Hotel Penaga — Hotel in George Town

Please read before booking this hotel!!! This hotel is haunted and I hope the hotel manager can be honest about this and do something about it before someone else may experience what I been through.

On 11/4/2022, I checked in to this hotel with my family (5 of us). The room I booked was the Terrance House(2 floors) when we checked in and enter there is this rotten smell the moment we walk in around the living area the aircond in the living room and room upstairs is not working, living room ceiling looks like it’s gonna fall anytime, a lot of mosquitoes. So I complained at the reception to request for a room change but they told me it was fully booked the only option is to downgrade to a diff room. Since we were a family of 5 we had to take 2 rooms.

It all started when we changed our room to the Bedroom Suite-Jacuzzi. After changing the room we went out for dinner and came back around 1am. Me and my husband went back to our room and prepare to shower. As I was walking to the toilet I was shocked when I walk pas the living area to the toilet. I saw an old lady wearing a kebaya outfit standing at the corner near the stairs next to the wardrobe (my room has a stairs). I kept seeing her there for more than 3x At first I told myself maybe I was just tired and I see it wrongly or my imagination. But I was wrong because right after going in the toilet and walking back out she was still right there.. I was too afraid to tell my husband what I see and I just told him that I felt very uncomfortable and I couldn’t breath the feeling is like something heavy on my chest and I am not gonna sleep at this room tonight I want to leave this room immediately. I then texted my brother on the other room and he came over with my dad to check what is wrong. I could not speak or say anything at that moment when they came to my room because I am very scared of what I just saw. The moment I walk out of that room I cried because I was so scared and I was shaking terribly. My husband, brother, and dad were in that room they could feel the chills while packing everything to leave there.

It was almost around 2am by the time and we did plan to leave to look for a different hotel but it was really late. So we decided to checkout the next morning.

When I was in my brother room I told them what I saw. Me and my family members (5 of us) were so scared that we stay together in 1 room that night. We try to contact the reception but no one picked up. We couldn’t sleep that night because of what happen so we waited till morning and checkout immediately. I told the receptionist about what happen but the receptionist guy was very rude and say the hotel have no problem and told me to complain or refund with Agoda if I am not happy?

This is not about refund but about the safety our stay! This is so scary! That room where all the incident happen.. this is one hell of an experience that I will never forget in my life.

However I am really thankful enough that I told Agoda about this and they actually did refunded...

Stayed here for 4 nights (H34) & unfortunately it wasn’t a pleasant experience. I was greeted with a drain smell, similar to the one you walk past on the street, but lighter. Nice decor in the room but if it wasn’t for the Peranakan vibes I was going for, I thought the room was in bad shape.

Tried the jacuzzi on the first night but it was dirty & didn’t came with a shower head that dispensed water - water gave off a sewage smell & when turned on, there was black particles that came out of the air pump. I’ve booked this room for the jacuzzi in the room & sadly I’m dissatisfied. I’ve also informed the front desk about the issue which they offered maintenance on the next day. After the said maintenance on the second night, shower head was installed & was informed that jacuzzi is all good. But to my disappointment, dirt still came out of the pump. Was very shocked that I soaked my body in dirty water & only realised it after i off the pump. (Had to scrub off the dirt myself after testing and they claimed maintenance was done)

Rain shower didn’t work & water is coming out on both shower head. Maintenance came and changed the rain shower head & it worked. But water pressure on it was low. Better off using the normal shower head.

Aircon in the room not strong - felt like there wasn’t cold air. Even the walkway was colder. Not sure if the placement of wardrobe plays a part in blocking the air flow as it was place under the aircon, but even with the ceiling fan in room, room was not cold.

Leaking roof when there was a heavy down pour. Woke up with the loud sound of rain splattering the roof & 1 hour later, was woken up again with rain dripping to my face.

They were very hesitant to change the room after the i reported about the jacuzzi, to which they suggested maintenance first. Only when i also mention about the rain shower, then they were more open to changing our room, though they said they were fully booked initially. (Was told to wait for next day for the room below us to be available for room change) We packed our bags thinking we were able to get a new room. Next day, they claim jacuzzi is working fine (it wasn’t), I could not be bothered to report the jacuzzi again. Same for the roof leaking issue on my second night, I had no hopes for any room change and just slept at the other corner of the bed.

Location is great, walkable to many tourist spot in Georgetown. Breakfast was ok if you are looking for quick bite before exploring the streets. Towels provided don’t smell the freshest but good point is housekeeping change it everyday. King size bed was just 2 single bed joint together. Can book this place for location wise & i guess for the wooden floor vibes but just don’t...

Beautiful façade, but the reality is rough.

We booked Hotel Penaga drawn in by the heritage aesthetic, charming photos, and the promise of breakfast included. Unfortunately, the stay ended up being a series of disappointments that left a bad taste overall.

Straight out of the gate, we were hit with a surprise “heritage tax” at check-in—never mentioned during the booking. When questioned, the staff handed over a printed sheet supposedly “from the government,” but with no official source, no logo, no website—nothing to back it up. When I pushed back, the staff acted personally offended rather than addressing the issue. Even the fine print on their own form said this charge must be disclosed before booking—and it wasn’t. That kind of thing instantly makes you feel like you're being taken for a ride. It was never mentioned again, but based on the state of the place, I seriously doubt that money’s going toward maintenance.

Housekeeping was another low point. No room clean on day one. When we followed up, they told us you have to specifically request cleaning—and even specify how thoroughly you want it done. That’s not standard in any hotel I’ve stayed in. Basic things like tissues and toiletries weren’t replaced. Bins weren’t emptied. We had to chase them for everything, which is the opposite of what a hotel stay should feel like.

The breakfast? Easily the most underwhelming hotel breakfast I’ve had. It didn’t even open until around 8am (different each day), which is incredibly late by hotel standards. If you’re an early riser or on a schedule—bad luck. And the spread? Beyond limited. One cereal option, dry toast with butter and jam, plain rice, plain eggs. A few other lukewarm items made it to the table, but nothing felt fresh or thoughtfully prepared. It was more survival than service.

As for the room:

The mattress was stiff and unforgiving

Pillows were either overstuffed or nearly flat

The shower leaked and took nearly 10 minutes to heat up

The bidet dripped constantly

The aircon unit leaked onto the floor for the entire stay

The building itself has old-world charm—but that doesn’t count for much when the service is indifferent, the maintenance is neglected, and basic comforts are missing.

Wouldn’t stay again. Wouldn’t recommend. There are far better options in Penang that deliver what they promise—and won’t have you questioning where your money’s...