It’s been a minute since I wrote a hotel review; the last time I did so was for Argentina, and even though I’ve traveled and stayed at many other hotels since then, they weren’t luxury per say to warrant hotel reviews. I actually don’t tend to stay in high-end hotels, as I prefer to get mid-tier ones that don’t break the bank. However, I did decide to splurge a bit on my trip to Southeast Asia earlier this year, so the “Hotel Review” series is back!!!
I paid a bit extra for my travel agent, Riya from FlĆ¢ner Travels, to book some incredible accommodations in Malaysia and Singapore. Not sponsored, but I would highly recommend FlĆ¢ner Travels for helping you plan any trip you want to do! Thanks to her, I stayed in some awesome 4 to 5-star hotels in the cities I visited, and I’d like to share some of them with you.
In terms of how Iāll be reviewing hotels this time, Iāll keep it simple with four different categories:
Room: Is it spacious or cramped? How are the outside views? Does it come with basic amenities or goes above and beyond that?
Location: Is it centrally-located? Are there stores/restaurants/notable sites nearby? Is it near public transport? Are there activities happening in the area?
Service: Are staff friendly and helpful?
Value for money: Is it worth spending the cost?
Without further ado, let’s begin with the first stop: Penang, Malaysia!
HOTEL REVIEW: The Prestige Hotel, Penang
The Prestige Hotel is a five-star hotel situated on the island of Penang, in the heart of Georgetown and just a block away from the waterfront. Established in 2019, it’s sleek and modern yet designed to reflect its colonial past with its Victorian-style architecture. First impressions was that the hotel was very…white, with a marble finish to it. From its exterior columns to the rooms’ walls, the hotel’s pearly aesthetic choice gave off a pristine and luxurious feel, again, to reflect its 5-star status.
I stayed at The Prestige Hotel for a total of two nights in January 2024. I was visiting during high season, but as I arrived a few days after New Year’s, Penang wasn’t too crazy busy with tourists just yet, which made for a quiet and peaceful time. My room was a Deluxe King Room, which I’ll discuss in more detail during my review. Many of the patrons I saw were either older, European retirees or businessmen from East and Southeast Asia, so I figure that’s the demographic catered to. After all, it can’t be “prestige” if it isn’t called The Prestige Hotel!
Hereās the breakdown of my stay:
Room: 4.5/5
As I wrote, I stayed in the Deluxe King Room. At 30 squared meters, it’s fairly spacious with a large king-size bed. All-white carpet and walls, the latter with some tasteful geometric trimmings (triangles?) that made the space look modern. There were also wooden cabinets with a full-bar minifridge and an interesting, bell cart-like compartment above the TV for extra storage.
What I found interesting (and apparently is common in Malaysia/Singapore hotels) the exhibitionist showers, aka “peek-a-boo showers.” Basically, it’s like an ensuite bathroom, but the shower is partitioned with a glass wall, looking out to the window– if you have neighbors across, they can see you shower! I’ve stayed in another hotel prior with this kind of bathroom layout (Gran MeliĆ” IguazĆŗ in Argentina), but compared to having waterfall views, I didn’t have any views in my room– it wasn’t a huge deal, though, as I just closed the curtains before I showered.
The notorious “peek-a-boo shower”
Amenities were great, from the indoor slippers to complementary toothbrush and tooth paste. I also liked the built-in filtered water system, where I could fill up my water bottle and not have to continuously buy water outside. The only little problem I had was that the built-in shampoo and conditioner were not re-filled since the last patron, so I had barely enough to use when I showered. Other than that, solid room!
Location: 5/5
The Prestige Hotel is located in Georgetown, the largest and main city in Penang. Georgetown itself is pretty compact, and you can walk to almost every major spot in town. I was only a block away from the water, so I could head over to the Chew Jetty and check out the boardwalk and boats on the front. And from there, I could head back into the main part of town with the charming street art, colorful colonial buildings, and Peranakan mansions. To get to the rest of the island, you’ll need to drive or use Grab (the equivalent of Uber), but otherwise, the hotel was in prime location to explore Georgetown on foot.
Service: 3.5/5
Now, I found the check-in staff and workers very kind and friendly, always with a smile on their face. Very professional in their mannerisms and services. I also liked how we got a free welcome drink voucher upon arrival, which I redeemed for a refreshing nutmeg drink at the bar.
Complementary nutmeg drink
However, when it came to asking questions about getting around, exchanging currency, and whatnot, there seemed to be a bit of confusion regarding that. I think it was the specific receptionist I spoke to, as I think she was newly-hired, so she didn’t know the answers– that said, I appreciated her getting the manager to assist me, so it was fine in the end.
Value for money: 5/5
My travel agent booked the hotel for me, so I didn’t pay directly for it. However, I took a quick look at average pricing on the hotel’s website, and it averages $90-$120 USD per night (about $100/night in January, when I stayed). Coming from the US, I think it’s a VERY reasonable price for such a luxurious place– honestly, I’d be happy to pay on my own for a repeat stay, should I find myself in Penang again some day!
Overall: 18/20
Thanks for reading, and more hotel reviews are coming soon! š
— Rebecca
Rebecca Goes Rendezvous 
I like splurging on hotels when visiting new places in the world. It’s nice to have that space to come back to when dealing with all the feelings and emotions of experiencing new things. And I’m glad they didn’t go the generic modern route like so many new hotels these days. It’s nice they incorporated history into the architectural style.
