The Double-Tree by Hilton was a fabulous hotel to spend time with my children on Penang Island. It was an hour car ride which cost about $30 using Grab, the Asian hail ride service.
Showcasing spectacular views of the glistening Malacca Strait, the hotel is adjacent to Miami Beach, to which it is connected by a footbridge.
The luscious rainforest surrounds the premises, holding native wildlife, such as monkeys, birds and towering palm trees.
Entering the premises took us to a calm, open-air, beachside scene with an airy, modern, relaxing vibe in the lobby. Resort vibes took us immediately into vacation mode.
We were greeted with a refreshing drink of local nutmeg fruit and enjoyed far-reaching views of the ocean.
The hotel was large featuring 316 rooms and suites and exceptionally well facilitated, offering children’s parties, a well-serviced gym, a spa, a kids club, a conference area, and a ballroom for events such as weddings.
The Kids Club offers a variety of daily activities such as movie night with free popcorn and cotton candy.
There was a lot to do onsite including a large pool, children’s water play area, and a separate shallow pool. Pool tables, fuse ball, book games and complimentary books were on offer. There was also a fitness centre and spa. And there is TeddyVille – Malaysia’s first teddy bear museum which was very cute and interesting. It detailed a history of teddy bears, showcasing various styles of teddy bears, such as ones used in old photos, tea party teddy bears, and even an Elvis teddy bear!
The hotel also includes a very talented, four-piece modern band on Friday and Saturday evenings which plays modern, popular music in the Axis Lounge, where drinks and food are available to order.
There is also a café on site – The Food Store – which offers light meals, pastries, sandwiches and drinks.
We had wide views of the magnificent ocean, littered with islands, from our One Bedroom Sea View suite, which was ideal for a family as it was very spacious with a lounge living area and a separate room with a king-size bed, dressing area, and a modern bathroom with a separate shower and bath.
The toiletry products were beautiful Crabbe Tree and Evelyn. There were flatscreen TVs in each room and a Nespresso machine with lovely teas.
We were delighted to return to our room mid-afternoon and discover complimentary afternoon tea which consisted of beautifully cultivated cakes and fruit.
There was also a turn-down service. One evening we returned to our room to discover a bath had been run with rose petals and a bath bomb, and interesting animal towel creations appeared daily on our bed.
The staff were great to deal with as they were relaxed, supremely helpful and English speaking.
The hotel offered a natural feeling where little small finches chirped and fluttered through on occasion.
The Makan Kitchen restaurant offered all-day dining with an abundant range of Asian and Western fare.
The breakfast buffet featured a range of Asian foods, offering a delicious experience of Malaysian cuisine, for which Penang is famous.
There were hot food sections for Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Western cuisine. Pastries, fruit, yogurt, and cereals were also on offer.
The hotel is a 20-minute drive to UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town and a 7-minute hail ride from the tourist centre of Batu Ferringhi, which houses a fantastic array of restaurants, including street food to high-end dining across many international flavours including Malaysian, Japanese, Lebanese, and Arabic. Some restaurants are beachside where we enjoyed the feel of the beach sand on our feet as we had a sunset cocktail and dinner.
Double-Tree by Hilton in Penang is an ideal family destination with top-quality service, style and many facilities available to entertain children, as well as parents!