Best vacation homes & holiday rentals in Kelantan
This list ranks Kelantan properties where the whole-unit vacation home or holiday rental experience, not a spare room, is the main product: private-pool cottages, beachfront chalets and standalone homes booked by groups and families. Order follows our methodology, a composite score built from rating, review volume, recency and sentiment.
Looking for a room-style homestay instead? See our separate ranking of the best homestay overall in Kelantan. The picks here focus on private, whole-property rentals, and several have small review counts, so we flag confidence honestly rather than let a handful of five-star reviews outrank a proven track record.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to vacation home / holiday rental, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zulanie's The Pool Cottage near D'Aur Beach, Melawi, Bachok - The Perfect Gateway, Private Pool | 76 | 4.7 (49) | — | Beach base with a private pool |
| 2 | Calia Homestay | 81 | 4.9 (84) | — | Best overall for family groups |
| 3 | Villa Bisikan Bayu | 69 | 4.2 (196) | — | Beachfront pool stay for larger groups |
| 4 | Rainbow Chalet D'Melawi | 64 | 4.8 (19) | — | Quiet beachfront chalet for families |
| 5 | Z & Z Home | 63 | 4.6 (7) | — | Rice-paddy retreat on a budget |
| 6 | Yadin Cottage with Private Pool | 69 | 5 (8) | — | Small-group private pool escape |
| 7 | TENANG BEACH RESORT | 58 | 4.4 (13) | — | Simple, quiet beachfront stay |
| 8 | Homestay budget Bunut Payong, Kota Bharu | 45 | 4.6 (4) | — | Budget stay, early track record |
| 9 | Homestay Budget Kampung Bunut Payong | 42 | 5 (1) | — | Newly listed budget option |
1. Zulanie's The Pool Cottage near D'Aur Beach, Melawi, Bachok - The Perfect Gateway, Private Pool
4.7 (49 reviews)score 76/100
Zulanie's pairs a private pool with a full kitchen setup a short walk from D'Aur Beach, and its 4.7 rating from 49 reviews gives it a solid, medium-confidence track record. Guests keep coming back to how clean the units are and how quickly the owner responds to requests.
- Private pool on site
- Full kitchen, water filter and AC in each unit
- Close to D'Aur Beach and local eateries
- Multiple unit types for different group sizes
Watch out: Mobile signal and internet are patchy given the remote location, and living areas run compact.
Services: beachfront homestay, vacation rental type, family group homestay, homestay
2. Calia Homestay
4.9 (84 reviews)score 81/100
Calia Homestay posts the highest composite score on this list, backed by a 4.9 rating across 84 reviews, the most substantial review base among these picks. Guests consistently point to a spacious, child-safe pool and fully furnished units as reasons they book multiple nights or return.
- Spacious pool with child safety floats
- Multiple furnished units that sleep whole families
- Full kitchen and laundry in every unit
- Fast, same-day responses from the owner
Services: pool villa homestay, family group homestay, homestay, beachfront homestay
3. Villa Bisikan Bayu
4.2 (196 reviews)score 69/100
Villa Bisikan Bayu has by far the largest review base here (196 reviews) and a loyal following for its beachfront setting, sunset views and family pool. Sentiment runs mixed, though: the same reviews that praise the location also describe real friction during busy periods.
- Beachfront location with sunrise and sunset views
- Family-friendly pool with a dedicated children's area
- BBQ pits and drying areas for longer stays
- Walkable to shops, restaurants and fishing spots
Watch out: Guests report AC breakdowns with slow repairs, thin walls between rooms, and overbooking during peak periods with no backup rooms.
Services: pool villa homestay, beachfront homestay, family group homestay, vacation rental type
4. Rainbow Chalet D'Melawi
4.8 (19 reviews)score 64/100
Rainbow Chalet D'Melawi sits right by Melawi Beach and earns a strong 4.8 rating, with guests calling out spacious rooms and full cooking and BBQ facilities. The review count is still small, so treat it as a promising, low-confidence pick rather than a proven volume performer.
- Steps from Melawi Beach with sea views
- Kitchen, BBQ area and outdoor seating on site
- Rooms spacious enough for 5-6 adults
- Quiet, family-friendly atmosphere
Watch out: Grounds are unfenced, and the review base (19) is still thin.
Services: beachfront homestay, vacation rental type, homestay
5. Z & Z Home
4.6 (7 reviews)score 63/100
Z & Z Home offers a private pool, hot water and streaming access set among rice paddies for around RM150 a night, which reviewers call good value. Confidence is low with only 7 reviews, but the feedback so far is uniformly positive.
- Private swimming pool
- Scenic rice field views
Watch out: Still a small review base, so early impressions may not hold as it scales up.
Services: beachfront homestay, pool villa homestay, vacation rental type, homestay
6. Yadin Cottage with Private Pool
5 (8 reviews)score 69/100
Every one of Yadin Cottage's 8 reviews is a perfect five stars, with guests repeatedly praising the clean, spacious rooms and a working private pool for family staycations. The sample is small, but the consistency and an attentive owner who several guests say they'd return to stand out.
- Private pool for family use
- Spacious, comfortable rooms
Watch out: Only 8 reviews so far, so the perfect rating is an early signal, not a long track record.
Services: pool villa homestay, beachfront homestay, homestay, vacation rental type
7. TENANG BEACH RESORT
4.4 (13 reviews)score 58/100
Tenang Beach Resort sits on a quiet stretch of Bachok beach where reviewers come for sunset views and a calm setting rather than extras. Rooms are clean and air-conditioned, and the owner is described as hospitable, though the low review count of 13 keeps confidence modest.
- Direct beachfront location
- Quiet, uncrowded seaside setting
- Clean, air-conditioned rooms
- Hospitable, responsive owner
Watch out: Bathroom fixtures are showing age, and parking runs an extra RM3.
Services: beachfront homestay, guest house type, vacation rental type, homestay
8. Homestay budget Bunut Payong, Kota Bharu
4.6 (4 reviews)score 45/100
This Bunut Payong homestay carries a 4.6 rating, but with only 4 reviews on record there isn't yet enough feedback to say much about the guest experience with confidence. It's worth watching as more reviews come in rather than booking on reputation alone.
- Early guest rating of 4.6 out of 5
- Budget-friendly option near Kota Bharu
Watch out: Very few reviews so far, so treat the score as provisional.
Services: beachfront homestay, budget homestay, homestay, vacation rental type
9. Homestay Budget Kampung Bunut Payong
5 (1 reviews)score 42/100
Homestay Budget Kampung Bunut Payong has a single five-star review and virtually no track record yet, landing it here on limited data rather than a demonstrated pattern of guest satisfaction. It's an option to consider once more reviews accumulate.
- Perfect rating from its first reviewer
- Budget-friendly homestay pricing
Watch out: Only one review so far, so there isn't enough data for a reliable read yet.
Services: beachfront homestay, farmstay paddy, budget homestay, homestay