Big Banana Hotel

I’d stay here again for the price, location, and cleanliness. I was traveling alone for one night and felt safe. The room, sheets, and towels were clean. There’s a cinema, massage place, and salon nearby, plus Chinese eateries downstairs, Eco Shop and Mr DIY close by, and a CU-Mart about 400m away. All easy to walk to. For drinks and biscuits, head to the pantry on your floor. The elevator notice says they’re available 24 hours at the pantry and cafeteria, but I found the cafeteria closes at 10am, so only the pantry is open around the clock. There’s no kettle in the room, though you can get hot and cold water in the pantry. The iron is there too, but you can’t take it back to your room. Bring your own shower gel or shampoo. The body soap is tiny, thin, and rough, with no scent or bubbles.

The central pantry was a bit of a pain, but the hotel is very nicely priced and handy for picking up anything you might have forgotten. There are also plenty of good little restaurants within walking distance.

Good quality for a reasonable price, and there’s a cinema nearby too. 👍

The location was a big plus, right beside Riverfront Mall, with Chinese hawker stalls, food outlets, and convenience stores close by. There’s plenty of parking around the hotel, though it’s first come, first served and can fill up at busy times. A multi-story car park is next door as well, and there’s a cineplex inside the mall. My Standard Queen (City View) room, booked through Agoda, was just like the photos: clean, fresh-smelling, simply but nicely designed, with great lighting and a very comfortable bed. Wi-Fi worked well throughout. Check-in and checkout were quick, and the only extra was a refundable RM50 deposit. The breakfast was included and better than I expected: nasi lemak, fried egg, roti canai, bread, and coffee or tea. Each floor also has a pantry with unlimited coffee, tea, biscuits, and ironing facilities, plus a sofa area for quick meetings. The staff were friendly and welcoming. A really good value budget stay in Sungai Petani. I’d come back and recommend it to anyone after somewhere clean, comfortable, and convenient.