There are a few motels in some shop houses in Batu Ferrighi just after the Feringghi Resort or Hotel ( now changed to Hydro Majestic). A few hundred meters after the hotel turn left and there are a few motels there. Used to be about RM40 - RM50 for a double room ( pretty basic but with ac and hot water ). The bathroom is just a shower curtain in the room so 'jamban' is outside.
Yes, the place is called Miami Beach.

If you look at location, Continental is better being at the happening side of Penang Road. Room wise, I think Grand Con. is just slightly better. Along Continental there are various hotels about the same price and opposite Continental there is City Bayview which I think is a better deal. Higher star rating witht the same price.

If you mean the happening place in Bt.Feringghi (around Rasa Sayang till Bayview Beach), the rates a quite high. I heard there are B&B near the villages opposite Golden Sands but not too sure. If you mean Bt.Feringghi literally then Miami Beach (this is where Hydro Majestic is located) there are three motels there. Around RM50 with a/c and hot water. The one furthest away from the beach is the cleanest.

It is within walking distance except you have to cross the road! Actually if you want beach front, no need to go so far as Bt.Feringghi. Tanjung Bungah has a lot with beach front all on the right as you drive from Georgetown. Rates are cheaper and there's a food court nearby. Nearer to town minus the winding road, afterall the sea in Bt.Feringghi is just the same as in Tg.Bungah.

TERRIBLE ! prepare for the jams and the rush for seating spaces when having meals.

There's another one along Penang Road which I think is worth mentioning. In fact the original nasi kandar is actually from here. The shop is located on the right of Chowrasta Market, Tamil St. Give it a try, nice. Another good one that I have tasted is Kassim Mustaffa in Bayan Baru, same road as Sunshine Supermarket. I overloaded myself when I ate there, tasty!

Since every week there, might as well try one place for this week and the next place for the next week.

I am also a Penang-kia so I know. Actually when you compare hawker food, it is actually more expensive in Penang. You normally have to take two helpings to satisfy as the portion is small. Like Assam Laksa, here are only a few strands of noodle in a bowl. The helpings in KL are bigger and they are more filling. Advantage is in Penang, I can have variety, a small bowl of this and a small bowl of that.

For Koay Teow Th'ng, I normally go to Argyll road. It was actually better when the original was in the old coffee shop before they shifted opposite. Now you have 2 KTT stalls there. I think they have misunderstanding with the coffee shop operator.

I spend most of my childhood and youth days in Penang. Been to almost most makan stalls in that era. Hokkien Mee in Jelutong Market,Classic Rest.in Komtar, the coffee shop beside the Sony Centre in Perak Road, Koay Teow Th'ng in Argyll Road, roti chanai in Transfer Road and beside Odeon, Sister's Char Koay Teow, Char Koay Teow in Bridge St., Curry Noodle in Jalan Abad,
Ikan bakar in Teluk Tempoyak, Assam Laksa in Air Itam and Balik Pulau, Nasi Kandar in Line Clear or Tamil St.,Chee Cheon fun in New Lane(sin kay),yam rice in Macalister Road etc.etc.
They all are famous Penang fare but if they prepare the same things here in KL they won't work here. Why?because the KL guys will be biased against their favourites in KL. When they take it in Penang they will compliment but if they eat it in KL, that's a different story. KL hawker fare are all muddled up. Try asking Char Koay Teow man in Penang to fry bihun, he will shoo you away. Many years ago they don't even fry mee. Heck! they even have dry (kon low)prawn noodle now.
Here in KL you have people eating prawn noodle with koay teow which is unheard off in Penang. So, it is different here in KL and Penang.Opinions are different.
I say this because after I was laid off, I have been a hawker for the past 6 years and I can see how biased they can be. I have one who wants all 3 types of noodles and yet they complain. There are some regulars(from Penang) that compliments that the taste is authentically Penang and very seldom found here in KL. But these are just the minority. Take Char Koay Teow, Penang's style is lighter in colour but here they insist on darker.

The matter of opinion and taste is personal (it may be biased) and also atmosphere and ambiance must also be taken in consideration. when KL guys are holidaying in Penang, they are in good mood, hungry and also to show that they are connosieurs who knows that 'tempat', even s*** is good to them in Penang. Serve them the same in KL and they will tell you, "aarr! that place, this place is better".

This is a personal opinion of mine so sorry to those offended.

