Best Weekend Getaway: The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
The sun was setting, as my view of the mythical islands in the Langkawi archipelago faded into the dark—fishing boats lit up, and sailed across the black of night. “The Jolly Roger, covered in pixie dust!” I thought to myself, as I tucked into my first course at Tide, The Westin Langkawi’s pop-up concept restaurant which features international chefs on rotation. On this stormy night, chef Cliff Borg from Taro had prepared a pretty plate of crab and melon; I savoured every bite, as lightning illuminated the islands in spectacular fashion.
The day had been a series of beautiful moments unfolding; from the stunning views that greeted me at the vista of the Breeze Lounge to my beachfront Bedroom Villa with private pool, complete with a bottle of Prosecco and teatime treats to really get into holiday mode—chin-chin! Throughout my stay, lush treatments at the Heavenly Spa began with the ritual of choosing an intention stone—Hope, Love, or Gratitude. Starting with a three-hour Heavenly Hydration Rejuvenating Treatment, my body was a willing recipient of head-to-toe pampering with a detoxifying scrub, deep tissue massage, facial mask, mud wrap, and salt bath, using minerals from the Dead Sea. The following day, a 30-minute Age Repair Facial prepped my skin—the Neverland metaphor of never growing old was not lost on me here, with a thorough 13-step process of masks, serums, and moisturisers that focused on lifting and plumping. My favourite, however, was the In Love Heavenly Island Scrub and Heavenly Massage, which used a blend of gentle soya and floral essential oils to exfoliate dead skin, followed by a Swedish massage using a hot compress on the back—each long stroke and light pinching movement alleviating any soreness I had. After a long day of indulgence, a drink in hand while watching the tangerine skies at sunset, a rainbow sighting was the fairy-tale ending to this weekend escape.
Jalan Pantai Dato Syed Omar, Langkawi, Kedah. Tel: 04-960 8888. www.marriott.com
