News Flash

The hotel is closed for upgrading and rebranding exercise. The hotel is not expected to re-open until second half of 2008 (or later).

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Penang, Casuarina Beach Resort

Casuarina Hotel Review

The most outstanding value of this hotel is its combination of beach and room pricing. For the price of a 4-star hotel, you get a decent hotel which shares a beautiful stretch of beach with 5-star hotels. Most hotels with direct access to the beach along this stretch are 5-star hotels with higher room rates.

This is a beach hotel suitable for a family vacation. If you are looking for a business hotel, this hotel may disappoint you. There does not seem to be a 24-hour restaurant available in the hotel, and it is one of the hotels that are further away from downtown. There is a total two restaurants in this hotel.

For families, your kids get to spend a lot of time on the beach. Sand on the beach is very fine, which can be as fine as or finer than ground pepper. The beach is clean and well kept with no sea shells and trash lying around. For those who have not been on a beach before, sea shells can be sharp and may cut the bottom of a person’s feet if one walks on them.

There are quite a number of beach activities available like parachute sailing, water scooter, yatching and swimming. I don’t really know the costs for these activities, but they should run around RM50-RM60 per ride.

Although the beach is nice and clean, sea water is not as nice as other islands like Redang and Langkawi. Overall, sea water is clean and safe to swim in, just not crystal clear as compared to Langkawi. The sea is always calm because it is protected from the open sea by Sumatera in Indonesia. Do not expect strong waves like those that you find on the beaches of California due to the unprotected nature of the beach from the Pacific Ocean. Do expect nice gentle waves. The sound of waves washing ashore 24-hours a day relaxes everyone.

The hotel is not of 5-star quality but is certainly of 4-star quality. The hotel is designed with an open concept and blends well with the outside surrounding, which is always hot and humid in tropical Malaysia. There is no air-conditioning for its lobby. Nice hot tropical heat will penetrate the hotel, which is what beach goers enjoy. One of the things I dislike is the choice of the hotel to keep the hotel dimly litted during the day. Since the hotel has many access to the outside (many doors and windows letting in bright sunlight), bright sunlight outside the hotel makes the hotel feels dark from the inside. I personally dislike dark ambience during the day and prefer brightly litted interiors. This is, however, a personal preference.

On cleanliness, the hotel does a good job of keeping its beach and surrounding clean. No trash can be seen littered around, no flies, no foul smell. The bathrooms are kept clean.

The hotel seems to have aged somewhat. Furnishing in the lobby are not new but a little worn. Bathroom stools and wash basins show their sign of aging. This is somewhat of the expectations of a 4-star hotel. However, everything is kept clean and well maintained.

Beach

There is a nice shade by the pool overlooking the superbly kept garden and also the beach. The shade is located within the grounds of the hotel. This picture was taken from inside the shade looking out to sea.

Horse back riding is available by the beach for around RM50 per ride. For those who do not know how to ride a horse, the operators will sit you on the horse and pull the horse along for a walk along the beach. For those who do know how to ride a horse, you get the freedom to ride solo up and down the beach.

Wind surfing and water scooter sports are available by the beach. I did not ask the operator and do not know the charges for these activities. I suspect the prices range around RM50.

There is a long stretch of beautiful and well kept beach 10 meters (30 feet) from the hotel. There is no garbage on the beach, no sea shells that will cut the bare feet of anyone strolling bare footed on the beach. Sand on the beach looks fine and feels soft.

This is how the hotel would look like if you were to look at the hotel from the beach. There are nice umbreallas and beach chairs for guests to relax in and enjoy their time by the beach. Entrance for cars is on the other side of the hotel.

I happen to stumble upon this couple enjoying their day by the beach. I cannot help but take this picture. This is a good way to relax and not get sunburn. This is certainly what everyone of us would love to do more.

Pool

There are a lot of coconut trees located on the hotel grounds. In addition, there are a number of large trees growing on the bech providing beach goers with natural sun shades from the hot mid-afternoon sun. There are two swimming pools, one for children and one for adults. There are also two restaurants in the hotel. The Garden Terrace is on the left of the picture. The other restaurant is on the right, serving drinks to those at the pool. The pool is quite large, providing children and adults with a lot of space to swim in.

