Shangri-La Golden Sands, Penang

Azman Salim

Stayed here for a short 2D1N trip before the school holidays. Overall, it was a pleasant stay with a few areas that could be improved. The room was tidy and comfortable, although the floor felt a little sandy when we checked in. On the positive side, the staff were excellent throughout our stay—friendly, attentive, and always willing to help. My daughter had a great time at the mini waterpark, which was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. However, as a family that enjoys spending time at the beach, we found the private beach a bit disappointing. Not because of cleanliness, but due to the severe erosion along the shoreline. It didn’t feel very safe for swimming, especially with children. I was really looking forward to the breakfast buffet. There was a wide variety of food available, which was great, but the presentation wasn’t particularly appetising. In the end, I spent most of my breakfast enjoying the pastries, scrambled eggs, and creating my own English breakfast from the Western station. One thing that could be improved is the dining area during breakfast. It felt quite humid and warm, and additional air conditioning would make the experience much more comfortable. Overall, we enjoyed our stay thanks to the excellent service and family-friendly facilities, but I hope the beach condition and dining comfort can be improved in the future.

Drag Bukit Kayu Hitam

Beautiful views and great dining staff, but the check-in process and rooms need improvement. ​Upon arrival, the place was very crowded and parking was difficult to find. We had to wait about 15 minutes just for the buggy, and the check-in process took another 15 to 30 minutes. To make matters worse, we were greeted by an Indian lady with a sour face. Fortunately, the staff at the actual reception counter were friendly. ​When we entered the room, it was clear that the property is quite dated. There was peeling wood, and it felt like the hotel management is trying to cut costs as much as possible. ​The highlight of our stay was definitely the breakfast staff, especially Encik Mohamed Jamal at the counter, as well as the rest of the dining team. Everyone was incredibly friendly and well-trained. The pool and the surrounding scenery are also very beautiful. ​Would I come back? Probably not. For the price, I would rather try another hotel that offers better value and quality.

Wind H

Extremely disappointing stay and definitely not worth the price. This was one of the worst hotel experiences I have had. The check-in time was stated as 3:00pm, but when I arrived at around 2:10pm, the room was not ready. I asked several times, yet even by 4:00pm, the room was still not available. The only reason given was that the room had not been cleaned. For a hotel at this price level, this kind of delay and poor arrangement is unacceptable. The pool was also very disappointing. The water looked dirty and poorly maintained, which made it uncomfortable to use. The dinner seafood buffet, priced at RM178, was a complete letdown. The food quality was extremely poor, with taste worse than normal hawker food. There was very limited selection, some seafood was cold, desserts were average and unimpressive, and the grilled seafood was not refilled. It felt like the buffet was badly managed, overpriced, and not worth even close to RM178. Breakfast was another poor experience. The environment was unpleasant and badly arranged. The food was very ordinary compared with other hotels in the same price range. Cups, plates, and basic items were often empty, and the staff did not seem to manage the flow properly. It felt messy, understaffed, and poorly organized. The room itself was only average, but the soundproofing was very bad. Noise from outside and nearby rooms could be heard clearly, which made the stay uncomfortable. Even the hair dryer was fixed inside a drawer, which was inconvenient and poorly designed. Overall, the service, cleanliness, food quality, facilities, and room comfort were all far below expectation. This hotel charges like a premium hotel but delivers a very poor experience. I would not return and would not recommend it to anyone.

Jayalaksmi Ramasamy

Stayed here with family for 4 days 3 nights, booked two rooms 326 and 328- connective room. Good thing is pool is nice and kids enjoyed. Breakfast was acceptable, not much new food on daily basis. Same menu everyday. However, the room is not clean, carpet is dirty, towels got stain and the drawers are super dusty. Even the bathroom racks are not wiped. Corridor - super dusty, we see same trash and at same place along the corridor everyday. 326 room latch is broken , unable to open it since we checked in. Thank God, we were in connective room, hence we didn't make fuss on it. I understand it's old building, keeping it clean is more essential. Definitely will NOT come back. This place not worth amount of the money I paid. Thank you for the horrible experience.

Hani Hyoscine

Stayed here on 8th and 9th June and had a wonderful experience. From the parking area to check-in, everything was smooth, efficient, and hassle-free. A special shout-out to the breakfast team, especially Mdm Munis and Miss Nurin, for their warm hospitality and excellent service. They made us feel genuinely welcomed and ensured we had a pleasant start to our day. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay enjoyable!