Langkawi

Where to stay

Budget travelers cluster along Jalan Pantai Cenang and the quieter stretch of Jalan Pantai Tengah just south of it. Pantai Tengah guesthouses tend to run cheaper than the main Cenang strip and are still a short walk to the beach and the night stalls on Cenang Road.

Getting around

• Rent a motorbike from one of the shops on Jalan Pantai Cenang for around RM25-35 per day. There is no public bus network, and metered taxis here are fixed-rate and expensive, so two wheels is the only realistic budget option for reaching Telaga Tujuh waterfall, the cable car at Gunung Mat Cincang, or the Kuah jetty.
• Langkawi is duty-free. The shops along Jalan Kuah near the ferry terminal sell alcohol, chocolate, and cigarettes at a fraction of mainland prices. Pick up what you need before boarding the ferry back to Penang or Kuala Perlis.
• Avoid arriving in Cenang without a booking in late December or during Chinese New Year. The strip fills up fast and walk-in rates can be double or triple what you would pay by booking a week ahead.

When to go

Rates drop noticeably from June through August when the southwest monsoon brings rain and crowds thin out. December through February is the dry season and the busiest stretch, with hostels in Cenang filling up weeks in advance around Christmas and the New Year.