7 Best Hotels in Malaysia

Spread over 70 acres, this tranquil resort's chalets stand on stilts above the crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea, with the green mountains of the rain forest providing a lush backdrop. Among five restaurants, Pahn-Thai is built over the ocean and serves innovative Thai cuisine, Mizumi serves a selection of Japanese dishes and is located on the lake at the Oriental Village, and Oriental Pearl serves Cantonese and Sichuan dishes. Honeymooners can opt for a candlelit dinner under the stars on the beach. Animal lovers will be excited to spot monitor lizards, monkeys (don't leave any snacks on your balcony or they'll snatch them), and dozens of birds lurking the grounds.

Overlooking the China Sea, Gayana Eco Resort consists of 52 lush luxury villas set up over water on the island of Pulau Gaya, just off the coast of Borneo. This hideaway exudes elegance while ensuring the surrounding marine ecology is protected and regenerated through the efforts of the on-site Marine Ecology Research Centre. Guests balance their time among jungle trekking expeditions, kayaking adventures, soaking in the infinity pool, and indulging in top-notch treatments at the Solace Spa. Pantai Villas offer the lagoon view, which beautifully frames Mt. Kinabalu in the distant horizon. An added bonus comes with the Reef Regeneration Program, where guests are given the opportunity to replant coral and give back to Mother Nature.

An hour-and-a-half boat trip from the Sandakan yacht club takes you to tiny, wooded Lankayan Island, a little slice of paradise ringed with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The only habitation on the island, the resort offers 23 air-conditioned beachfront "chalets" each with functional wooden furniture, high ceilings, private terrace for optimal sunset gazing, and enough space for a family. On the sea turtle corridor, the island is serious about conservation; if you go between June and September you help accompany hundreds of adorable hatchlings to their first sea dive. Within close proximity to the island, human divers can enjoy 32 dive sites and two wrecks. Although the diver price includes three dives a day and unlimited jetty diving (non-diver packages are about $100 less), the snorkeling is every bit as good.

Aptly named, this unique hotel perched on a hill (538 steps up the hill, to be precise) in the middle of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is about as close as you'll get to a treehouse, and with only four guestrooms it's almost as small. Though modest, rooms are comfortable and spotless, with good beds, functional bathrooms, and a common terrace. Here, it's all about the surroundings. Along with an view over rain forest and the river below, you'll be up close and personal to the jungle wildlife, and passionate and knowledgeable hosts offer a thorough introduction to the area's extraordinary natural beauty and wildlife.

Malihom's name, which translates to "village of the fragrant rice" in Thai, was inspired by the nine traditional rice storage barns brought over from Chiang Mai to serve as this eco-retreat's guestrooms. Set on the southern end of Penang atop high hills, the small eco-hotel has a tranquil setting offering views of the mountains, sea, city, and lush forest valleys. Yoga and spa sessions can be organized, and each barn has a private garden that's a nice perch for bird-watching. The rates include three daily meals made fresh with seasonal produce.

Sprawling across 25 acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, the Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa embraces the natural beauty of the Borneo setting, and locally sourced woods and fabric are everywhere. All 492 rooms feature private balconies overlooking either the South China Sea or Mt. Kinabalu. Guests can choose to spend their day splashing around the extensive system of slides and pools, getting pampered at the stellar CHI Spa, practicing their swing at the 9-hole golf course, or venturing away from the resort to explore the breathtaking surroundings. Among the seven dining options, Peppino's Italian restaurant and dim sum at Shang Palace are major draws. End the day with live entertainment and light refreshments at Borneo Lounge and Bar.

Walking around the grounds of Temple Tree is like taking a trip back in time; the eight villas that make up the hotel are restored antique buildings of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian origin. With more than 110 years of history, the former family homes were collected from around Malaysia and thoughtfully renovated. Guests have the option of renting out entire villas or individual rooms. Each house offers unique traits like a Mahjong room in the Chinese House or a private gym in the Black and White House. The hotel owner supports a local animal shelter, and cats roam freely here. Breakfast is set up in your in-room refrigerator the night before so you can prepare it yourself in the morning.