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Summary of reviewsAreca Hotel Penang, located in the heart of Georgetown, positions itself as an ideal base for exploring the city's historical and cultural landmarks. Major attractions such as Komtar, Chulia Street and the Kimberly Night Market are conveniently close by, along with a variety of restaurants, shops and local eateries that make Penang's renowned street food easily accessible. The hotel’s central yet quiet setting allows guests to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture while enjoying peaceful accommodations.
The breakfast experience at Areca Hotel Penang is generally well-received with guests praising the excellent, rich and varied menu that includes both local and continental options. Hearty servings and traditional dishes like nasi lemak are particularly appreciated. An added bonus is the complimentary afternoon tea. Despite some minor complaints about the à la carte service and specific menu items, most guests find breakfast to be a highlight of their stay.
The hotel’s rooms are highly commended for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort, making them particularly suitable for families. Family rooms are roomy and well-equipped, often featuring multiple beds. The blend of heritage vibes and modern touches in the decor adds to the overall charm. While some guests experienced issues with room size and natural light, these were generally resolved with accommodations such as upgrades.
Cleanliness is a standout feature at Areca Hotel Penang, often described as exceptional. Both rooms and common areas are meticulously maintained, contributing to a comfortable and hygienic stay. Daily housekeeping ensures that everything remains spotless and the high sanitation standards are consistently noted in reviews.
The staff at Areca Hotel Penang are another highlight, renowned for their warmth, efficiency and eagerness to help. Guests frequently describe the staff as friendly, professional and highly attentive, often going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. Their genuine and sincere approach to customer service greatly enhances the overall experience.
The WiFi service at the hotel is generally reliable with many reviews noting its fast and stable connection. A few guests faced issues with speed and stability, but overall, the WiFi is deemed satisfactory, especially considering its complimentary nature.
For families, Areca Hotel Penang offers plentiful amenities and spacious rooms specifically designed to accommodate children, including a dedicated play area. The hotel's central location and kid-friendly atmosphere make it an excellent choice for family vacations.
Beds at the hotel receive numerous compliments for their comfort with guests frequently highlighting the quality of the mattresses and pillows. This contributes to a restful sleeping experience, further bolstered by the clean and well-organized rooms.
Areca Hotel Penang combines historical elegance with modern comfort, housed in a beautifully preserved colonial building that offers a charming and cozy atmosphere. While it may not fully meet all four-star expectations, the hotel's excellent location, spacious rooms and attentive service provide great value for money.
For those seeking a romantic experience, the hotel offers a serene and intimate ambiance. The historical essence of the building, coupled with thoughtful decor and friendly service, makes it an inviting retreat for couples looking to enjoy a memorable getaway in Georgetown.
In summary, Areca Hotel Penang stands out for its prime location, exceptional cleanliness, comfortable accommodations and warm, efficient staff, making it a top choice for travelers exploring Penang. Show more
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Categories
Hotel for Honeymoon
This heritage hotel focuses on cultural preservation and offers a serene, authentic George Town experience. Its beautifully restored spaces provide a romantic and peaceful retreat amidst the city's history.
Family Friendly Hotel
This hotel is well-reviewed and offers comfortable stays for families. It provides a blend of comfort and convenience, making it a good choice for travelers.
Romantic Hotel
Areca Hotel Penang provides a comfortable and stylish stay in a beautifully restored heritage building. Its friendly staff and convenient location make it a great base for a romantic getaway.
4-Star Hotel
Areca Hotel Penang offers a comfortable and stylish stay in a beautifully restored heritage building. Its central location, combined with its well-appointed rooms and attentive service, makes it a popular choice for travelers exploring George Town.
Room Types
Heritage Double RoomHeritage Double Room Located on the ground floor or top floor of the building, this larger air-conditioned double room also has a fan option and features a patio that opens up to views of the city. The seating area is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV and a desk. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Family SuiteThis spacious air-conditioned family suite also has a fan option and opens up to views of the city. The seating area is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV, minibar and a desk. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Garden RoomThis air-conditioned double room also has a fan option. The seating area is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV and a desk. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Heritage Twin LoftThis larger air-conditioned twin loft also has a fan option. The seating area is fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV and a desk. The en suite bathroom includes shower facilities, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Guest Reviews
8.8
Excellent
Location
Areca Hotel Penang boasts a prime location in Georgetown, making it an ideal base for exploring the city's historical and cultural landmarks. Situated in the heart of the city, the hotel is conveniently close to major attractions such as Komtar, Chulia Street and the Kimberly Night Market. Guests appreciate the proximity to a wide array of restaurants, shops and local eateries, offering easy access to Penang's renowned street food scene.
