Penang Hotel Tips by jbie

we booked over NY through rates2go (aussie company; great customer service, up-to-the minute accurate - we booked the night before when no one else had vacancies!) for 180-214myr a night (rack rate of 300myr) and were very pleased with it, especially for the price!
we had a pleasant stay.

the location is awesome considering that:
- 3 buses run frequently (10mins wait) from right outside (a back and forth route between: batu ferringhi - tanjong bungah - island plaza - gurney plaza - komtar/georgetown) (101, 104, 105).
we used these buses all day everyday for everything, only needed a cab to the airport, and never even used the shuttlebus. the last batu ferringhi bus leaves the night market at 10pm back to copthorne, so it was perfect for the end of day.
these buses go right into town, and pass great shops and food places in the suburbs and in town itself. the route is straightforward back and forth, very easy to hop on and off. 1-1.50myr per ride. buses vary from old rickety non-aircon ones (they feel fine, the wind makes it pleasant enough) to new modern aircon ones. the drivers will stop anywhere to pick you up if it comes to that.
the convenience of these just makes your holiday happen.
if you're not up to it, taxis are always waiting at the end of the driveway, plus the concierge has a private car company on-call, plus there's the hotel shuttle.

- across the road is a large hawker centre with great and cheap food and drinks. in the morning only a few of them are open, but enough to get decent breakfasts (nasi kandar). also are local shops including a 24hr 7-eleven, nicer restaurants, many more hawker food shops (inc a fantastic mobile char kuay teow stall), internet cafes.

- across and further down the road is a tailor, mr tay - an excellent tailor who teaches tailoring in big schools in town. we got suits and dresses made; he's pricey at almost twice the price of others, but still cheap by western standards, and excellent fit and quality, plus he's a real character and v friendly and fun.

Unique Qualities: we loved:
- superb aircon (love the blast when you walk in)
- nice pleasant rooms, cable tv, good beds, clean and luxurious-feeling (at a 3 star standard).
- the price!

we liked:
- friendly and polite staff (may sometimes be a bit blur around the edges, but they try)
- ok internet lounge downstairs at only 10myr an hour (2-3x the price of elsewhere, but still cheap by western standards and can't be beat for convenience) but closes at 9-10pm. has free reading material!
- well furnished room (couch, desk and chair, good wardrobe and drawers)
- the private beach. nice little beachside area on the way down, ok looking private beach, but not nice enough to tempt us to spend time there (nice but nothing compared to aussie beaches)
- nice pool area, good lounging with plenty of lounges and a sheltered beach-view area
- good foyer sitting areas

we were so-so on:
- bathrooms a bit outdated (taps abit tricky to figure out, tub enamel chipped)
- carpet torn in places (but clean, so is ok)
- fab sea views from window but had a giant condo tower smack in the middle of it (but had fab sea/beach views on either side of the tower, still v pretty); no views from bed
- awesome beauty spa (danai) but is easily 3 times the price of similar beauty spas down the road from gurney plaza (on the way from the bus stop).

we didn't like:
- the walk up the long driveway from the main road, at an incline which after a long day out leaves you puffed (we're unfit)
- only one shuttle bus run during the day, with very limited spaces.
- having to constantly run across busy dual carriageways to get across the street (but there is a pedestrian bridge a little down the road, we just couldn't be bothered)

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 60-4-8903-333
Address: Tanjung Bunga
Directions: main road of tanjong bungah, beachside, one of the first buildings there as you arrive from the city