JMA FERRINGHI BEACH HOTEL — Hotel in George Town

JMA Ferringhi Beach Hotel: A Budget Stay with Room for Improvement While seeking a budget-friendly beach escape in Penang, we landed at the JMA Ferringhi Beach Hotel for a two-night stay. The large room with a king bed initially offered welcome spaciousness, and basic amenities like towels and hot water were readily available. However, several hiccups chipped away at the overall experience.

First, the absence daily housekeeping and of a safe and, surprisingly, a mirror in the bathroom felt like missed essentials, considering the room size. More concerning was the complete lack of toilet paper – imagine the panic! When my daughter inquired at reception, we were met with a nonchalant, "We ran out and will buy some tomorrow." Considering the mini-mart next door, this felt easily remedied, but nonetheless added unnecessary stress.

The second major frustration was the incessant push for double-paying the tourism tax. We booked through Agoda, explicitly stating "inclusive of all taxes and fees." Apparently, the hotel's communication with Agoda wasn't on the same page, as they insisted we hadn't paid the tax. Showing them our invoice didn't seem to appease them, and it took firm insistence to avoid being double-charged for a tax already covered. This left a sour taste, especially considering this "surprise" tax seems specific to Penang Island.

Moving on to the "pool," let's call it a glorified splash pad. A cramped room with a small, questionable-looking pool in the form of a hole in the floor wasn't exactly enticing. Opting for the refreshing ocean across the road felt like the wiser choice.

Despite these inconveniences, the staff remained friendly and helpful. Additionally, the location offered convenient access to a mini-mart next door and the beach within walking distance. The morning calls to prayer from the nearby Muslim temple, starting as early as 6am, added a unique cultural element, though might not be for everyone.

In conclusion, the JMA Ferringhi Beach Hotel offered a reasonably spacious room with basic amenities at a budget-friendly price. However, the lack of crucial items like toilet paper, the double-tax drama, and the underwhelming pool significantly impacted the overall experience. While the friendly staff and convenient location offer redeeming qualities, travelers should be prepared for potential hiccups and be firm about pre-paid taxes. This experience might suit those seeking a bare-bones beach stay on a tight budget, but for those expecting more comfort and smooth sailing, other options might be...

THE WORST! I had an extremely disappointing experience.

Firstly, the lack of parking was incredibly inconvenient. We had to park at a nearby restaurant and walk all the way back to the hotel, which is not only frustrating but also unprofessional. The worst part is, when I asked about parking, I received no assistance or clarity from the staff.

The check-in process was equally unpleasant. The receptionist was inattentive and more interested in speaking to her colleague in their native language, making rude comments, thinking I wouldn't understand but joke on her I understood every single bit. I found this unprofessional and disrespectful. I think that clown’s name is Shika

When I finally got to my room, it looked absolutely nothing like the pictures on Booking.com. I felt completely deceived. The window couldn't be locked, and when I raised the issue with another receptionist, she dismissed it as "just a lock problem," saying it wasn’t a big deal. Given that the room was on the ground floor and faced a busy road, I felt incredibly unsafe with the window left unsecured, but there was no available solution.

The room was also lacking basic amenities—no tissues, no body gel, only hand wash, and not even a bottle of water was provided. The sheets on the bed were stained and appeared to be low-quality, resembling those you'd find in a budget hotel. I initially thought I was booking a nice hotel by the beach, but it felt more like a budget motel. I MEAN IT IS A BUDGET HOTEL, WAY MORE WORST THAN A MOTEL.

To make matters worse, the room wasn’t well-maintained or clean. There was obvious neglect in the upkeep, and I did not feel comfortable at all. During check-in, I briefly parked in front of the hotel to unload my luggage, and despite only being there for 10 minutes, I received a parking ticket. It’s clear that this hotel doesn’t have its guest’s best interests in mind.

Overall, this hotel was a huge letdown. I would not recommend it to anyone, and I won’t...

Booked via Agoda with price almost RM100 per night. Stayed there during school holiday, so people are very crowded during day and night. Parking provided was only a small space (in the building, you need to enter a small path beside the hotel to find the parking site), which can park only 4 cars. Luckily my car is quite small (hatchback) so can park without blocking any car.

About the room, we were not satisfied.. no soap provided, no face tissue, no toilet tissue, no 3in1 coffee/tea. Only glasses. Luckily you provided bins and towels. And you called it as hotel?? Just because you collaborate with OYO, you called it as Hotel? I think "Motel" is much more better instead.

The mattress was hard and not comfortable, we booked for queen bed and we got twin beds which were placed like it looked like a queen bed. The old blanket also rough. You need to change to new one. Poor your guests.

The pool inside was scary and dirty. No one go there at that time. Very different with the photos shown in Agoda. I felt had been cheated.

At the receptionist, there was a water dispenser (I forgot the brand of it, perhaps Coway), and got a fridge provided. The Malay specky staff was kind and helpful.

Beside the hotel, got a small shop, operated 24 hours, easy for you to buy some breads, drinking water, ice cream, candies and etc. Looks like '7 Eleven'.

The hotel location also just walking distance to the beach. If you are alone/with your partner, just walk. But if you bring old folks, young kids, preggy wife, then I think you need to drive car and park your car not far from the beach. I am not sure about the parking coupon of MPPP, please ask anyone to confirm about the rate and the payment method.

By the beach, you will find some seafood restaurants. We had our dinner at D'Syekira Tomyam Seafood, very very very recommended. Cheap and delicious. Very satisfieddd.

For the JMA Ferringhi Beach Hotel, sorry, perhaps that was my first and last stay there. Thank you for...