The 7 Largest Hostel in Penang

With its diverse culture, stunning landscapes, and affordable prices, Malaysia is a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers. To accommodate the growing number of visitors, the country has seen a boom in the hostel industry in recent years. Here are five of the largest hostels in Malaysia:

• The Bed KLCC:

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, The Bed KLCC is a popular choice for travelers who want to be close to the city’s main attractions. The hostel offers a range of accommodation options, from private rooms to shared dormitories, as well as a rooftop bar with stunning city views.

• The Hive Hostel:

Located in Petaling Jaya, just outside of Kuala Lumpur, The Hive Hostel is a modern and stylish hostel that offers a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a rooftop terrace. The hostel also has a bar and restaurant, and organizes regular events and activities for guests.

• The POD Hostel:

With locations in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Melaka, The POD Hostel is one of the largest and most well-known hostel chains in Malaysia. The hostels offer a range of accommodation options, from private rooms to shared dormitories, as well as a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a bar.

• The Regalia Hostel:

Located in Georgetown, Penang, The Regalia Hostel is a popular choice for travelers who want to experience the city’s vibrant culture and history. The hostel offers a range of accommodation options, from private rooms to shared dormitories, as well as a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the city.

• The Travelodge Bukit Bintang:

Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, The Travelodge Bukit Bintang is a large and modern hotel that offers a range of accommodation options, from private rooms to shared dormitories. The hotel also has a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant, and is conveniently located near the city’s main attractions.

The 7 Biggest Hostel near Penang

EZ Social Hostel

• Address: 458, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (94)
• Phone: +60 16-253 5006
• Reviews:
  
  Storm Reviews✭✭✭✭✭

  2 months ago

  Our experience at EZ Social Hostel in Malaysia was quite positive. Despite arriving after check-in time, the accommodating international volunteers allowed us in. The hostel, relatively new, quickly became one of our favorites for meeting fellow travelers.

  A minor inconvenience was the mix-up with guests in the male dorm, leading my friend and me to bunk separately for the first night. Breakfast was satisfactory, offering decent value for the price. However, the real highlight was the bar – affordable drinks, lively games, and a vibrant crowd made it the nightly go-to spot. It’s worth noting that it can get a bit loud until 12, after which the atmosphere mellows as people head to the clubs.

  While the hostel has some quirks like beeping doors and street noise, the exceptional staff, including a friendly and helpful manager, more than made up for it. Their welcoming attitude contributed significantly to our overall positive experience. ??

  Ow and again love to the Hostel team who took me and my friend for some local lunch! Great meeting them!

  Ryan Woods✭✭✭✭✭

  a month ago

  I had a great stay at EZ this is a very sociable, party kind of place to stay! The cinema room, bar and roof terrace are great ways of making new friends and having a party! Beer pong tournaments every day, and pub crawls are great! There’s also lots of great activities, such as food tours, bowling etc. Highly recommend this hostel!

  Ayush Jain✭✭✭✭

  3 weeks ago

  I’m not a big fan of social party hostels but to go out of my comfort zone I booked this hostel.

  Overall experience was good even though I didn’t engage in the daily events and parties in the bar.

  I’ve lived in many hostels but limit to 4 or 6 bed dorm. This place has 10 bed dorms but it didn’t bother me. Rooms were usually quiet and mostly clean.

  Floors were creaky but you expect that in a 100 year old building.

  Great location, walking distance to cafes, pubs.

  The bathroom area was small.

  The beds were very comfortable though no privacy for the top bunk.

  Breakfast was average.

  I didn’t have any specific problem with the service but there was no life or a sense of hospitality in the staff (I guess they are volunteers after reading other reviews).

  They didn’t even know where I can could find the nearest currency exchange (I found one literally 1 mins walk away).

  The common area is comfortable to watch movies or Netflix on the projector.

  akash saha✭

  a month ago

  Not sure where to start ?. Walking through to the dorm area you are greeted with a smell of smelly shoes.

  The dorms are all as cold 7/11’s. The AC and Fan are controlled and set centrally and after two nights here, I got sick.

  Windows are paper thin so you feel like you’re sleeping on the street every time a bus goes by and constant bass from the nightclub across the street can be heard over the ear plugs provided.

  The breakfast area is next to caged animals so there’s always an unwelcoming aroma of faeces while eating.

  Staff/Volunteers have no experience in hospitality at all. It is obvious there is a lack of management and most of the volunteers/workers are staying here to benefit from the perks and using it as a gathering for themselves. Even at times the group chat felt like their own.

  There was a mouse in the dorm that was running along the curtain rail (behind my bed) I reported this to reception and kindly requested to move beds. She said she would check and come back to me, I had to follow up 10 minutes later and she said she didn’t get a chance to check with management. She said she would write in the group chat which never happened. I saw the mouse again the day after wondering in the corridor.

  The house keeping team were very nice and friendly. I wouldn’t recommend spending any money in this place as you will be very disappointed and can find better locations to be social.

