Use this link to find one that suits you:
http://www.penanghotels.com.my/

One suggestion is Hotel Mingood.

Ya. Still there. Cheap set lunches/dinners, food so-so only lah..
http://www.littlecottagecafe.com/index.php

There's renovation going on in Golden Sand now, so the room rate offered might be cheaper. Next to Golden Sand is Rasa Sayang, also one of the best. Both are under the same company anyway.

Park Royal also not bad.

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Added on August 3, 2009, 12:36 amDon't go to Sri Sayang Apartment. Nothing like what you see from their web. The place is old and run down, plus major renovation next to it right now. Read this recent complaint: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g2983...ghi-Penang.html

Eden Fairway is a better choice. http://www.penangguesthouse.com


This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Aug 3 2009, 12:36 AM

Mingood Hotel, rm100. Good location in town.

Georgetown not that big, so long the hotel is within the town, it's easy to get around.

The other one is Oriental Hotel, this one the room looks a bit old but ok la, also around RM100 nia.

Or if you don't mind, can stay at the guesthouse. One good one is Hutton Lodge, single room with attached bathroom, RM 65 only. http://www.huttonlodge.com

For Penang hotels:
http://www.penanghotels.com.my/

Some people go for Tune Hotel coz it's new - new bed etc. But I don't think it's cheap after all the add-ons like bath towel, air-cond etc. And the room is small.

If I were you, I'll stay at Hutton Lodge. 100 vs 65, can save 35 ringgit.

If you need more info on travelling in Penang, here's a good web site:
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/

I think their best bet would be staying at the backpacker inns or budget guesthouses, can be found mainly along Lebuh Chulia, Lorong Cinta (Love Lane), Jalan Penang, Lebuh Leith, Lorong Hutton and Jalan Argyll. To accommodate 8 people in a room, probably need to book the whole dormitory, which per bed costs RM10-15.

Bus - eg Transnasional,.. KL to Penang, 34.90 ringgit
KL to Butterworth, 31.20 ringgit


If go to Penang Island, bus terminal is at Sg Nibong, far from town. So, some Penangites who stay near to town choose to go to Butterworth, and get the ferry across.

Would probably cost you the same or more than the bus fare (x1 pax) from KL to Penang. I estimate RM30 at least, now not sure coz of the recent price hike. Same as KL taxis, Penang taxis also do not run on meters.

By the way, from downtown to Gurney Hotel, RM12-15. So, in fact, can take bus to Butterworth, take the ferry across(RM1.20) and take taxi from ferry termina(Weld Quay)l to Gurney hotel.

Why need to book tour through travel agent? How many people in your group?

I suggest DIY travel. KL-Pen-KL by bus or fly Air Asia. Penang hotel, depends on your budget, RM100/room/night onwards. In Penang, hire a taxi driver for a day, rate is RM25/hr. Or hire a van if >4pax. Should work out cheaper than tour... And most importantly, the time is more flexible.

What's your budget? For how many people and for many days' stay?

Overall, Penang is not big, so long got car, go anywhere also consider "near".. For around Georgetown area, there's free shuttle bus called "CAT".

Therefor, I would recommend staying at hotel that is close to food, in Georgetown area. Sunway Georgetown, at New Lane, lots of food just a few steps away, further down the main road, there's "all you can eat" steamboat in the evening. Another one is Cititel Penang, at Penang Road, big hawker centre - Red Garden just opposite the hotel. But for real budget, go for Mingood Hotel.


This are the attractions:
Kek Lok Si temple
Penang Hill
Botanical Garden
Khoo Kongsi
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Penang Peranakan Mansion
Fort Cornwallis, Lighthouse, Esplanade
Kuan Ying temple
Reclining Buddha (Thai Temple)
Burmese Temple (just opp the reclining Buddha)

Snake temple is near the airport..

Other attractins, around Tanjong Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, Teluk Bahang area:
Toy museum
Butterfly Farm
Tropical Spice Garden
Tropical Fruit Farm

You can read up about Penang from this site:
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/

or the official Penang tourism site:
http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/

or the Penang government tourism site:
http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/

and for Penang Hotels:
http://www.penanghotels.com.my/

There's this new place, a residential house in Tanjong Tokong. It's called Baan Talay, air-cond room RM$50/night(for 2 pax). No website, but if you google or yahoo! search, can find the contact.

