Penang on a Shoestring Budget

People who are visiting Penang on a shoestring budget should be pleased to know that there are plenty of budget accommodation in Penang. Yes, it is entirely possible to still enjoy a vacation in Penang even if you have to stretch your dollar (or ringgit, as the local currency is known). As with budget accommodation anywhere else, in Penang the lower the price goes, the more basic it gets. So it is entirely a personal decision when selecting budget accommodation.

Most of the budget guesthouses and backpacker inns are located within the inner city of George Town, mainly along Lebuh Chulia, Lorong Cinta (Love Lane), Jalan Penang, Lebuh Leith, Lorong Hutton and Jalan Argyll.

Olive Spring Hotel, Chulia Street (6 May 2008)

Accommodation at a Shoestring

At the most basic, a bed may cost no more than RM10, if you don't mind sleeping in a dormitory with others. My suggestion is to come to Penang, then explore the backpacker haven of Lebuh Chulia. Select one that is suitable to you. The Google Map on this page provides an idea of their location. Make sure you copy out their telephone numbers.

One of the benefits of staying in budget accommodation, apart from the obvious cost savings, is that you are almost certainly near and right at the heart of town. This is especially true for the accommodation at Lebuh Chulia and Love Lane. Of the two, Lebuh Chulia is a bustling thoroughfare while Love Lane is much quieter. If you appreciate a little peace at night, then the accommodation at Love Lane may be your best bet. How does Love Lane gets to be called Love Lane? Hmm, I'll leave you to figure it out yourself.

Hutton Lodge, Hutton Lane (6 May 2008)


If you want a little more comfort, check out the 2-3 star hotels along Jalan Penang. These include Hotel Continental and Hotel Malaysia along Jalan Penang; Waldorf Hotel and Cathay Hotel along Lebuh Leith, to name a few. If you stay at Waldorf or Cathay, your room will probably face Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a boutique hotel which won a Unesco award for restoration. A short distance down the road is the century-old Eastern & Oriental (E&O), the ultimate luxury hotel in George Town. Neither the Cheong Fatt Tze nor the E&O qualify to be in the budget category, but you will at least be rubbing shoulders with their guests.

On a shoestring? Get your toiletries at the convenience stores

Unlike hotels which provides everything, many hostels and guesthouses expect you to bring your own towel and toiletries. A good place to get these - if you don't bring any from home - to at any of the 24-hour convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Happy Mart. It's also a good place to get mineal water, soap, toothbrush and a light snack for the two o'clock hungry pang. Here's a list of all the 7-Eleven Stores in Penang, including a map showing you their location, so you can find one nearest to where you are boarded up.

Waldorf Hotel, Leith Street (6 May 2008)

Further Reading

List of Hotels in Penang and Hotels in Malaysia

Private Guided Tours of Penang

If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

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About this website

Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.