George Town is recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage. The old
Armenian Quarter has much to offer to tourists. Think about it, with it's
Malay, Chinese and Indian history, there are few places in Malaysia (except
maybe Malacca) where you find so much history preserved. Wandering in George
Town alone is worth a visit to Penang.
George Town has plenty of hotels to stay near to the interesting sites,
see for example our Penang Heritage page
or the Burmese
Temple. But where to stay? We offer you our favorite hotels in George
Town though we had to separate the Gurney
Drive hotels otherwise this page would be too long.
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang or E&O as it is also know
is one of the oldest hotels in Penang. Not for nothing the hotel is also a
heritage building. If there is one hotel where you can smell the old
grandeur of the colonial days with all the modern facilities, it's the E&O.
The E&O is a popular choice for tourists, businessmen and locals who have
to celebrate something (weddings, reunions etc.).
The location of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang couldn't
be better too with all the major attractions of Penang in walking distance.
Each suite is tastefully and thoughtfully furnished with essential
amenities in a spacious bathroom, with Persian carpets by the bedside and
bedcovers made from the finest Egyptian cotton. These are just some of
touches that lend opulence to this luxury hotel. Trust me, this is where you
want to stay. Highly recommended!
The Sunway Georgetown Hotel Penang is conveniently located behind
the Komtar shopping building and the central local bus station, at a few
minutes walk. The old historical heritage
city center is a few minutes further.
The 4 star hotel has 240 rooms and is an excellent choice for both
tourist and businessmen. The beaches of Batu Ferringhi and
Teluk Bahang are easy to reach by taxi and
the airport is 30 minutes by taxi.
Meeting and banquet facilities can accommodate small to large groups.
The Cititel Hotel Penang is located near Gurney Drive so we could
have added it our Gurney Drive Hotels. However, Cititell is not located at
Gurney Drive itself. That said, the rooms have great views over the city and
over the Bay and Andaman Sea.
With its location you are close to all the major attractions in George
Town. Try some of the hawker stalls at night or visit the nearby located
Museum. The
Burmese Temple is nearby and so is
the old Armenian Quarter.
The hotel is a an excellent choice for tourist and businessmen alike.
Another excellent choice in George Town is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Penang. Located close to the heart of George Town, this is your change
to stay in an excellent preserved Chinese courtyard house. It is, of course,
a heritage house. Originally it was the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze. The
house was build by master craftsmen from China using building materials
imported from the West over a seven year period between 1896 and 1904.
The
Cheong Fatt Tze mansion of 38 rooms, five granite-paved courtyards, seven
staircases and 220 windows was designed to reflect Cheong Fatt Tze's stature
and eclectic approach to life.
The mansion is one of three Chinese-style dwellings remaining outside of
China. It is also the only one in Southeast Asia. The mansion is
particularly unusual.
It represents the best of eighteenth and nineteenth century Chinese
architecture and the mansion is laid out according to Chinese Feng Shui
principles. It is decorated with intricate carvings, chien nien and Chinese
lattice-work. It's an amazing place to stay.
The Grand Continental Hotel Penang is another great choice. Like
the Cititel you will enjoy fantastic views over Penang and the Bay. Although
located in the heart of George Town the hotel has an indoor swimming pool
which is not common for other hotels.
The hotel has a restaurant: Pinang Selera which serves a wide variety of
international cuisine and local favorites.
You might first want to absorb the atmosphere in Tanjung Bungah. It might
look like a little far from either Batu Ferringhi or George Town city
center, but in fact both are only a 10 minutes away.
With excellent views over the Bay and the Andaman Sea and facilities as a
swimming pool and spa you can't go wrong with staying at the Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang
The City Bayview Hotel Penang is located in the heart of George
Town at Fauqar Street. The hotel offers a wide range of activities: swimming
pool, outdoor jacuzzi, gymnasium, business & internet centre, wireless
broadband and drugstore.
There 320 rooms with a restaurant and a coffee shop available. It's a
good choice in the city center.
The Mingood Hotel Penang is one of the cheaper options in George Town.
It is in fact one of the hotels I personally use when in Penang (that is, if
I don't visit friends).
The rooms offer a great view over the city and the bay. The Mingood
Hotel is a 2 star hotel but it is certainly worth the price you pay.
Around the corner I would recommend some good hawker stalls. The ferry to
Butterworth, Langkawi and other tourist attractions, like the Cornwallis
Fort are all nearby. If you come by car, you will have a car parking
facility too.
The Dorsett Penang Hotel is another fine example of a good hotel
with a decent price. Rooms are great, staff is friendly though food is
slightly expensive. That said, the hawker stalls and restaurants are all in
the nearby vicinity.
East meets West at Gurney Drive. The modern world goes hand in hand with old
traditions. Stay at Gurney Drive and visit the
Burmese Temple, the legendary
hawker stalls or the old fort. Gurney Drive is at walking distance from
all the major tourist sights.
The
Cheong Fatt Tze mansion of 38 rooms, five granite-paved courtyards, seven
staircases and 220 windows was designed to reflect Cheong Fatt Tze's stature
and eclectic approach to life.
