| Beauty and boisterousness |
Guest Rating: 7 |
lyle H.
|
 United States
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 05 Nov 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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6/10 |
| Location: |
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8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
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10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
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4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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8/10 |
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Beautifully restored mansion in the heart of historic Georgetown. Nice staff. Upkeep of the place is difficult so the facilities, although nice to look at, are not too comfortable at times. There was a loudspeaker broadcasting from the street until 3AM which kept me up. This is a beautiful restoration of a Chinese mansion in the heart of historic Georgetown. The place in its heyday, when Fatt Tze was in his prime and had money to spend must have been quite opulent. What remains is a skeleton. I had a hard time with the skeleton key door and the toilet did not flush (took a few hours for that)
sorry about that. After the staff was informed they tried to help but apparently there was nothing they could do so day 2 was pretty much the same as day one...I was only there for one night and two days.
Sightseeing/Attractions Tip : Get one of their Georgetown Unesco maps
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| Charming Hotel |
Guest Rating: 9 |
geoffrey G.
|
United States
Couple
Date of Stay: 04 Nov 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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10/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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Location
Ambiance
History
Free Wi-fi
Beauty
Helpful staff Can't think of a single negative. Stayed one night at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang in early November 2009. What a remarkable place to get to see and spend time inside. Takes you back to 19th century China and Malaysia. The house is just so well restored. Lots of nice sitting areas. You can just close your eyes and imagine what it must have been like 150 years ago. If you're a history buff or you enjoy an authentic experience, I highly recommend spending at least one night at this charming place.
Hotel Feature Tip : Hotel provides free wi-fi if you have your own laptop. If not, there is a computer free to use in the computer room.
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benjamin E.
|
 Australia
Couple
Date of Stay: 30 Oct 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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4/10 |
| Location: |
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6/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
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2/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
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4/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
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2/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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4/10 |
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Beautiful heritage listed hotel. Great place to take photos. Noisy and uncomfortable. Not all of the staff are friendly. We stayed here in October and were deeply dissappointed. Of all the accomodation we had booked, this was what we had been looking forward to the most. Unfortunately during our stay of three nights, the owners had also booked in three separate private functions, two dinners and a luncheon. These events take up most of the common areas available for guest use and are VERY intrusive. We had wait staff loitering outside guest rooms and function guests peering in. The noise from these events seriously intrudes.
On the last day of our stay, with people bustling about setting up tables and chairs, testing sound systems etc, we had had enough and left early for the airport, choosing the relative peace and quiet of the terminal, over what we had hoped would be a relaxing few hours spent at the hotel.
As expected, the hotel itself is beautiful, but we had not expected shabby bedlinen, old pillows and airconditioners that were faulty (our room was freezing as the thermostat did not work, then it completely died and it was stifling hot). When we complained about the airconditioning, we were not offered another room but told that the repairman couldn't come until the following day.
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| Blue at the Blue Mansion? No way! |
Guest Rating: 8.7 |
janice B.
|
 United Kingdom
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 04 Oct 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
10/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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8/10 |
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- Beautifully restored and atmospheric house
- Friendly and relaxed
- Helpful staff
- Sound carries, but to be expected in an old house. When I checked out and paid, I found myself thanking the staff for the privilege of staying at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion! A quiet oasis in Georgetown, it feels as if you are staying in a cross between a museum and someone's home. Everything was clean comfortable and relaxing and the staff very friendly and helpful. A special thanks to Eric, the manager, for his tour of the house and his tongue in cheek asides.
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| An experience! |
Guest Rating: 8 |
puma L.
|
 Brunei Darussalam
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 24 Sep 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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6/10 |
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Service, location, decor, ambiance, attention to detail. Noise from hawkers centre next door. It's not everyday that one gets a glimpse into the past. CFT is interesting, definately a treat for the history buffs. Location is good with regards to historic Georgetown.
The hotel has an authentic time-warp feel to it, rich in history and steep in tradition that pays homage to a different time. The small touches are elegent and inviting - it is a credit and tribute to the owners and custodians of the hotel. In the daytime, a relaxing haven from the hustle and bustle of Georgetown. At night, serene and mystical (I say this with some apprehension - refer cons).
The hotel runs tours twice a day which should not be missed. Whether the facts are presented verbatim or romantically, it is enjoyable and provides a glimpse into the history of the Straits through the eyes of one man.
