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4.5
#2 of 82 guest houses in George Town
Location
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Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
East Indies is a distinctive boutique heritage property in the heart of the UNESCO Heritage Core Zone in Georgetown. This former residence of Koh Lay Huan, a founding father of Penang, has been painstakingly restored to transport guests back in time to reside in the private mansion of a prominent wealthy merchant in 18th century Penang.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Located in the heart of Georgetown, East Indies Mansion receives accolades for its central position close to various attractions, though parking is scarce. The spacious rooms exude traditional elegance and comfort, yet some guests miss modern conveniences like WiFi and TV. The attentive staff garners praise for their personalized service, contributing to the hotel's warm and authentic atmosphere.
Cleanliness is a standout feature, with many visitors impressed by the meticulous upkeep. While the hotel offers a range of appreciated amenities and is considered a good value, the lack of in-room entertainment is occasionally noted.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Exceptional
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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I enjoyed my 5 night stay at East Indies Mansion. My room had a large bed on the ground floor and a small bed in a loft with a metal ladder so it would be good for a family with 1 or 2 children.
I rented an electric scooter at a nearby shop and the East Indies staff allowed me to charge it overnight by parking next to the front door and running the charging cable through a window to a plug next to the front desk.
A couple of minor issues: I found the Wifi in the room was weak due to the thickness of the stone walls. There is no cabinet to hang clothes and no small flat surface in the bathroom to lay out toiletries.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from EastIndiesMansion, Front Of Desk at East Indies Mansion
Responded 2 Mar 2020
Dear Michael B, Thank you very much of spending your precious time to write a review during your experience stay at East Indies Mansion! We are delighted that you enjoy your wonderful stay in the mansion. The mansion is almost two hundred years old and we work hard to maintain the architectural and aesthetic value of the mansion for our guests to gain the best experience during their stay. Our team always work hard to ensure that the best quality of service is given it to all our beloved guest. Thank you for your feedback as it matter to us as we are committed in providing and improving our services to our guest. We would appreciate to see you here again staying next time and try some other rooms we have as every room has a unique style and decor. We thank you once again and looking forward to having you with us in the near future! Best Wishes, EIM Team
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East Indies is a delightful place to stay in Penang! The location on China Street is close to everything, yet a quiet oasis. (We walked by a lot of hotels near the Blue Mansion but found the area near East Indies to be a much more interesting and convenient place to be based.) The interior is absolutely gorgeous, keeping with the history, it's filled with antiques, but also has a rawness that makes it feel authentic and not over-polished. We were busy and wanted to explore all the areas of Penang, but wish we had more time to just relax in the historic hotel lobby rooms. The guest rooms were huge, nicely furnished with beautiful wood and creative decorations. They included continually refilled jars of fresh drinking water (no environmentally-unfriendly plastic bottles) and little snacks. They were very cool in the Penang heat with AC and powerful ceiling fans. The staff was lovely, made us delicious breakfasts, chatted and gave helpful recommendations of things to do, and very much made us feel at home, like a bed and breakfast vibe. Highly recommend and would love to go back!
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 14 Aug 2023
Dear nicholef785, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience of staying at East Indies Mansion. We're delighted to hear that you had a memorable and enjoyable time during your stay. The thoughtful decoration of the buildings and their interiors is aimed at creating a special and relaxed ambiance, ensuring that our guests feel at ease throughout their stay. We're glad that you found your room spacious and comfortable which provides a pleasant environment. Our team is really dedicated to have you enjoying your holidays at the fullest and providing you everything that you need. We hope to see you again soon in the future. Warm Regards, East Indies MansionTeam
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We were warmly welcomed by Ai Tee, who contacted us beforehand to ask our ETA. Upon arrival she personally greeted us, and over welcome drinks gave us some great tips on where to go and what to do, providing the maps as well. We've been to Penang many times but Ai Tee helped us discover great local spots to eat and drink (all within walking distance!) and the Penang Peranakan Museum, which was well worth the visit. The hotel itself is clean and really beautiful, you really feel like you're living the life of a wealthy Penangite family circa 1880! On the second day, it was raining in the morning, and Ai Tee arranged for us to have tea and local Kuih for breakfast to save us a drenching. Highly recommended for a truly authentic and wonderful experience!
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Date of stay: September 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Dear Meihan_Boey, We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at East Indies Mansion. Thank you for leaving such a good review and we appreciate your kind feedback about our service and we are looking forward to welcome you back here for another unforgetable moment. Warm Regards, East Indies Mansion Team
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Lovely hotel-mansion to stay. Peaceful, very clean property, great feel and courteous staff. Sandra and Jess in the staff were too good to assist in guiding us through Penang attractions and the perfect way to plan Penang sight seeing. Location's awesomeness just engulfed us and we totally enjoyed Penang's famous graffiti, mansions, hill, train, temples and food. Recommended place to stay and enjoy Penang. :)
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My family recently stayed at East Indies Mansion and were blown away by the property! Right after you walk through the somewhat less assuming front door, the hustle of Georgetown melts away as you enter a historic Chinese residence with very intentional feng shui. The staff are some of the nicest and service oriented I have come across in all my travels. For instance, they were essential in helping us find both cultural and destination experiences that parents, young adults and teenagers all enjoyed. We stayed in the cinnamon suite and it was fantastic. It is 2 stories with a bathroom that has beautiful hand made tiles and plenty of natural lighting. The king sized bed was extremely comfortable and well appointed!
The morning breakfast at the mansion was something everyone looked forward to each day! One of the most significant assets is the mansion’s location. It was extremely easy to walk to a multitude of dining options including Michelin recommended choices and the staff also has many good suggestions. I would highly recommend the East Indies Mansion to anyone staying in historic Georgetown!
