Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City by IHG

The hotel isn't near much, though the rooftop pool has fantastic views. We were there for a wedding and had a wonderful time. The staff were very welcoming and friendly, and our large suite was spacious and nice. The pool could use more sun beds. My only small complaints about the suite were limited storage and just one hook in the bathroom for towels.

The used plates sat on our table for a long time before anyone cleared them, and the service was very slow. I also had stomach issues after eating at the buffet, which concerned me. At a five-star hotel, I expected better quality and service for the price and reputation. I hope management looks at food safety and makes service more efficient, since guests expect a higher standard.

Breakfast was one of the most complete and varied selections I've had, easily a 95/100. The room was clean, spacious, and well maintained, and having YouTube on the TV was a nice extra. Staff were genuinely friendly, and check-in took less than three minutes. Parking is free with validation at the front desk. I booked Club access, but the evening cocktail food selection was limited and didn't quite meet my expectations. Still, the rate I paid was much lower than at other hotels, so it felt reasonable, and beer and some liquor were available. The location isn't ideal, with few shops or restaurants nearby. Crowne Plaza Straits Penang offers good service, and I'd still recommend it to families and business travelers.

The restaurant service was the weak point of our stay at this beautiful, clean hotel in a wonderful location. During our four days, most days several items stayed empty for quite a while, with nobody checking on refills. Today both coffee dispensers ran out of milk, and we had to find someone to tell them. Roti, noodles, and fruit were also missing, waffles were gone, and there was no roti on two days. Juice ran out one day and I never saw it replenished, even though the restaurant was full. Staff were standing around collecting plates, and someone could have been assigned to check the buffet. I used to own a restaurant and catering company, so that seemed easy enough. The bar staff were nice, but we had to track them down both to order a drink and to pay. They were chatting in the restaurant area. Staff also didn't seem to know about the senior discount listed on the buffet advertising. One person argued that no such discount existed. A lovely hotel can still hurt its reviews and future with restaurant management like this.