Property
In a word—heaven. Talk about character; walk through the doors of this lovingly restored colonial hotel and you are transported back a century to colonial Malaya.

Location
Overlooking the Straits of Melaka, right in the center of Old Town Georgetown. The urban sprawl of modern Penang island can easily be ignored from this beautiful vantage point.

Sleeps
There are various options, including larger family suites with separate bedrooms and kitchenettes.

Highlights
Lounging by the pool, next to the manicured lawn overlooking the Straits, with a Somerset Maugham Eastern Tales novel. Breakfast in the period dining room, or on the terrace. Wandering around Georgetown, a recently-named UNESCO heritage site, and enjoying the jumble of Malay, Indian, Chinese and colonial architecture. Coming back for a refreshing swim after braving Georgetown’s heat and humidity.

Good to know
Splurge at this hotel – you will love it. Friendly staff, family friendly. Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward, Rudyard Kipling and Hermann Hesse were all guests here. You can arrange taxis to go further afield and visit the beautiful temples on the island. Kek Lok Si Temple is definitely worth a visit. Food in Malaysia is wonderful and extremely inexpensive and, surprisingly, thanks to strict government regulations, street food is remarkably safe (seriously, even for kids). Do, however, only drink botttled water and carry plenty with you – you will need it walking around in the tropical heat. You’ll have a wide range of dining choices: Malaysian, Indian and Chinese specialties. Don’t miss the satay!

Contact
http://www.e-o-hotel.com/eoh/index.htm

April 16th, 2009 | by Kimberly Sullivan