can you recommend a hotel for a couple of nights near or on the beach, near restaurants/food hawkers, no too expensive, and not a hostel. We are two older American couples, but not into luxury (unless it's cheap and worth it!) We would like to do a few nights in Georgetown, then a few nights on a beach. If the beach will be a dissapointment, please say so and we'll reconsider and stay longer in Georgetown.

I don't know what you mean by not too expensive. The E&O is an absolutley fabulous place. All the rooms are suites and the service is superb. When I was there duing the off season, we paid US$150 a night including tax and service and breakfast. We found the deal on the hotel's own website www.e-o-hotel.com It was a promotional rate, and was half the regular price. Click on promotions and input your dates for the various options and see what comes up.

Another interesting place to stay that is less expensive, is to stay at the Cheong Fatt-Tze Mansion. It's listed on lots of booking sites - google it. It's less expensive (and less luxe) than the E&O.

Both of these are right in Georgetown, within easy walking distance of the famous hawker stalls.

Batu Ferringhi has quite a few hotels on the beach, but we nee to know your planned budget, in general hotels in Malaysia are good value. Golden Sands, Lone Pine etc are reasonable. Lone Pine is 3 star, Golden Sands is 4 star, it dpeends how much you want to spend.

Distance from Georgetwon is easy.

Don't go to Tanjung Bungah which is nearer Georgetown as the beach isn't good at all ! Batu Ferringhi far better. You will find good restaurants, Seafood ( Eden Restaurant ) plus Malay, Indian etc. Market stalls around.

How long do you have in total ?
Langkawi Island is a 20 minute 'hop' from Penang and Firefly do cheap flights, that is far quieter than penang and has morte of a tropical Island feel.
If yuo don't min moving around you might think of a few days on Langkawi as opposed to Bau Ferringhi on Penang.
The great thing about Langkawi is that it is easy to drive around with a rental and is a very relaxed easy going island. Just a thought.

Agree with Kathie if your budget can stretch to the E&O, if your budget cannot stretch to the E&O you might considor the '1926 Hotel' which is also a 'classic' design hotel, certainly not an E&O but if you like hotels with some character and history and can't manage the E&O it's a muich cheaper alternative if you like that style.

Cheong Fatt-Tze is where parts of the movie Indochine was filmed. I was so happy when it was renovated. E&O was also renovated. Hopefully, one day I'll get to Penang and stay both at the E&O and Cheong Fatt-Tze. Happy Travels!

Appreciate teh responses, but I thought that the E&O and Cheong Fatt-Tze were in Georgetown, rather than on the beach. am I incorrect?

We will be spending 2 nights in Langkawi prior to arriving in Penang. Then, in Penang, we have rooms in Georgetown for about $60-70/night for two nights (The Red Rock Hotel, formerly the Agora. Clean, newly renovated, budget lodgings, I believe).

We were thinking of moving from that location to the beach, perhaps up to $100-$120 assuming the hotel, beach, etc. are worth the bother. We don't mind the moving from hotel to hotel, for a valid reason, and living in the Arizona desert, a beach with nice swimming salt water is definately a valid reason.

This trip is planned late August/early Sept. which I belive is fairly high season.

What suggestions do you have now?

Rasa Sayang, sister to Golden Sands would be the best in Batu Ferringhi. I stayed at the latter, it was okay, R Sayang was being renovated at that time. Would now stay at R Sayang, pricier though. Batu F has the night markets and is buzzier. Didn't swim but enjoyed foot massages on the beach.

Yes, both the E&O and the Choeng Fatt-Tze are in Goergetown. Sorry, I misunderstood your request.

Frankly, after Langkawi, I think the beaches at Penang will be a disappointment.

If you can spare the cash, the E & O is a wonderful hotel experience. No beach but an excellent pool.

If you have a few days on Langkawi, perhaps instead of then staying in Georgetown and 'then' moving to BF could you entend your stay on Langkawi ? I agree after Langkawi BF will be a let down, more crowded and busy altogether whereas on Langkawi just so much quieter and laid back. The Pelanmgi is a good upper range resort without going into the lux price ranges, the Frangipani ( which used to be Langkawi Village ) is I guess 2 star verging on 3 but has nice rooms either ground or above laid out in gardens, small pool, cafe at the beach etc and is cheap/good value.
Kuah ( Langkawi Town ) is quite busy but outisde of the town it's pretty quiet, if you get a rental you can drive around and visit other places, very easy indeed ! Car rental is cheap. In the evenings on Langkawi don't expect more than dinner and you might have a band playing at the Pelangi, but evenings are quiet. But you can have a drink on the beach and watch the sunset.
Penang is simply far busier.

Got this in my inbox today from Shangri-La:


Golden Sands Resort, Penang Family Adventure Package
Rates start from MYR 838 (USD 251.30)* for 2 nights