything and creating memories with them is something my husband and I won’t compromise, so ticking off a beach holiday wasn’t too shabby of an idea.
Even so, a long-haul flight won’t cut it for us this time so we took baby steps and headed to Langkawi on a 60-minute flight.
Touch down the island known for its myths and legends, we were greeted with salty ocean air and bright sunny weather. It felt good to escape the hustle and bustle of city life for a little while.
The most important thing for us when travelling is, of course, comfortable accommodation. But with children, hotels that go the extra mile to make the stay extra memorable for kids, stand out for us.
For this trip, Aloft at Pantai Tengah was our choice, and it was one that did not disappoint.
I never thought of Aloft as a kid-friendly hotel but my stay there clearly proved me wrong.
Firstly, upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with friendly smiles from the lobby with hotel staff that are ever so ready to help. And staff who are friendly to my kids - bonus points!
While checking out the facilities around the hotel, you’ll find a rather spacious kids’ room where they can play games, read books, watch television and just hang out.
Do note that adult supervision is needed as there is no hotel staff on standby.
There is a small outdoor kid’s swimming pool but you can also opt to relax at the jacuzzi after a few refreshing laps in the adult pool.
The beach view is magnificent, especially during sunset but there is no connecting beach from the hotel. To get to the nearby beach, all you have to do is request a buggy ride from the hotel staff and with just a phone call away, they’ll send and pick you up.
I think the highlight of this trip for my kids was definitely the room. Not only was it spacious enough for them to run around, but there was Camp Aloft!
Camp Aloft is a unique concept by Aloft where they set up a colourful tent for kids to play and let their imaginations run wild.
In addition to the king-size bed, there was also a single air mattress for my five-year-old and two Doof bean bags for him and his younger brother to jump around and lounge on. It was the perfect ‘sleepover treat’, I would say. All you need to do is request Camp Aloft when you make your booking.
Not only that, they were also given special treats as a welcome gift too! Imagine their surprise and excitement.
Food at its main restaurant called Nook, where it serves the breakfast buffet and a la carte menus for lunch and dinner was equally splendid.
For lunch, we opted for a mix of Asian and Western cuisines. Some dishes worth mentioning were the Cajun Shrimp Fettucine, Satay, Fish and Chips, Claypot Chicken Rice, and Smoked Salmon Salad. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and left with satisfied tummies.
Breakfast at Nook was amazing as the spread was large and options were endless. If you have dietary restrictions, best to approach the staff if they have alternatives, like gluten-free bread for example.
KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
In addition to the amenities, there are also kid-friendly activities for the young ones to participate in. We took part in a batik painting class. It was a good break from the usual activities that involve toys, and my eldest who loves arts and crafts, really took his time to choose the colours and paint with patience.
Other than that, a mocktail class at Nook is also something you can participate in with kids. We learned to make two mocktails from a bartender named Luftee, who patiently taught us the techniques and tricks to make good mocktails.
As a treat for the kids, he also made them strawberry milkshakes too, which was perfect given the hot weather! If you ever come to the bar and pool area, look for Luftee.
DREAM FOREST
If you don’t know already, Langkawi has a new immersive night attraction called Dream Forest, which was established by the one and only Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina.
Situated at the foot of Gunung Raya, this attraction only opens at 7.45 pm and will transport you through a mythical adventure as you will walk through a 1.2km footpath. Here, you will be immersed in magical lighting and enchanting soundscapes - all in the midst of a lush tropical rainforest.
As Langkawi is known for its legends and myths, Dream Forest delves into the gripping tales of Tasik Dayang Bunting, Merong Mahawangsa and the Giants of Langkawi.
It’s not everyday you get to experience Malay folklore in a unique immersive setting, so this attraction should very well be added to your bucket list when visiting Langkawi.
UNDERWATER WORLD
The last time I visited Underwater World was when I was in my early teens, and it wasn’t a time when I truly appreciated attractions like this. Naturally, memories of visiting this place are a little hazy.
I got to relive the experience with my kids who, at their age, are appreciative of animals and sea creatures.
If you haven’t been here, the entire aquatic centre lets you learn about animals across various sections such as Tropical Rainforest, Temperate and Sub-Antarctic
You can spot sea life such as giant stingrays, green turtles and even sharks as you go through the gigantic 15 metre-long tunnel.
Langkawi has many other kid-friendly things to explore, but we’ll save that for another time when the kids are older. Til next time!
