Thursday, January 13, 2022

Loop on Leith Georgetown, Penang

Hello, it's 2022 already and here I am, just about to start writing about our Penang trip last Christmas. Better late than never!

We were in Penang for a 2 days & 2 nights trip with a childhood friend of mine and her kids. Although we just spent 2 nights there, we got to experience 2 different hotels - a budget hotel and a luxury heritage hotel set in a century-old mansion.

Our first night was spent at Loop on Leith located in the heart of Georgetown, Penang. I purposely chose this hotel for two reasons - the low-budget rate (below RM150 per night) and complimentary on-site parking facility (but there's a snag - the parking is very limited and on first-come basis). 

Stepping into the brightly lit lobby, I was impressed with the lobby that successfully marries brick walls and Moroccan tiles to achieve a modern chic design. While Le Hubby went to find a parking (because we arrived late hence parking was full), I waited at the comfortable lounge area while admiring the contemporary design blue and white carpet. It was then I noticed ironing boards and irons at the other side of the lobby for guests' usage.

Checking in was breezy as we had paid for our room through Agoda. We booked Cyan Premier Room which was more spacious but since we arrived late at night, we were  assigned a different room (I believe it was Magenta Standard room) because the staff regretfully informed us that our room had been let to other guests due to the hotel booking glitch. I would probably felt disappointed if not for the fact that we just need the room to crash for a restful sleep ahead of our packed itinerary the following day. 

We have experienced hospitality everywhere in Malaysia but Penang seems to bring hospitality to the another level - be it a budget hotel or a premium accommodation, the front desk personnel welcomed us with genuine warmth. After checking us in, the front desk staff asked us if we are tourists and helpfully provided us with two maps - local attractions and popular food spots in Penang.

Hotel lounge area

The room was done in black and white with the furniture (the sofa and the bedside table) in bright colours. The room comes with standard amenities - a mini fridge, bottled drinking water, electric kettle, instant beverages, a safe (which probably ran out of battery hence did not work), a small standing garment rack, flat TV, aircond, toiletries and bath towels.

Other than the safe which was not working, I also found fault in the room's thin walls - we could hear people slamming doors and even loud conversations through the walls. Clearly, the walls were not sound-proofed so if you are a light sleeper, it's highly recommended for you to bring along your noise cancellation earbuds.

Guest room

The bathroom/toilet was decorated with Moroccan tiles in beige and white to match with the black and white concept. Although small, it was clean and well-maintained.

Hotel bathroom

Shower area is separated by a clear glass screen and comes with hot/cold water

Overall, for a budget hotel, Loop on Leith came across as good choice for those seeking clean and aesthetic accommodation at the heart of Georgetown, Penang. Although make sure to turn up early to get the complimentary parking underground and the room that you booked.

Rating: 8/10