Shangri La Rasa Sayang Hotel

My family stayed in the Rasa Sayang (Rasa Wing) in Penang during June 2007. The hotel has recently undergone a major renovation program. The size and quality of the rooms in the Rasa Wing are definitely worth the extra cost. The rooms are very spacious and the bathrooms are absolutely stunning, especially in the Premium Deluxe rooms. An advantage of staying in the Rasa Wing is that you are entitled to a lounge access (with the usual associated benefits and High Tea served in the afternoon). The Spice Market restaurant serves a nice buffet,... more

Hotel and staff excellent but booked trip though Thomas Cook Signature who charged us £17 per person per day for pre-paid breakfast. On arrival the hotel only charged £13.80. Complaint to Thomas Cook was a waste of time so never prepay them for Breakfast here unless you want to be ripped off.

We spent a long Easter week-end at the Rasa Sayang and found the grounds to be some of the best we had ever seen in a resort, with its spectacular trees, great pool design and CHI spa making this Shangri-La a notch above the competition. However iIt does not come cheap, the service can be variable (despite the staff trying very hard) and the room furniture could have been more generous. But we were glad we chose a premier studio room in the Garden Wing for the stunning views, more space for our 3 year old and the extra benefits - as... more

We stayed at the Rasa Sayag for a week a couple of weeks ago. Sure it is expensive by Malaysian standards, but what a hotel!! The grounds and pool areas are absolutely stunning, total luxury. What is the main strength of this hotel are the staff, genuinely friendly and helpful people who are delighted to be working there and to be doing their job. My tip would be to stay at the Rasa Wing, the additional cost, small in the overall scheme of things is really worth it. The only negative thing I would say is that outside the... more

We have stayed at the Rasa Sayang twice before this trip. We originally booked our stay in Penang last year before the hotel reopened and were not really aware of the benefits of staying in the Rasa Wing rather than the Garden Wing and booked to stay in the Garden Wing. When we read that the hotel had undergone major renovations I was very excited to see what had been done. On checking in, the general lobby and lounge areas are amazing - very different. Unfortunately the Garden Wing room did not live up to to the refurbishments... more

If you want Four Seasons luxury, stay at a Four Seasons property, don't waste your money here. Unless you are paying over USD500 a night to stay at the Rasa Wing rooms, it is not worth the money to stay at this "refurbished" hotel. Prior to being refurbished as a "luxury" resort which reopened in October 2006, the Rasa Sayang Resort was always the beacon of immaculate service and unsurpassed comfort and leisure on the beautiful island of Penang, off the west coast of peninsula Malaysia. Growing up on the island in the 80's and early... more

We have just stayed two weeks in the Rasa wing in a Premier Room (yes- the one with the bath on the balcony - which I have to say we used every night). The service was impeccable, friendly and efficient. The pool was to die for, the climate perfect and the buffet/ canapes/ free drinks in the Rasa lounge were excellent value - and many evenings we didn't want an evening meal at all. The night markets provided sufficient interest to while away an hour in the evenings and Penang in general provided enough points of interest and trips... more

Stayed here a few years ago and went back again for 5 nights over new year, based on it just being renovated etc The good The landscaping gardens and the pools are great the new restaurant has great decor and good buffets The room bathroom is good They seem to have a few foreign managers who were visible alot around the place. The not so good the room was nothing special consdiering they say it is just renovated. We were in Penang prioir to checking in so we called giving our name etc and... more

We stayed 4 days at the end of December 2006. The hotel rooms and grounds are great; all new and well laid out and well finished. The pools are excellent too. Service is very polite, sincere and attentive - just a bit slow. The main problem with the hotel is the beach which is un-usable and especially so if you have small kids. The sand is grainy rather than fine and there are alot of rocks in the water, which is murky rather than clear. But these are minor issues; the main problems are the quad bikes which roar up and down what is a... more

We stayed at the property from the 13th of December to the 2nd of January 2007 & had booked one rasa premier & one rasa deluxe room. The rasa premier room was very nice & spacious. The bath tub in the balcony needs brave souls to get into {in full view of other rooms}. Food & service are major issues at this property. The ferrangi grill is over-priced & the menu insipid. Spice market is the major food outlet but service is extremely slow & orders are, at times, either forgotten or misplaced. The spa was very good & the therapies excellant.... more