Seriously dodgy hotels in Penang
Yesterday after the snorkeling we took a ferry to our next destination, Penang. Penang is a large island off of Malaysia known for its excellent food and expensive lifestyle. We had not made any reservations, so when we landed at the jetty in Penang we had no idea where to go.
A woman offered to show us her hotel. She said it was a short drive away from the jetty, and very close to the town center. We were both a little nervous to accept, but she said she would drive us back if we didn't like the hotel. A man was driving and we sat in the back. They drove for about 20 minutes before finally reaching the hotel! It was located above a restaurant and had obviously been converted from an apartment into a makeshift hotel. The price was too high and there were not luxuries (no phone, no TV, shared bathroom), but we didn't want to go all the way back to the jetty. The only consolation was that the hotel was located right next to lots of food stands, and a Sunday market the next day.
The next day we tried to find accomdation closer to the city center, near the tallest tower in Penang, KOMTAR. A man helped us find a hotel within short walking distance from the KOMTAR. It was a little better than the previous room - it had a TV and its own bathroom - but for the quality it was still too expensive. Plus the walls were peeling and the air conditioner dripped onto our bed!
Unless you want to stay in a bleak, depressing, overpriced room, travelers are advised to book in advance at a nicer hotel in Penang (the Cititel, Continental, or Hotel Malaysia).
A woman offered to show us her hotel. She said it was a short drive away from the jetty, and very close to the town center. We were both a little nervous to accept, but she said she would drive us back if we didn't like the hotel. A man was driving and we sat in the back. They drove for about 20 minutes before finally reaching the hotel! It was located above a restaurant and had obviously been converted from an apartment into a makeshift hotel. The price was too high and there were not luxuries (no phone, no TV, shared bathroom), but we didn't want to go all the way back to the jetty. The only consolation was that the hotel was located right next to lots of food stands, and a Sunday market the next day.
The next day we tried to find accomdation closer to the city center, near the tallest tower in Penang, KOMTAR. A man helped us find a hotel within short walking distance from the KOMTAR. It was a little better than the previous room - it had a TV and its own bathroom - but for the quality it was still too expensive. Plus the walls were peeling and the air conditioner dripped onto our bed!
Unless you want to stay in a bleak, depressing, overpriced room, travelers are advised to book in advance at a nicer hotel in Penang (the Cititel, Continental, or Hotel Malaysia).