The big plus in staying at CFT is that as a house guest (and you're treated personally as a guest by the custodians of the mansion) is that you can take pictures inside the mansion. This is not allowed for visitors attending the tour.
In short, highly recommended. Really the best place to stay for a historic visit. The only downside is that the hotel is next to a hawkers centre. A two edged sword - good cheap food and live entertainment. The singing is enjoyable until one's about to retire for the night. When I was there, the singing stopped at 1am. If the hotel is able to shield the rooms from the noise, it would be a home run.
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| great stay |
Guest Rating: 7.7 |
mark H.
|
Australia
Couple
Date of Stay: 23 Sep 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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6/10 |
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room was slightly musty at first this place was great. it's truly unique and beautiful, the staff were friendly and helpful and you just cant beat Cheong Fatt Tze if you want to experience something different from the run-of-the-mill characterless hotel room. thoroughly enjoyed it and will go back
Restaurant Tip : the food court right next door has excellent, cheap food
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| A great experience |
Guest Rating: 8.3 |
jianwei W.
|
United States
Couple
Date of Stay: 04 Aug 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
|
10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
6/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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8/10 |
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the best part of Penang is its deep and rich history. staying at the blue mansion brings the best part of Penang out of my trip. the staff are friendly and i like their breakfast. It certainly stands out for its uniqueness. it is much more interesting than the fast-food style hotel chain type rooms.
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| Staying in an historic Chinese mansion |
Guest Rating: 9 |
robert R.
|
Couple
Date of Stay: 01 Aug 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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10/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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A beautiful 19th century Chinese mansion in the middle of the old area of Penang.
Close to Chinatown, Little India & the historic architectural UNESCO listed areas of Penang. Butterworth - travelling by train from Singapore we arrived 5 hours late (midnight) @ Butterworth railway station. It took another hour before we reached the hotel after a ferry & taxi ride. We travelled as two couples to CFT & it is one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in. If you're sick of staying @ generic, western style hotels, you should give CFT a try! CFT doesn't have a swimming pool or room service so if you're looking for this, don't stay here. CFT is like a homestay rather than a hotel. The staff are friendly, unassuming & very helpful, giving you tips on bargaining, transport, site seeing, fabulous food & restaurants.
The hotel & rooms are truly historic. There's a little of the gloss taken off the edges & there needs to be some renovation here & there. However, if you like to stay in historic surroundings & imaginewhat it would be like to be a part of a 19th century Chinese household, this is the place for you.
Breakfasts provided were very hearty & CFT was surrounded by an amazing array of places to eat.
Good laundry service was just around the corner of the hotel.
Travel tip : Fly to Penang - avoid the train trip from Singapore to Butterworth.
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| cheong fatt tze is a trip into history |
Guest Rating: 8.7 |
brian C.
|
 Canada
Couple
Date of Stay: 28 Jun 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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8/10 |
| Location: |
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8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
10/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
10/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
6/10 |
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- lovely historic ambience and atmosphere
- friendly and helpful staff
- decent central location
- beautiful and unique rooms - need to have a copy of the movie "Indochine" in the DVD collection! Beautifully restored and atmospheric mansion that's been converted into a very pleasant hotel. Does not offer all the modern conveniences and services of a modern business hotel but I'd say that the majority of guests who stay here aren't looking for that sort of thing. Is wonderful just to sit in the restored courtyard with a book and music or chat for an hour or two and soak in the entire experience. Definitely recommend joining one of the twice daily tours of the mansion (free to guests) to learn more about it as well as old georgetown. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and pleasant to deal with. Highly recommended.
Hotel Feature Tip : Hotel guests are permitted to photograph the mansion, with the exception of during the public tours. During the morning the light is fantastic, although that does mean you may end up dodging shutterbugs as they strive to get that perfect angle.
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| 3 nights in Cheng Fat Tze's mansion |
Guest Rating: 8.3 |
milos D.
|
 Slovakia
Couple
Date of Stay: 21 Mar 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
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10/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
6/10 |
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We stayed at this hotel for 3 nights and we both were very satisfied. Staff is very friendly and the place is very beautiful. Though it is not definitely type of hotel you might be used to, it's definitely worth trying and for us it's place, where we would like to return if we have a chance again. We also like the whole project concerning this building and hotel, which made it possible for everybody to stay in place like this private mansion is.
