Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) Complex, Kuah

Langkawi used to be one of our favorite vacation destinations. We make at least 2 trip a year visiting the beautiful island. However, we will think twice before makng more trips there. Just a couple of month ago, our trip there proved it's not worth going to Langkawi anymore. Eateries are charging KL prices or even more. That's after we looked hard for decent food outlets. In Pantai Chenang, though a district with most lights in the island, is now mothing more than a place of bore. We can hardly find a decent diner and there's "NO" nite life at all! I'm not sure if people are ristricitng alcohol here. And when we do find a place to drink, the prices are so high considering a duty-free island! As for shopping, Kuah, the premier shopping district of the island has seen it's hey days. More every shop sells the same product. And the only things that are cheaper than the mainland are cookware, chocolates and alcohol. Other things can be more expensive than KL. We used to buy glass cookware there at attractive prices few years back. But, the prices of cookwere there now has increased so much. Some even over 60%. Price difference of these product cannot justify a trip from KL to Langkawi anymore. Even prices for beer has been steadily increasing in our past few trips. I am just not sure if the duty-free status is for attracting more tourist or for the island's retailers to make higher margin. Only the people who make the policy knows. Transportation is also a problem. There're hardly any taxis around. And when you do find one, they ask for crazy prices! With the distance between mail places on the island can be far, the only way to get around are either rent a car of a motobike. By the time I cost everything in, it's cheaper to visit another country than to hang around in Langkawi.