Penang Travel Tips Part 1 : Accomodation

In the spirit of the school holidays, decided to post this. It’s actually quite hard posting travel tips when you’ve lived in a place for so long....I have actually been given honorary citizenship by my fellow Penangites :p

For instance I could never post travel tips on Klang cos I haven’t exactly ‘visited’ it or done touristy things myself there.
Also we have strict standards on who’s allowed :p

Anyway, thankfully many of my friends ask me to plan trips for them to Penang so I have much experience in this.

I think

Getting there/(here?) :

Drive lor.
It’s only a 4 ½ hr drive from KL and you might as well bring your own car cos public transport is pretty pissy. The taxis don’t use the meter and the min charge is RM8. Bus service used to be good but since they took away the mini buses, it’s totally screwed!

You can also take a bus here (I would highly recommend Plusliner which you can take from the old KTM station at RM26.90)…all buses stop at the Sg Nibong bus station which is near USM. But then you would have to rent a car which could cost you RM60 per day for a Kancil. Here is the number just in case : 0134351973 (Rahman). Warning : Book the car beforehand and keep reminding him cos he is very forgetful.

Oh and you can fly here. Air Asia is constantly having cheap flights to Penang at RM1.99. The airport is about ½ hr from the bridge (USM) and about an hour from town.

So still, I would recommend bringing your own car. A trip to and fro KL inclusive of toll and petrol will cost you about RM170-200 depending on how fast you go of course.

Accommodation :

The best place to stay I should think would be either Batu Ferringhi or Tanjung Bungah. I personally feel it would be better to stay along Tanjung Bungah since it’s halfway to everything…about a 5-10 minute drive from Gurney Drive; ~ 15 minutes from town and about 10-15 minutes from Ferringhi. If you stay in Ferringhi, you have to drive all the way out, using the winding-winding road, just to get to the clubs, food & shopping.

Tanjung Bungah

As I mentioned in my previous post, I would highly recommend Paradise Sandy Bay. Suite style and affordable. A studio suite (off peak) will cost you below RM200. Rooms are really nice and they have a great pool. Number : 04-8999999

Second would be Crown Jewel which is next to Sandy Bay. Rooms are cheaper than Sandy Bay but they’re not suite style, although they do have suites available. Very big pool. Rooms are not as nice as Sandy Bay. Number : 04-8904111

Both hotels have great beaches.

Last would be Copthorne. For the same price, I would rather stay at Sandy Bay. Very basic amenities in the room. Pool is quite nice. They have a Jacuzzi and sauna although last month when we went, it was under renovation. But they do have a spa there which offers massages at pretty reasonable prices. Doesn’t have a nice beach though. Number : 04-8903333

Ferringhi

Many hotels to choose from but they are a lot pricier.

• 
  Rasa Sayang would of course be a dream. Just refurbished but a normal room could set you back by almost RM600-800!!! Sorry don’t have the number cos I can’t bloody afford it anyway!
• 
  Parkroyal is right at the end (just before Bayu Senja) and also really really beautiful! They have a beautiful lounge area where there is a live band that plays jazz music. Number : 04-8811133
• 
  Lone Pine is another gem. Supposed to be very exclusive. Very few rooms and the rooms open out to the beach. Great for couples. Number : 04-8811511
  

Here are the other hotels that are available :

• 
  Holiday Inn (Next to Parkroyal): 04-8811601
• Golden Sands (Next to Rasa Sayang) : 04-8811911
• Bayview Beach (further in, past Parkroyal) : 04-8812123
  

There are also some apartments available in ferringhi :

• 
  Sri Sayang Apts : opposite Rasa Sayang. You have to cross the road to get to the beach and apparently you can use Rasa Sayang facilities. Pretty affordable. Pool quite small though and apartments not that great. Number : 04-8811113
• Bayu Emas Apt : 04-8812641
  

If you don’t wanna stay on the beach however, and I don’t know why you would come to Penang if you’re not gonna be at least near the beach, you can stay somewhere in town or along Gurney.

• 
  Berjaya Hotel : Along Pulau Tikus. 10 minute walk to Gurney Drive. Pool on the 6th floor. Rooms are very cosy but quite small. They have a buffet at the café downstairs at only RM30 if I’m not mistaken which comes with unlimited Haagen Daas ice cream!!Number : 04-2277111
• Northam All-Suites : about 5 minutes drive from Gurney Drive. As its name suggests, it’s all suites. And apparently the suites are just superb. Comes with a Jacuzzi inside. Prices are very reasonable as well. Suites for less than RM200 (off peak). Number : 04-3701111

In the town area, the nice ones would be City Bayview which has a revolving restaurant and a great club, Carmens. Also just a hop and a skip away from Slipperies. Cititel along Penang road is also really nice. Right next to Soho’s. Don’t have the numbers for both though.

Anybody who has anything to add…experiences at the hotels, suggestions for better hotels etc please do leave your comments.

Thanks

Next : Food!