Was in Georgetown five weeks ago for six weeks. Been there often before and love it.

The biggest change was how friendly everyone was compared to before. There were very few westerners there.
Many businesses had closed since I was there last pre covid especially restaurants and accommodation. Many hotels had promotion prices, one place had a free night.

Almost everyone wears a mask. Not many people eat in a restaurant. They get takeout or food delivery service. Food prices are lower than before except for chicken.

There is still plenty of social things going on like Hin Bus Depot for art and music. Tho Armenian Street market was almost deserted.

Weekends are very busy with Malaysian tourists. It's an all day traffic jam on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The old ferry to Butterworth only takes motorbikes now. Passengers have to take a boat from Swettenham pier.
Came up to Thailand on the train. No problem getting through immigration at Padang Besar train station.
45 day visa exempt entry available.

Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:12 pm I've always found it overrated. Georgetown is crumbling and rat-infested, Penang as a whole doesn't have a lot to offer compared with similar places that have better beaches and etc. It's not really high on my list of "must revisit" places.

I dint care for it either when I went from thailand for whatever reasons I needed to get out of thailand about
Guess the only things in my mind in those days was cheap girls and mekong/cokes .
It was Boring ..

I have been to Penang 20+ times (for food, health and (thai) visa runs) and always loved it. On my first visit in 99 it was best place to book flights around the world (but those times are obviously gone).

Food wise its heaven with indian, chinese and malay food at its best. It takes ages to taste all the different plates. Very good medical services (Loh Guan Lye Hospital is probably my first choice if I had any kind of health issue in Asia).

Beaches are disappointing.

Nightlife is very expensive for asian standards and not my cup of tea. Love lane is not what it used to be. But the area around Lebuh Julia is very nice with loads of traditional architecture around. Still my favourite area to stay when I visit.

Moving around is very easy with loads of public buses. One of the worst taxi mafia ever on Penang Island. Never took a cab, I just hated their ridiculous quotes and their attitude.

Accomodation is plentuful in all prices ranges. I strongly reccomend to stay in Georgetown and explore the rest of the island from there.

Yobbo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:35 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:12 pm I've always found it overrated. Georgetown is crumbling and rat-infested, Penang as a whole doesn't have a lot to offer compared with similar places that have better beaches and etc. It's not really high on my list of "must revisit" places.

Agreed! Won't go back.
The food court was impressive, could spend a year there & still not try all the various dishes.
Infrastructure is great. The place is relaxing & civil, but a bit too civil for me.
Speaking with one of the business owners in Love lane, he was the first to open the bar to the street, then the other bars did the same trying to out do the others with the loudest music, said he was going to enclose it again.
Full of Chinese, Indian & Middle Eastern cultures, integration/fusion is a successful melting pot.
Worth a visit but not somewhere I would recommend.

Sounds just what I need; a bit of culture, civilisation and decent infrastructure.

How can it be "worth a visit" but not recommended with all those positive points? I'm classifying your report as a positive recommendation!

kagi wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 3:03 pm Was in Georgetown five weeks ago for six weeks. Been there often before and love it.

The biggest change was how friendly everyone was compared to before. There were very few westerners there.
Many businesses had closed since I was there last pre covid especially restaurants and accommodation. Many hotels had promotion prices, one place had a free night.

Almost everyone wears a mask. Not many people eat in a restaurant. They get takeout or food delivery service. Food prices are lower than before except for chicken.

There is still plenty of social things going on like Hin Bus Depot for art and music. Tho Armenian Street market was almost deserted.

Weekends are very busy with Malaysian tourists. It's an all day traffic jam on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The old ferry to Butterworth only takes motorbikes now. Passengers have to take a boat from Swettenham pier.
Came up to Thailand on the train. No problem getting through immigration at Padang Besar train station.
45 day visa exempt entry available.

Almost everyone wears a mask.

That's a worry, I'm not going back to that shit anymore.

Weekends are very busy with Malaysian tourists. It's an all day traffic jam on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Good info, thanks.

You got him>>>>!!!
Had a nice camera museum ( pre covid), the funicular train up Penang hill, Kek Lok Si Temple. get a walking map of Georgetown at the tourist office and find all the wall paintings
Nothing beats A afternoon drink in the Historic E & O looking out over the sea

Woodlands Vegetarian Indian restaurant in Georgetown. Simply the best Indian food I've ever eaten.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 10:07 am You got him>>>>!!!
Had a nice camera museum ( pre covid), the funicular train up Penang hill, Kek Lok Si Temple. get a walking map of Georgetown at the tourist office and find all the wall paintings
Nothing beats A afternoon drink in the Historic E & O looking out over the sea

"A" drink?

I assume they are cripplingly expensive?

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 10:03 am

Almost everyone wears a mask.

That's a worry, I'm not going back to that shit anymore.

Good info, thanks.

Good point. It isn't nice being amongst faceless people.
In Bangkok they are mostly still at it, even at an outdoor market in Lat Krabang recently. At least they don't show any sign of minding if we don't wear one.
Tourist Thailand is much less muzzled, was so even one year ago.
I would guess that most of Asia is still heavily masked up and Cambodia is an honourable exception. I'll be happy to hear I'm wrong btw.

So, if you want to see faces, it's barangland or Cambodia.
I'd say for a two week holiday, live and let live. There are always things to piss one off. In Malaysia, the women and girls swimming in the pool covered up from head to toe for example. Hotels may want to see your marriage certificate or make you take seprate rooms btw. Not in Panang of course.

truffledog wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 4:26 pm
Beaches are disappointing.

Why do you say that?

I stayed on the north coast and they looked good.