11 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.

All 34 Mediterranean-style rooms at Casa del Mar are situated along Pantai Cenang beach, offering guests a serene seafront setting. The staff does a nice job creating truly personalized experiences. For instance, you might be whisked away by speedboat to a private beach, where the staff will pitch a glamorous tent and prepare a gourmet picnic with cocktails. Guests can then stick around and catch the sunset from La Sal, the cocktail bar that fuses Mediterranean drinks with Asian flavors. Try the tom yam martini or five-spice poached apple and cinnamon mojito. Only a 10-minute drive from Langkawi airport, the resort is within walking distance of several local restaurants and cafés.

Within walking distance to Jonker Street and next to the Malacca River, Casa del Rio is the top choice for a central Melacca location. You'll get a taste (literally) of the excellent service in store when you're greeted at reception with a cooling towel and refreshing ginger-lime sorbet. Stylish, spacious rooms include balconies with wonderful river views, and the rooftop infinity pool with phenomenal city and river vistas is a delight. The hotel restaurant's food, particularly the Peranakan lunch and the Sunday riverside jazz brunch, comes highly recommended.

The same people responsible for grand hotels like The Raffles in Singapore and The Strand in Yangon established the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in 1885, and upon arrival today, guests feel as if they've stepped through a time machine as they're greeted by doormen in knee-high socks and brimmed hats. The hotel has two wings, the 100-suite historical wing, part of the original hotel, and the 132-suite Victory Annexe, which opened in 2012. Steeped in history and old-world charm, the E & O brings the British colonial era to life. Persian carpets cover teak wooden floors in the sitting rooms, and Egyptian cotton linens cover the four-poster beds. Views from the rooms in the historical wing vary from the Strait of Malacca to the courtyard's manicured lawns. The Victory Annexe suites, which have private balconies and a modern-classic design, overlook the Andaman Sea.

Widely considered Sandakan's best hotel, this is comfortable lodging with every necessity, including all-day dining, an outdoor infinity pool with splendid views of the harbor, cocktail lounge with evening entertainment, a beauty salon, and a gym. Rooms here are spacious and modern—some with floor-to-ceiling windows. All rooms have a flat screen TV, and many offer spectacular views of the harbor, especially from the higher floors (be sure to request a view when booking). The hotel is Sandakan's tallest bulding and the centerpiece of the Sandakan Harbour Square project, the city's major push toward urban renewal.

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.

While Lone Pine was one of the first hotels to pop up along Batu Ferringhi (Foreigner's Rock) in 1948, it was a recent refurbishment that made it a top pick along this famous beach. The restored grounds offer a distinct colonial charm; white wooden shutters go well with the ocean-inspired contemporary artwork. The 90 rooms offer a mixture of seafront terraces, balconies, and private courtyards. In addition to dining by the pool at the Bungalow, where the buffet breakfast is served, you can enjoy a meal at Mastu restaurant, which offers a Japanese twist on fresh seafood and can even provide picnic bento boxes to take to the beach. A free shuttle bus runs five times daily between the hotel and Georgetown.

On the banks of the Malacca River, this grand 1920s-era hotel, decorated in Peranakan Chinese style with teakwood detailing exudes luxury, from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the oversize bathrooms with claw-foot tubs. Ask for a room on a higher floor for the best views. The service here is first-rate; you're greeted with fresh tea in your room and delicious local sweets at turndown. Guests also shouldn't miss the Majestic's worthwhile complimentary two-hour walking tour to the city's many historic sites.

Conveniently located between the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, Mandarin Oriental is smack-dab in the center of town. All 30 floors offer impressive views of the city, but request a Petronas facing room in order to gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the high-standing towers. The infinity-edge pool on the third floor acts as an urban beach, overlooking the captivating city skyline. A fitness center, two outdoor tennis courts, and an indoor golf simulator are on hand for recreation. There are 10 restaurants at the MO, including Aqua, which overlooks KLCC Park and serves family-friendly continental fare. Exhausted travelers can rejuvenate their senses by dipping into The Spa's steam room, sauna, and vitality pool before indulging in a signature treatment.

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.

When you enter this hotel off busy Bintang Walk, the lobby greets you with white marble walls and flooring, along with an extensive and comfortable seating area. Set in the center of town, the Westin offers business travelers close proximity to many international corporations while leisure travelers appreciate the popular shopping malls, and families can sign up for the Westin Kids Club, with supervised activities for children up to age 12. All 443 rooms are spacious, modern, and offer great views of the city.