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Absolutely! Hotels are a sanctuary to return to after a long day of sightseeing. While the rooms are modern, the building itself is Colonial-style, and it evokes the city’s historic past. Thanks for reading!
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Wow, it looks like a wonderful hotel, Rebecca. I love the feel and the interior of your room, too – so beautiful. You know, on any given trip, I have a figure in mind that makes a hotel āworth itā to me, and that figure depends on the purpose of my stay. If I just need a place to stay for one night while Iām in that place for an event (e.g. to attend a concert) then Iām not going to spend much time in the room or at the hotel, so itās not worth booking the most expensive. But if itās a leisure trip and/or for more than one night, I might want to feel a bit more spoiled and be willing to spend a bit extra to get a nicer room or hotel with more amenities. And for special events like our anniversary, I want the best! Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful day š Aiva xx
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I agree! In most cases, I book a no-frills hotel if I’m only staying for one night– however, if I’ll be staying for two nights or more, then I’ll look into a nicer accommodation. The Prestige Hotel did not disappoint, and I appreciate you reading the review, Aiva!
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Great price for luxury. Your travel agent did well! The shower could be awkward, with neighbors in the next building or rooming with a friend. Thanks for the review.
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Absolutely! Prices in Malaysia were quite affordable. The shower situation was a bit strange, but I still got privacy by shutting the drapes, haha. Thanks for reading, Rebecca!
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Thanks for your round the world reports, Rebecca.
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The Prestige Hotel in Penang looks lovely and excellent value for money. Incidentally, I’ve come across those showers frequently in Asia!
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The Prestige Hotel was a great stay! Yes, the peek-a-boo showers are common in Asia, and I’ve encountered a few throughout my travels. It’s an interesting design choice, but so long as there are curtains for privacy, it’s not a dealbreaker!
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Even the official price doesn’t seem excessive for the level of comfort.
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I know, it’s pretty great! Thanks for reading š
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Looks pretty cool, I’m glad you are sharing your impressions,super helpful for the travelers
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Thank you! And thanks for reading š
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Always a great read
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What a beautiful hotel and room at a reasonable rate, too! I think peekaboo showers are practical if, for example, guests wanted to watch tv or keep an eye on their little kids while they freshened up! The transparent design is clever too in that it adds to the roomās spaciousness. Thanks also for letting us know about your helpful travel agent!
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Thanks, Darlene! Peekabo showers are something to get used to, but I see the pros to it. Having the room in glass and lots of lighting definitely made it feel quite spacious. I definitely recommend my travel agent to anyone who wants to travel! Appreciate you reading š
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I enjoy splurging on hotels now and then as well. These all look fantastic!
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Absolutely! Thanks for reading š
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Always enjoy reading a hotel review! It’s nice to treat yourself to some luxurious stays when traveling. I’d definitely close that curtain too haha. I like the clean/modern lines of the room too.
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Thanks, Lyssy! The Prestige Hotel certainly felt…prestigious to stay at, haha. Very elegant and modern, with a touch of history. It was one of my favorite hotels to stay at during my trip!
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That was a good deal! I’m now curious about peek-a-boo showers. It had me thinking: the last hotel I stayed at in Singapore had this too.
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Yes, I think peek-a-boo showers are common in Malaysia/Singapore. Not something I’m used to, but they certainly are interesting!
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I’m heading to Penang soon – can’t wait. This hotel looks lovely š
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Have a wonderful (and safe) trip! Penang is beautiful and one of my favorite stops in Malaysia š
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I love a good hotel stay! But, like you said, that doesn’t often fit into the budget and it’s not like we left home just for the hotel anyway. Great post & I love the categories you made for hotel reviews. My last fancy hotel stay was last December and I just booked another this week. Excited!! š
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Absolutely! Luxury hotels are usually out of my budget, but this one in Penang (as well as the rest of Malaysia) were on the affordable side and posh! More of my hotel reviews to come soon, and I hope you have a wonderful stay at your next fancy hotel!
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This looks like a comfortable and elegant hotel Rebecca. I think the first peekaboo shower I encountered was in China back in 2009 and it certainly took me a few days to get used to the concept. The nutmeg drink was a nice touch, I’m glad you enjoyed your stay at The Prestige.
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Yes, the peek-a-boo shower was a surprise, but not a huge deal as I could close the curtains when I showered! The Prestige was a beautiful and fun stay, and I appreciate you stopping by, Leighton!
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I’ve stayed in a number of hotels in the last few years that have those peek-a-boo showers. I like them because they make the room seem so much bigger and often make the room feel more brightly lit. Looks like your travel agent picked a good one for you, and I agree, $100 is a bargain!
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Peek-a-boo showers have their pros and cons, and I’m glad you like them! $100 is certainly a bargain for a five-star hotel: you can’t even get half-decent hotels for $100 here in the US (let alone Los Angeles)! Thanks for reading š
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great review, need to check it out
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It’s a good hotel!! Definitely get the chance to check it out š
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the price is excellent! like your rating system š
Those glass walls are all the rage in hotels these days (between bathroom and rest of room) not really sure what the attraction is, although if the place is designed in the right way you could watch the TV from the bath I guess!
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Yes, I’ve been noticing the glass partitions in hotel rooms, especially with newer hotels. Not sure what to think of them, but they have their pros and cons, I guess! Thanks for stopping by, Andy!
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