The hotel's central position means that most tourist spots, including heritage sites like the old Majestic Theatre, are within walking distance. This strategic location allows visitors to effortlessly explore the vibrant streets and alleys of Georgetown, soaking in its rich history and colorful street art. The nearby China Town and Little India add to the cultural diversity guests can experience.
Furthermore, the hotel's setting in a relatively quiet part of the city ensures a peaceful stay despite its central location. Whether it's a short walk to the bus stop, the market or various dining and shopping outlets, everything is just a stone's throw away. The convenience of being close to both historic sites and modern amenities makes Areca Hotel Penang a top choice for travelers looking to immerse themselves in the local culture while enjoying the comforts of a well-located hotel.
Breakfast
Areca Hotel Penang offers a breakfast experience that generally garners positive feedback from guests. Patrons have praised the breakfast menu for being excellent, rich and varied with many describing it as delicious and offering good value. The hotel provides a selection of local and continental options, including hearty and generous servings. Fresh fruits, bread and traditional dishes like nasi lemak receive particular acclaim. Guests also enjoyed the complimentary afternoon tea, noting it as a delightful bonus.
However, some reviews mentioned areas for improvement. The breakfast service is à la carte, not buffet style, which led to complaints about limited choices and longer preparation times. Some specific menu items, like scrambled eggs and pancakes, did not meet expectations with some calling for a more trendy or upgraded breakfast buffet service.
Overall, most guests found the breakfast at Areca Hotel Penang to be a highlight of their stay, though a few noted shortcomings regarding variety and service speed.
Rooms
Guests at Areca Hotel Penang commend the spaciousness and cleanliness of its rooms. Many have noted that the rooms are comfortable, well-ventilated and cozy with an ample layout that matches the photos. Families appreciate the large family rooms, which offer plenty of space and multiple beds. The rooms are well-equipped and beautifully decorated, featuring heritage vibes and local characteristics. Cleanliness is a recurring highlight with numerous mentions of sparkling clean and well-organized spaces. The building's architecture and interior decor receive praise for their traditional charm and modern touches.
However, some guests experienced small rooms initially but were often accommodated with upgrades. Ground floor rooms tend to be darker due to a lack of natural light and noise levels can be an issue depending on the location and nearby events. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall atmosphere is pleasant with effective air conditioning, comfortable beds and nicely decorated interiors contributing to a delightful stay.
Beds
Areca Hotel Penang has garnered numerous positive remarks regarding its beds, highlighting the overall comfort and quality of the sleeping experience. Guests repeatedly describe the beds as comfy and very comfortable, a sentiment echoed across various room types including spacious family rooms. The beds are praised for their generous size, ranging from queen to king-sized with pillows often noted for their comfort as well.
A small number of guests mentioned minor inconveniences like lumpy pillows or beds that could have been better. Nonetheless, the majority of visitors left satisfied, citing cleanliness and staff friendliness as additional factors contributing to their enjoyable stay. The hotel’s central location and magnificent decor further enhance its appeal, alongside features like great air conditioning and tidy, well-organized spaces. These positive aspects, coupled with the super comfortable beds, make Areca Hotel Penang a cozy spot for travelers seeking a pleasant and restful stay in the heart of the city.
Cleanliness
Areca Hotel Penang consistently receives high marks for its exceptional cleanliness, making it one of the cleanest hotels in Southeast Asia. Guests frequently praise the hotel's meticulous level of hygiene, noting that both the rooms and common areas are kept in spotless condition. Daily housekeeping ensures that rooms are always neat, tidy and well-maintained with clean towels and bed sheets provided regularly.
Several reviews highlight that the bathrooms are especially clean, often described as spotlessly clean, which adds to the overall comfort of the stay. The cleanliness extends beyond just the rooms with hallways and other areas also being carefully maintained.
Despite a few comments mentioning mildew in the bathroom and dirt behind furniture, the vast majority of guests find the rooms to be thoroughly clean and comfortable. The general sentiment reflects a high level of satisfaction with the sanitation standards at the hotel.
Additionally, the hotel offers a comfortable, quiet environment amidst the bustling city center with beautifully decorated and spacious rooms. Housekeeping services are commendable, ensuring that each guest's living space remains in pristine condition throughout their stay. The staff are also noted for their friendliness and attentiveness, going as far as to assist guests with personal items left behind.
In summary, Areca Hotel Penang stands out for its outstanding cleanliness and attention to detail, making it a highly recommended choice for travelers who prioritize a hygienic and comfortable stay.
