G Hotel Gurney — Hotel in George Town

CONSISTENT IN A BAD WAY. We come to Penang around 5 times a year, previously having stayed in central Georgetown and Batu Ferrenghi. We were sat in tree bar (belonging to G ) one day at the beginning of this year & got talking to a manager of G hotel, he told us that if we ever wanted to stay we could contact him directly and he would get us a great deal. We pondered on this as the day went on and as we fancied a change of scene messaged him regarding staying from the next day, he came back to us with a great price so we decided to move from our existing hotel, The Edison, forfeiting the rest of our stay there. When we arrived at G we were told that the manager had made a mistake & the price was 3 times what he had quoted, they said sorry it was their mistake but we would still have to pay. After an hour and a half of arguing & threatening to leave a Google review of this experience, they eventually conceded & gave us the room at the price the had agreed in the beginning, it felt like we had to virtually blackmail them into this despite having the quote in writing for the room rate. Anyway we got the room but during our stay we realised that the sister hotel kelawai suited us better because the club lounge was at vertigo, an open air bar at the top of the hotel on the 24th floor, the food & drinks offerings were superb there & it had a great atmosphere where as by contrast the lounge at G Gurney had poor food offerings cheaper beverages & zero atmosphere ( in fact we call it “the moon” due to it having no atmosphere). Because of this when we returned in April we booked g Kelawai. To be honest it’s a mixed bag at G Kelawai, the rooftop bar cocktails & canapés there were great but the rooms were worn dated & not clean, in fact we were moved during our stay, the second room we were offered had been heavily smoked in, they tried to get us to except it by saying they could spray some deodoriser in it but we refused and got a cleaner less worn room in the end. At this point we had already booked to bring family here in June (a non refundable booking) but as we had booked the best suite in G Kelawai we kept our Fingers crossed that it would be ok. Excited to return and on our way to Penang for a 1 week stay commencing 29th May 2025 I logged on to my emails ( mid flight on our way from the UK)to find an email from G saying that the management had just made a decision to close the club lounge at the rooftop bar of G Kelawai as from the 1st of June ( less than 24hours notice to us of this before we arrive) but they had moved our booking to G Hotel Gurney into a G Suite & it would cost rm2200 per night, over rm800 more per night than our original booking. Again a very stressful situation especially as we were in the air on route with no other options available to us at that time. However, they eventually agreed to waive the additional fee. We checked in and the room is ok but has problems, eg as I sit here now in my room writing this with the doors closed all I can here is the knocking banging and machine tools of the construction site opposite, also, our Aircon doesn’t work properly ( read other people’s reviews about Aircon not working) so the rooms are very hot, especially the bathroom which is over 30 degrees, we have reported this but nothing has been done to fix it. Some things don’t work like for example the reading lamp on the desk or the fact there’s no hot water in the shower in our daughters room (room number 1516). The club lounge is that bad here we either dont bother going or just go for a short while (even though the food and alcoholic drinks are free) as we prefer to pay and sit somewhere else with a better atmosphere ( & let’s face it a view of the building site opp. from the lounge isn’t tempting either). This hotel is ok but it’s not a real 5* or even 4* experience and TBH if you’re booking in advance you can stay at the Eastern and Oriental hotel 5 mins down the road and have a superb 5* experience for a cost difference of 20%, well worth it. We have cancelled all future stays at G and won’t...

🌟 A Return to Our Penang Home: More than 10 Years of Unforgettable Stays 🌟

Imagine returning to a place you've cherished for over a decade, a home away from home. Our recent visit to Penang marked our first trip after the pandemic, and it was a trip filled with reflection, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia.

🌴 Vibes 🌴 This time, we noticed a new look and feel. The lobby, now on the 3rd floor, exuded a modern charm, albeit a bit smaller, inviting you in with a relaxed, contemporary vibe. Our beloved previous lobby was making way for an exciting upcoming Central Gurney project. Change is in the air, and it's intriguing.

👫 People 👫 We've had the pleasure of staying at this fine establishment more than 30 times, and one thing remains constant—the people. We were greeted by a team where 95% of the members wore a perpetual smile, embodying the essence of Penang's famed hospitality.