I have gave up being a hawker few months ago. Maybe not my 'meang soi' as they say. Western food is actually my line (being a Hainanese, mother side) but I have grown quite well versed in Prawn Noodle, CKT, Fish Ball Noodle, Nasi Lemak, jawa mee and even 'san jian zhuang' of KL.
I have a friend who wants to hire me as their chef for a fast lunch outlet near Trader's Hotal but still pending. To start a hawker stall, you probable need a few thousand if you are just starting but I don't really recommend it. It is highly stressful! No matter hw good your food may be, you still willhave negative inputs anf those few will really let you down even if you try to accomodate them. I like cooking but cannot make money out of it. They say I only have 'tah koong meang soi' but not a boss.
My wife sold off all the hawker equipments checaply to discouraged mee from setting up another stall.
My advise is, if you really want survive, make sure you can last 6 months even if you are losing. I can't maybe that's why I failed. Eg. chicken rice (from my experience)
To generate sales of RM300 to RM400 per day you need averagely RM200 a day. 6 chickens, 2 kg. of char siew pork(they call it 'choong tui yuk'), 3 kg. of pork belly for roast pork, rental, some 'yum cha' expenses, petrol. If your sales is RM250 , you only earn RM20 as RM30 will be given to your worker. If you sell Rm300 plus then good and if you finish better still
As for me, I get an average of RM250 a day and even my in-laws stopped me from giving them free chicken and char siew. My last straw came when my car broke down and needs 2K to repair. Threw away the car and took bus for a few days and gave up since then.
Anyone wants to learn, can PM me,for a little 'ang pow' I am willing to teach.

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Added on January 24, 2010, 5:22 pmI never try Nasi Kandar in Tamil St, where is it? I always go back to eat my nasi kandar at line clear and also the nasi briyani in campbell street. The others are so so only.... the best one can also be found in Gelugor food stall where alot of people queue.

Tamil St. is beside Chowrasta market. Looking from IPD police station ( si hoong lou as they called it in Pg) it is on the right side. They say the original nasi kandar is from here. I also like 'Kassim Mustaffa' in Bayan Baru.

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Added on January 24, 2010, 5:31 pmWhile discussing about Penangkia in KL, there used to be mixed rice shop in Jln Cantonment, Pulau Tikus (opposite the post office and toddy shop) called 'Sa Chew'. Fantastic nyonya cooking like devil curry, pork patties, kangkung belacan, fantastic assam fish etc. Are they still there? His son started one in Bangsar also called 'Sa Chew'.
Anybody knows about this place? Both of them.

This post has been edited by etigge: Jan 24 2010, 05:31 PM

Have anyone tried a Thai Restaurant named 'Yellow Dot'. It is in Jalan Fettes on the way to Tg.Bungah via the reservoir road. Many years ago, this was just a semi D house where the wife of this man cooks very authentic Thai dishes for the locals. You have to pre book and order to dine. I chanced upon it when I heard from the locals but I was served what other guest was having. Nice !
A few years back I pass by again and it has turn into a full fledged restaurant with signboard. I wonder if the restaurant is still around, anyone from Penang?

The kopitiams are cleaner because they don't rely much on Myanmarese workers. Myanmarese workers are dirty and irresponsible! That is why KL kopitiams are dirtier. I have been a hawker for 4 years and if you really see how they prepare food, you will barf!

Disembark from the ferry, follow the crowd and ignore all the canvassing for trishaws, taxis etc. Walk to the mainroad, just under the overhead bridge, there's a bus stop. Check which one goes to Tg.Bungah and board it. Once around Tg.Bungah look to the right and press the bell if you see Copthorne Hotel and get down when it stops. Flamingo will be there! The ride will be tedious though! Taxis from jetty will slaughter you like most taxis in Penang.

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Added on March 9, 2010, 1:34 pmYMCA in Macalister Road. From there on the left of YMCA and take the 1.00 o'clock road Codrington Avenue to P.Tikus.

Aiyo! not far larr. On the way can stop and visit reclining buddha in P.Tikus and a slight detour the Burmese temple.
Lots of good makan place here and also try the mee goreng mamak in Bangkok Lane. At night got nice Lok Lok in Pulau Tikus market, also hokkien mee (prawn mee in KL) also good here.

