Shō Hotel Penang

The room felt new, spacious, and modern, with very cold air conditioning that suited Penang's heat. The TV had Malaysian channels and Netflix, which was handy in the evening. My only small complaint was the bathroom glass: black stickers obscured privacy somewhat, but silhouettes could still be seen. Check-in was smooth and efficient on Level 9, where the pool and café are too. We got a complimentary drink voucher for orange juice, black coffee, tea, a cocktail, or a mocktail, a nice perk after a long journey. Basement parking uses a card tap to enter and may look chargeable at first, but validating it in the lobby during check-in makes it free. The place had a welcoming feel and friendly service.

We only stopped by briefly for the café, since we live in Penang, and haven't been into the hotel rooms or checked in. The surroundings were not bad, though the place can be hard to find. If you don't know Penang's roads well, missing the entrance means you can't turn back until a larger turn-around farther away. The white latte tasted good, and my wife liked the chocolate drink too. We'll consider staying here on a future holiday.

The room was spacious and modern, and the hotel is new, stylish, and centrally located, though traffic in Penang can be heavy. We got a welcome drink, and Netflix and other streaming apps were available if we signed in with our own accounts. When we reported a few room problems, the technical team responded quickly and fixed them. Still, the four-night stay fell short of what I expect from a 4-star hotel, and we won't choose it again for future Penang trips. There were three lifts for the 32-floor building, and we sometimes had to wait several rounds at busy times. The pool is beside the lobby, so water gets splashed near the lifts. Soundproofing was poor: we could hear neighbouring conversations, crying children, and doorbells. Light sleepers may want earplugs. The gym, yoga and meditation room, kids' room, and laundry were on our floor, in rooms laid out like guest rooms. The gym didn't look like a proper gym. Housekeeping hadn't cleaned our room when we returned in the afternoon, even though we'd turned on the morning alert. There was no complimentary bottled water, tea, or coffee, just an empty jug holding less than a litre and glasses to fill from the corridor dispenser. The room used a smart projector instead of a smart TV, and not all Netflix apps were compatible, so check the setup at check-in. We were charged RM24 for parking on each of the first two days, even though the daily charge is capped at RM10. Parking validation is on the ground floor. The shower head was broken when we arrived, and staff seemed to know about it already. On our last night, we saw a housekeeper cleaning the toilet with what looked like a bath towel or white floor mat, which was concerning. I hope management takes these issues into account and makes improvements.

The no-waste approach stood out to me, especially providing amenities only when guests ask. It’s a simple idea, but it means something. The team were warm and thoughtful, and I enjoyed the fresh-brewed coffee and the facilities too. My only gripe is the gym: it’s in a compact room away from the reception floor, so getting to it is less convenient. Thanks to the team for the hospitality.