Penang has many hotels. The two top hotels are: Rasa Sayang (Batu Ferringhi). Underneath I did put some addresses, which are linked to the hotels. Your stay on Penang can be from R 50 toi RM 500. The hotels in George Town are mostly cheaper, although there are expensive hotel in town (Shangri-la; Evergreen; Sheraton; Eastern & Oriental a.o).
The most expensive hotels are outside the city. When take the bus or a cab and you leave busy city of George Town behind you, you pass the town of Tanjong Bungah. There's the Copthorne Orchid Hotel (the former: Novotel) situated. This hotel is often mentioned in travel brochures. Realize, when you book this hotel, that it's not situated at the most beautiful beach (Batu Ferringhi).
Just like the Crown Prince and Paradise Sandy Bay (also Tanjong Bungah) it's not in the most beautiful part and tourist site of the island. But in the summer holidays of me (July) they have great offers for me (room rate RM 100)
When you have left Tanjong Bungah, you come to the Ferringhi Hotel. That's already Batu Ferringhi, but it lays deserted outside the town. When you go to the beach you have to cross the street. Also they have great offers (room frate RM 100)in July and August. There are also some building activity's around the hotel. For a pleasant evening you have to go to Batu Ferringhi or George Town.
After some curves, you'll reach the long and most beautiful beach of the island: Batu Ferringhi This is a sandy beach with waving palms and casuarinas. They grow to beach. Here are the most hotels of the travel brochures: Rasa Sayang, Golden Sands, Lone Pine hotel, Holiday Inn, Pan Pacific, Casuarini Hotel, Bayview Beach.. Here you have many sporting activities to choose from, such as parasailing, jet skiing, wind surfing and water skiing. Dining is a delight with nearby restaurants offering a variety of seafood, local, Continental and Asian dishes. The roadside is also lined with numerous stalls selling handicrafts, souvenirs, fake t-shirts and fake watches..
The Rasa Sayang en Golden Sands are from the same hotel company: Shangri La. This means that you can use each other facilities. These hotels have an activity program for their guests: cooking class, napkin folding, jungle trekking, wet market visiting in George Town, hotel tours, kampong visit, tennis lessons and many more..
Rasa Sayang
Golden Sands
Both hotels have free bus shuttles to George Town. The Rasa Sayang has an old part (Old Wing) and a new part (Garden Wing). The prices and rooms are different. In "the Old Wing" there are some rooms with hill view. These are not so expensive. The hotel has two pools. At Garden Wing is the most beautiful pool: with a slide, tree hut en poolbar).
The Golden Sands also has rooms with hill view. Try to avoid this rooms, because under you is a mosque and severals times a day they're calling their worshippers to pray. Starting early in the morning and they have a good audio system. Sea view rooms are ok.
The difference between these hotels is: the Rasa is more expensive, has a little bit more class, is a little bit more quiet and has a little bit more comfort. Golden Sands is also a family Hotel.
Lone Pine hotel is the 3-star hotel of the beach. It was the first hotel in Batu Ferringhi. It's very quiet and has a lot of pine trees around. It has been renovated shortly and has a very good restaurant at the beach: the Bungalow. It the evening it lovely to dine here. There's a new swimming pool. The hotel looks a family hotel.
Each room has an TV with satellite programmes, airconditioning, IDD telephone, mini-bar, coffee/tea-making facilities, hairdryer and a large in-room safe.
Lone Pine; seen from the beach
Holiday Inn has actually two hotels. One at the beach (Beach Wing) and across the street (Garden Tower/Wing). They are connected by an overhead bridge. The one at the beach is the oldest, but is also newly refurbished. The highest is the latest and has a wonderful view. The post office, restaurants and shop are nearby. All rooms have: radio, air conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities, colour TV, mini bar, king or twin beds. Guests are mostly coming from the Middle East.
Holiday Inn (Beach Wing)
Park Royal is one of the latest hotels in Batu Ferringhi. It has a beautiful pool with a slide for the children. It has an open lobby that seems to stretch out to sea. There are several shops in the hotel and it lays in the hart of Batu Ferringhi.
All rooms have: radio, air conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities, colour TV and in house movies, iron and ironing board, toiletries and hair dryer in bathroom, advanced safety and security system, mini bar.
In the neighborhood are some Malaysian shops like, photo shop, mini supermarket, tailor and hairdresser. Opposite the Park Royal is the police station.
Park Royal
After the little village of Batu Ferringhi comes the Casuarina hotel. It looks like an old hotel, but it isn't. It right at the beach of Batu Ferringhi. It lays between swaying casuarina trees. The night-market starts at at the Rasa Sayang and ends at the Park Royal. Do you want to to visit this market (who don't?), you'll have to walk 1 kilometer.
All rooms have: air conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities, satellite colour TV, mini bar.
Pool of thet Casuarina-hotel
After the Casuarini hotel comes the last hotel on the beach the Bayview Hotel. This hotel is the latest and is situated at the end of Batu Ferringhi, where the winding road to Teluk Bahang starts. The resort overlooks the tranquil & historic bay of the 'Foreigner's Rock' or Batu Ferringhi.
Cold drinks on sunny days are just a step away at the Pool Bar and the Senja Bar right at the beachfront, the Swing Pub offers high times after dark and also the more serene Lobby Lounge.
La Veranda, a 24-hour coffee house offers a range of Malaysian favorites as well as western dishes, while the Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant features Cantonese specialties. The Mistral fine dining restaurant offers an exciting and adventurous Euro-Oriental fusion in addition to tasty steaks and juicy seafood.
All rooms have their own balconies, individually controlled air-conditioning, IDD telephone, radio, TV with in-house and satellite, minibar, coffee/tea making facilities and bathrooms with hairdryers.
Bayview
