Would any expat living in Thailand consider Penang for a holiday?

[bim]

I love Penang. Yes I have an emotional tie but the G Hotel or 4 Seasons is great if u like beaches and the Guerney is great for shopping. Yes its more expensive than Thailand but far more people speak english. I would reccomend it for a Holiday but as Thailand is my home I prefer Thailand and wouldnt live in Penang but its great for a long weekend away.

[thaibeachlovers]

Three things I'm not interested in while travelling...McDonalds, 7/11, and whores.

Maybe I'd like Penang.

Plenty takeaway places, McDs, KFC etc there.

In the shopping mall, except for the burkas and head scarves, you could be in Thailand.

Your OP complained about it being more expensive to sit in McD's. I wouldn't sit in or take out that crap.

Lack of 7/11's doesn't detract from a holiday for me.

Poor beaches, yes.

If I'm on holiday I want to be able to get a snack late at night.

When they don't have fridges in the hotel room, it's nice to be able to get a cold drink whenever one wants one.

[wilcopops]

Malaysia expensive? well I didn't experience too much of that...i rethought my beach chalet was good value........the location was a bit obscure. The food we found vey very good value......but what made it for me was 20 baht per litre for diesel!!!!

[MobileContent]

I lived in Penang from 1986-1988 and it was a great place. The beaches did have some problems even in the 80's due to the industrial estates on the mainland.

Penang food is great. You have the Cantonese food, Indian and Malay food and I lived at Ferrrenghi Apartment at that time.

[nofarang]

Penang is for food lovers.

Little India is a must.

Have delicious freshly baked samosas together with a milk tea at a street corner

Have a vegetarian meal on a banana leaf.

Have a hot Chinese noodle soup before midnight on bustling Lebuh Chulia.

Stroll the UNESCO World heritage sites in the heart of Georgetown.

Jump on a free shuttle bus (the loop line) through the city.

Go to the famous botanical garden (admission is free!) and join the tropical rainforest jungle track.

Rent a bicycle and discover the streets.

Hidden local markets, street life, charming colonial garden villas.

Public buses are cheap and go almost every where on the island.

A bus ride to KL takes four and a half hours and cost only 35 – 45 RM.

Okay, you wouldn`t go there for girls and the beaches.

The traffic is horrendous and the climate is much more sticky.

And yes, beer is expensive.

But find the cheapest beer in a hidden street shop on Lorong Stewart, where you can sit outside and drink with the locals.

Find tons of travel tips here: http://www.penang-traveltips.com/

I love Penang!

[agrippinamaior]

It depends what you like. I really enjoyed Penang - the history particularly in Georgetown. I didn't go to the beaches but from what I've heard I probably wouldn't bother. The local food is fantastic - I don't really eat western food in Asia at all - particularly things like McDonalds or Western takeaway. That's a lot of what I end up doing anywhere in Malaysia - eating ... there is an amazing variety and it's very very cheap to eat street food (when I live in Thailand I live in a pricier area on an island so for me Malaysia seems relatively fine)

[thaibeachlovers]

Penang is for food lovers.

Little India is a must.

Have delicious freshly baked samosas together with a milk tea at a street corner

Have a vegetarian meal on a banana leaf.

Have a hot Chinese noodle soup before midnight on bustling Lebuh Chulia.

Stroll the UNESCO World heritage sites in the heart of Georgetown.

Jump on a free shuttle bus (the loop line) through the city.

Go to the famous botanical garden (admission is free!) and join the tropical rainforest jungle track.

Rent a bicycle and discover the streets.

Hidden local markets, street life, charming colonial garden villas.

Public buses are cheap and go almost every where on the island.

A bus ride to KL takes four and a half hours and cost only 35 – 45 RM.

Okay, you wouldn`t go there for girls and the beaches.

The traffic is horrendous and the climate is much more sticky.

And yes, beer is expensive.

But find the cheapest beer in a hidden street shop on Lorong Stewart, where you can sit outside and drink with the locals.

Find tons of travel tips here: http://www.penang-traveltips.com/

I love Penang!

Thanks for that list.

