Hostels in Penang, Malaysia

As a solo traveler, I found that most conveniently located hotels were around 300-500 MYR a night. To save money, I booked this hostel for about 80 MYR per night. I was a bit apprehensive before checking in, as it was a mixed-gender dorm. Overall, it pleasantly exceeded my expectations. The location is excellent; Mural Street, Durian Dessert Kingdom, Clan Jetties, Chulia Street night market food, the Blue Mansion, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, and many other attractions are all within walking distance. Plus, there are plenty of great food options nearby. The hostel boasts a wonderful environment and atmosphere. There are backpackers from all over the world, and everyone is very friendly, welcoming, and respectful of the rules. There's no noise at night, ensuring a good sleep. Each bed has a curtain for privacy, and the space is quite generous, so it doesn't feel cramped or crowded. The common areas are spacious and comfortable, featuring a co-working space, a lounge area, and free drinking water. You can relax and enjoy the air-conditioning anytime. What pleasantly surprised me was the hostel's rich variety of organized activities. I joined an 8 AM carpool trip to the famous Penang Hill (entry is free if you hike up, which I did and got completely soaked in sweat; I took the funicular train down for 15 MYR). Also, on my last night before leaving, I happened to catch their Thursday night music party. It was a delight to hear talented travelers from all corners of the world perform songs – English, Chinese, and Cantonese, for example – with an incredibly enthusiastic and supportive audience. Finally, I'd like to mention a few drawbacks of this hostel: Each bed came with a dark blue blanket that I suspect hadn't been washed, as it carried a strong scent of perfume and body odor. It likely belonged to a previous guest who was heavy on perfume. Luckily, I had brought my own blanket and bedsheet. The bathrooms don't have basins or buckets for handwashing clothes, which is quite inconvenient. While the hostel offers a paid laundry service, they don't provide drying racks or towels. Shoes must be removed before entering the dorm areas, so I recommend bringing your own indoor slippers; otherwise, you'll have to walk in socks or barefoot. On the positive side, the front desk staff speak Chinese, so communication is seamless, and they are very friendly and welcoming. Overall, I highly recommend this hostel, especially for solo travelers.

I miscalculated the dates and booked one night less at my original hotel, so I booked this one. I figured I'd head to the airport early the next day and spend the night there. The ambiance is brand new, of course, but the smell is incredibly strong. I kept going in and out of the hotel, unable to sleep, constantly needing to get some fresh air. There was no way I could wake the kids up at 2 a.m. and head straight to the airport to spend the night. There are no windows in the entire hotel for ventilation, except in the bathroom. If you don't mind the smell, this is the place to stay; it's really new and clean.

One night over Penang for a short business trip, check in late but owners helper are helpful. Around the corner of this shared living hostel is some dinner place and open till late around 1030pm. There are some live bar for the entertainment if you are not here for work. Amenities is basic and enough for the stay. Important aspect for me is the Aircon which is functioning and is cold.

The location is very good. Bus stops are close, shopping malls are close, you can walk around Georgetown, and there are no problems with places to eat. The hotel has air conditioning and the shower has strong water pressure. Shampoo and body soap are provided, and the hair dryer is also strong and good. The toilet and shower are shared, but that's the case with most accommodations of this type. One thing that bothered me was that although it looked clean, there was a lot of hair and other things stuck on the rail of the room door. They didn't clean the small details, so it might not be suitable for people who are concerned about that. They only cleaned the surface lightly. Check-in is self-service. It's fine for people who are used to it, but it will be confusing for first-timers.

The host was friendly to provide midnight check in and room condition was clean and tidy with good air conditioning. And the location was convenient from Queensway mall.

The hotel says it was converted from a historical building, but what I can't understand is why there isn't even a name on the door. I couldn't be sure even after driving around a few times, and it was difficult to stop and confirm. Although there was an email description, I couldn't confirm from the door that this was the place the email said it was. The walls of the room are a bit thin, and I can feel it when the residents in the isolation room lean against the wall. The Muslim morning prayer begins at 5 a.m. One of the 4 water heaters was broken, and one was turned on to 55 degrees but still seemed to be 37 degrees. I feel that the overall facilities are rough. The location of the hotel is very good, right next to love lane. It is a good choice for those who like nightlife. It has to be close to other places as well. The overall experience was not as good as expected.

Staying here is very suitable and fits the needs because it is right across from the Island Penang Hospital. Breakfast is quite delicious and unlimited portions. There are sports facilities on the 2nd floor which are quite crowded and restaurants are also close to the location. Unfortunately there is no special price for those who stay more than a week, for some reason.

Booked as couple but provided only 1 pair of slipper. One side of the bed is next to the wall.

You have to pay an extra RM20 for one youngster to share a bed with the parents. My son is only four years old. No towel. The mattress is very spongy and not comfortable at all. It was noisy at night, and I heard something walk across the roof. Monkeys? Rats?? The owner was pleasant and attentive.