For the uninitiated tell me about having a butler at E&O Hotel in Penang? A good rate for the new wing opening this month is offering suited with a but,er? Clueless as to what that might include. Unpacking is
listed and thats not going to be our thing. Tell me about having a butler. Obviously this stay is a big splash for us for a special anniversary. Thanks,

A butler can do all sorts of things for you. We've used the butler to make restaurant reservations for us, to arrange transportation. Typically, the butler will deliver your food if you order room service, and deliver coffee/tea upon your request. I've never used a butler for packing/unpacking.

My experience of butlers has been limited to one stay in a hotel ( not the E&O) and a couple of stays at clients homes that happened to have butlers. The experiences were very different. In the hotel, the butler was assigned to a floor and was effectively on call for a small number of guests and acted as barman, concierge and valet. Unpacking was part of the deal as was pressing and laundering etc. Want a breakfast martini ( my new favourite drink! ), the butler will provide. They will also source food to be brought in or even cook for you if the suite has kitchen facilities.

BTW . Many congratulations on your special anniversary.

Thanks, crellston & Kathie -- i think I may pass and take a room a lot less without the butler.

Probably a good idea. I found it a bit intrusive.

That's actually what I was thinking.

I don’t think that it’s necessary to pay extra for a butler at the E&O in Penang. I’ve been staying there for 6 straight years of vacations now….well almost 6 years as it’ll be 6 years next month. I remember having a butler, on a few of those stays, but not paying extra for the service, but it didn’t include unpacking. I really don’t find it necessary at the E&O. I order room service meals, from time to time, and I don’t need a butler for that. And I’ve had laundry done and just contacted housekeeping. I don’t remember what I even used the butler for when I had one. Oh….it was to bring me an extra luggage rack. But, I usually just e-mail the hotel ahead of time for that or ask upon arrival.

What is the “new” wing? Are you talking about the old, Heritage wing that was under renovation? The “new” wing to me is the Victory Annexe and which opened in around 2014 as I first stayed in it in January 2015 as I regularly stay in one of the 123 square-meter Corner Suites in that wing.

Happy anniversary.

Happy Travels!

Yes, you are correct, I shouldn't have said “new wing.” I was referring to the newly renovated Heritage wing that opens in a few days. i have read your reports on the corner suite which sounds grand. Unfortunately unless I manage to find a special, its out of our price range.

thanks for the anniversary wishes.

I think there was a price increase at the hotel as in Jan 2019, I paid $227. a night for that corner suite and have never paid over around $249. a night and I book on Expedia. However, for next month’s stay, it’s around $100. more per night and I stay the same dates every year. Maybe the rates have been upped to pay for all that renovation.

Happy Travels!

Yes, no doubt it was a costly renovation it's about $350 a night in March. I've been checking Expedia and other sites in case it goes down between now & then.

Just to clise the loop on this. After looking at a couple of options we chose E&O. Corner suite was well over $300 so we passed on that. We are in a king with sea view coincidentally next to a corner suite that seems to be unoccupied. We love our room and the hotel overall. Its nit real crowded at all so doesnt have that big hotel feel. Service is outstanding and breakfast delicious.

we did ask to see a newly renovated Heritage wing suite. They are very traditional and nice. I actually prefer our room.

no butler service, although there is a button in our phonr for butler snd i push that if I need something. 😎

I also prefer the rooms in the Victory Annexe. I've seen rooms in Heritage both before and after the renovation. I was given a post-renovation walk through of Heritage in Jan 2020 and various renovations were pointed out to me.

While recently at the E&O, I was introduced to the manager of rooms and I mentioned that the corner suite had had a really sharp increase in price and that I felt like I was now paying for the new renovations in Heritage. He laughed. We chatted for quite a while and he gave me his card and said to contact him before my next stay. Really nice and pleasant man.

I was told by a few hotel staff members that the hotel is under new management.

Happy Travels!

I can’t compare the staff under previous mgmt, but i have had outstanding service.