At almost an hour before 10PM, we’re already in Penang Sentral bus station in Butterworth; ready excited to enjoy the long weekend (last 30 April – 2 May 2011).
It took a 5 1/2 hour bus ride for us to reach Kota Bharu in Kelantan, a quaint town in Northeastern Malaysia bordering Thailand. From the station in Kota Bharu, we took a cab that brought us to Renaissance Hotels where I booked an overnight stay for a reasonable (read: very affordable) price.
After interrupted uncomfortable sleep in the bus, it was heaven we felt on this beautiful bed.
How could you resist such volume of comfy pillows?
Tagged as the only 5-star-hotel in Kelantan, Renaissance Hotels run by Marriott doesn’t disappoint.
The front desk officer was so generous enough to talk to her manager for us to be allowed to check in at 5AM instead of early check in I availed online which was supposed to be at 7 in the morning (and not the regular check in sched of 2PM) for free! The half-day rate that we’re supposed to pay for checking in 2 hours before their “early check in time” was waived. That’s beyond efficiency in customer-service!
Kami naman ni Tina basta may kape kahit 3-in-1 solb na! 
But the Deluxe room we got has more to offer than 3-1 coffee…
Free use of gym (which we passed on in favor of laziness), steam bath, whirlpool but Tina and I separately sampled their sauna after Gabby had his time on the kiddie swimming pool.
We really had fun time at Renaissance. Did I already mentioned we also tried their dinner buffet? *That deserve a separate post* And everything –from the accomodation plus dinner buffet inclusive charges and taxes cost less than you imagine. :p
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Andaming unan, Doc! Sarap matulog! Zzzz… -___-
yup, marga! generous amount of pillows, and i like them – not too firm, not to soft! sarap nga matulog! *i can’t help but remember them when i just came from a 3d2n camping with students (as their requirement)where i slept on a military bed inside military tent.*
docgelo, tama ba ang impression ko na halos bago lahat ang mga buses diyan? very comfy at amoy bago pa. ganun ang mga nakita at nasakyan ko sa KL at Penang. i wonder how they do that. dito kasi sa atin, kahit pwedeng nang ipatimbang sa junkshop ay bumibyahe pa rin sa EDSA hehe.
so glad you’re impressed with buses here in penang. i am too.
hindi naman lahat sila bago, well-maintained lang.
ang ganda ganda naman nung room! the bed looks so inviting! i love the place!
docgelo, yung bus station nyo dyan parang bus station sa cubao ha! he he!
grace, you won’t believe me that the room+amenities+buffet dinner for the 3 of us only cost us less than RM500 (less than PhP7K.
steal ano?!
penang sentral reminds you of cubao bus station? i say better, sorry. haha!
I am sure you will remember that beautiful place even if you visit other hotels. I like that hotel, it looks so comfortable. And what with the numerous pillows! Heaven on earth?
korek!
ang ganda ng lobby mukhang mamahalin talaga. within a year, libot mo na whole malaysia
mukhang mamahalin pero hindi mahal! mamahalin mo ang presyong less than RM500 (less than PhP7K) for deluxe room+amenities(gym,sauna,steam bath, whirlpool, swimming pool+buffet dinner for the 3 of us).
thanks for reminding me i’m almost a year here in penang.
wala pa ata akong savings! *epic fail*
the bed is inviting me right now. especially the soft pillows ohhh.
that king size bed and those pillows are one of the most comfortable ones i’ve slept on.
hotel looks comfy, love it more that they let you in before check-in time for free! when i visited our homeland, the hotel where we stayed refused to do that…i have to pay extra.
we’re lucky to avail of that free early-check in, ms. nance.
sadly, not hotels even in our country practice that.
.. ganda doc, magkano naman?
for the nth time in this thread, hehehe we’ve only spent less than RM500 (less than PhP7K) for deluxe room+amenities(gym,sauna,steam bath, whirlpool, swimming pool+buffet dinner for the 3 of us). boleh?
Are the buses fitted with restrooms?
sadly, not.
not all.
unlike farinas buses and victory deluxe buses in manila (going north) back home.
I always love to see nice hotels…when we visited Penang 2 years ago we stayed at the Rasa Sayang in Batu Ferringhi… it was just gorgeous and the breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen, the three foot high chocolate fountain would have been a big hit with Gabby!
hmm, i have to check out that hotel online and who knows, budget comes we might sample the buffet too. haha! thanks for sharing!
update : i forgot, it’s the shangri la here in penang island; how can you go wrong?! wow! hmmm, we hope to try it one day… :p
I love the cozy accommodation! Zee loves lots of pillows, I can live with two. They look so soft and comfy!