Evelyn Wong

Review of Shangri La Georgetown,Penang

I stayed over a 3 day-2 night long weekend trip ov...

I stayed over a 3 day-2 night long weekend trip over the Awal Muharram break in August of 2020.

My parents and I shared a club-suite floor room on Level 17, courtesy of a promotion. The ambience of both the room and the lobby was modern, humble, and slightly artistic with very intriguing shaped furniture and overhanging lights. I slept on a double-single sofa bed that was very comfortable. I would have thought it was originally a bed if I had evaluated it solely based on how it felt when I was lying on it. The only downside to the room was that it lacked sufficient necessities for 3-persons, eg. we were only provided 2 toothbrushes although there were 3 persons in the room. We had to call to request for items but this was a small matter.

A key benefit of the Club Floor was you got easy daily access from 9AM-9PM to a variety of beverages, snacks, and alcohol in the later evening for free at the lobby cafe! My parents and I really enjoyed it. Nothing quite like ordering mango juice, wine, and having a lovely platter of char kuay teow on a cloudy day. The only downside to the supply of F&B is that the breakfast variety at the hotel was limited (though sufficient). Food available includes: nasi lemak, porridge, mee hoon soup noodle, dim sum, dumplings, hash brown, egg, sausages, mushroom, 2 types of bread pastry with butter and jam, 3 types of cereal, roti canai with only dhal as a side, fried rice, curry chicken, sauteed vegetables. It lacks the typical hotel platter that includes cheeses, cold meats, desserts.

Located in the heart of Georgetown city, a lot of the key sights and eateries are within a 30-minute walking distance from the hotel. My parents and I easily walked along Kimberly Rd, the Armenian St (where the graffiti art was at) and even to the Jetty esplanade (where we got to take a peek at the retail Chew Jetty). When it rains, you can even borrow cute-vibrant colored umbrellas to use (we got a turqoise and pink one)!

However, the most outstanding element of this hotel is it's SERVICE. The service levels were exceptional, with adaptable and friendly staff working in all areas of the hotel. One moment a person is at the counter checking your family in, and the next day, they are at the cafe serving you by name (albeit with no reference to look at to know who you are)!