Otherwise, book the apartment, from the websites below:
http://www.srisayangresort.com/
http://www.penangguesthouse.com/about.htm
http://www.haisoonprop.com/desa.html

Cheapest is Sri Sayang, but room is old. Place is noisy over weekends, youngsters book room for party/BBQ.

I think you are right, it's at Juru Autocity!

Have not heard of any established homestay around Bandar Perda or Seberang Jaya... Got a few hotel and budget hotels around there though.. Maybe sometimes can find private rental as advertised in those flyers that distributed to houses..

The only one hotel at Autocity sure fully booked by now..

@kviin,
you can try to check on Stallions Service Apartment near Penang Bridge or Kristal Suite at Bayan Lepas. From there, can reach Juru Autocity in 20-25mins(via penang bridge).

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Oct 28 2009, 12:18 AM

Taxi from airport to Kepala Batas, RM$80.

Both places are at mainland side, might as well take bus to Butterworth instead of flying into Penang airport.. If you want public transport, from the airport, need to take bus to the jetty (Weld Quay), take ferry to Butterworth, then bus to Kepala Batas.

Good news is there's Rapid Penang bus servicing Butterworth to Kepala Batas! Bus service no U601, departing from Penang Sentral (Butterworth bus terminal), every 30mins. Check Rapid Penang web..

Time estimation, Excluding waiting time:
- From Airport to Penang Jetty, around 1hr, +/- 30mins.
- Walk from jetty to ferry, 7mins
- Ferry rides is 20mins, FOC from Pen-B'worth.
- walk from ferry to bus terminal, 5mins
- B'worth to K. Batas, by bus, I would estimate around 1 hr.

Total "transport" time: 2hr 30mins (my estimation)

FYI, the bus stop at the airport is at the departure level, ie one level above arrival hall. Make sure you take 401A to jetty. 401(the return bus from Balik Pulau) also goes to the jetty, but takes longer route and there's complaint that the bus goes to Queensbay Mall and wait a while there.

I still think that it's easier if you take bus, direct to Butterworth rather than fly into Penang... good luck!

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Added on October 29, 2009, 2:47 pmAdditional info:

Transnasional bus from KL to Butterworth, RM$31.20, journey time 4hr 06mins..
KL to Pen, actual fly time + check in time (no later than 45mins before departure) + from town to KL airport, total 3hours plus?

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Oct 29 2009, 02:51 PM

All hotels look good from the pictures online..

Most hotels' standard room are meant for 2 pax only, unless you asked for triple sharing, quad-sharing, family room , interconnecting rooms or suite. And of course, unless you book one big room for up to 4 pax, then sneak in another 2 pax..

Anyway, here's the suggestion for town area:
1926 Heritage Hotel - I ever called and asked before, family room can accommodate 6 pax
http://1926heritagehotel.com/

Otherwise, Pelangi Condominium
http://www.haisoonprop.com/desa.htm

l

@pino88

Pelangi Condo:
http://www.haisoonprop.com/desa.html

Missing the "l" from html previously...

To sneak into hotel room, just make sure all of you DO NOT walk into the room in a big group... Then during the day, tidy up a bit so that the room does not look like with extra person staying...

It's an "old" hotel - previously Casuarina Hotel, refurbished and reopened becomes Hard Rock hotel.

Have read lots of negative reviews since opening in Sept. Main complaint from tourist is it's noisy (can hear band music from rooms) till 2 am... So, the hotel is probably good for those who loves to party, and not good for those who want to get good rest..

Hopefully, the management is still trying to fine tune everything, maybe this the reason why there's no Grand Opening, just soft opening nia..

Also quote:
>>Wah... my budget is actually RM1k for 3D2N leh(excludin plane tix)... hehe...

Any other nice place to introduce? >>


So, 1K for the rooms and expenses and for 2 persons ah?

IMHO, just stay in one hotel will do. Kind of wasting time to check in/out hotels, packing/unpacking. Sometimes, may get hotel that offers cheaper rate if stay for 2 nites too... Also, say, for RM200+/room/night, can't get the very nice hotel in BF, but should be able to get a very good one in town...

I suggest you check on Bayview Georgetown, it's RM140 at Latestays.com, and Bayview Beach Resort is RM 173..

There's a revolving restaurant on top of Bayview Georgetown, scenery not bad, maybe can propose to your GF there??