We went to the Datai for honeymoon in June 06 and also stayed in the Tanjhung Rhu the following week.

I really preferred the Datai as it is very luxurious and the surroundings are so different because of the rainforest. It is also nice in that it is not a stuffy hotel. The food in the restaurants was top class (especially the Rhu restaurant).
We stayed in a villa which were beautiful (nice touch on the Molton Brown products!) and close to the beach. The villas lack a view though but I feel you get a more complete experience of the rainforest in them rather than staying in the hotel. However the hotel rooms are lovely too.

Re; the weather we were slightly concerned that it would rain and from reports on the internet were lead to believe that it may rain for upto 2 hours and the sun would come out. However we found that if it rained it rained all day not just for 2 hours. We had two days of rain and the rest in largely sunshine.

We were concerned that this hotel would be too quiet for us but we did meet several people. That said I wouldn't spend longer than a week here becuase there is no real night life so a week was plenty for us. I would certainly go back here in a heartback.

Also the breakfast was amazing and worth every penny especially looking out on the view of the rainforest!

Summary; best hotel in the world in my books!

Stayed for a second time at the Datai in Langkawi. Both were post new years short stays as they were incorperated into trips through Asia, but both times we all loved the Datai.
It is such a different experience from most luxery hotels. You have the great beach, the excelent restaurants ( I just love the thai restaurant), briallant service and lovely rooms (both times we stayed in the hotel rooms rather then the villas), but then you have so much more.

The spa is brill with all the treatment rooms (all in seperate mini villas) open on one side and lookeng out on a stream or forest (secluded obviously) and is a real experience.

The hotel is basically built in a rainforest area. The main hotel is very open plan and at a higher level then the beach so the views are brill and is more rainforest rustic elegance rather then rather then the usual gilded and marble (which u can find in the sister hotel next door, the andeman, but realyy u'll love this much more).
You walk down to the beach passing the villas and the spa on the way on paths through the trees and will probably see some monkeys along the way, or maybe even a mouse-deer or flying squrial if your lucky. There is a lovely pool, bar and restaurent by the beach for lunch, snacks and dinner as well as thoes in the main hotel.
( a note on the monkeys, u cant leave balcony doors or windows open and unattended or they will come in and rob the nuts and crisps from your mini bar which we discovered wasn't an idle threat of the managers on our second day : ))

The hotel provide free nature walks every morning and evening with their in house naturlist who is wonderful and there are loads of other rainforest walks and treks available on the island which he, and the staff can give lots of information on. There is also great birdwatching on the island.
There were no young kids with us but there seemed to be organised activities for them and if they like animals or lizards and things they'll have a ball (note. kids can only use the pool by the beach, not the one at the main hotel)
This place is perfect if you love nature and would enjoy some amasing nature walks, treaks, animal sightings and information while you relax in the luxury around you. Enjoying the beautiful beach, amasing scenery, with brillant friendly service and excelent restaurents to boot.
One caution though ( which im sure u realise already) if ud prefer being fully enclosed and wought hate to catch the sight of a small lizard, crab or squrial this id probably not the place for you

We stayed here for our honeymoon and had an excellent time. It seems that the revies on this site are either excellent or quite moany, and in some ways I do understand why. It is a different hotel in many ways. Luxurious, but still very informal. Quite old, but still good standard. Isolated for sure, but then that is also what adds to it's intense beauty.... Quite a few rooms, but oddly quiet. So I guess this makes it one of those places you either love or will be disappointed with.
I found it quite hard to grasp really, but we had a fantastic stay, so mine is a positive review. Our honeymoon was made better by the isolation of the hotel, the informal dress code and atmosphere, the excellent food everywhere, the lovely beach, the lack of overcrowding and more than anything all the animals everywhere. Wild pigs, spiders, monkeys, lizards, snakes and all sorts of birds are everywhere in the jungle and this is the real beauty of the Datai. If this does not appeal, this is not the hotel for you.
As for the hotel itself it is very beautiful and in keeping with the jungle location, but not extremely luxurious. This suited us again, but will probably be a let-down for some people. I would say that the rooms are a little dated, but the they were refurbishing when we were there, so I think this is being addressed. The service is great without being intrusive, though I think some guests misunderstood the lack of intrusion as lack of service. Again it suits us having to ask for help over being continuosly being offered it, but this is not the case for everyone so worth bearing in mind.
The food is great, though it is definetely on the pricey side for Malaysia. We especially loved the Thai and the main restaurant at the Andaman. But you should really try them all. And I definetely recommend a visit to the Andaman at one point as the bar is livelier and the restaurants there are all very good as well.
I think maybe the one thing that stopped this from being the best hotel I have vistied, is the lack of personality. The staff are curteous and polite, but that is it. Though maybe that is a Malaysian thing rather than a problem of the Datai itself.....?? It was just that tiny litlle bit worse than our stays in for example the Caribbean or the Maldives, and I really struggle to put my finger on exactly why...
Anyway, you will be hard pushed not to like the Datai, so go and explore the beauty yourself!