💚 What We Love 💚 Penang's true asset is its people; this visit was no exception. The laundry team was remarkably efficient and warm, and the same held for the Housekeeping staff. A special shoutout to Derrick, the Front Office Manager, who not only made us feel welcome but also handled everything with remarkable efficiency. Director of Rooms, Syah, worked tirelessly to make our stay from the booking to the last day as pleasant as possible.

As for our apartment-style suite, it was thoughtfully designed. Yet, we wondered why the flooring in the shower area had a mind of its own. The bathroom amenities were a sheer delight, a testament to the commitment to quality.

💔 What We Feel as a Shortfall 💔 While this place holds a special place in our hearts, some aspects remain a constant, not necessarily in a good way. The Wi-Fi, for instance, has been a persistent issue for years. The system enjoys playing hide and seek, keeping you in the network for a while before prompting you to log in again. The network's 'unsecured' status is an ongoing concern.

As guests who often enjoy extended stays, we were hoping for a bit more in building long-lasting relationships. A special offer for long stays is a thoughtful gesture, but we didn't quite feel the special attention such stays deserve.

🍽️ Food for Thought 🍽️ One evening, the café was abuzz with the lively atmosphere of a buffet service. However, the a-la-carte experience was less than smooth. Orders were occasionally mixed up, and the selection on the menu didn't quite capture the essence of Penang's rich multicultural culinary heritage. In the international section, we expected a more enticing and diverse menu for a hotel of this caliber.

Nevertheless, we rated our stay with 10 LIKES. The essence of Penang, with its warm hospitality, lives on in the hearts of the people here. Despite a few hiccups, especially for WIFI, we're already looking forward to our next visit—sooner rather than later.

Warm thanks to everyone who made our stay truly...

November 29, 2024 - December 1st, 2024

Highlight : SERTA brand mattress in our room. My favourite brand available in G HOTEL.

Upon arriving to checkin front desk, we are served with welcome ice-cream. Checkin process was fast and professional.

I have hiking plan to Penang Hill on the next morning, leaving before 6. 15am. The front desk customer service personnel offered to prepack breakfast box for me to bring out. Also offered to let me choose what I want earliest by 5.45am, and she said I can meet her at the front desk next morning. However, on the next morning, I didn't see the same front desk customer service personnel who has made promises to me again by 5.50am. No prepacked breakfast was ready for picked up. Her colleague was also not noted about the arrangement for me. Everyone looked clueless.

At last, I asked if I can go in immediately for my breakfast by 5.50am. The usher give greenlinght to me. Thank you so much.

Room was spacious. Can add up to 3 beds, if they allows that to happen.

I never like hair dryers provided in the hotel. However no additional power socket for me in the washroom. Additional power socket only available in the room near the working desk, but the area has no mirror.

Washroom was spacious too. Equipped with essentials like basic toiletries, body lotion, shampoo, body shampoos, and hair conditioner. I didn't have to use my own set of toiletries, which means I'm quite satisfied with everything the hotel has provided.

Every items at the mini bar is refillable without additional charges.

Breakfast options were standard international breakfast options. Both Asian and western breakfast options were available.

For western, they had bread, yogurt, fruits, salad, cheese, nuts, cereal, bread pudding, oatmeal, pie, waffle, hotdog, salami, scramble egg, etcetera

For Asian, they had congee, fried noodles, nasi lemak, tofu etcetera

Desserts, they had cakes, malay kuih, doughnut and etcetera

Coffee, tea, hot water, juices station is available.

Standard swimming pool, gym and bar facilities.

My favourite part of the hotel was the executive floor. 6pm-8pm. Free flow of juices, sparkling water, softdrinks, wine, sparling wine, hard liquor, and canapés. Extra good service from the service crews. No tall Christmas tree, no nice views over the ceiling to floor windows. However, they have comfortable seatings, spacious room, and cozy environment which I don't mind spending whole day there.

Service crew at the executive floor didn't made us to leave by 8pm. We can still continue to enjoy ourselves after 8pm. Just without free flow beverages and canapés.

Checking out was smooth and fast too.

Would love to return to...