I like the sea breeze you get to enjoy from this location. Due to the proximity to the beach, the wind will always be blowing, the leaves on the coconut trees will always be swaying. To the right of this picture is the sea.

Exterior

There is a big well kept lawn located between the hotel and the beach. If you have children, this would be a good place for your children to run around. The swimming pool and restaurant are about 10 meter (30 feet) behind the photographer who took this picture.

This is the driveway where you would stop your car to unload your luggage. If you had x-ray vision and can look past the trees and driveway, you will see the entrance to this hotel from the main road. Across the road will be some shops where you can purchase groceries, drinks and food.

This would be the first view of the hotel from your car or taxicab. There is a lot of parking spaces for hotel guests and the hotel does not charge parking fees.

Interior

This is where you will be once you enter the hotel through the main entrance. The main entrance is to the right of the picture. The doorway to the left of the picture leads you to the pool. Behind the photographer is the reception desk.

This is a common area close to the lobby and restaurant with tables and chairs for guests to use. My observation is most guests do not use these chairs because they can be uncomfortable to sit on for too long a period. The sofas near the reception area are more comfortable and much frequently used by hotel guests. The restaurant is in the far end. Walking through the doorway to the greens leads you to the pool.

This restaurant has lots of greens and is constructed from timber. It has an open air concept. It does not seem to be frequented by hotel guests when I visited. It may be because it is hot in the afternoon. After night fall, this may be a nice place to sit and sip a drink.

This is an aisle leading to rooms on your right and left. Some sofa for guests exists but usually left vacant. Most guests are in the lobby and garden or beach.

This is a common area close to the lobby and restaurant with tables and chairs for guests to use. My observation is most guests do not use these chairs because they can be uncomfortable to sit on for too long a period. The sofas near the reception area are more comfortable and much frequently used by hotel guests. The restaurant is in the far end. Walking through the doorway to the greens leads you to the pool.

213 Jalan Bukit Gambir, Bukit Jambul, 11950 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: (604) 646 8000 Fax: (604)-646 1400
e-mail: vispg@ytlhotels.com.my
http://www.ytlhotels.com/properties/vistana/pg/index.html

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Penang, Vistana Hotel

Vistana Hotel Review

This is a city hotel with no access to the beach. It is close to the Penang Internal Airport, and the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Industrial Zone (also known as the FTZ). If you are a business traveller looking for a decent 4-star hotel, this is definitely the hotel for you. If you have a family, and you are not interested in spending too much time on the beach and you plan to be around the sourthern part of the Penang island, this is also the hotel for you. If you are looking for a hotel with easy access to the beach, then look somewhere else.

This is one of the cleanest 4-star hotel I have seen. The floor is shinny and well taken of. The restrooms are clean, really clean. I am impressed with the overall cleaniness of the hotel. I would rate this hotel as the cleanest 4-star hotel I have seen.

The hotel feels new and fresh. It does not give you a feeling of a hotel that has been around for a long time. Furniture and upholstery are new and clean with little sign of “wear and tear”. Walls are nicely painted. The hotel has a lot of glass windows and doors and all glasses are kept squeaky clean.

If you are looking for a hotel with a holiday ambience, you may be disappointed. Employees of the hotel are dressed in city hotel business-like uniform and not Bermuda shorts and staw hats However, if you are looking for a hotel that is practical, safe and clean, then this hotel will not let you down.

Safe basement parking is available for guests and visitors. There is also a big ballroom for funtion use (i.e. wedding reception or product launch). In addition, the parking space in front of the hotel can be temporarily converted into a temporary shelter for function use should anyone run out of space to host any event.

5 minutes drive away is the Bukit Jambul Shoping Complex for those who wants to shop. The airport is 10 minutes away. The industrial zone is 10 minutes away. Within a 10 minute radius of the hotel are a collection of restaurants that offer all kinds of food including Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western restaurants at all range of the budget spectrum.

