Recently in Langkawi Category

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sheraton Haikou Resort in China and thelobby.com's expert on the region.

Located off the north western shore of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi is an ancient group of 99 islands steeped in tales of legends passed down from generation to generation. Rising above the island is the Langkawi Cable Car. Modern gondolas carry you up the Manchinchang range to the middle viewing platform where you alight 12 minutes later, 650 meters above sea level. Back on board, you are carried a further 450 meters higher to the top two viewing platforms overlooking the islands of Langkawi, the state of Kedah and Southern Thailand. Be sure to take a short trek to the curved hanging bridge which consists of a 125 meter suspended platform. Open daily, admission is 25 ringgit, around $8 US. Langkawi is a one hour flight from Kuala Lumpur and a 90 minute flight from Singapore. Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort nestled amongst 38 acres of lush tropical gardens is a 15 minute drive away from the cable car.

Warm ocean breezes. Lush tropical surroundings. Private beach coves. The ancient group of Malaysian islands known as Pulau Langkawi has what everybody wants in a vacation getaway, and it just got a little bit closer, thanks to Starpicks. That's because the Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. This exquisite resort is perfect for both active travelers and those who come simply to relax. For the adrenaline junkie, there's tennis, water sports, a jogging track, and a fitness center with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. After an invigorating workout, there's no better reward than a pampering treatment at the Chavanda Spa by Mandara, where massage and hydrotherapy treatments will have you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated in no time. If there's still a bit of daylight left, take a dip in the infinity pool, with a view of the Andaman sea. The dinner options are tantalizing as well. Guests can enjoy Asian dishes in an alfresco environment at the Spice Trader restaurant (pictured), seafood at the Captain's Grill, or fusion cuisine at Feast. And as you sip a fine wine and gaze at the reflection of the moon on the water, you can start to dream up your next Starpicks getaway.

Jeremy McCarthy, the Director of Spa Operations, Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and thelobby.com's most active expert, shares some secrets to staying fit on the go.

Many Westin hotels are offering a new service to their cardiovascularly inclined clients. Run Westin features a "running concierge" which will guide you on a fitness run around the neighborhood of the hotel. I was able to join the run at Westin Langkawi in Malaysia and then both Westin Shanghai and Westin Beijing in China. It is a great motivator because just knowing someone is waiting for me in the lobby helped to get me out of bed and into my running shoes on days that I otherwise probably would have just hit snooze a few more times.

Usually they lead the run to interesting sites near the hotel. In Langkawi we ran to nearby Legenda Langkawi park where different sculptures depict legends from the islands' history. In Shanghai, it is a run along the Bund riverfront which is crowded with many interesting characters in the early mornings (this warrants a blog post in and of itself, so watch for that in the future!) In Beijing, I decided to save myself for the Great Wall of China which I would be climbing to later that day so I stayed close to home, but those with endurance could make it to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, about 3 km from the Westin on Financial Street.