“Will definitely be back”
Rebak Island Resort was paradise. It was absolutely perfect. There were staff everywhere who went out of their way to be helpful and make our stay enjoyable, and they all spoke English. When they learned we were on our honeymoon, we got a free "Happy Honeymoon" cake and our room was decorated with flowers and candles. Being on a private island is slightly inconvenient because you're reliant on the hotel for transport and food, but the food was excellent (and not too expensive) and their transport to the main island was frequent. They offered plenty of activities, including free ones within the resort as well as bookings for activities on the main island. We loved it and are hoping to return next year.
Area recommendations
The whole island was beautiful, as were the surrounding islands, Pantai Cenang (the main beach area on the main island) was the busiest area for food, shopping, and activities.
Getting there
We caught the ferry into Kuah, Langkawi from Georgetown, Penang and it was convenient, comfortable, and quite fast. In the off-season you can get tickets on the day but otherwise you should book in advance, as there are only two ferries a day from Georgetown. The ferry winds through the Langkawi islands on its way and one of the two ferries stops at Pulau Pesar to drop off people doing a diving trip. Kuah is not very close to the main food/shopping/accommodation area of Pantai Cenang, however.
You can also fly using AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and possibly others. The airport is quite close to Pantai Cenang and flights (especially with AirAsia) are usually quite cheap.
Getting around
There's no public transport on Langkawi but taxis are not too expensive and they are often happy to wait while you do some sightseeing or shopping (for a small fee). Alternatively, Langkawi is one of the few places in Malaysia I would have felt comfortable driving - the roads are quite good, traffic is not too heavy, and people seem to follow the road rules a little more than elsewhere - so you may want to consider hiring a car.
Must see
The view from the top of the cable car is amazing but the trip is a little scary as it doesn't seem to be immaculately maintained. The Kompleks Kraf Langkawi is very good and has plenty of variety and the chance to see artists at work, as well as a couple of museums. The island-hopping tour is fun and interesting. Langkawi has plenty of mythology which is worth discovering.