I have to admit I missed the shuttle bus and I didn't know about the botanical garden. If there is ever a "next time"..................................

[nofarang]

See all the bus routes here:

http://www.penang-traveltips.com/rapid-penang-bus-routes.htm

Rides in town are cheap, often less than 30 Baht.

Many buses during the day to KL:

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptapenang.htm

Climb Penang hill (800 m) from the botanical garden through a jungle path.

Penang sure doesn´t have to be boring.

[cassde]

I would agree with Thaibeachlovers, Thailand is far superior in every regard to Penang. I stayed there for 1 week and apart from the food found in boring. I also spent 1 week in Langkawi and loved it, also KL for 3 days. Overall, there is nowhere like Thailand in my estimation.

[wilcopops]

20 baht a litre !!!!!!!!

[banker44]

I went to Georgetown twice in the last 12 months for fun and it is one of my favorite places in Asia. I have not been to the beaches yet, nor to the national park on the far side of the island. Georgetown delights with its fantastic restaurants (well documented in this thread), Chinese clan houses and temples, streets teeming with small shops and restaurants, the clan jetties and the vibrant activity at the various temples on Jalan M.K. Keling, particularly at night. As one of the original British trading ports in the region, there are ethnic groups from every coastal country in Asia living and thriving side by side in Georgetown. I always pay homage to the tomb of Penang founder Capt. Francis Light, who is still spoken of with reverence by the locals some 220 years after his death, in the old cemetery near Fort Cornwallis, which is also worth a visit. The mountain temple complex of Kek Lok Si is a must-see and makes for a nice day out. You can take a long taxi ride to the Genting Highlands from Penang as well, though this would likely be for an overnight stay there.

Prices are moderate overall and probably on par with normal Bangkok prices. If you just care about rock bottom prices for everything, then go to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or some other backpacker magnet. Penang's prices are probably what has kept it from being ruined by the low cost airlines.

[anselpixel]

I spent a delightful week there a few years back. Prices were a bit higher, but the heritage area is a true treasure for anyone who loves history.

Not much of a beach fan, although I did go up to the north end for a day.

I'd go back there a lot sooner than I would KL.

[whoka]

About 5 years ago I did a "visa" run to Penang and decided to make it into a bit of a holiday. We spent a week at a hotel on the beach. The first day it rained pretty heavy and the runoff from the river was disgusting. No way were we going to swim in the ocean.

I had a friend staying in the main town, so we visited him a few times, but traffic is pretty bad. We walked around the old town a bit, and it was OK. Food was kinda nice in that we could sample some good Indian and Chinese, but it was fairly expensive. Good Indian food here in Thailand is also expensive, but harder to find.

We thought it was OK, but not a place we'd go back to, as there are so many other options. It was funny to be on the beach, wifey in her bikini, and all these muslim women in their burkas. They'd just sit there and stare at her. Kinda strange.

I don't know if there were less Muslim women in burkas when you went, but now Batu Ferringhi is packed with them.

if you see women in burkas in malaysia it is 95% sure they are not malaysian. lots of cheap flight from middle east now.

pickpockets on the free buses are an issue.

you must also first visit the chow kit market early morning, opposite the police station on penang road. get a load of halal in action, you will then be a vegetarian for your whole stay.

[Pinot]

I was looking for a possible retirement home 5 years ago when I went to Penang. Malaysia has a better infrastructure than Thailand, but that's about it. Thailand has it all over Malaysia even with all the BS.

Where is a great place to go for a vacation on the beach in Malaysia?

[bendejo]

I was looking for a possible retirement home 5 years ago when I went to Penang. Malaysia has a better infrastructure than Thailand, but that's about it. Thailand has it all over Malaysia even with all the BS.

Where is a great place to go for a vacation on the beach in Malaysia?

You'd have to stick to the east coast of the peninsula, and the islands thereabouts. Haven't been to the area in a few years, so can't recommend anywhere in particular just now. Some areas are loaded with backpackers, some full of holiday makers up from SIngapore and KL and behaving just as rudely as if they were getting on a commuter train.

[bendejo]

I first went to Penang ten years ago and fell in love with the place. It was all about atmosphere. I ended up spending a few months per year there.

