Week in Penang

Penang itself is a smallish island. We spent about 6 nights in Batu Ferringhi and 4 nights in Georgetown. Both places are completely different but great in their own right. Batu Ferringhi is a place to relax and to enjoy the sights, whereas Georgetown is more hustle and bustle compared to the beach town.

Penang Hill was a highlight, and so was visiting the massive Buddha nearby. The hill provides a great view of the island; on a clear day, you will be able to see quite a fair bit. It's best to try to avoid peak times. We went in the afternoon. It was quite pleasant, as there weren't many people. It tends to be a bit cooler on the hill.

A day trip to Langkawi island is a must. But be prepared for a lengthy ferry ride. Just make sure you don't get sea sick as it can get stuffy insde the boat. Snorkleing at the reef platform was great. It was our first real snorkeling experience. There are plenty of fish, however there aren't many coral to see - which was a shame.

We did spend a couple of days watching new release movies. Compared to the prices in Australia - we thought it was dirt cheap and made the most of it.

Quick Tips:

Make sure when you catch a cab and agree on the fee before hopping in. When at the night markets in Batu Ferringhi, make sure you get your money's worth. Even though things are pretty cheap there, make sure they're not ripping you off by bargaining. Water sports are generally cheap; however, make sure you go with a reputable company.

Travel agents/tourist shops usually give you a better deal on tours than the hotels. However, beware. If they seem dodgy, don't do any deals with them.

Food is pretty cheap and plentiful. However just make sure that you can stomach the food. As any Asian country, buy your water.

There were plenty of places to call back home (international). Some places where cheaper than others. Just keep your eye out for them.

Best Way To Get Around:

Cabs are pretty cheap, and walking isn't bad either if you can stand the heat.

We did take a bicycle for a day and rode up to the little fishing villages. Our resort had the bikes for hire. It was a fantastic way to visit the sleepy beach villages.

Travel agents also hired out scooters. We didn't choose this option as neither of us had any experience riding a scooter. The travel agents were also able to organise a driver that would take you around the island for approx. 20rm and hour, with a minimum of 4hrs.

This hotel has changed names. It was formally known as Park Royal Hotel.

Great resort/hotel. Great pool. Friendly staff. Enjoyed our week-long stay here. There are several towns close by and also local attractions. Food is great. The hotel food isn't half-bad either.

Our room at the Sheraton was great—clean and very spacious. It was walking distance to the main town centre. On a hot day, the walk felt long and quite unpleasant due to the heat and the humidity. There are plenty of shops on the way with many eateries. There is even a supermarket around the corner to purchase the everyday things.

Breakfast was provided daily as well as the paper. The breakfast was a buffet and that was quite standard.

The only thing that I didn't like was their hallways smelt a bit funny. They could deodorize their hallways a bit more to make it less smelly. You couldn't smell it from your room which was great.