Swing and Pillows @ Beach Street, Penang

For the price, especially given the location, this is a place I'd recommend to other travellers. The rooms were very clean, had a good layout, and came with lockers. I had a great experience here.

The only thing I liked was being able to walk easily to places from here. Everything else was awful, and I can't understand the positive reviews. This is the worst hostel I've ever booked. I came to visit friends and mainly needed somewhere to sleep. I didn't sleep at all. Even with the windows shut, you can hear everything. There's no nighttime curfew: cars and bikes race by, trucks load or unload, and neighbours talk loudly or watch TV well past 2am. The building has no soundproofing, and even noise cancelling headphones didn't help. If you're sensitive to sound, you won't sleep here. The communal bathroom is four tiny cubicles, each with a toilet, sink, and shower head squeezed into what feels like about a square meter. There's no toilet paper or soap, and using the shower leaves the whole little space wet. The AC in my room didn't work either. In the tropical heat, I was sweating in bed and wanted a shower, but the showers were a joke. Two nights weren't worth 180RM / 40€. The hostel is a joke. There's apparently no staff around. Other reviews say food in the communal fridge can be stolen even when it's labelled, with no help or compensation. This is my first one-star review, and I wrote so much because I'm angry and annoyed.

At checkout, Rashid, the receptionist, asked to use my phone to check the room details, then gave the property a 5-star review on my Agoda app without asking me. That's rude and unacceptable. I also had to call reception to get the check-in pin when I arrived outside, and the room cleanliness needs improvement. The soundproofing was very poor.

A free shuttle bus makes it easy to explore Georgetown, and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, including Chinese and Indian food. There's also a shopping mall nearby. The hotel's common areas work well for getting some work done, and its location is convenient.