I’m talking about Georgetown, the NE corner of the island. Before they started the new bus system the busses were a disgrace, literally falling apart, and nearly every time I rode them the person sitting next to me would complain (in English) about how terrible the system was, sort of an apology. In that part town you hear more Chinese, English, and assorted Indian languages than anything else; once when I went to a shopping mall south of town I was suddenly among ethnic Malays in traditional clothes and speaking Malay and had a bit of a culture shock. The people are pretty friendly, always someone to fall into conversation with. Great assortment of food. I would walk around the old town at night, down quiet streets, and no one bothered me – this is probably what I liked best about the place.

I wanted to get a real apartment, but anything decent was outside of Georgetown. All the buildings in the old town are ancient, there will always be the smell of rot somewhere (though some of the restorations are quite nice).

And then Georgetown became a World Heritage site. Rather than explaining it here, check this out:

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2010/07/201072641513755778.html

My favorite splurge restaurant is in the vid, and no longer exists. So, the place lives on but the atmosphere is gone, like what is happening in Vientiane as well. Just about any accommodation under 100RM (1,000 baht) is going to be akin to a cell these days.

As for tourist things I didn’t like Batu Ferenghi at all. I met a number of tourists who were drawn to Penang because they heard about it from a “Ten Best Islands in the World” list on the net, or something like that. Misleading, because though technically an island, Penang is nothing close to the “island resort” that the title might imply (Manhattan is an island, too), so no wonder they were disappointed.

It’s definitely not the place for beaches, beer and whores. If you pick up on the street good chance your ‘lady’ may have a surprise for you when she gets undressed. A Thai-style “hello hansum man” beer bar with Thai pros opened near Chulia Street and didn’t last long (this was maybe 8 years ago). A few years ago a youngish ethnic Chinese man became mayor and initiated a serious cleanup. BTW, the cops in Malaysia are nasty; as a cab driver who occasionally did border runs explained “the Thai cops just want money, the Malaysian cops also want to beat you up, and enjoy choking you until you pass out.”

And now the downside. Malaysians and Indonesians are the worst plumbers in the world, it’s almost like it’s part of the culture to keep the floors wet. Combined with their love of glazed tiles, I consider wearing anything other than deck shoes to be a death wish.

I get a skin irritation in Malaysia that I don’t get in any of the other SEA countries, and food poisoning is a regular occurrence. I think it has something to with people’s personal hygiene. The Indian/Nepali/Bengali guys who work the restaurants are practically slave labour. Georgetown fills up with regional tourists on weekends, especially holiday weekends, no shortage of young ethnic Chinese couples up from Singapore and KL with huge DSLRs hanging from their necks. Humidity? Once on the ferry to Butterworth even out on the water there was no breeze, I dubbed it “the most un-refreshing boat ride I ever had.”

Anyway, these are just the opinions of someone who has spent some time there.

[travelbucks]

For many a beach isn't the only factor in considering a holiday. The beach certainly doesn't compare to most Thai beaches but that didn't stop me from having a good time on my four-day visit. I appreciated the food, diversity, colonial architecture, mingling with the locals, and the ease of transportation.

While it's a little more expensive than Thailand, I still found it to be very affordable. It really depends on your tastes and expectation. If you are all about the beaches there is no reason to leave Thailand as they have some of the best in the world. But if you are into architecture, history, culture and food Penang is a fine place to spend a holiday.

[cordaci]

<deleted> no, just came after a 5 days visa run there. Yea, the food is awsome and you can go shop at the malls for less $ than thailand, but else its boring as they come.

Maybe if you 80 year old you could get some fun out of it but still...

[DoctorG]

I have spent a lot of time in Penang, and really like it there.

There is not much I can add to what has already been offered on here.

I am a great walker and always felt safe and comfortable there.

Climb Penang Hill rather than take the trolley.

Take a bus (clean and cheap) out to Batu F and walk back.. hehe. it only takes 3 hours to get back.

Batu F beach is not much. Go to Langkawi for the beaches.

After I gave up my Thai retirement visa I considered living in Penang, but eventually decided that my life would be better back in OZ.

