Live your White Lotus fantasy at these 5 luxury Malaysian hotels

Well, The White Lotus fans, it’s over… and it’s going to be another couple of years before we get to watch more rich white people and their first-world problems at a luxury resort.

But whether you’re still reeling over a certain character’s death or crying over another character’s incredible monologue (shoutout to Carrie Coon, you have my heart), I’m sure we can all agree that we wish we could get just a little taste of the luxury these characters had for about a week.

Filmed at the five-star Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus was set in Thailand, the first eastern location after seasons one and two’s Hawaiian and Italian settings respectively.

Now, if this latest season has also gotten you fantasising about a week of massages and cocktails, check out this list of five-star spots right here in Malaysia for you to plan (or dream) your next getaway around.

1. One & Only Desaru Coast

Nestled on the east coast in Johor, this lush seaside resort features architecture that seamlessly blends the surrounding flora with its Prairie School design.

Accessible via car, ferry, and even helicopter, the resort features 42 spacious suites, two luxurious grand suites, and an exclusive four-bedroom Villa One, all with private plunge pools and terraces so you can have that epiphany on how “time gives life meaning.”

Other amenities include a world-class fitness centre, with a specialist Pilates studio and multi-court, a Yoga pavilion overlooking the azure waters of the South China Sea, and a 56-metre Infinity Pool.

Location: Bandar Penawar, Johor

Pricing: From RM2,475 per night

Special offers: Extend your stay with one or two complimentary nights for every four and seven-night booking respectively.

2. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

Situated in Ipoh, the retreat offers visitors a true forest getaway despite only being 15 minutes away from Ipoh City. 

With 44 villas, the retreat offers visitors a chance to destress from the hustles of life with luxurious lifestyle essentials, from geothermal hot tubs to indigenous-inspired interiors.

Our sister brand visited in 2020 when the resort was supposedly at “full capacity,” but the space was so well-planned that it didn’t feel that way at all. It didn’t hurt that each villa had its own private hot spring and pool, too.

Other premium services include hot springs dipping pools, treatment caves tucked within limestone mountains, a well-equipped fitness centre, and various therapies, from facials to massages.

Location: Ipoh, Perak

Pricing: From RM1,850 per night

Special offers: Book directly via their website and enjoy 15% off their best available rates.

3. Tanjong Jara Resort

Shaded by tall palms and facing a beach of golden sand, this Terengganu resort stays true to its tagline: Unmistakably Malay, with architecture inspired by 17th-century Malay palaces; offering non-locals a glimpse into Malay culture and hospitality.

Along with its signature “The House of Terengganu,” a secluded one-bedroom villa hideaway with an idyllic private pool, the resort also features various smaller rooms that either overlook the sea or their manicured gardens, each featuring wooden furnishings and premier appliances; just be sure to wash them in between uses 😉.

Don’t just stay inside though, as the Tanjong Jara Resort also hosts a slew of “experiences” from a five-course seaside dinner, to a seven-step holistic wellness programme anchored in the Malay belief of Sucimurni.

Location: Kuala Dungun, Terengganu

Pricing: From RM808 per night

Special offers: Exclusive for Malaysian and Singaporean residents, book directly via their website and enjoy a complimentary 50-minute massage and daily meals.

4. The Danna

Recognised by the World Luxury Hotel Awards, LUXE Global Travel Awards, and Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards in 2024 alone, The Danna, Langkawi offers guests a luxurious perspective of the island.

With rooms featuring a colonial-Mediterranean style, The Danna offers various options at different price points, from their classic marina or sea view rooms to their 1,080 sq metre beachfront villa, fitted with a private infinity pool, sun loungers, and direct access to the beach.

The resort also hosts several restaurants, each offering different cuisines be it Italian or Peranakan, so you can enjoy a casual, elegant, or even romantic dining experience, whichever flavour you fancy.

Location: Langkawi, Kedah

Pricing: From RM1,965 per night

Special offers: Enjoy four paid nights and receive a complimentary extra night, or enjoy seven nights for the price of five when you book via their website.

5. Gaya Island Resort

Perched atop Gaya Island, a forest reserve that forms the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah, the Gaya Island Resort is surrounded by a highly diverse yet fragile ecosystem under the purview of Sabah Parks.

Discover an exceptional botanic reserve via the resort’s nature trail and listen to the choir of the Bornean forest, sung by Proboscis Monkeys and flying squirrels backlit by a newly established population of Twilight Fireflies.

Owned by the YTL Hotels group, the Gaya Island Resort features luxuries and premier services integral to its family of five-star hotels. This includes a Spa Village, where guests are treated to traditional Bornean therapies and healing practices, from the specialised rice scrubs and masks of the Kadazandusun to the age-old practices of the Bajau sea nomads.

The resort also provides various “crafted experiences”, from snorkeling expeditions to yacht cruises, providing a great bonding experience for you and your loved ones—or your brother (IYKYK).

Location: Gaya Island, Sabah

Pricing: From RM896 per night

Special offers: Exclusive for residents of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, their Residents Package includes all meals and a speedboat transfer between Jesselton Point and the resort.

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Featured Image Credit: One & Only Desaru Coast / Conde Nast Traveller