Where to stay in Perhentian islands
The Perhentian islands are made up of two main islands, where you will find the most beautiful beaches and a variety of accommodation. The smaller of the islands, Pulau Kecil, offers the widest range of hotels, restaurants and nightlife. The larger of the islands is quieter and more relaxed, more suitable for families and couples.
Finding the accommodation you want can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. If you're visiting the islands in high season, make sure you book well in advance. Find out all the information you need in our guide below.
The 10 best hotels in the Perhentians
Where to book accommodation?
If you're looking for a hotel or resort in Perhentians, choose from Booking.com. While you'll find slightly less accommodation on Agoda, you can sometimes come across other deals there.
There is still a lot of accommodation in the Perhentian Islands that you won't find on any accommodation booking platform like Booking.com or Agoda.
A very popular option is packages from various local travel agencies and dive schools, which often include accommodation in addition to activities and transport. Although it seems that this organised form must be expensive, it often works out more economically than organising everything on your own.
Booking cabins
For the low cost traveller, there are also a huge number of simple cabins on the island that can only be booked via Whatsapp. These cabins are often unoccupied, so you can simply show up on site, check out the cabins and check in.
Accommodation in cabins is clearly the cheapest option, but the quality of the cabins is questionable and many have very bad reviews.
Hotel prices in the Perhentians
Compared to other destinations in Malaysia, the Perhentians are quite expensive.
You can get cheap lodge accommodation without online booking from 70 myr. Regularly bookable accommodation, simple hostels and guesthouses offer rooms around 150 myr per night off the beaches and from 200 myr on the beaches.
Reasonable accommodation with good value for money can be found for around 300 - 500 myr.
Accommodation in luxury western type resorts can be quite expensive, expect to pay around 1 500 myr per night.
Alternatives to Perhentians
In recent years, a large number of tourists have started to visit the Perhentian Islands, especially in high season. Also for this reason, it may not be a bad idea to choose another island on the east coast where not so many tourists still go.
A beautiful piece of tropical paradise with clear water and an incredible beach to yourself is Lang Tenghah. You can stay at the simple DEWATI ROOMSTAY B&B, and you'll also find this stylish campsite on the beach that lets you stay on the island literally for a song.
A good option may also be the larger Redang Island, where there is beautiful diving and snorkelling. Redang also has an airport that you can fly into. We recommend the beautiful The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort*****.
In the more southern part of the Malaysian peninsula you will also find Tioman Island, which we have a separate guide about. Tioman offers more affordable accommodation, but also often faces large numbers of visitors from Malaysia and Singapore, especially at weekends.
Where to stay - the best locations
Below you will find descriptions of each location as well as our tips for accommodation on each beach.
Pulau Kecil
The smaller of the two islands offers a wider range of accommodation, plenty of bars and restaurants as well as beautiful beaches and snorkelling.
Long Beach
The most famous beach on the island is where all the nightlife is concentrated. You'll also find a large number of hotels and dive resorts here.
Comfortable accommodation with good value for money (up to 500 myr per night):
A luxury resort with breakfast right on the beach:
Coral Bay
Coral Bay offers a range of accommodation on the island's second most famous beach. The beach is beautiful, but the water may not be as clear due to the ubiquitous boats.
Quality accommodation with a diving atmosphere is offered:
Fisherman Village
The local village is the location where you'll find the cheapest accommodation on the whole island, but on the other hand there's no beach and you'll have to take a water taxi for trips.
Cheap accommodation in local guesthouses (up to 200 myr):
Pulau Besar
The larger of the two islands is wilder and offers far fewer beaches to stay on. In general, accommodation here is also a little less accessible. On the other hand, you'll definitely have a quieter holiday here.
Flora Bay
This forgotten bay on the south side of the island is the perfect place to stay if you're looking for peace and quiet.
You'll find mainly cheap accommodation in cottages or tents (up to 300 myr):
Teluk Pauh Beach
A beautiful beach in the north of the island with clear water, nice snorkeling and fine sand. This is Teluk Pauh Beach.
There is basically only one resort on the beach, which has good value for money:
Tuna Bay
Tuna Bay is a beautiful, but very crowded during the day, beach on the west side of the island. In the evening it's a paradise on earth, but otherwise you have to expect more visitors.
Cheap accommodation right on the beach (do 500 myr):
Our tip - Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa*****
If you want to stay in a beautiful hotel with western standards and enjoy a bit of that pampering, we recommend a beautiful Marriott chain hotel that has its own beach. The beach is public, but because of the complicated road, few people outside the resort can get to it.
The hotel has a total of three pools and all the facilities you could possibly need during your vacation.
Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa***** - Check availability
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