Staff
The staff at Areca Hotel Penang consistently leave a strong impression on guests with their exceptional service. Reviews highlight that the staff are incredibly friendly, always greeting guests with a warm smile and making eye contact. Many guests note the helpfulness and attentiveness of the front desk team, who go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay, even accommodating early check-ins and special requests.
Guests often describe the staff as supportive, pleasant and professional with a focus on customer service that feels genuine and sincere. Numerous reviews mention the superb training and dedication of the team, underscoring their ability to provide prompt, efficient service with a welcoming attitude.
Many visitors were particularly impressed with specific staff members who offered excellent recommendations and personal assistance, further enhancing the overall experience. The positive atmosphere created by the enthusiastic, polite and considerate staff contributes significantly to the hotel's reputation for hospitality.
In summary, the staff at Areca Hotel Penang are praised for their warmth, efficiency and eagerness to help, making guests feel comfortable and well-cared-for throughout their stay.
Wi-Fi
The WiFi at Areca Hotel Penang has generally received positive feedback from guests. Many have noted that the connection is fine with several reviews praising it as fast, stable and reliable. Guests appreciated the free WiFi and there were comments highlighting the quick, efficient service provided by the hotel staff.
However, some guests did experience issues. There were mentions of the connection being slower than expected, unstable at times and occasionally not working, particularly at night. Despite these occasional problems, the overall impression is that the WiFi service is satisfactory, especially considering the good quality-to-price ratio noted by several guests.
Family
For families seeking the ideal stay in Penang, Areca Hotel Penang comes highly recommended, especially for those with children. The hotel boasts various features that cater specifically to families, such as spacious and comfortable family rooms that are well-ventilated and able to accommodate a family of four or even more, making it perfect for family vacations. Each family suite provides ample space with multiple beds and the option to add an extra bed if necessary, ensuring everyone can stay together comfortably.
The location of Areca Hotel Penang is another highlight. Situated conveniently in Georgetown, it offers easy accessibility to numerous attractions, local eateries, cafes and supermarkets, making it an excellent base for exploring the city. The area is well-known for its shopping and culinary delights, making it a great place to eat, shop and discover local culture.
The hotel is also highly kid-friendly, featuring rooms designed with children in mind and a dedicated play area for little ones. The family atmosphere extends throughout the hotel, making it feel safe and welcoming for family holidays. Children are notably welcomed and often enjoy their stay, contributing to the overall positive family experience.
Despite a few mixed remarks about the condition of the toys in the baby room, the dominant sentiment remains positive. Many guests have expressed their intention to return, highlighting their happiness with their stay at Areca Hotel Penang, making it a solid choice for families visiting Penang.
4 Star
Areca Hotel Penang combines historical elegance with modern comfort, offering an experience steeped in colonial charm. Housed in a beautifully preserved colonial building, the hotel presents an antique aesthetic with classical interiors and colonial-style decor that envelop guests in old-world charm. Its historical architecture is admired for its well-preserved details, making it a standout choice for those who appreciate heritage hotels.
Guests praise the hotel's location, finding it conveniently situated within walking distance to attractions like Chowrasta Market, making it an excellent base for exploring Georgetown. The rooms are noted for being spacious and comfortable, blending classic ambiance with contemporary conveniences. Cleanliness is highlighted, although some reviews suggest it doesn't fully meet the expectations of a four-star establishment.
The hotel offers great value for money and many guests find it worth every penny. Although some believe the service should be improved to align with four-star standards, personnel are generally deemed friendly and helpful, adding to the cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Additional perks like a delightful afternoon tea provide a lovely respite after a day of exploring Penang. Despite minor drawbacks like the absence of dedicated parking, the overall experience at Areca Hotel Penang is superb, making it a recommended stay for visitors to Georgetown.
Romantic
Areca Hotel Penang offers a uniquely romantic experience, encapsulating a nostalgic journey back in time within a beautifully restored historical building. The ambiance is calm and quiet, making it an ideal setting for honeymoon or anniversary celebrations. The hotel's size strikes a perfect balance, contributing to a very pleasant and intimate atmosphere.
Sweet moments can be spent in the long corridor adorned with plants and seating, providing a delightful space to unwind after exploring UNESCO Georgetown. The tastefully designed interior reflects the heritage of Penang, enhancing the overall charm of the setting. With its friendly staff and carefully maintained, sparkling clean environment, the cozy rest areas outside the rooms add to the hotel's allure.
The historical essence, combined with the great, serene atmosphere and thoughtful decor, creates a romantic and inviting retreat for couples seeking a memorable getaway.
No, Areca Hotel Penang doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Areca Hotel Penang.
No, Areca Hotel Penang doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Areca Hotel Penang.