Penang Honeymoon

[HeijoshinCool]

So just got married a couple of weeks ago and I'm headed stateside via KL. Taking the train and stopping off in Georgetown for a couple of nights and want to have something special for the girlfriend, I mean, wife (hard to get used to that after being together almost four years).

I'm looking for a quaint, quiet, romantic room in Georgetown, walking distance to food hawkers and two days of sights. A cozy bed and breakfast type place would be ideal. Maybe something from the colonial era?

Anybody recommend a place they know personally?

Thanks.

[AlexRRR]

I didnt like Penang just a short boat ride away is Langkawi, very romantic quite and lush green, google it.

[PoorSucker]

Both in the same house.

http://www.oldpenang.com/

http://www.redinnpenang.com/

[sundrenched]

Can't give advice but I liked Penang / Georgetown. It's like a sleepy, beachtown version of what Singapore might have been in the 1950s. I like the atmosphere with the colonial architecture. It might get boring after more than a week, but for a short trip it has a lot more to offer than Phuket IMO. Not if whoring and drinking is what you're after, but assuming it's your honeymoon...

[Seastallion]

Was there a month ago and wife and I stayed in a newly opened place on Chulia St.....I do recommend it for price and niceness... and it is 2 minutes walk from Little India, and Chulia St itself is street food mecca......let me go to TripAdviser to get the name (I was so impressed that I wrote a review). Back in a tick.

[Seastallion]

Chulia Mansion. It's about 200 metres down from the Penang Rd intersection.

Looks like I was not the only one impressed...very good reviews since I was there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298303-d6898947-Reviews-Chulia_Mansion-Georgetown_Penang_Island_Penang.html

[ovenman]

If you wanna splurge, there's always the Eastern & Oriental: http://www.eohotels.com/

[HeijoshinCool]

Great, thanks everyone.

I have recently learned another "you know you've been in Thailand too long" example:

When you immediately change room rate quotes from dollars to baht.

Gonna be a shock getting back.

[siam2007]

I know Penang quite well, but you should give as an impression of how much you want to spend for that.

EASTERN & ORIENTAL was my first thought too after reading your post, but then again, you need to have deep pockets there.... LANGKAWI is actually nice indeed and a lot more romantic. if you can spend big money, I have some superb recommendations for you - it's your honeymoon after all......

www.tanjungrhu.com.my - VEEEERY secluded (almost too secluded and far away from everything), private beach, stunning scenery. rent a car at the airport, can be had for low as 50 RM a day.

I guarantee you that your bride will love it and be impressed.

EDIT:

I just learned that they are doing renovations at Tanjung Rhu at the moment, so you may want rather try THE DATAI LANGKAWI or FOUR SEASONS RESORT LANGKAWI - but both are even more expensive than Tanjung Rhu.

[rwdrwdrwd]

The Andaman on Langkawi, just north of the Datai is gorgeous, well at least it was 6 or 7 years ago

[lazygourmet]

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

[bendejo]

If you do a little research and experimenting with reservations you may be able to get an impressive discount at the E&O

A few years ago, it was possible to stay there for a mere US$150/night. That was a weekday rate.

Bear in mind Penang gets a lot of regional tourists on weekends and holidays. Also it is the festive season for Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and Christians, which means a lot of activity. Once while I was there a certain weekend had holidays for three of the above -- what few restaurants were open were running out of food! Also, from my own experience, the hygiene at the street stalls (and in general) can be a few notches below the street eats in Thailand.

Most hotels in the interesting part of Georgetown in the 100RM range (convert baht to ringitt by dropping a zero, so 1,000b = 100RM) are bit funky and run down, and a new coat of paint doesn't entirely cover it all. Don't be fooled by the shiny new facade, a fad that has kicked in with the World Heritage thing.

[meatboy]

Chulia Mansion. It's about 200 metres down from the Penang Rd intersection.

Looks like I was not the only one impressed...very good reviews since I was there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298303-d6898947-Reviews-Chulia_Mansion-Georgetown_Penang_Island_Penang.html

yes this is where i would stay if i had the chance again.

was in penang 1988 and stayed at the feringi beach hotel,a little way out of town.but very nice with good food.

but after watching the asian food channel the past 5yrs. the nearer to town the BETTER.

[my friend I]

There are many newly renovated butik homestays around the Heritage zone. Many of them only seem to have a small sign posted on the door. Don't know if they advertise anywhere. Stayed in a nice one but no window to outside. They are mainly converted shophouses so I guess this is common. At least it was quiet.

On upper Chulia St but set back well from the road is Chulia Heritage Hotel, formerly the Eng Aun hotel. Nice but not really quaint. A few rooms no bathroom!. One room has Penang Hill view.

Nearby also on Chulia St is Yeng Keng Hotel. Beautiful but some noise from people walking to rooms.

I like this one. Great location, nice people.http://www.23lovelane.com/

If you are only going to Georgetown once stay at 7 terraces. Not cheap but worth it.

Check out this http://www.penangtalk.com/photos/

[phuketrichard]

Its ur honeymoon!!!

go for the E&O

beats anything else in the town

Get a room in the old building thou

[HeijoshinCool]

Thanks to everyone.

They all look nice. We're getting there at lunchtime so maybe we'll first do a bit of walking and knocking. But a few of your suggestions are written down with maps down numbers.

The E&O is certainly an option, but we've been together 4 years and this is just two days, so gonna be more like a mini-honeymoon. Next year or two we're planning on Italy, Spain and Portugal for the real deal.

Thanks again.

[dddave]

Even if you do not stay there, do take a walk through and around the E&O; beautifully preserved and furnished with some stunning antiquities.

[keru]

My advice is take a air asia flight to BKI from Penang aka kota kinabalu its on the other side of Malaysia. Used to be known as The British North Borneo. Langkawi is nothing compare to this state it is because the bias policies of the government of malaysia that you guys hardly heard of a states which boast the highest mountain in se asia,one of the top 3 dive spots in the world in sipadan island the so called lost world in the heart of borneo in danum valley and tired of typing google it or come for your self.

[my friend I]

I haven't stayed here http://www.renitang.com/contact.html but it looks interesting. Only a short walk from the ferry. Even tho its right on the street that area doesn't get much traffic at night. It will give you a good idea of whats available .

If you are going on to KL by train you can leave extra bags at the train station.

Feel free to report back.