Pangkor Fish House

We enjoy five-star hotels, but we also like finding affordable hidden gems, and this place exceeded our expectations. The kitchen was well equipped, and the mix of guests made for a lively, welcoming atmosphere. The charming feel of the place and the adorable kittens wandering around made the stay especially lovely. Thanks for hosting us. We'd love to come back.

The shared kitchen is stocked with plenty of utensils and cooking equipment, and guests can use it freely. There is free tea and coffee, three cute cats, and friendly staff. I also enjoyed watching the work at the fish farm or factory beside the homestay. If you like fishing, there's a wooden dock extending from the property into the sea where you can sit and fish. The room was quite small for the price, and had only one lamp, so it felt dim most of the time. It was clean enough, though not spotless. The bedsheet was just one piece of cloth laid over the bed. The air conditioning was very cold, and there was a smart TV for YouTube and other things. The shower head leaked, and the small toilet was a bit inconvenient. It's a quiet location, far from town, with a Chinese tomb directly opposite. There were only three parking spots, so others may need to park farther away and walk. At check-in, nobody was at reception. I had to call the owner, then the person in charge came out to show us to the room.

The pier attached to the hotel was a lovely place to sit as the sun went down. A few people were fishing, and we chatted with a couple of them while enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Apparently it's a great fishing spot. We were on foot, so the small local village about a 10 minute walk away was handy, with some great food choices. We explored the island the next day and both agreed the east side was best. At breakfast and dinner in the village I was the only white guy, perfect! My wife and I were visiting family in Ipoh and made a last-minute trip to Pangkor Island, which we'd never visited before and found easy to reach. We chose the lodging for its reviews and price. At check-in I wondered if we'd made a mistake, as the place felt a little rough around the edges. Our room and its balcony were VERY small, and the balcony looked onto an anchovie drying plant. The room earns five stars from me for cleanliness, great AC, and a hot shower, nothing else. We unpacked and made it our own. I believe the owner, Mr Tan, is a great guy. When I asked about cold beer and ice, he had neither on hand but got both to us quickly. The exterior could use paint, and the room was tiny, but the service and peaceful feel deserve a good review.

I came mainly to relax and get a break from hectic city life, and it was good for that. The room was fine, with basic things, while the view and surroundings were priceless. The chalet is quite far from attractions, so you'll need to take a scooter. My room had a balcony, but I wish the owner had mentioned it faced another property, where workers dry anchovies on a deck. There could also be more places to hang clothes. I ended up going to the kitchen to hang out and enjoy the jetty view. Awesome stay, I'd come again.