Another "old" hotel is Hotel Oriental, the rate should be within your budget. It's at the junction of Penang Road and Chulia Street, location quite strategic too - 2 mins walk to Line Clear Nasi Kandar...

Bus no. 401E goes from airport to town, you can check the route from rapidpg.com.my Taxi from airport to hotel in Georgetown would cost RM40.

No lah, Oriental is Oriental all the while...My Singapore aunty's favourate, she can get big room for RM98/nite nia...

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Feb 23 2012, 03:22 PM

Taxi fare from airport to Tune Hotel - RM40 (good for 1-4pax wtih 3 baggages). Additional 40% for pickup between 10pm to 7am. At the airport, buy the taxi coupon at the taxi counter then queue for the airport taxi, give the coupon to the driver.

There's one called PPisland Hotel at Abu Siti Lane.

For low budget, got guesthouses at Batu Feringghi. However, I do not recommend staying at BF if you intend to spend more time in town area. If want somewhere in between, maybe can consider Tanjung Bungah area.

Ha ha, interesting indeed - been and back liao baru read that I recommended the hotel that you've stayed.

There are two laksa stalls. The one next to the old market is called Kim Laksa, the other one is just opposite in another coffee shop. Check this out(with GPS coordinates):
http://www.vkeong.com/2012/04/kim-laksa-na...k-pulau-penang/

Yes, there's a time table, but certain bus route seems to be more reliable than others. In Georgetown, the free shuttle service call CAT that runs through the herritage area is quite on time.

Main problem of bus not running on schedule in Penang is when there's a bus breakdown, or lack of driver. I know this coz my dad does take bus, and when the bus he normally takes doesn't come on time, he would call the Rapid Hotline and inquire. The Rapid Customer Service would track the bus and tell him the ETA of next bus.

If one intend to take bus, I suppose that first of all, one must be on a leisure, flexible, non-hurry trip. It ain't going to make it if one's itinerary is all packed and rush and still wants to take buses around - might end of spending more time waiting for buses...

Another option to tour around Penang if not taking bus or do not want to self-drive is to hire a taxi for the day, the price is RM25-30 per hour, usually, minimum 4hrs(including waiting time). If bigger group, van hire is about RM30-35 per hour. Most taxi drivers are good to advise or bring you to popular hawker food.

Please visit the official bus, ie Rapid Penang's website for bus info. There's only one type of free shuttle, and it only runs in the town area -mainly the heritage site. Kek lok si, bukit bendera this are not in town, need to take other buses.

@fastreader,

Yes, can take bus from airport to hotel in Georgetown area, but must know which bus stop to alight and might need to walk quite a distance from bus stop to hotel, or might need to take the bus to the end, ie Weld Quay, then take another bus that runs near the hotel.

Yes, bus is feasible as mode of transport for Penang tourist. However, as I mentioned before, one must be realistic with his/her itinerary, and is on a leisure, no-hurry, flexible trip.

You might even take buses to do a round Penang Island trip if you have time - one bus from Weld Quay to Teluk Bahang, another bus from Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau, then bus from Balik Pulau back to Weld Quay.

@fastreader

Weld Quay is a bus terminal, I can't think of any decent hotel near to the bus terminal. Another place where all buses pass thru is Komtar, it's good to catch a bus there too. Depends on your budget, may look for hotels that are along Jalan Penang or Lebuh Chulia, where you can catch the free CAT to either Weld Quay or Komtar to take other buses.

You are welcome.

Here's another website good for Penang bus route:
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/rapid-penang-bus-routes.htm

Considering the fact that you'll be driving all the way from Melaka, 3d2n can be quite rushing coz you only have one full day in Penang. If add one more day/night, would be more relax lor..

Don't know about this. But, there are plenty of food further down the main road, ie Jalan Macalister. Look for the kopitiams (along the main road, in between 2 side lanes - Lorong Selamat and Jalan Rangoon), about 300m from New Lane.

Drive safely, and don't fall asleep. If there's going to be a traffic jam, it's going to jam regardless of timing..coz traffic jam is not only due to heavy traffic, some times is road factor(closing one lane for repair etc), or some times because of road accident. And be prepared for the chaos when you reach Penang island.

Have a safe journey.

Taking into the consideration the cost of renting MPV, plus petrol, plus parking fees, and the "cons" that you stated, might as well hire a van with driver. The rate is about RM$35-40 per hour, including waiting time.

And if you are staying in town area, not necessary to drive, most of the eateries are within walking distance, also, more buses.

Yes, they are good, father and son, surname Foo.

IMO, Flamingo Hotel is good enough. Or can have a look at the Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort next to Flamingo Hotel.

Golden Sand is further away, and if you intend to spend more time in the town area, it's going to take up some travelling time..

Just take the taxi from Airport. It goes by coupon system, go to the taxi counter at the airport, purchase the coupon then proceed to take the taxi (just give the coupon to the driver). It's fixed price, don't have to worry about the "taxi not using meter" stuff...

The last I checked, airport to town area budget taxi fare is RM40.