In addition to hotel rooms, the Vistana Hotel also provides 2-3 bedroom apartments for those who prefer an apartment style stay or those with a number of room guests.

Pool

The swimming is on a higher floor (4th or 5th or 6th floor, I cannot remember exactly). It is an open air swimming pool. The pool is large enough for children and adults to enjoy and get a good exercise at the same time. Some hotel’s swimming pool are oval or kidney shapped but this swimming pool is mostly square shapped providing enough length for a good exercise. There is a children’s pool which is attached to the adult’s pool. The pool and its surrounding is well maintained and clean.

The restroom attached to the pool is clean. It is not constructed with expensive material but there is effort put in to keep the restroom clean and the hotel clean.

Exterior

This hotel during the daytime is nicely painted in white colour. It gives you a nice clean feeling. The surrounding is clean and quiet. To the right of the hotel is the road that will take you to the Bukit Jambul Shopping Complex which is 5 minutes away.

A new building is being built to the left of the hotel. The building’s name is called The CEO. This building will offer offices on higher floor and shopping complex on lower floor when done. During the day, the space after the coconut trees and before the main road can be used to build a tent for event hosting purposes.

The hotel is brightly litted every night. In the night, this area that is considered quiet but not too quiet. Due to the fact that this hotel is a business hotel, there is not much night time activities as compared to other beach hotels. There is no signing at the hotel’s restaurant (coffee house). Locals do not go to this hotel for evening gatherings.

If you are lucky, you can catch a view of a beautiful sunset by the Vistana Hotel.

There is a 24-hour restaurant within walking distance from the hotel. The restaurant is an Indian food restaurant named Restaurant Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar. The restaurant is open everyday of the year and is reputed to be the best Inidan food restaurant on the island. Prices of food in Kayu is certainly the most expensive on the Penang island, with a loading of an extra 10% as compared to other Indian food restaurants on the island. A roti-tisue (for those of you who do not know Malaysia food, roti-tisue is a sweet pancake that is made as thin as a tissue) costs a whoppin RM4 but it is the biggest and thinest roti-tisue you can find on the Penang island !!

Interior

This is where you will check in. To the right of the check-in counter is the restaurant and lift to rooms. To the left of the reception desk is the main entrance. Behind the reception desk is the big ballroom. The other pictures are all pictures of the hotel lobby from different angles.

This is the hallway to the left of the reception area that leads you to the hotel ballroom. The lobby restroom is to the right. This photo was taken during a hot afternnon and the sun is shinning in through the tall glass window.

This is the reception area of the big ballroom. The big doors on the right of the picture leads you to the ballroom. Some of the big glass windows on the left are also big glass doors that allow direct access to the ballroom. I did not manage to snap a picture of the inside of the ballroom. You can click on the Vistana Hotel official link on the top of this page to view the ballroom. I like this ballroom because event guests get direct access to the ballroom through the entry points at the glass door on the left of this picture. The glass doors are transparent (not heavily tinted) and are visible from the main road if anyone is driving by (extra publicity for your event).

The elevators that take you to the guest rooms are on the left. Walk to the end of this corridor, turn left and you are at the hotel’s one and only restaurant. This is just fine because there are a number of restaurants available around this hotel that are within walking distance. For those who drive, there are all types of restaurants at all types of budgets that are within 5 minutes drive from this hotel. You can find Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western restaurants all around. The vast number of available restaurants is not surprising because employees who work in the Free Trade Industrial Zone lunch around this area during weekdays 52 weeks a year.

This is the only restaurant/coffee house in the hotel. I do not know if this restaurant is open 24 hours. My opinion is that it does not matter because there is a 24-hour restaurant within walking distance from the hotel. The restaurant is an Indian food restaurant named Restaurant Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar. The restaurant is open everyday of the year and is reputed to be the best Inidan food restaurant on the island. Prices of food in Kayu is certainly the most expensive on the Penang island, with a loading of an extra 10% as compared to other Indian food restaurants on the island.