Hotel Pen Mutiara

The check-in was quick and efficient. They first asked me for a RM100 deposit, but I didn’t have cash, so they kindly waived it. Parking was another plus: I handed the parking coupon to the cashier and the fee was waived. I stayed in the Family Double Suite with room for four. It was spacious and comfortable, and the bathroom was clean overall. There was some mold around the edges of the shower mirror, but I didn’t mind much because the rest of the bathroom was still clean. The booking said the room had a street view, though the windows were so heavily tinted that it was hard to see outside. That left me a little uncomfortable because the room felt dark and closed in. Outside, the hotel surroundings looked poorly maintained, with construction apparently underway and a dusty, messy environment. It seems suitable for a short stay. The roomy space and easy check-in were convenient, though the dark windows and dusty surroundings could make some guests less comfortable.

The best part of our stay was the convenient location near Penang International Airport. We didn’t feel very welcomed, though. Staff could use words instead of gestures to communicate. Nobody expects them to speak English these days, since tourists can use translation apps like Google or Samsung Translate to understand. The room was dusty, and the towels had muddy stains. There were red lipstick marks on the bedsheets, hopefully not blood. The rooms also aren’t well insulated, and noise from neighboring rooms woke us from a deep sleep. When we checked out early at 5 am, we waited about 10 minutes for staff to wake up and help us. The location is great, but better communication and more attention to cleanliness would make a big difference. Thank you.

The kari kepala ikan was really delicious. Then again, you can find delicious curry almost anywhere in Penang.

I came back after a while for lunch with my family, mainly to have the fish head curry, which is the signature dish here. The restaurant is right beside the hotel and was there before the hotel was built. Its food is tremendously good, though expensive.