My husband and I have just returned from 2 weeks of bliss at the Datai. We decided that we wanted to get away from all the usual Christmas rush (and celebrate my husbands 30th birthday on Christmas Eve) and indulge.

Having visited Lankawi 2 years ago with friends and stayed at the Casa del Mar in Pantai Cenang (deserves it’s good reviews) we decided a little more luxury was in order and we were not disappointed at all.

We were in a villa (one of the only remaining ‘standard’ villas - all have now been upgraded to seriously luxurious standards) and were in No. 23 – great location, near the main pool and easy walk to beach. The room was very spacious, the bath and twin vanity huge and the shower piping hot and powerful. Everything was catered for. Molten Brown shampoo, conditioner, lotion and shower gel (and not those silly little sizes), cotton wool and buds, plenty of towels, bathrobes and slippers. The bed was huge, firm and probably the best bed we have ever slept in, fresh sheets almost every day. A couple of day beds, tv and dvd, cd player, mini bar, writing desk, coffee/tea making machine, nibbles, ice etc etc. The balcony was furnished with 2 large rattan chairs (wonderful for relaxing) and a table. Plenty of space to eat outside and in.
Whilst we did not stay in a standard room I would say that the villas are well worth the extra cost. Being in the middle of the rainforest is a magical experience and you have complete privacy both day and night. The rooms had very small balconies in comparison which were rather close together and overlooked so if you prefer your privacy then go for the villa.

The Restaurants
The Dining room – overlooks the main pool, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Formal but understated, divine western food and exceptional Malaysian cuisine.
The Beach Club – overlooks the beach pool, lunch and buffet dinner. Less formal but no les impressive. Buffets were huge, never ran out and beautiful to see, a different theme every night. In fact the word ‘buffet’ doesn’t seem the right word for it. Lunch here was informal, great sandwiches and salads.
The Pavilion – Hangs over the forest, Thai food for dinner only. Simply the best restaurant food imaginable in the best location imaginable. We are big fans of Thai food and have eaten at a number of excellent restaurants but this really took the biscuit.
Room Service – offering a good size menu and the attention to details when all food was delivered made you feel as if you were eating out every time. All beautifully presented and piping hot to.

The Bars
One at the reception (no children after8 pm) with music in the evening. Amazing views over the main pool and looking at the hotel rooms. Perfect service, lovely nibbles too!
One at the beach club, less formal, offers complementary snacks with drinks between 5-7pm.

The Pools/Beach
Main pool (no children under 16) – very serene, we lounged for 5 days here, offered iced water, cold towels, snacks and drinks
Beach pool – smaller and busy (there were quite a few kids over Christmas) but right next to the beach, same offerings as above
Pool Villas – we didn’t see one but they have a small pool each, no direct sunlight on them though as right in the forest.
Beach – simply stunning, lovely warm water, service on the beach as at pools. Lovely to walk along (the Datai definitely has the nicer end of the beach in comparison with the Andaman).

Christmas & New Year
There were special celebrations on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. We had to book on arrival but this wasn’t a problem at all. The Dining room offered a formal meal, the Beach club an expansive and les formal buffet on all occasions. There was music at both places and on new years eve, everyone went down to the beach where there was a huge band and dancing and count down. If you would like to know details but post on the forum and I’ll expand.

Other
We hired a car for a day and a half, we could have got a deal with the chaps that we spoke to at the airport but just took their numbers at the time, when we called them back they were too busy and said they would call back but did not. Bit of a shame. However, when we asked the concierge we had a car available within 10 minutes! Ok it was a bit more expensive but we had it as soon as we asked. Travelled around the island, recommended and a good way to stock up the mini-bar with slightly cheaper drinks! It is a easy place to drive around with excellent roads and good signposts. The cablecar is highly recommended (even though it was too windy on the day we tried to go) and Telega Harbour is worth a look (being developed at the moment). Kuah shops are great too so make sure you head there also.

They also have a boat called the Kanagra which you can go on a ½ day, full day or sunset cruise. It was superb and again, highly recommended.

Ooh and the spa – bliss!

Having read a few reviews about the cost of the Datai I would say it is worth every penny. The hotel is understated, nothing is too much trouble. It is well aware it is one of the best hotels in the world but you don’t feel as if you must be a millionaire to be there. The staff are unbelievably friendly, they even take the time to ask how to pronounce your name. Service is prompt and not annoying or too much in any way. I do have a few money-saving tips if anyone would like to hear, again, just post on the forum.

We shall definitely be returning to the Datai and cannot say enough good things about it. Having been to 5* hotels in Bali, Lombok, the Caribbean and the Maldives in the past the Datai really has won us over in so many ways – but then I knew that from Tripadvisor!!