Palanquin Heritage Suites39 Bangkok Lane
Pulau Tikus, Georgetown,
Pulau Penang 10250, Malaysia
Phone: +6012-405-5313
Website: http://www.palanquinn.com/My stay at the Palanquinn is one of the highlights of my visit to Malaysia and Penang. Charlie and Patricia, especially the first, went out of their way to help me, explain me anything, from the price of a taxi, to where to take a bus, give my change for it, advice me wisely where to go and what to do with the time I had at Georgetown. Moreover, they treat you as a person, individually, which rarely happens nowadays in the tourism industry.
I had one of the lofty rooms with balcony, upstairs, and it is like taken out from a colonial movie set. it has an open-concept bathroom, and separate living room and bedroom, all very spacious and with separate aircon. The furniture, the style, and the congruency of the whole decoration make of the place a delight. They provide free wi-fi, too.
The breakfast is always different, purchased from Indian, Chinese and Malay street vendors, and it s served not before 9am. Western breakkie is not available. So, if you feel like need to have breakfast before, buy some food the night before and have it ready, as the hotel won't provide it to you beyond a bunch of bananas or some fruit. Most businesses in Georgetown open at 8am, so if you are an early bird, not even Starbucks will be open.
The whole street is full of colonial houses now hosting with different businesses, five minutes from the seaside walk, and 12 minutes from a Gernay Shopping Centre, Night Food Hawkers area, and western cafeterias. The place is in the outskirts of the city but very close and easy to reach by public bus. It is also very convenient to take the public bus to Batu Feringgi, and at 5-minute walking distance from the beautiful Burmese and Thai Buddhist temples.
Palanquin is the sort of place that independent travellers will love if you have a bit of extra money to spend. If you are a fussy eater, fussy in general, go to your usual boring hotel. You have to leave your "westernism" at the doorstep.
Among the downs, I missed some more sachets of powder milk/creamer, or even a jar of fresh milk in the fridge, to add to the coffee-making facilities. The set of amenities was rather poor and could be easily improved, especially because their prices are those of a five-star hotel in Malaysia.
I would recommend people with mobility problems, or those who cannot carry their ton-weighed suitcase on their own not to book the rooms upstairs as the only lift is the one provided by your muscles. The stairs are also narrow and small and if you are fat, well, can you get stuck.
Visited December 2011