[JSixpack]

I went to Georgetown twice in the last 12 months for fun and it is one of my favorite places in Asia. I have not been to the beaches yet, nor to the national park on the far side of the island. Georgetown delights with its fantastic restaurants (well documented in this thread), Chinese clan houses and temples, streets teeming with small shops and restaurants, the clan jetties and the vibrant activity at the various temples on Jalan M.K. Keling, particularly at night. As one of the original British trading ports in the region, there are ethnic groups from every coastal country in Asia living and thriving side by side in Georgetown. I always pay homage to the tomb of Penang founder Capt. Francis Light, who is still spoken of with reverence by the locals some 220 years after his death, in the old cemetery near Fort Cornwallis, which is also worth a visit. The mountain temple complex of Kek Lok Si is a must-see and makes for a nice day out. You can take a long taxi ride to the Genting Highlands from Penang as well, though this would likely be for an overnight stay there.

Prices are moderate overall and probably on par with normal Bangkok prices. If you just care about rock bottom prices for everything, then go to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or some other backpacker magnet. Penang's prices are probably what has kept it from being ruined by the low cost airlines.

Totally agree, though we're surely in the minority here. I like Georgetown as well and also pay homage at the grave of Sir Francis Light, which I doubt the OP knows about, as he didn't even know about the Botanical Gardens. (Be sure to visit the recently-restored mansion, Suffolk House http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g660694-d1886413-Reviews-Suffolk_House-Penang_Island_Penang.html.)

Yeah, love the history, museums, architecture, food, friendly people, interesting shops, local color. Fun hanging out in the backpacker area on Chulia St., have a plate of "The World's Best Chicken Rice," catch a free movie there at night. And I like the elegant bars sometimes too. Love the views from the revolving restaurant at Komtar.

Great internet on the island, BTW. Penang hospitals, electronic shops, optometrists & eyeglass vendors have all been mentioned favorably here in comparison to Thai counterparts. The dentistry is quite good, too, according to internet sources.

I rent a motorbike and enjoy exploring all around.

Great place for a Songkran holiday from Thailand--unless you're superficial and oblivious to the above-mentioned charms, a typical monger (of course you'd prefer Thailand), or impecunious (as prices are a bit higher for some things, notably beer and better rooms). I look forward to my next visit, whenever that may be.

[Strangebrew]

been allow but must admit as with others Penang is bland Only thing good is hotel had bathtub that was huge. But the turn off was when this huge rat pulled a switch blade on me Tried to steal my chicken.

[phuketrichard]

its the people, street art an street food ( Chula street at night)

Georgetown

Don't forget the new camera museum town as well, one of the few in all of SE Asia

the clan pier floating homes

[JSixpack]

its the people, street art an street food ( Chula street at night)

Georgetown

Don't forget the new camera museum town as well, one of the few in all of SE Asia

the clan pier floating homes

Great photos! Enjoyed those.

[xen]

Add to the list of Interesting place to visit is the Thai and Burmese Temples they are opposite each other in Georgetown - interesting to compare the differences between the two , both in architecture and in the way they are maintained .

Also I endorse the botanic gardens - one of the best in SE Asia.

[craigt3365]

Yes, that garden was great. Lovely views up there also.

[JSixpack]

I always pay homage to the tomb of Penang founder Capt. Francis Light, who is still spoken of with reverence by the locals some 220 years after his death, in the old cemetery near Fort Cornwallis, which is also worth a visit.

Speaking of that old Protestant cemetery, another grave of note is that of former hotel keeper Thomas Leonowens. Upon his untimely death, his wife Anna established in Singapore her reputation as a teacher and then accepted an offer as a tutor, famously as it turned out, in the court of King Mongkut of Siam.

[JSixpack]

Maybe if you 80 year old you could get some fun out of it but still...

Or maybe at any age if you're mature, well-educated, and thoughtful.

