Hotel Review: Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang

Date: 28th July 2010
Hotel: Eastern & Oriental Hotel
Location: Lebuh Farquhar, Penang

Another hotel in Penang that we managed to stop by and view is the old and famous Eastern & Oriental Hotel. In its white colonial building, it is said to be among the most expensive hotel here in Penang. For its reputation, let see what they offer.

Offering suites accommodation, this hotel was built in the year of 1885 by Sarkies Brothers. Located in the city area of Penang, and overlooking the sea, the hotel may meeting up the expecation of the tourist, especially from the European countries.

By using the classic and luxury furniture in almost every corner of the hotel, it gives the tourist a unique feeling by the time you enter to the main lobby. Starting with the welcoming from the doorman, in his classic uniform to the experiencing the original elevator of the hotel that is still in operation, this experience is going to be a memorable one.

Similar to other Tigran Brothers Hotel such as Raffles Hotel Singapore, this E&O Hotel uses lots of wooden decoration in the building. From the lobby counter, to its flooring as well as the grand staircase.

This hotel offers suites accommodation and there are 5 categories of suites in total. From the basic Deluxe Suite, to the Georgetown Suite, Premier Suite, Straits Suite and Writers Suite on the highest level.

For the price, from as low as MYR580++ for the lowest category up to MYR1080++ for the highest level, this definitely worth the money.

Living Room

I can say that it is a small luxury hotel here in Penang. With 101 suites and 3 floors, the structure of the hotel is like a big house with lots of rooms.

Room Stationary

They have 24 Hour Butler services here in the hotel and practically, not many hotel here has butler service. So, by having this services, it is actually personalize the guest and create more guest satisfaction for its resident.

Swimming Pool

Grand Staircase

Wooden flooring on corridor

The original E&O elevator

Doorman

Hotel Review: The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences, Penang

Date: 28th July 2010
Hotel: The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences
Location: Gurney Drive, Penang

Among the chosen hotel for this trip is the Gurney Hotel. Located along the famous Gurney Drive of Penang, it is among the most convenience place to stay. Within 5 minutes from the hotel, there are a range of shopping malls and F&B outlets nearby.

The hotel, facing the seaview of the Gurney Drive has its own identity. It can accommodate tourist on vacation as well as on business trip here. It is convenience, as you can just park the car and walk around the area for sightseeing. Depending on the timing, the place can be a bit busy, especially in the evening.

So, this is the first hotel of the trip that we are going to review. Arrived on Saturday, we checked in at noon time, and Jimmy's group is the first to check in. The smartest thing they did was asking for room nearby, and weve got the family suite. Nice!

The hotel lobby is quite big, and the breakfast area are just located on the second floor, on top of the lobby counter area.

The design of the lobby is almost the same concept to other typical boutique hotel here. Equipped with big glass door and the doorman standing by. It is pretty similar to others.

Done with registration, up to the hotel room, the hotel addresses their room as suite. But for whoever get used to the 'Suite' look like, please dont put high expectation on how your suite look like. From as low as MYR250++ up to MYR450++ per night, you shouldn't have a high expectation on it. And the breakfast is inclusive for that price.

The Hotel has 2 categories of the suite; Studio Suite and 2 Bedroom Suite. But, for the price as low as above, it is definitely worth the money.

The size of a Studio Suite is 515sq ft and 2 Bedroom Suite is 960sq ft. For the lucky one, or you may request for a seaview, and dont forget to ask for higher floor. I definitely say, its better.

For 2 bedroom suite, the connecting door can actually be closed and sell the room separately. This suite is equipped with living hall, kitchen, and dining area and it definitely good for family vacation or big group of people.

As I said, for the lucky one, or whoever request for a seaview, you may experience soaking yourself in the bathtub while looking at the sea.

Moving out to the hotel facilites, they have few number of F&B outlets within the hotel building, recreation area, banquet as well as other facilites like spa and others.

For F&B, they have their own coffee house, Ichiban Restaurant, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Kapitan's, Roadhouse Grill, Gurney KTV, Subway and Island Red Cafe.

And the unique thing about this hotel that I like is their recreation area. It is located almost in the same area and its quite big, the recreation area includes Archery, Sauna and Steam Room, Refreshment Corner, Table Tennis, Pool Table, Arts and Crafts, Table Games, Beach Volley Ball;

...Outdoor Gym;

...Swimming Pool;

...Kids and Wave pool, and water slides.

Other facilities in the hotel includes Laundry and Valet Services, 550 Carparks, Santuary Spa, Suite Spa, Business Centre, Secretarial Services, Concierge, Shuttle and Limousine Services.

Yup, and for the rate includes breakfast, most of the people wake up on time, get prepared and down for breakfast. Depends on the season, it can be seen that arab tourist came to Penang as well for vacation.

