Gurney Bay Hotel, A PARKROYAL Hotel — Hotel in George Town

We chose the Gurney Bay hotel as it was the nearest hotel, under the GHA portfolio, to Georgetown. ||It had recently become a Park Royal property and the website showed it looking comfortable, if a little unexciting. It also stated that renovations has started. ||We arrived hours later than expected due to a flight delay and just looked forward to a shower, refresh and going for dinner. ||Check-in wasn’t rude but not what we would call friendly. Oddly no recognition to top-tier status was given but nothing to fret about. ||The whole property just looks dated and in need of urgent refurbishment, It could be called grand but its glory days were many decades ago. I think of it like an old people’s retirement home. ||I had paid for a room category below a suite but aside from a sea view it didn’t resemble ANY of the pictures shown. It was also right beside the elevator; I always ask, politely for, if possible a higher floor away from the elevator. ||Simply put the room was shabby. Of special note is the wallpaper. The room was covered, all over in an awful maritime theme of ship wheels, compasses and anchors. It was more suited to a theme park hotel than a deluxe room. I have included a pic of it in all its glory. ||I actually started to look for other places to stay. Heading for dinner we passed the front desk. I nicely asked if we had been allocated the correct room. I don’t often use my status but I did mentioned that we would usually get a double upgrade, welcome amenities etc but none of this had been offered. ||When we returned from dinner we had been moved to a city-view suite which was appreciated. Again the out dated decor and furnishings were evident. They even had to use extension cables with plugs to allow charging of phones beside the bed; USB charging capability - don’t be silly! We did like the view! ||Breakfast was busy but fine, though both days they had to go and check with the front desk that we were allowed in! A la carte is not an option. ||The pool area was closed, due to private events utilising the space, but I believe it overlooks the beach area. ||Only on checking-out did was our Titanium status recognised, as we were asked if we wished to use Discovery Dollars towards our bill. ||I did ask when the renovations were due to start and was told “Soon”. This response |sums up the stay very well; lacklustre and underwhelming. ||Recently I had to contact the hotel for a copy of my invoice as our stay was not credited and still await a response. ||A disappointing stay on so many levels and we most likely would not return, unless the mooted renovations happen and service is...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at The Gurney Bay Hotel, and it was a memorable experience, filled with both highlights and a few minor issues. Overall, I would highly recommend it!

The Good The hotel truly shines in its hospitality and location. I was incredibly touched that the team took note of my mother's birthday and went above and beyond to make her feel special. The surprise of a beautifully decorated room, an upgrade to a stunning seaview, and a fruit plate was a fantastic gesture that started our trip on the perfect note.

The hotel's location is absolutely superb. It has a fantastic view overlooking the new Gurney Bay and being situated right next to the JW Marriott speaks volumes. Traveling with my mother and baby, the convenience of the location saved us a lot of time on transportation, especially on a busy weekend.

While the service and room layout felt more like a solid 4-star rather than a true 5-star standard, this was reflected in the price. We weren't paying for a 5-star experience, so I found it to be perfectly acceptable and fair. My wife was also particularly impressed with the baby cot—it was clean, comfortable, and our baby slept soundly through the night.

The Not-So-Good There were a few areas that could be improved. The check-in process took more than 15 minutes, which felt lengthy, especially after a long journey with my family. The staff had to manually verify details that should have been available from my direct booking, and the vouchers required the staff to fill out handwritten information.

A bit more preparation would have been helpful. We arrived at 5 PM, but one of our rooms and the requested baby cot were not ready yet, which added to the challenge of traveling with a senior and a baby. I also feel that the hospitality of the breakfast cafe staff could be better; while they weren't rude, they were not particularly friendly either, often showing a "poker face."

Finally, the bathroom design is a bit outdated and not very elderly-friendly. It features a bathtub that you have to climb in and out of for every shower, which could be a safety concern.

In Summary Despite the cons, would I revisit Gurney Bay? The answer is a definite "YES!" The exceptional birthday surprise, fantastic location, and comfortable accommodations made for a wonderful trip. I would gladly stay here again and would not hesitate to recommend...

5 Stars but with a Couple of Reservations

I've seen some mixed reviews about the Gurney Bay Hotel, so I wanted to add my piece, as we thought some of the criticisms a little bit harsh. Next door to the hotel, is a new, big shiny Marriott. It looks fantastic and the Gurney Bay looks slightly lost next to it. However the Marriott was 5 times the price when we stayed, so how can you compare fairly. It isn't like for like.

The Gurney Bay is showing a few signs of wear and tear in places. Our bathroom was slightly tired and yes, it was an older TV (not smart) but let's move past those things and move to the good things….. The location is fantastic. I mean if the Marriott has built a huge hotel there, it must be pretty good - right? The hotel is convenient for bars restaurants and a couple of great shopping malls close by. It also overlooks the sea. The seafront is undergoing a lot of regeneration, so will be even nicer in the future. The hotel has also been taken over by new owners and it looks like a program of modernisation has started. Our room was large, with a lovely sea view. As already stated the TV was an older model, but worked perfectly and had a few premium channels included. There was one of the most comfortable beds I've had in many trips to Asia. The (non alcoholic) mini bar was free and replenished daily, by housekeeping who did a good thorough clean. The hotel also had a tremendous swimming pool and an exceptional gym. WiFi was a little bit hit and miss and the staff throughout the hotel were exceptional We had breakfast included in our rate. It was a good mix of Asian and Western. Sadly I wasn't too fond of the hotel coffee, but everything else was perfectly nice. So if I was reviewing this hotel as a 5 star hotel and paying Marriott prices, I would have given it 3 stars. Reviewing it at the prices we paid, it...