[smotherb]

I first went to Penang in 1967. Had a great time, went back a few more times, but was young and dumb and anything new was great. Went there again in the early eighties, lost a lot of its glimmer, more repressive on drink and night life. Didn't go back until 2007, not impressed, but still had to visit the old Hong Kong bar on Chulia--rebuilt after a fire some years ago. Seeing the old salvaged pictures on the walls gave me the warm and fuzzy, but not sure that was worth a trip. I see so many of you say the food is great. I have to admit, some good Indian food--the Kashmir, in old town under the Oriental Hotel is great, but a tad expensive. The Ship, which used to be a great steak place, absolutely sucks in comparison to what was. Of course, you have many foreign franchise joints, but I prefer locally-owned and operated restaurants everywhere. And, the local fav, Chicken and Rice, is well, after all, just yard bird and grain. In short, Penang is just another place diminished by modernity.

[thaibeachlovers]

I first went to Penang ten years ago and fell in love with the place. It was all about atmosphere. I ended up spending a few months per year there.

I’m talking about Georgetown, the NE corner of the island. Before they started the new bus system the busses were a disgrace, literally falling apart, and nearly every time I rode them the person sitting next to me would complain (in English) about how terrible the system was, sort of an apology. In that part town you hear more Chinese, English, and assorted Indian languages than anything else; once when I went to a shopping mall south of town I was suddenly among ethnic Malays in traditional clothes and speaking Malay and had a bit of a culture shock. The people are pretty friendly, always someone to fall into conversation with. Great assortment of food. I would walk around the old town at night, down quiet streets, and no one bothered me – this is probably what I liked best about the place.

I wanted to get a real apartment, but anything decent was outside of Georgetown. All the buildings in the old town are ancient, there will always be the smell of rot somewhere (though some of the restorations are quite nice).

And then Georgetown became a World Heritage site. Rather than explaining it here, check this out:

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2010/07/201072641513755778.html

My favorite splurge restaurant is in the vid, and no longer exists. So, the place lives on but the atmosphere is gone, like what is happening in Vientiane as well. Just about any accommodation under 100RM (1,000 baht) is going to be akin to a cell these days.

As for tourist things I didn’t like Batu Ferenghi at all. I met a number of tourists who were drawn to Penang because they heard about it from a “Ten Best Islands in the World” list on the net, or something like that. Misleading, because though technically an island, Penang is nothing close to the “island resort” that the title might imply (Manhattan is an island, too), so no wonder they were disappointed.

It’s definitely not the place for beaches, beer and whores. If you pick up on the street good chance your ‘lady’ may have a surprise for you when she gets undressed. A Thai-style “hello hansum man” beer bar with Thai pros opened near Chulia Street and didn’t last long (this was maybe 8 years ago). A few years ago a youngish ethnic Chinese man became mayor and initiated a serious cleanup. BTW, the cops in Malaysia are nasty; as a cab driver who occasionally did border runs explained “the Thai cops just want money, the Malaysian cops also want to beat you up, and enjoy choking you until you pass out.”

And now the downside. Malaysians and Indonesians are the worst plumbers in the world, it’s almost like it’s part of the culture to keep the floors wet. Combined with their love of glazed tiles, I consider wearing anything other than deck shoes to be a death wish.

I get a skin irritation in Malaysia that I don’t get in any of the other SEA countries, and food poisoning is a regular occurrence. I think it has something to with people’s personal hygiene. The Indian/Nepali/Bengali guys who work the restaurants are practically slave labour. Georgetown fills up with regional tourists on weekends, especially holiday weekends, no shortage of young ethnic Chinese couples up from Singapore and KL with huge DSLRs hanging from their necks. Humidity? Once on the ferry to Butterworth even out on the water there was no breeze, I dubbed it “the most un-refreshing boat ride I ever had.”

Anyway, these are just the opinions of someone who has spent some time there.

Thanks for making the effort to write a great response, and to everyone else that replied.

[thaibeachlovers]

See all the bus routes here:

http://www.penang-traveltips.com/rapid-penang-bus-routes.htm

Rides in town are cheap, often less than 30 Baht.

Many buses during the day to KL:

http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptapenang.htm

Climb Penang hill (800 m) from the botanical garden through a jungle path.

Penang sure doesn´t have to be boring.

Climbing Penang Hill would send me home in a box! One must remember that some of us are actually old and decrepit.