  Enrica Spadaccini✭✭✭✭✭

  4 months ago

  Clean and cozy hostel, with attention to details, it has a cinema room perfect for relaxing and a really cheap and eventful bar where you can spend the evening. Everything in the hostel is of excellent quality: beds are huge and with double pillow, there is one huge mixed bathroom but also a female bathroom with speakers and music all day long and breakfast is abundant and tasty. Perfect for enjoying GeorgeTown and making new friends!!

TIDO Hostel Penang

• Address: 106, Jalan Argyll, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 3.7 (410)
• Phone: +60 4-251 9266
• Reviews:
  
  Ky Wong✭✭✭✭

  a week ago

  The location is convenient, service is great and room is comfy. They have an open space in level 5. However, the hygiene in bathroom needs to be improved. Some toilet are tapped. So whenever you want to use toilet, better check and make sure toilet wasn’t tapped and toilet paper is available. By the way, I can smell urine near the toilet which had tapped. Maybe it’s on the floor mat.

  Daniel James✭

  3 weeks ago

  Cheap for a reason. We stayed in the 8 bed dormitory which had 4 toilets/showers available for use. After checking in we went to look at them, 2 of them were broken with the toilets taped up, 1 had a cockroach in the sink and the shower flooded and the last had plasterboard all over the floor. Our dormitory smelt like gone off milk and the air conditioner stopped working every 2/3h. I told the reception and they said I had to keep turning if off and back on again, this resulted in one night me getting up 5 times to reset the A/C. Pay a bit more and stay somewhere nicer.

  Rachel Stalvey✭✭✭✭

  3 weeks ago

  This is from a solo travel on a budget. I really liked this Hostel. The beds were comfy. They have a lift. Its is really clean and the staff is nice and helpful. The location was nice. There was no hot water from showers.

  thaneswaran kalismohan✭✭✭✭✭

  a month ago

  Not too bad for it’s price & location. Sometimes people tend to over expect & pinpoint absolutely everything. I was overall satisfied with my stay here except for the part where my roommate switched off or increased the temp of the aircond numerous times.

  Lucie Davila✭

  a month ago

  We thank the reception guy who didn’t accept to give us a bed after we have put the wrong day in booking, but have paid. I do not see the trouble it brings for him, after the money was sent to the hostel, to change that small mistake. And I can understand he cannot take this decision on his own maybe but he didn’t try at any moment to help us find a solution apart from saying we should contact booking because he cannot do anything. We have never used the facility and he knows it since the day was set to one day earlier, so no proof of check-in. I really regret even trying to come here. They did keep our bags at the reception for the whole day though. We hesitated to pay again in Tido for the night (meaning we would have paid twice) but found a better accommodation in a better location for a lower price.

Aayu Chulia

• Address: 286, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (32)

Island Hostel

• Address: 1-H, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kampung Sungai Nibong, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (81)

111 Hutton Lane Hostel

• Address: 111, Hutton Ln, Georgetown, 10050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (45)

House of Journey Hostel & Guesthouse

• Address: 12, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.4 (173)

Sogor Dormitory

• Address: 217-V, Jalan Burma, Georgetown, 10050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (73)

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Top Hostel Alternatives in Penang

When traveling to Penang, there are several alternatives to traditional hostels that have gained popularity among travelers seeking unique and affordable accommodations. Here are three of the top hostel alternatives in Penang:

• 1. Homestays: Homestays are a great alternative for those who want to experience local culture and hospitality. Penang offers a wide range of homestay options, from traditional Chinese and Malay houses to modern apartments. Staying in a homestay allows travelers to interact with their hosts, learn about local customs and traditions, and experience authentic home-cooked meals. Many homestays also offer guided tours and activities, making it a convenient and immersive accommodation choice.
• 2. Guesthouses: Guesthouses are another popular alternative to hostels in Penang. These are small, family-run establishments that offer budget-friendly accommodations. Guesthouses are usually located in heritage buildings, offering a unique and charming atmosphere. Some guesthouses even come with additional amenities such as communal kitchens, shared lounges, and Wi-Fi. They are a great option for travelers who want a more intimate and cozy stay while still being affordable.
• 3. Airbnb: Airbnb has gained tremendous popularity globally, and Penang is no exception. With a wide range of listings available, travelers can choose from entire apartments, private rooms, or even unique accommodations such as heritage houses or boutique studios. Airbnb offers a more personalized and home-like experience, with the advantage of having access to a kitchen and often other amenities. It also provides the opportunity to stay in different neighborhoods, allowing travelers to explore different parts of Penang.

These alternative accommodations in Penang offer travelers a chance to experience the local culture, interact with the hosts, and enjoy unique surroundings, all while staying within budget. Whether choosing a homestay, guesthouse, or Airbnb, visitors to Penang can find a comfortable and memorable stay that suits their preferences and enhances their travel experience.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. For more in-depth reviews and comprehensive ratings on the Hostel spots, please explore the recommended articles listed below.