Cathay Hotel

Georgetown

15 Leith Street, , Penang, 10200, Malaysia

 

60%

of people enjoy staying here

3.0 our of 5 stars 38 Opinions

Excellent
 
3
Very Good
 
10
Average
 
9
Poor
 
10
Terrible
 
4

Our Members Say

  • jrboy86 profile photo
  • Reviews: 1

4 out of 5 starsUser Rating

Don't judge the hotel by the look of it~!

At first when i saw the look of the hotel...i went OMGosh~~~am i going to stay here...then when I went in, and I saw those old uncles as in 70+ yrs old...i totally lost my confidence and will to stay in the hotel.

Because of the budget and the time went is quite pack every where, I decided to give it a try and when the uncle open the door for the Deluxe Room, I'm left without words...All i can say is I'm definitely staying here and it is worth the price at RM105/night for two queen size bed that can fit 4 big guys in it.

  • Opinion of Price: least expensive
  • Related to: Budget Travel, Backpacking
  • Written January 4, 2011
Cathay Hotel Photo: The deluxe room...

Cathay Hotel Photo: The deluxe room...

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  • tremendopunto profile photo
  • Reviews: 629

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

Beautiful Colonial Building:

later

  • Opinion of Price: N/A
  • Related to: Backpacking, Budget Travel
Cathay Hotel

Cathay Hotel

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  • travelpug profile photo
  • Reviews: 357

3 out of 5 starsUser Rating

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Fine looking hotel

This white colour hotel looks interesting for those who are into old architecture and low budget. Room costs RM69nett per night for 2 persons. It's basic room with tile floor. Good location as there is a hawker center opposite it. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is located just opposite.

Unique Quality: Basic mid range hotel

  • Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
Cathay Hotel Photo: Cathay Hotel

Cathay Hotel Photo: Cathay Hotel

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  • 1W1V profile photo
  • Reviews: 580

3 out of 5 starsUser Rating

Check-it out

Haven't stay there but this hotel looks like Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. I mean in the same style of accomodation in a very old Penang house.
The price is of course much cheaper than the famous mansion and I guess the service is less experienced but if you look for new experience, this may be the place.
If I remember well, the price must be around 50 USD.

Unique Quality: location
architecture
atmosphere
price

  • Opinion of Price: about average
  • Related to: Backpacking
Cathay Hotel Photo: Entrance of Cathay Hotel

Cathay Hotel Photo: Entrance of Cathay Hotel

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  • ellielou profile photo
  • Reviews: 229

3 out of 5 starsUser Rating

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

a step back in time

The cavernous Cathay Hotel is not big on services. Just a neat looking place, with clean, basic, yet large rooms, with cold, cold a/c....which is a big priority in the heat of Penang.

Unique Quality: You can walk out the front door, and look straight at the amazing Chung Fat Tze mansion. The staff consists of about five very elderly men, one of whom still has a British accent from his days of being educated by the British during their colonial rule.

  • Opinion of Price: about average
  • Related to: Budget Travel
Cathay Hotel Photo: stately old building

Cathay Hotel Photo: stately old building

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  • bpacker profile photo
  • Reviews: 1892

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Charming Colonial Joint

If you're still yearning to stay in a colonial mansion but want to pay a fraction of the guests prices in the E&O, then stay in Cathay Hotel. This joint is just opposite the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and next to the clubbing area of Leith Street. A double room with air con here goes for less than US$30.

Unique Quality: I explored this cavernous hotel and absorbed all the lovely details. Unlike Cheong Fatt Tze, the friendly caretaker over here didn't even blink an eyelid when I took pictures. I saw lovely english tiles, ancient wooden swing doors and latticed windows.

Note:This place is extremely traditional so they don't accept internet bookings or credit cards. Pls call ( details in the weblink below ) ahead to book a room.

  • Opinion of Price: least expensive
  • Related to: Budget Travel
Cathay Hotel Photo: Latticed windows and wooden swing doors, Cathay Ho

Cathay Hotel Photo: Latticed windows and wooden swing doors, Cathay Ho

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  • gnh profile photo
  • Reviews: 463

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Old Charm

Elegant mansion converted to hotel.

Good idea to try one, but it doesn't look cheap !
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is just opposite the road ?

Unique Quality: Stately building. Near to the hot spot Penang Road - the place for Penang night life !

  • Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
Cathay Hotel Photo: Cathay Hotel

Cathay Hotel Photo: Cathay Hotel

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  • ngcsc profile photo
  • Reviews: 171

4 out of 5 starsUser Rating

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Stay of the 70's

For RM 70, you get a decendly clean aircon room with attached bathroom, friendly staffs, central location in town area, and value added original Penang traditional style Hotel,
what can you expect more??

Unique Quality: The architecture, the well kept style and outlook, the clean and not smelly geust room, this is the quality I want

  • Opinion of Price: least expensive
  • Related to: Architecture
Cathay Hotel Photo: Entrance of Hotel

Cathay Hotel Photo: Entrance of Hotel

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  • M0B1US profile photo
  • Reviews: 607

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Faded Colonial Glory...

This graceful colonial establishment is recommended by budget conscious travellers.

It is starting to look its age but it is excellent value for large fan or air-con rooms with attached bathrooms and such interesting features as 30's bakelite telephones and radios that often still work!

The rooms were lovely and cool and airy, but basic without any mod cons other than the air-con - but who wants to be cooped up in their room on holiday?;-)

The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful and some is always on duty throughout the night. When we left for Thailand in the morning at 5am, a fellow passenger's minibus hadn't turned up and ours was late and the guy on duty was on the phone haranguing the bus companies and getting them to sort their acts out - ours came a few minutes later and the stranded girl was able to make a connection in our minibus...

There are also handy information boards with travel advice in the foyer.

Movie buffs out there may recognise this hotel as a location of Beyond Rangoon - not that we're anywhere near Burma here of course... ;-)

  • Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
  • Related to: Architecture
Cathay Hotel Photo: An Attractive Colonial Facade

Cathay Hotel Photo: An Attractive Colonial Facade

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More about Cathay Hotel

Old Mansions Converted to Backpacker Hotel

by SLLiew about Yeng Keng Hotel, Swiss Hotel, Cathay Hotel, etc

Along Chulia Street, Love Lane, Leith Street and adjoining Streets in this part of George Town, there are several old mansions with courtyards that converted into budget and backpackers accommodation.

Example are Yeng Keng Hotel (Chulia Street), Swiss Hotel (Chulia Street) , Cathay Hotel (Leith Street) to name a few. You can get air con, ceiling fan, attached or common bathrooms or bunk beds to match your budget.

Most have their small cafes for meals but there are plenty of choices of restaurants, street stalls and coffee shops to choose from.

Take your time to check the rooms available. If you are coming by van from Bangkok via Haadyai in the evening, very often the van will take you to their choice but you can check the rooms out. You can always stay for a night and look for a better one the next day.

Photos

Cathay HotelCathay Hotel

The foyer of the Cathay HotelThe foyer of the Cathay Hotel

Forum Posts

Cathay Hotel

by Solvorhh

Hi!
I'm going to Penang in January and have been trying to find the booking telephone no. to Cathay hotel without any luck so far. Read your review and tried the weblink below, but for some mystical reason it did not work. Do you know how I can get a hold of it?
It just seems like the best place to start my stay!

Thanks a lot in advance!

Best regards

Solvor

RE: Cathay Hotel

by ellielou

I think they have a phone number in the LP or RG to Malaysia. I found this on the web: 15 Leith Street
Penang,
10200
Phone: +60 4 262 6272

but don't know if it's what you have. And, it's a huge place, so a good chance that they won't be full if you just want to 'chance it!'

It's an enjoyable place to stay. Have fun!

RE: Cathay Hotel

by photograbber

Hi Solvor

You could also fax them with your request for a room. They don't appear to have any way of booking via the web and they don't take credit cards. Their fax no is +6 04 2639300

I faxed them with my room request when I stayed there in April and the room was ready just as I'd requested. Ask for a room in the front part of the building, there is a rather soul less annexe out the back which has no character at all.

Have a good trip

Rory

 
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 The architecture, the well kept style and outlook, the clean and not smelly geust room, this is the quality I want 

506 members live in Penang

 

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Q: penang to langkawi "tell me how can i reach langkawi from penang which i reach on 27 of May 2012 at not before 1:00 pm on same day please."

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A: "There are regular buses from Peneng to Kuala Perlis and from Kuala Perlis f the ferry runs from 7am to 7pm for the 75 minute crossing.Try that way."

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 Cathay Hotel

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Cathay Hotel Penang

Address: 15 Leith Street, , Penang, 10200, Malaysia