When we booked our stay at Malibest Resort in Langkawi, we were excited about a relaxed beachside holiday with my family. Traveling with kids always needs a bit more planning, and I had chosen this property hoping it would be convenient and comfortable. What I did not expect was how stressful the check in experience would turn out to be.

We had booked two family rooms for six people, assuming everything was clearly covered. However, at check in, we were told that breakfast was not included for our two kids. This came as a complete surprise. We were asked to purchase separate breakfast tickets for them at 35 Ringgit per child, per day. Over three days, this added up to a significant amount, especially considering that my younger one barely eats more than a few bites.

As a parent, this felt unnecessary and poorly communicated. When you are traveling with children, clarity in inclusions matters a lot. This was definitely one of the most frustrating parts of our stay at Malibest Resort Langkawi.

To make matters worse, we discovered that the swimming pool was under renovation. This was never mentioned during the booking process. For families traveling with kids, a pool is often a key factor when choosing a hotel. Not having access to it felt like a major letdown, and honestly, a bit unfair.

View of the sea from our room

At that point, the entire experience felt like it was heading in the wrong direction. But instead of letting it ruin our trip, we decided to address it calmly. What followed was nearly two hours of discussion and negotiation with the hotel staff.

Thankfully, things started to turn around. The team eventually offered us access to the pool at a neighboring property, Best Star Resort, which was just a five minute walk along Cenang Beach. This small solution made a big difference. The walk itself was quite pleasant, and having pool access meant the kids could finally enjoy their holiday the way we had planned.

Another redeeming factor was the food. Once we settled in, the dining experience turned out to be genuinely enjoyable. The meals were fresh, flavorful, and absolutely worth the price. There was a good balance between the traditional Malay items like Fried rice, noodles, spring roll different types of Sambal and Continental items like baked beans, sausage, etc. The salad section was particularly my favourite, as I love grazing on fresh leaves and nicely chopped veggies with dressing (something that I truly laze about at home, because of various reasons). Fruits were only yellow watermelons, and sometimes red too, could have been more options but no one is complaining because who doesn't love watermelon 🍉 We had our meals right on the Cenang beach, overlooking the sea, which was very soothing. After the initial hiccups, this was something we truly appreciated.

The rooms were clean and well maintained and our windows gave a great view of the sea, something that I 

Looking back, this stay at Malibest Resort Langkawi was a mix of frustration and resolution. The lack of transparency around breakfast policies and ongoing renovations is something future travelers should definitely be aware of. At the same time, the willingness to find a solution did help improve the experience.

If you are planning a stay here, my advice would be to double check all inclusions, especially when traveling with kids. We had booked from Make My trip. Ask about facilities like the pool in advance, and be clear on what your booking covers.

Travel does not always go as planned, but sometimes, with a bit of patience and persistence, you can still make the most of it. 

This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026