Just pulled the trigger on some flights to Penang for the May long weekend; staying Friday and Saturday nights.

Any hotel suggestions for a decent central location? We're a 2+1 family and we want to be walking distance to mid range restaurants in the evening.

We've seen Evergreen, Penaga, and Traders as available in our price range (~RM400/night) but can't decide and not sure which offers a better location. E&O looks great but busts the budget.

Any suggestions welcomed.

I guess it depends what you want to be central for?

G Hotel is rated well and you're right bang on Gurney Drive. Plenty of places to eat and drink. Nice promenade to walk along. Some friends stayed at Evergreen recently and they said it was OK.

I've stayed at Traders (before I moved here) and didn't like it much. Traffic is awful in Georgetown mostly and not easy walking around.

If you want a bit of beach, another friend has just stayed at Lone Pine Hotel in Batu Ferringhi and he absolutely loved it. That would fit your eating options, though it's further out if you're intending on doing the Heritage sites etc of Georgetown.

For 'traditional' hotels you could try the Bayview in Georgetown, not far from little India and China town. Rates are OK I believe. Cittitel is also not far and is also OK, not sure of the rates.

If you like the boutique style of hotels right in the Heritage areas its hard to beet Muntri Mews or the Yeng Keng. More of a family feel but don't go for the smaller rooms. There is also Nordin Mews, again, boutique, out by 1st Avenue Mall in Georgetown.

Traders, I'd pass.

G Hotel is brilliant BUT it has proximity to Gurney only, albeit there is also Paragon nearby now for eateries and bars. Taxi into GT about RM 20 day time, RM 30 after midnight. Evergreen OK but quite a walk to Gurney Plaza. I would not book half-board there, their buffet is crap IMO. But it's just Gurney Plaza really. You can sometimes elicit a good deal from G Hotel by mailing them, but they normally reduce only for longer stays. Evergreen and G are chalk and cheese compared to service and standards with G being the cheese (if you like cheese that is)

Hello there, this is my first post on Britishexpat. I'm staying at Chulia Heritage Hotel in Chulia Street, just at the edge of the Heritage zone. The hotel is in second row from the noise, so here is quiet. I think it is nice, clean and friendly staff. And in easy walking distance from the central sights. Inexpensive too, I pay RM 130/night for room incl. bathroom. Unfortunately I'm a bit unlucky with the weather at the moment, it's pouring down.

Hi GreyGuy and welcome to the forum Thanks for the recommendation... that will help others.

Actually you are lucky with the weather. We've been having incredibly hot and humid days for the past couple of weeks... humidity up to 79 percent...not nice. Then we got the big downpour and that has freshened it up a little. Nice and sunny today

We had to bump our May trip to end of July, about to book hotels. Anyone experienced Campbell House or Coffee Atelier in Georgetown?

My own recommendation would be the Paradise, Sandy Bay in Tanjong Bungah which has a bus stop right outside the hotel and a 20 min bus ride to George Town.
The buses these days are new and aircon unlike yesteryear.

Lots of nice restaurants nearby as well and the beach is OK.

My in-laws stayed at Campbell House and loved it

Go on, spoil yourself....

http://www.eohotels.com

Heard and read good things about E&O but for this trip we opted for Campbell House.

That looks very nice too!

Got back from a lovely trip to Penang yesterday, made all the more special because of our hotel choice. Campbell House is a winner and I strongly recommend it for anyone thinking of taking a weekend break in Penang.

Not the cheapest place around but worth every penny for the excellent customer service and ambience of the hotel. The owners take special care to look after all guests, the staff are attentive and week informed and the refurbishment of the building is top notch.

We walked past the E&O which also looks very nice but actually preferred the location of the Campbell House in the backstreets and a restored building.

We'll be booking in again for future visits with visitors.

Thanks for the tip, Nakrob, I'll keep it in mind for next time I'm here.