My partner and I will be moving to Batu Ferringhi in August for at least 2 years.
We have visited Malaysia before but would appreciate any comments or advice on life in Penang.
Thanks

Lucky you. Have only ever gone to Penang on holidays (lived in Kuala Lumpur/Petaling Jaya). I have a few friends from Penang and they seemed to enjoy it. I know they have a tennis club and yachting club and quality of life is good. Sorry cant help you more specifically but I am sure there are some Penangites on this site.

You don't say whether you're moving there for 2 years to work or as an extended holiday. My wife and I looked at Penang 18 months ago (now work and live in Singapore) as a possible retirement destination. Impressions as follows after 4 days there including looking at property.
- Batu Ferrenghi is overcrowded.
- Quality of property available imho is poor and chances of being built out is high as building controls and standards are poor.
- Georgetown was charming with its historic if decaying old buildings and I just hope they don't 'modernise' it.

If this is your first time living in Asia I'm sure you'll enjoy it and going for 2 years is sensible rather than jumping in.
Good luck.

We are moving to work - by partner is a teacher and he has been offered a 2 year contract. We've both been to Malaysia lots of times and we love Georgetown - and you are right - we hope they don't spoil it by modernising it too much. It has a charm all of its own.

Penang is nice to visit but I have to be honest, I couldn't imagine living there for two years, especially if you are a youngish couple. I think it would soon bore me rigid (and I'm not even young). Sorry.

This said, please go to Lorong Selamat in Georgetown and have a huge plate of char kway teow for me. Oh. My. God. Heart attack on a plate, but so, so good.