Penang Hotels, Hostels and Resorts

There's a good variety of accommodation to choose from in Penang, from expensive luxury resorts to the cheapest of cheap hostels. We checked several places before landing in a MYR60 per night comfortable private room with shared bathroom – and while it can seem a bargain by Malaysian standards, we generally found that budget accommodation on Penang – and in the mainland Malaysia in general – does not present a good value. To our mind, it is often worth investing some extra MYR20 to get a much better option with the private bathroom and overall higher standards.

While staying in a heritage house does look appealing, be forewarned that in general such places offer very small rooms and in many cases – only shared bathrooms and no windows. A step up in the terms of rates allows you to consider Chinese style – often characterless – hotels featuring private bathrooms and even tea-making facilities.

Most options are available to book online although with plenty of choice it's not essential to book in advance if you prefer not to. Breakfast is often included but is usually a simple affair like toast and jam unless you're staying somewhere a little higher end.

Where to look for accommodation on Penang

Georgetown is the most popular and probably the best place to stay on Penang. While there are resorts around Bath Ferringhi on the north coast they can be pretty expensive and really if you're looking for paradise beaches in Malaysia, Penang isn't necessarily the best place to base yourself. Staying in Georgetown leaves you right in the thick of things with plenty of great food, entertainment and nightlife on your doorstep.

Heritage area in Georgetown

Some of the most quaint and interesting accommodation in Georgetown are the heritage buildings, many of which have transformed in recent years into guesthouses and homestays to take advantage of the boom in tourism in recent years.

A good budget friendly heritage hotel is the Boutel-Dato Koyah Penang which has decent rooms with air conditioning and hot showers (which we discovered aren't available everywhere!).

If you're looking to spend a little more and still stay in a historic building then try the Seven Terraces which are found in refurbished Chinese style houses, and also has an onsite pool. It's actually also possible to stay in the famous Cheong Fatt Tze building which is a real selling point if you're looking for unique accommodation.

Elsewhere in Georgetown

Outside of the heritage area of Georgetown and heading more towards Gurney Drive there are also a few good options. The Evergreen Laurel hotel is a popular choice in this area and has good facilities as well as services like airport transfers, laundry and massage and sauna. The nearby G Hotel is also popular and has a more modern, hipsterish feel to it - only recently built it's a great place to stay if you're looking for all mod cons.

There are many good spots for budget travellers wanting to stay in Georgetown as well. The Traveller’s Lodge is in China Town and has dorms starting from just MYR12 per night. Internet isn't free though, with the exception of the free hour you get when you arrive. There are also two great budget options right in the thick of the action in Love Lane - Hostel Red Inn with rooms from MYR28 and Love Lane Inn from MYR15.

Batu Ferringhi

If you do choose to stay in one of the resorts in Batu Ferringhi there are some fine places to choose from. For luxury consider trying the Shangri La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa or Golden Sands Resorts, both of which are kept to the highest standards with everything you could need to make sure your stay is comfortable.

The Lost Paradise Resort is also popular with a huge private beach and a large and well maintained garden - this is a particularly peaceful spot.

Alternatively if you're looking for more of a family friendly vibe then potentially try the Park Royal which is conveniently close to the Night Market and has a pool with a water slide. There are also several rooms boasting sea views so try to ask for one of these if you can!