Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, Penang

The property excels in cleanliness, spaciousness, and friendly staff. Guests appreciate the delicious breakfast and excellent location near the beach. However, some may find the rustic charm slightly old-fashioned.

We stayed at the Shangri-la Rasa Sayang resort as part of a journey down memory lane. Having lived in Penang in my childhood I was visiting with my wife after over 40-years and the only place I wanted to stay was this hotel where I had once been as a young boy. I’m glad to say that the hotel not only fulfilled my emotional needs but stands tall for its prime beach location, grand design, lush gardens, amazing buffet, and exotic ocean views. The reception staff recognized my milestone birthday at check in and sent us a bottle of red wine 😊 which was a great start. Our room had one of the best views from the balcony (most rooms have a good view) and a very comfortable bed, fully equipped bathroom and amenities. Outside the buffet in the morning are two hawkers preparing Teh Tarik and Kaya Toast while the buffet itself includes Malaysian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Western, and bakery sections. It’s a large dining area inside but also a lot of garden seating with ocean views. We got massages on the beach both days (which I highly recommend) and my wife also got a facial at their spa. Ours was the Garden Wing which is newer with an artistic pool area but the adjacent Rasa Wing which dates back to the original hotel is also equally good. The Batu Ferringhi road is lined with hotels and hawker markets which really come alive at night…we did walk through them once but preferred to relax in the resort itself. It’s a 20-25-min drive from Georgetown and about 30-45-min from the Penang bridge. If you’re looking to get the best in terms of a relaxing holiday and ease of access to other parts of Penang, I would highly recommend this hotel!

The hotel had been renovated since we last visited a few years ago. Facilities have been upgraded especially the health club. We used the yoga room for stretching and it was very relaxing. Tennis courts were a bit disappointing, one court did not even have a net. Besides that and the unsettled weather, our stay had been very pleasant. There are lots of eating places outside of hotel and plenty of places nearby that one can visit. We went to the Tropical fruit farm and it was very educational and worth the visit.