Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, Penang

Miey

Booked for two nights, 5-7 November. Greeted with spacious and classic vibes lobby. Assigned to a room on 18th level. The bell boy helped to carry the suitcases upstairs. Received a complimentary welcome cake. Love the sea view, in the evening you can see some people parasailing at the ocean. Breakfast didn’t disappoint, variety of foods ranging from salads, english breakfast to sushi and dimsum, local tastes such as kuetiau soup, as well as breads, waffles & pastries. Went for a swim at the pool, there’s a signboard telling to not interfere with wildlife animals & while I was in the kids pool there’s a biawak freely swimming across 😂 The pool was large. Very aesthetic to take pictures. Found the wet floor caution board to be so cute, the shape of a banana. Though the room is a bit dated, but it is well maintained. Enjoyed my stay here. Staffs are attentive & polite. You can stroll around in the evening next to the beach, or just enjoy a relaxing time on the reclining chairs next to the pool. If you’re looking for activities for kids, the next Shangri-La Golden Sands offers Kids Club activities. You can get there by buggy or simply walking (but you’ll get tired enough before reaching there xD).

Anne

Went here on holiday with my husband and daughter. Had a great time! the room was superb as usual. That staff were very helpful, and friendly. Our favourite is definitely the breakfast buffet and the seating. When the pool was being cleaned, the staff recommended us to take a buggy to Golden Sands and we were happy to find out that there was a waterpark like pool there! We took a walk back through the serene walkway from Golden Sands back to Rasa Sayang. Love the herb garden too!

ijaz n.

Room: When we first entered the room, it was absolutely pleasant. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. The bed was large and very comfortable, and there was also a spacious sofa. The balcony had a lovely sea view overlooking the pools, which were really cantikkkk! Breakfast: The breakfast spread was quite varied. I noticed they made an effort to cater to Malaysian tastes, with Malay, Chinese, and Indian options, + the Japanese and English dishes. I especially loved the hot drinks station, the teh tarik and teh halia were excellent. Overall, I would rate the dining experience 4/5. Public Toilets: The public toilets were comfortable, pleasant, and nicely designed. The ladies’ toilet even had a powder table for makeup, and everything was very clean. Parking: Parking was quite plentiful and outdoor, which was convenient. Seaside: I really loved the seaside area. It was relaxing to lie down, nap, and enjoy the sea breeze… such a peaceful experience.

Kat See

Disappointing stay” You would think with the room rates, you would be getting more exclusivity, luxury and better facilities. It has been a lifelong dream for me to stay at Rasa Sayang ever since I was a child when my mum would bring us to have cheesecake at the coffee house from way back in the 80s. Now making my own living, I decided to make my dream come true and stay a few nights at Rasa Sayang during our short trip home to Penang. Unfortunately, I am deeply disappointed. The rooms feel old, the furniture outdated. The TV reception is so bad that I could not understand a single word from the movie channels; not even from lip reading. There is no privacy at the balconies because the walls are so low. There were ants crawling anywhere we left food or used glasses. On the day we were checking out (thank goodness), next door to us had just checked in with 4-5 young kids screaming and talking loudly. They even hung their clothes on the balcony to dry when there is a perfectly good clothes hanger provided at the balcony area. One would expect a hotel such as Rasa Sayang to have a bit more discretion with guests and to be more concerned with the environment, atmosphere and comfort of other guests. Or maybe my expectations of Rasa Sayang from childhood has been greatly inflated. On a positive note, the breakfast selection mouth-watering. Feringgi Grill lived up to its reputation, although my husband’s risotto was a bit bland but everything else was scrumptious!!! We note that a lot of the employees are foreign workers and they were all so polite and well-mannered, in fact, more friendly than the locals, who were less forthcoming with their smiles and greetings. The pool and the grounds were beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the gardens and lounging by the pool. I loved that the huge canopy trees I grew up swinging on the tyre swings are still standing strong and that the hotel has maintained all the greenery which has always been what I loved about spending the afternoons here with my mum and cousins. It was truly a treat for all of us! All in all, I am sorry but I will not back and neither would I spend the same amount of money to stay here again. I do not think I got my money’s worth and this is definitely not the standard for a luxury hotel. Rasa Sayang does not live up to its name and its legacy. For the same amount one would pay for a hotel accommodation in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, what has been provided and experienced, is sorely lacking. A real disappointment for a Penangite who grew up setting Rasa Sayang as THE benchmark luxury hotel.

Syaz Izvan

The overall quality was far below the standard I have come to expect from a five-star establishment and other comparable luxury hotels. During breakfast, several items served were regrettably not fresh, which is unacceptable for a hotel of this caliber. The general variety of options was also limited compared to expectations. The service team appeared disorganized and struggled with the basic task of efficiently attending to guests' needs. The outdoor local coffee kiosk was particularly disappointing in terms of taste and quality. I strongly suggest that your local staff sample the coffee themselves to understand its shortcomings. It was particularly disheartening given the premium price I paid. At this price, one expects a superior experience. However, I have received significantly better value and quality of service at more affordably priced hotels. The adjacent beach is currently undergoing significant erosion. The visual condition was poor, and there was no visible effort to address or mitigate this environmental issue during my visit. Crucially, no information regarding the state of the beach was proactively provided by the reception or hotel staff either at check-in or prior to arrival. This lack of transparency meant our expectations for a beach-front stay were not met.