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indies Mansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 31 Dec 2023
Dear CTI111, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience of staying at East Indies Mansion. We're delighted to hear that you had a memorable and enjoyable time during your stay. Our team is really dedicated to have you enjoying your holidays at the fullest and providing you everything that you need. We hope to see you again soon in the future. Warm Regards, East Indies MansionTeam
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This is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at, not just in Malaysia but all over the world. The hotel is located in a very convenient area, within walking distance of lots of cafes, restaurants and attractions. The rooms are spacious and the hotel compound is stunning, with many daybeds and sofas in the corridors where you can read or have a chat.
But the best thing about East Indies Mansion was the incredible customer service and hospitality we received, especially from Kanmani at the reception. We were met with a welcome drink, and every day she offered us afternoon tea with a local pastry. In the evenings, we’d come back to our room to find a small snack left for us on our bed (various local treats and sweets). It was incredible thoughtful and lovely! I could not recommend staying at this place more.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 14 Aug 2023
Dear rachelhayleyong, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience of staying at East Indies Mansion. We're delighted to hear that you had a memorable and enjoyable time during your stay. We're glad that you found your room spacious and comfortable which provides a pleasant environment. Our team is really dedicated to have you enjoying your holidays at the fullest and providing you everything that you need. We hope to see you again soon in the future with your family. Warm Regards, East Indies MansionTeam
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Had an amazing stay in historic residence, with every part of the mansion beautifully decorated.
Hospitality of the staff were great (AiTee), making us feeling welcome throughout the trip. They will provide tips on things to eat and do, which were extremely helpful.
They have multiple rooms and each room has its unique layout, with rooms suited for family. We stayed in Anistar 2, which was clean, spacious and comfortable. However, do note there is a lack of soundproofing so you may hear noises from adjacent rooms (which is not unexpected since the building is a preserved ) There is an open-kitchen, where you can cook or dine in.
Location is great with many food options nearby and within walking distance to some of the attractions Georgetown.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Dear finalautumn, Thank you for choosing our lovely mansion and for taking the time to share your impressions. We truly appreciate and happy that you had a good experience at our hotel. Your feedback matter to us as we are committed in providing and improving our services for our guest. We look forward to see you again! Warm Regards, East Indies Mansion Team
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We had a really lovely stay at East Indies Mansion. The room (Anistar 2) was spacious and comfortable, particularly after figuring out how to adjust the air conditioning louver to not blow directly onto the main bed. The single bed was perfect for our 12-year-old son, but I would not put an adult over 5ft 5in on the small bed. Hotel staff was so friendly and extremely helpful in pointing us towards restaurants and activities. They really helped make our stay so great. Breakfast was excellent. There was a rotation of options, with the continental breakfast being the weakest of what we had. Our son loved the Chinese (dim sum) breakfast so much we had that twice during our 4 night stay. We loved the little details/amenities. It was great to have parasols/umbrellas to borrow in such a hot and sunny climate. Laundry service was quick and available for a reasonable price. We were able to get our sweaty clothes cleaned halfway through a 2 week trip. Hot tip: make sure you get a dessert at the bing su place a few doors down from the hotel. Best we've ever had!
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 28 Apr 2024
Dear JMHH, We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at East Indies Mansion. Thank you for leaving such a good review and we are thrilled to hear that your stay exceeded your expectations . We appreciate your kind feedback about our service and we are all looking forward to welcome you back here for another unforgetable moment. Warm Regards, East Indies Mansion Team
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This mansion is a must stay for people who love history, culture, good location and most importantly great service. The rich history of this hotel is amazing and has an extremely significant in Penang history. The location is awesome as its very near to all the major historic sites like little India, Chinese Kuan Yin, Peranakan Mansion museum, all the clan Jetties, Fort Cornwallis and much more. To top it all the staffs were just amazing and made our stay such a memorable one. They took the effort to ensure all our needs were met. Little gifts during our turn down was such a treat. Our kids also love the surprise gift- a cute bear for my daughter and a toy car for my son which they carry with then everywhere now.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow I was so glad I booked this hotel. Not only was it a step back in time living in a restored heritage building, but it was a warm comfortable and inviting experience. Service was phenomenal. Aitee who is the manager of the place ended up being very helpful to my trip, recommending me places to eat and visit as a local. Was definitely not expecting that from hotel stay. She is very friendly and helpful. The hotel is centrally located in George Town's little India and is minutes walk away from the revered peranakan museum. I was lucky to be the sole occupant of this boutique hotel which just completed renovations so I had a huge living room space that's usually common/shared open up to connect with my room. I had one of the rooms with two levels, where two beds (can sleep three) were downstairs and one bed (king size) is upstairs along with the bathroom. It would have been the perfect place to host a family/group of up to 5-6. The whole place was spotless. Bed was comfy, towels and toiletries were great. Definitely will be my choice of stay next time I'm in town.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from East Indiesmansion, Marketing at East Indies Mansion
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Dear Jerry C, We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at East Indies Mansion. Thank you for leaving such a good review and we appreciate your kind feedback about our service and we are looking forward to welcome you back here for another unforgetable moment. Warm Regards, East Indies Mansion Team
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Dear Daezjn201,
Kindly inform that there is only 1 room which is not attach with bathroom. The bathroom is locate at outside but not far from your room. The bathroom is privately for that room only, as this is not a sharing bathroom.
Regards,
EIM Team
There are more places to choose from in the George Town area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 390 - RM 536 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MalaysiaPenangPenang IslandGeorge Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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