Restaurant Tip : Food stalls next to the hotel are worth trying.
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| Oasis of calm - day, noisy at night |
Guest Rating: 8 |
shiela Y.
|
United Kingdom
Couple
Date of Stay: 01 Mar 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
|
8/10 |
| Location: |
|
8/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
8/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
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8/10 |
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We loved the atmosphere, the decoration, the rooms, the staff were very helpful and friendly. During the day it was lovely to read a book in one of the courtyards and escape the hustle and bustle of Georgetown. The noise at night but not really the hotel's fault. Situated around the hotel are clubs, bars and a busy road so sleeping can be a problem as the windows aren't double glazed. Also in a storm a lot of the shutters crash and bang as they aren't fixed. This hotel is definitely worth staying in for its charm, atmosphere and experience of staying in such a lovely place. If you stay definitely do the guided tour as it gives a real insight into the history of the house. It's within walking distance of China town and Little India and lots of restaurants and bars so in a good situation. Sadly though its situation is also the only bad point as at night outside the hotel is noisy with traffic noise and dance music on some nights. Take earplugs or just be prepared for not sleeping well but do stay here at least a couple of days.
Hotel Feature Tip : Do the guided tour of the hotel. They have them twice a day. Also close your shutters at night incase there is a storm as they are very hard to close when it's windy.
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| Living with history |
Guest Rating: 9 |
michael S.
|
United States
Couple
Date of Stay: 20 Feb 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
|
10/10 |
| Location: |
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10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
8/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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The Mansion oozes history. Its well maintained rooms and classic Chinese configuration are unique. Our room, the Kitchen, was spacious, full of character and featured a modern bathroom (with no door). The staff is lovely. A few cosmetic things need tending, and our room came with a mouse. He was no bother, but his presence upset the staff. We loved staying here. Its character and visual richness are memorable. Visitors can't take pictures, but guests can. The staff is friendly and helpful. The location is perfect. Breakfast is plentiful. Nothing sleek or modern about it. A true piece of Penang history. And bed was confortable.
Nightlife Tip : The Rose Garden next door is a great slice of local life. Beer waiters are attentive. Food stalls serve decent meals, and the live music is a bonus. The local people like to dance. Great fun at bargain rates.
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| Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Hotel |
Guest Rating: 9 |
rebecca L.
|
Australia
Other
Date of Stay: 30 Jan 2009 |
| Value for Money: |
|
8/10 |
| Location: |
|
10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
6/10 |
|
| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
10/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
10/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
10/10 |
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Modern facilites, breakfast included, bath tub :D Some staff not very friendly a bit abrupt. What a fantasitc place to stay. You feel like you have gone back in time. I loved staying in a such a beautifully restored mansion. Ms Kim was really helpful and the gate staff lovely. It's a must stay in Penang.
Sightseeing/Attractions Tip : It's near little India and old chinatown. Penang street for shopping. Also near by the historical buildings of Penang.
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| Blue Mansion - wonderful |
Guest Rating: 9 |
catherine H.
|
Australia
Solo Traveler
Date of Stay: 18 Dec 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
|
8/10 |
| Location: |
|
10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
|
| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
8/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
10/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
8/10 |
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Friendly staff.
Central location.
Wonderful historic atmosphere.
All positive. From the moment I arrived I felt welcomed. Lovely atmosphere and the room - Shantung - was wonderful. My stay was for only one night but it has encouraged me to return to Penang and CTFM.
Thank you.
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| What a restful place |
Guest Rating: 10 |
philip S.
|
Australia
Couple
Date of Stay: 14 Dec 2008 |
| Value for Money: |
|
10/10 |
| Location: |
|
10/10 |
| Staff Performance: |
|
10/10 |
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| Hotel Condition/Cleanliness: |
|
10/10 |
| Room Comfort/Standard: |
|
10/10 |
| Food/Dining: |
|
10/10 |
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Quiet, restful, awway from the hustle and bustle of the streets. Breakfast was great, room was beautiful and stylish. Staff were wonderful. This was one of the best places we have stayed in, in our world travels. It was quiet, comfortable and stylish. The staff were superb and we would recommend it to anyone who would like a little luxury with a little interest.
Restaurant Tip : The food at the place next door was very good but the food at Kapitans tandoori was great!
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