Penang

[cardholder]

Looking at a 5 day break next Spring.

Any experiences of locations/hotels etc.

Thanks

[taurus88]

5 days in Penang may be too long. You can really covered the whole island in 2 days max unless you want to lay by the beach for next 3 days. I suggest you take a coach to KL for 1 day. Only takes 3-4 hours. Hotels are plentiful. Citi-tel us rather inexpensive but is middle of town. Still feel that 5 days is much too long in Penang!!

[roamer]

Depends why your going and where on Penang your going. For me no question, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown. But that's because I love old Colonial hotels and I love the history I can find in and around Geargetown. Not everyone's cup of tea though. The beaches I would give a miss these days, I also like beaches but Penang beaches are nothing great, hotels are wall to wall package joints. If your not into history then maybe the best thing about Penang is the ferry to Langkawi (or fly it) wonderful laid back vibe, tons of exploring to do, duty free island and some excellent hotels. KL ? Why ? Good object in how to destroy the vibrancy of an inner city by building mega-malls on the outskirts.

[hunglikea]

I've booked in Penang for 5 days to get my visa but after reading visa posts it seems unlikely I'll get a multi non O there and should have gone to KL. However we've booked in The Old Penang G/H which looks interesting and if I only get 3 months visa I'll go to KL next time for a 12 month 'O'.

I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!

Never been to either and both must be better than Blighty .

[roamer]

I've booked in Penang for 5 days to get my visa but after reading visa posts it seems unlikely I'll get a multi non O there and should have gone to KL. However we've booked in The Old Penang G/H which looks interesting and if I only get 3 months visa I'll go to KL next time for a 12 month 'O'.

I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!

Never been to either and both must be better than Blighty .

"I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!"

Begs the question.....why the heck are you going to Penang....page missing in your guidebook ?

[IMA_FARANG]

You won't find Penang to be another Pattaya if that's what your expecting. I suspect that's why some people on this forum are so down on Penang. Five days is a bit long, but if you want to do some travels outside of Penang and within a day trip you can find enough things to do. If you are not afraid of snakes, take a trip to the snake temple. And I mean litterly go there only if you are NOT AFRAID of snakes, because there are snakes running around free everywhere. Or go up Penang hill, enjoy a meal up there and take your camera for the scenic view. At 800 meters up it's probably the coolest place in all of Penang. I understand the train is down for maint/restoral, which is too bad, because that is a good trip...but you can take a ride up the hill in a jeep. If you want to spend some time in Little India shopping...it's well worth the time. Haggle for everything. Google Penang tourisim on the net...and you will find a lot of suggestions and places to go...Chinese Buddhist temples with their gongs and chanting, Indian temples, or the Penang Museum, it depends on what you want to do. Just remember that Penang is not Pattaya...so don't expect that kind of thing.

And whatever you do, don't miss the Chilli Crab in the food stalls at night.

Relax on a beach with cold beer and bowls of spicy noodles too. You might have to look a litle, but Penang has it's own charm...you just have to find it.

[johnnort]

<br><img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> <br>You won't find Penang to be another Pattaya if that's what your expecting.  I suspect that's why some people on this forum are so down on Penang. Five days is a bit long, but if you want to do some travels outside of Penang and within a day trip you can find enough things to do. If you are not afraid of snakes, take a trip to the snake temple. And I mean litterly go there only if you are NOT AFRAID of snakes, because there are snakes running around free everywhere. Or go up Penang hill, enjoy a meal up there and take your camera for the scenic view. At 800 meters up it's probably the coolest place in all of Penang. I understand the train is down for maint/restoral, which is too bad, because that is a good trip...but you can take a ride up the hill in a jeep. If you want to spend some time in Little India shopping...it's well worth the time. Haggle for everything. Google Penang tourisim on the net...and you will find a lot of suggestions and places to go...Chinese Buddhist temples with their gongs and chanting, Indian temples, or the Penang Museum, it depends on what you want to do. Just remember that Penang is not Pattaya...so don't expect that kind of thing. <br>And whatever you do, don't miss the Chilli Crab in the food stalls at night. <br>Relax on a beach with cold beer and bowls of spicy noodles too. You might have to look a litle, but Penang has it's own charm...you just have to find it.<br> <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br><br><br>Well!!  That should take up three and half hours of your time!!<br>

<br><br><br>

[hunglikea]

I've booked in Penang for 5 days to get my visa but after reading visa posts it seems unlikely I'll get a multi non O there and should have gone to KL. However we've booked in The Old Penang G/H which looks interesting and if I only get 3 months visa I'll go to KL next time for a 12 month 'O'.

I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!

Never been to either and both must be better than Blighty .

"I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!"

Begs the question.....why the heck are you going to Penang....page missing in your guidebook ?

I understood Little India is in Georgetown, don't they serve Indian Curries?

Forget about the French food I was dreaming about Cambodia at the time.

[roamer]

I've booked in Penang for 5 days to get my visa but after reading visa posts it seems unlikely I'll get a multi non O there and should have gone to KL. However we've booked in The Old Penang G/H which looks interesting and if I only get 3 months visa I'll go to KL next time for a 12 month 'O'.

I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!

Never been to either and both must be better than Blighty .

"I'm desperately looking forward to 5 days of curries, French food and wine!!"

Begs the question.....why the heck are you going to Penang....page missing in your guidebook ?

I understood Little India is in Georgetown, don't they serve Indian Curries?

Forget about the French food I was dreaming about Cambodia at the time.

That clarifies it quite a bit !! Yes you can get Indian food there, I don't rate it that highly for it, the few times I've tried it I found it nothing to write home about. Having said that I tend to hunt for my favourite Chinese and Malay dishes when I'm there so quite possible there are decent curries to be had I suppose.

[sunnyhor]

Check out my Penang Blog. 3 days will be enough. Rent a car, get a GPS...........Vroooom you go!!

http://sunnyhor.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-04-10T03%3A29%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

http://sunnyhor.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-05-18T06%3A26%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7

[Roel]

Very nice pictures indeed. Thanks for sharing sunnyhor.

[Goldenglow]

If you are not into beaches, go to Georgetown, there's lot of inexpensive hotels, also some moderately prized such as the best western and sofitel. Hotel Malaysia was all right! Nothing fancy, but good stay and nice staff. In Georgetown you can find a lot of small shops and restaraunts.