Breakfast done, packing done and its time to go. Moving to the next hotel in Cameron Highland, The Strawberry Park will be reviewed as well. See you in the next chapter.

Road Trip Series: Penang Island

Date: 28th July 2010
Location: Penang Island
Event: Road Trip

There you go! Mamenez comes back! For the year of 2010 and almost closing the year, there's a road trip and believed as the longest journey so far. Organized by Jimmy Ong, who loves his car so much, this trip covered few different places in Malaysia.

Total journey of 6 days, the places covered including Penang Island, Cameron Highland, Genting Highland, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and also Johore Bahru. Two cars and two drivers, it was tiring but fun. Day by day journey, and im going to start with Penang.

Drive from Singapore to Penang, the first move was the longest drive. Reaching about 700km via Malaysian North-South Highway, the journey has to be stop for couple of times along the highway for toilet break and food! =) Good thing that the highway not as busy as festive season, the drive was smooth till the end. Tire check! Petrol check! Food check! Drinks check! and as early as 5.30am, the journey begin, from Singapore.

8 people altogether: Jimmy, Roslee, Rahmat (me), Rosalie, Valentine, Adie, Jill and Vadhel, they are all well prepared for the trip! (Prepared to sleep in the car I guess). Anyway, as what they say, my car is designed for people to sleep in it.. Hmm thats sound a nice excuse but, my mom even sleep in the car. So probably they are right!.. But the journey continues...

Passing through several states of Malaysia, including Johore, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Kedah, the drive was smooth except Jimmy's group who accidentally drive out of the main highway and entering Kuala Lumpur city area. But, they are lucky to have GPS, and managed to drive back to the main highway and rushing up to Penang. Without stopping, they reached the hotel that we are going to stay first. Amazing!

*More about the Gurney Hotel, the hotel that we stayed in the next chapter*

For us, we decided to stop at the Tapah R&R for lunch break, assuming that Jimmy's group is still behind us.

Lunch is over! the drive continues and a call from Jimmy telling us that he is reaching the hotel. What?! and that makes us rushing up as well.

Entering the Penang Island, there are two ways, either drive via the Penang Bridge or by taking ferry. The ferry can accomodate the car, bike and even van into it. But for arrival, we choose the bridge as the traffic look smooth.

For the bridge, make sure you look to signage or otherwise, you will definitely spend time driving around to find the brigde. Its very straight forward, you may find the signage quite easy during your drive reaching to Penang Island.

Entering Penang, the traffic and road signage may not as easy as expected. Driving from the bridge to the Gurney Hotel, which is located in Gurney Drive may take around 30 minutes, but along the way, the are more stuff to see.

In Penang, we have limited time to spend. We reached the hotel about noon time, and decided just to park the car and spend time walking around and go for a swim. Jimmy's group decided for a spa massage, and me, i need a cool and nice swim.

At night, as the time is running out, we chose to go to the famous Penang Night Market, located at the Batu Feringgi area, it takes about 30 minutes to reach there. And be careful, the traffic might be dangerous at night. And again, the ladies slept in the car, proving that my car is well designed to sleep. =(

Yup, as you can see, Penang Night Market at Batu Feringgi believed as the biggest and never close at any day. Equipped with a hawker centre, we decided to try out the local food here. Awesome!

There are thousand of stuff you may find here. From souvenier to clothes, CD and DVD, watches and accessories, the ladies definitely love this and spend time longer than guy. Can see some of them did shopping actually! =)

Once done with shopping and dinner, we drove back to the hotel for rest. And the journey tomorrow has to continue to Cameron Highland.

29th July 2010, Thursday:

Everybody wake up early for breakfast and packing up for the next move.

Not far from the hotel, there are 2 Buddhists temple named as Dhammikarama Burmese Temple and Wat Chaiyamangalaram. These 2 temples are just located opposite each other.

The first 2 pictures below are the Wat Chaiyamangalaram Temple;

...and the next 5 pictures below are the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple;

Located outside the Temple, there is a little souvenier stall where you can get some item for quite a cheap price.

Next, after the Temple visits, we all visited the famous Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang. The oldest hotel in Penang, the building still stand proudly facing the sea view of Penang.

*More review on the E&O Hotel in the next chapter*

Rushing to our next destination, on the departure we chose to take the ferry ride. Exiting Penang, the fare is free but to enter Penang, there is a fare that you have to pay.

Due to the time limitation, we did not managed to cover other place of interest in Penang, of which it has more such as the Snake Temple, Zoo, Bukit Bendera and lots more. As what Jimmy say, "...I want to go back to Penang for a couple of days...", so maybe next time.

Our next destination, Cameron Highland! Check it out on the next chapter...