Seriental Hotel

The public areas at Seriental Hotel were clean, well looked after, and smelled good. Even though my stay involved a very late check-in and early check-out, the basic room left me impressed: it was very clean, as was the bed, the air-conditioning was very cold, and the bathroom was spacious. Water pressure was acceptable, and the water dispenser was handy. I was very satisfied. A few things could be better. Parking is very limited. Towels looked and smelled clean, but I spotted faint yellow stains and hope management will look into them. My room faced the main road, where passing traffic was noisy because there was little soundproofing. I had earplugs, so it didn’t bother me much.

The room was a bit small and less clean than I expected. The receptionist was friendly, but the towel policy felt a bit insensitive: towels are changed every three days, and an earlier change costs RM10 🤣. Toiletries were limited to one shampoo for hair and body, plus a toothbrush set. Still, it was fine overall.

The location worked well, close to tourist spots and food, and the WiFi was good. My room was clean, though the shower space felt cramped. The yellow lighting made makeup difficult, and the air-conditioning took a while to cool. Amenities were sparse: no bottled water, few toiletries, a small hairdryer, and a TV with Netflix but no access. Check-in was delayed. One Indian lady staff member had an attitude and lacked basic customer service, while the Chinese lady and Malay guy were friendly and helpful. Customer service was available only from 10PM to 10AM, which wasn’t convenient. For a one-night budget stay it was okay, but not suitable for families or longer visits. 5/10.

The best part for me was having a restaurant and club just behind Seriental Hotel, open from 3PM to 3AM. I like nightlife and local food, and it was fun to have dinner, drinks, music, and good vibes within walking distance. I stayed in Room 103 and had a totally positive experience, despite seeing mixed reviews before booking. The staff were friendly and chill, and seemed to care about guests. The room was clean, comfortable, and well maintained, with everything working as expected. Fresh towels, good water pressure, and air-con all checked out. If you’re visiting Penang and want somewhere clean and comfy near nightlife, I’d recommend Room 103. I’d come back.