Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
The manicured grounds of Terrapuri Heritage Village resemble a film set about the lives of sultans of yore. Meaning ‘Land of Palaces’, Terrapuri is equal…
Must-see hotels in Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Kota Bharu
Pasir Belanda Homestay, around 4km from the centre of Kota Bharu, is one of Kelantan’s choicest options. Three sizes of traditional Malay homes have been…
Kota Bharu
Zeck and Miriam Zaki’s home, located in a peaceful nook north of the city centre, is a great way to experience Malaysian kampung (village) life in the…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Located on Pulau Gemia, 800m north of Pulau Kapas, this resort offers breezy bungalows set right over the edge of a reef – watch schools of fish and black…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Hidden in a rocky nook on the island’s southern end, Kapas Turtle Valley has eight bungalows – all furnished with colourful local batik – and sits above a…
Pulau Perhentian
Family-run D'Lagoon is the sole property on a tranquil bay, Teluk Kerma, with fine coral a short swim from the beach. Accommodation ranges from camping…
Pulau Perhentian
Located at the northern end of the bay, this top-end option offers 36 rooms in a modern, three-storey setting overlooking Long Beach. All rooms face the…
Kuala Terengganu
Located in the heart of Chinatown this three-storey guesthouse has spotless rooms and a friendly welcome. The cheapest rooms have no windows, but all…
Pulau Perhentian
Located at the northern end of Main Beach, with its own pier and good snorkelling close by, this modern resort comprises lovely wooden chalets with…
Kelantan
Easily the best place to stay in Dabong is Rose House Dabong, a five-minute walk from the train station. Ask for Abang Din when you book. Rooms are…
Pulau Perhentian
Alunan’s array of sleek designer pavilions cascade down a rocky, forested hillside to a compact cove. Translating to ‘Waves’ in Malay, the more remote…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
One of Redang’s most luxurious resorts, Taaras offers beachside bungalows and hillside apartments set in delightful, landscaped gardens. Pride of place…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Qimi offers comfortable hillside bungalows with excellent sea views and private bathrooms. It also has rustic and cheaper bungalows that lack the hillside…
Pulau Perhentian
Crocodile Rock is a luxe option nestled in the rainforest about a 15- to 20-minute walk south of Coral Bay. The timber-clad chalets are raised on stilts…
Pulau Perhentian
A favourite with divers and snorkellers, Panorama is set back a short way from the sand in party central, Long Beach. Rooms range from fan-cooled doubles…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
With a private beach, Wisana Village is one of Redang’s most alluring places to stay. Accommodation ranges from comfortable rooms to deluxe bungalows, all…
Kuala Terengganu
Awi’s is what Terengganu once was: a gathering of rustic, wooden stilt-houses built over the tidal Sungai Terengganu. The smell of fish paste, salt and…
Pulau Perhentian
Situated at Coral Bay’s northern end, and sprawling into the jungle, this place offers a surprisingly nice package. A-frame bungalows feature spacious…
Kota Bharu
Dorms and rooms are simple and clean and come with a fruit breakfast. The air-conditioner in the dormitory is switched on from 10pm to 10am, while guests…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Brightly painted and with a harbourside location, Hotel Pelangi is a comfortable option that's convenient if you'd like to stay near the jetty for boats…
Pulau Perhentian
New Cocohut has a good choice of rooms including beachside bungalows and a two-storey longhouse, which has some great views from the balcony. The cheapest…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
This laid-back spot offers decent, eight-bed, mixed dorms and a range of other rooms, with air-con and attached bathrooms at the pricier end of the scale…
Pulau Perhentian
This family-owned resort offers a wide range of pleasant wooden chalets set back from the beach and surrounding a beautifully maintained jungle garden…
Pulau Perhentian
These bungalows occupy a lovely stretch of palm-shaded white sand, with more bungalows set in the pretty gardens or facing the jungle behind. Swim on a…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Surrounded by trees and centred on a longhouse at the southernmost tip of the bay, Captain's is rustic, chilled and comfortable. Guests can enjoy art…
Pulau Perhentian
This resort's bungalows are found on the saddle of land between Coral Bay and Long Beach. Standard rooms have double beds with fans and cold showers, and…
Kota Bharu
Just a short stroll from Chinatown, My Place Guest House is a welcoming and friendly spot. Retro posters including the Beatles and Che Guevara punctuate…
Pulau Perhentian
Steep steps running up the southern end of Long Beach will get you to this vertiginous place on the rocks. Cheaper rooms are fan-cooled, and only the…
Pulau Perhentian
The once-humble Abdul’s continues to upgrade, and options range from garden-view bungalows at the lower end of the price range to sea-view family rooms at…
Pulau Perhentian
This huge resort occupies the eastern flank of Teluk Dalam and has a swath of narrow beach frontage plus a huge pool. The cheaper ‘standard’ rooms are a…
Peninsular Malaysia's Northeast
Redang’s biggest resort – a vast 400-room complex – dominates this beach. It has luxurious sea-view suites with balconies, two restaurants, a dive centre…
Pulau Perhentian
This semiluxurious option overlooks perhaps the best beach on the islands – a sweeping half-moon bay with good coral (and turtle viewing) around the…
Pulau Perhentian
Ombak provides modern digs in Bali-inspired rooms on Coral Bay. Beds are comfortable, bathrooms are tiny and management are very helpful. Credit cards are…
Kota Bharu
G Home may well be Kota Bharu’s most colourful hotel. Rooms are decked out in a fetching shade of lime green, and bathrooms combine brown and white tiles…
Pulau Perhentian
The 18 villas here are possibly the most high-end option on the Perhentian islands. The air-conditioned units have private terraces, hot showers and huge,…
Pulau Perhentian
Coral View has a great location at the northern end of Main Beach – the best end for swimming and snorkelling. Rooms range from fan-cooled, two-bed…
Pulau Perhentian
A collection of smartly furnished, dark-brown bungalows is situated around a beautifully manicured garden courtyard. All rooms are comfortable, with the…
Pulau Perhentian
The Azman family runs this small resort and restaurant on the eastern edge of the beach. The fan-cooled bungalows are comfortable and have two beds; air…
Pulau Perhentian
Look no further if you’re after a more remote Perhentians stay. Mari Mari is constructed solely of recycled and salvaged material, and there’s a Robinson…
Pulau Perhentian
This established property has 45 bungalows on the beach. All are comfortable, spacious and clean, and the more expensive ones have sea views and air…
