Bon Ton Resort

Eight antique Malay houses rebuilt in an old coconut plantation on the island of Langkawi

Atmospheric, laid back and unique, Bon Ton is a careful blend of conservation principles and design savvy. The small resort (or 'Coconut Village' as it used to be called) comprises 8 antique kampung houses acquired from islanders by Australian owner Narelle McMurtrie, and subsequently reassembled on a peaceful coconut plantation just north of Langkawi's longest beach.

Colourful fabrics, Malay songket weavings and antique wood furnishings adorn each of the stilted wooden houses, which face a lily-strewn lagoon. Modern touches include luxury bathrooms, fridges, kettles and (in some of the houses) air-con. It's a far cry from the surrounding generic resort hotels, and what Bon Ton lacks in facilities, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. Even so, there's an attractive swimming pool, an antique yacht for charter, a west-facing cocktail deck, a wonderful restaurant serving Asian fusion cuisine and a lounge-bar set in a heritage Chinese shophouse. To top it all, it's fantastic value for money.

Highs

• Exquisite, antique Malay architecture blended with chic, beautifully conceived interiors
• Delicious Asian-Mediterranean cuisine - the restaurant is one of Langkawi's best and Rick Stein is said to be a fan
• Some houses have private al fresco bathrooms for washing under the stars
• Very secluded and full of character

Lows

• Mosquitoes can be an annoyance
• The nearest beach is a mile away along a sandy track so you really need transport to get around although Bon Ton has a beach drop off service
• There are dogs and cats around (the owner runs an animal sanctuary within the same compound) but they are some distance away. Again, this needn't be a low, but those with allergies take note!