We are planning on staying here for 5 nights in September. We are currently looking at the Grand Park Plaza. I've read mixed reviews about all of the 4 star hotels in Penang so we are open to suggestions. We like a good pool area, nearby restaurants and decent rooms. We usually go for 4 star. We are keen to visit Georgetown but we are unsure as to how busy/noisy it would be to base ourselves there, so any info. on that area would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Well first you need to decide if you want to stay in a beach area or Georgetown. If you want to stay on the beach then batu Ferringi is the place, I stayed once at Tanjang Bugah (sp?) and was very dissapointed, nothing around, ended up going up to Bati or down to Georgetown.
Georgetown is a large city, Batu Ferringhi is a beach area, decide that first and also tell us your budget to give ideas depending if you want mid range, luxury or top place like rasa Sayang.
You can get a local bus from Batu but taxis are cheap so you can go into Goergetown if you wish.

You could consider staying at Gurney Drive. There's several decent hotels you could choose from. It's fronting the seafront, though you can't swim there. There's a shopping mall and of course the famous hawker center.

Batu Ferringhi is a bit touristy for me. There's lots of eating places but quite pricy as most locals don't eat there. Food is also pretty average. Long way from time on a narrow winding road.

James A: We are probably looking at a beach area as we would have been to Singpapore before hand. Although, we are not particularly bothered about an amazing beach as we are going to the Datai afterwards. We do want a bit of nightlife where we can eat, bars etc fairly reasoanbly so we can save our pennies for the Datai. We want a good pool and a 4 star hotel will be fine. We don't want mega posh as we want this part of the holiday to be casual and relaxing. Looking at the prices, most of the 4 star hotels are about the same so any recommendations at that standard will be fine. We love the look of the Rasa Sayang but we are visiting in September and it opens in October which is a shame.

You might consider staying at Rasa Sayang sister hotel the Golden Sands which is right beside it. Have stayed at both and while the Sands is not quite as lux, it was just fine for us plus a lot cheaper. Being side by side one can use the facilities of both.

I agree with Scotters, the Golden sands is right next door, certainly food snacks there were cheaper than the rasa, sorry I did not konow the rasa sayang was having refurbishment, it was always a superb place. As you want to down budget I guess the Golden sands, I am not familiar with what work they are doing at the rasa but wonder if that might effect ( noisewise etc ) staying at Golden Sands. There are plenty of food places, Eden for Seafood, that Pirate ship I can never remember the name of.
Other popular hotels are Casuarina, H/Inn.

Thanks everyone. The refurb at the Rasa Sayang is a major one and practically a rebuild so the level of disruption is an issue for us when considering the Golden Sands. That said, it is due to re-open in October so presumably most of the major construction will be completed by September. The refurb looks fantastic. We'll have a look at your other suggestions. Thanks again.

My parents have just returned from the Golden Sands, they were not disrupted at all by the work at the Rasa Sayang