This post has been edited by etigge: Mar 9 2010, 01:42 PM

There are buses that goes direct to the island. You have to check the counters in Duta Bus station. For budget accomodation can try Traverse Inn in Leboh Campbell right in the heart of Georgetown. They have bunks too for RM10 - Rm12 a night. Apparently there are 4 bunks in a room and if you have 4 person you can take all 4 bunks and lock the room like a normal hotel.

But don't expect attached bathroom larr! It's quite clean, that's important.

Actually there are a lot of hotel in Transfer Road that are cheaper than Tune Hotel. In fact Traverse Inn in Campbell St. is even more suitable and cheaper too if you just need a room to sleep and rest or take a bath. The location is quite central where there are lots of food to savour. Line Clear nasi kandar is walking distance. Hameedia nasi Briyani is a few doors away. The dim sum along Campbell St, the pork noodle in Cintra St. is also along the road.

A slightly longer walk(maybe half an hour) to Burmah Road will take you to New World(Swatow Lane) to try the famous ice kacang or maybe Lorong Selamat ice kacang with the famous 'lan si' fried kuey teow. Other local food in this outlet is also good like their lobak, prawn mee and even the kuey teow th'ng.

Armenian St. and Carnarvon St. is also all walking distance away. Esplanade and museum is also walking distance away or if you are lazy, trishaws can take you there.

Penang Road is just 50 meters away and there you can walk to the famous Cendol stall and Chowrasta market for native Penang products. Along the way there's shopping. At night you can walk to Leith St. for drinks or Upper Penang Road. The choice is so many as the location is quite central.

A 10 minute bus ride to P.Tikus can take you to Gurney Drive, sleeping Buddha and Burmese temple.

In half a day you can take a bus to Air Itam to visit Kek Lok Si temple and sample the Assam Laksa near the market. In fact you can even spend a day at the beach, just take a bus to Batu Ferrigghi. It's only an hour away by bus.

We used to travel to this places by bus. Sometimes it is even more relaxing and enjoyable. You have quite a number of days, enjoy Penang on foot.

Nowadays people likes to rush even when they are visiting places. MAkes holiday more tiring than a normal working day.

This post has been edited by etigge: May 21 2010, 06:16 AM

Traverse Inn is actually a budget hotel in Campbell St. I have stayed there before and I find it clean but you have to use common bath and toilets. I think the rates is about RM50 - RM60 for a double and bunk bed is about RM12 per person. I don't think there's a webpage for it. They always advertise in the Star classifieds. Traverse Inn is just an idea. You can go Transfer Road where there are many hotels, walk in, check their rooms and if it satisfies your need then check in. Even Chulia St. nearby has lots of hotels. You can even chat with the backpackers at night over a beer.

If you want a better one, maybe the row of hotels in Penang Road might be suitable. They sometimes sell their rooms for RM80 - RM130 per night. Hotels like Oriental, Merchant, Lighthouse, Townhouse, Waldorf, Continental, Cathay is all house in the same area and also very near the places I mentioned.

As Darknite suggested, you can book into Tune Hotel. All the buses run along Burmah Road except the one to Air Itam (Kek Lok Si temple).

This post has been edited by etigge: May 21 2010, 11:43 AM

I am just wondering if there are people interested in taking a laid back travelling like I do in the past. I m planning to go Penang and hangout there for 5 days. I want to rely totally on public transport from KL to Penang and also public transports on the island.

T entatively, I might book a first class sleepers in KTM (2 to a room) and reach there in the morning and take the old ferry across. Book into a 2 to 3 star hotel in town. Walk around the city, savour the food, takes lots of photos. Take buses to the respective places of interest like Kek Lok Si temple, Botanical Garden, Sleeping Buddha, Burmese Temple, trying hawker food at night. Spend one night in Batu Feringghi. There will be no fixed itineries and will plan only on the go.

I mean this is how backpackers tours the country. They see more than we do. What we are doing is just the opposite! We cram everything into 2 to 3 days, running all over and missing everything! Get stucked in jams and overlooking everything. I was thinking of a group of 15 to 20 pax and most importantly is the company of each other as friends. I am quite familiar witht he public transportation routes there as I have spent my schooldays there and was thinking of doing the island retro style.

So, travellers, what do you think, want to join?

No problem Stimix, thanks

Quite true also. But then I'll take it as a workout,

Actually Sheraton Penang formerlly. It is a nice hotel but quite a walk to Gurney Drive. You sure about this? Very near to New World, Swatow Lane. Good makan place.