I had a single room no bathroom- very cheap, but clean (which is rare in a hostel), and very quiet. I arrived at 9am after an overnight flight and my room was ready so they let me check in early to sleep. Very comfy bed. The staff are very helpful. A very relaxed chilled out atmosphere.
The location is great, Penang is wonderful. There is free breakfast and wifi. No window in my room but that is common in Asia.
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I hadn't booked a hotel so wandered around LOVE LANE and decided on this place. The staff were mainly Phillipino and very friendly and helpful. The room was clean, a fresh soft towel and nice pillow and there is a nice place to chill out. Free wifi and breakfast and I got a single room for 40RM. Great place to go I recommend it!
(The only downside it smelled of fresh paint in the back...something that will settle in a month or so I guess!)
When you go traveling it is so difficult to find somewhere brilliant, special and full of character. After looking at the website we felt that this place might be that place and the price certainly led us to believe that it would be fantastic however we were let down. The pictures on the website are terribly misleading and this place as a another reviewer put it has no soul. You pay above average price and you a basic room we were staying in their best room which we were led to believe was the only room available however this is not the case. The bathroom was so small and uncomfortable this place is not worth staying at.
We stayed for a grand total of about three hours before finding somewhere nicer & quieter a few streets away.
We had requested a superior double ensuite, but many many emails later were informed they could only give us a standard double with shared bathroom - a ground floor room with a bed & a chair & no windows. It was right between the lounging breakfast area and the 'bathrooms' so there was constant noise of staff shouting at each other between areas and from reception. There was also constant noise from people walking around and having conversations (at normal volume) in the room upstairs. And from the music played in the Reggae bar next door. And people showering.
The room was dank and musty with sticky floors, though admittedly the bed was quite comfortable.
There were four toilet/shower cubicles though the lights only worked in two of them and there was no toilet paper in these. When I asked it took 20 minutes for them to find some replacement paper. The shower had weak pressure and five minutes in it disappeared completely as someone upstairs was having a shower - I can't much see the point of having so many of them if there's only enough water pressure for one.
From reading reviews I understand that noise is an issue in a lot of places on these few streets so I guess if you're ok with sleeping through it then it's fine - but I was much much happier once I decided to leave!
We were having an all cousin's getaway during the long public holiday weekend. Since most of the accommodations were fully booked - the 6 of us ended up in Red Inn hostel's double decker hostel room. We arrived an hour early but were told the rooms were not ready - no biggy to us as we proceeded to fill out grumbling tummies with lunch.
Check-in:
Got back around 4 and there was no issue with the check-in. Front desk person was friendly.
Location:
Red Inn is basically a 2-storey colonial house located on Love Lane - a known backpacker area. There are 2 other hostels/accommodations - one just beside (Reggae hostel) and another down the road (also Red Inn - but a more upmarket one we were told, same owner). Rooms are on both ground and first.
Rooms:
We were given the room next to their hangout/breakfast deck/air well. No window except for a glass panel high up which allowed what little light that came from the air well. The beds were double decker with super single mattresses with a tiny lighted (with a power point) compartment at the headboard and another deeper one on the other end (lockable) which could fit a medium size bag. Sheets and pillows were clean. Each bed came with a tiny fleece blanket and towel - which didn't smell or anything - a good thing
The toilets and sinks are on sharing basis. 6 in total. Each cubicle came with hot instant water heater showers and washing closet. No soap or shampoo provided. A large mirror with 2 sinks is along the walkway to the showers.
Breakfast is served from 8-10am daily. A very simple omelet, sausage with toast is served with local hot coffee. Tea bags/creamer/sugar/jam provided on table. Hot/cold water dispenser and toaster is also available.
Things to eat:
As it was an eating/sight-seeing trip, we spent little time in the hostel - which should be the way if you're in Penang. Walking around the heart of Penang is the best way to really see this historical town.
Food is a non-issue to us as it wasnt our first time in Penang. Although we mostly drove around, Love Lane has lots of hawker / food stalls / restaurants in walking distance. Tired of walking? Red Inn provides bicycles / scooters on rental basis. There is also a small chill out area (2 tables) at the entrance of the hostel should you need a cold drink/smoke. Cold drinks (non/alcoholic) can be purchased at the reception. Pop over next door if you feel like chilling in a bar.
A 24-hour convenience store (7-11) is a 2 min walking distance right at the corner.
Things to do:
Antique shopping. Local trades. There is even an old-school rattan weaving shop / bicycle shop close-by. Old chinese temples. Little India. Khoo Kongsi. Old colonial architecture. Just lots of history in general.
Conclusion:
We just needed a place to crash for the weekend so we have no complaints - its a basic accommodation for RM28 per night per person. If you're not expecting too much with little budget to spare, Red Inn should be considered.
The room 13 that we had was a private two bed room with ensuite bathroom. The bathroom was not very clean and water used to stagnate at the doors. There was no ventilation and the A/c unit is very small (.8 ton) used to take time to cool. As the common toilets very next our room there was a smell always.
We asked the staff to add salt to egg omelet but he refused.
