Where to stay in Penang....

Pakdokter was glad that we managed to get a room at the E&O Hotel in Penang. The E&O hotel is full of old world charm. The suites were spacious with modern comforts and service befitting its 5-star ratings.

Founded by the Sarkies Brothers, these Armenians from the city of Isfahan in present day Iran were also the founders of The Raffles in Singapore and the Mandarin Majapahit in Surabaya (which pakdokter had written about in one of pakdokter's blog on a Surabaya Golf Tour previously).

photos of the Sarkies Brothers, the founders of the E&O Hotel...

the outdoor restaurant viewed from the sea-side garden...

pakdokter's partner with potraits of famous personalities who stayed at the hotel....

Herman Hesse, Somerset Maughm, Kipling, Charlie Chaplin, etc etc...

Pakdokter had initially tried to book a room at the Rasa Sayang Hotel but the more affordable Garden Wing was fully booked and pakdokter was offerred instead a suite at the RASA Wing, the newly refurbished luxurious wing which sold for about RM1200 upwards per night! It was too expensive for pakdokter's liking. In fact pakdokter was glad that pakdokter had chosen the E&O as it was smack in the city and not miles away as where the Rasa Sayang is.....

From the outside it did not look like much work had been done to the Rasa Sayang, but walking through the lobby, pakdokter suspected much improvement must have been made to the suites to enable it to demand such high rates. The gardens of the Rasa Sayang was as green as pakdokter remembers it many years ago.

the lobby at the Rasa Wing of the hotel....

The Hard Rock Hotel is the newest hotel on the island, just opened a month or so before this festive season. It was probably fully booked, judging from the crowd at its lobby and swimming pools and the cars at the parking area. It was previously the Casuarina Hotel, but given a new touch and paint to its exterior creating the 'hip' look which is the trade-mark of all Hard Rock hotels. The usual musical memorabilia were on display at various corners of the hotel.

The economic recession has hit Penang just as it has hit everywhere else in the world. The gym instructor at the E&O told pakdokter's partner that the hotel only had about 30% to 40% occupancy the previous 3 or 4 months. The Hari Raya holidays helped the hotel to fill up 80% of the rooms.