Malabar Inn

There’s a small shared fridge for storing food and drinks, which came in handy. Malabar Inn is within walking distance of most places of interest. The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. We had one with windows, which made a big difference. Many rooms don’t have natural light, which could be difficult if you’re staying two nights or longer.

Paying a few extra bucks to stay elsewhere would be worth it. Yes, it’s close to many attractions, but with only 3-4 hours of sleep a night, you won’t enjoy them. I spend months at a time in Southeast Asia, and this is one of the worst places I’ve stayed. Don’t make my mistake and book somewhere else. The noise was awful. The walls are paper-thin, so you hear everything outside the room. Drunk backpackers and other guests yelled until about 3 in the morning, then staff were yelling to each other or on their phones at 6am. On the first morning, construction inside started around 8. There was no consideration for guests. The four WiFi points didn’t work for the first couple of days either. After two flights, we arrived only to be told our Expedia booking was wrong, even though it said we had a double bed, and that we’d need to pay more to upgrade. It felt like a scam and was a terrible first impression. The rooms were grimy and in disrepair, with a broken bathroom door and holes in the ceiling. The beds were uncomfortable, and the bathroom was about as clean as a bus station one. It may be a budget hotel, but it isn’t worth losing sleep and comfort.

For around 16$ a night, we got a clean place with friendly staff, a good location, comfortable beds, air conditioning, hot water, and free drinking water. I’d give it 4.5 if I could, for a budget hotel. The half star comes off because our room had no window, though that did make it especially quiet.

The location is great, a couple of minutes’ walk from the tourist area and about 10 minutes to Komtar bus station. I’ve stayed at a few budget hotels in Georgetown, and this is the best value so far. My air-conditioned room had a private shower and toilet. It was clean and quiet, and the staff were all friendly and helpful. No window in my room, but that’s not uncommon here. The WiFi worked, though it wasn’t very fast, also not uncommon here. The bed was comfortable and the shower hot. Downstairs there’s a common area with an iron, fridge, hot and cold water dispenser, and free coffee. The place is split across two buildings. The one with reception seems to be the original and is a little older. It has a small roof terrace with two tables and some chairs, where you can smoke or buy a beer and watch the sun go down.