Bayview Beach Resort REVIEW: budget resort in Batu Ferringhi

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At the far end of Batu Ferringhi beach, Bayview Beach Resort is one of the longest running resorts in Penang and for many years was considered one of the island’s must-stay places. Although the location and some aspects of the building are still impressive, a lack of maintenance and TLC has seen it fall behind its more glamourous neighbours. But, with reasonable prices, large family rooms and expansive ocean views, there’s still much to love at this iconic Batu Ferringhi landmark.

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Arriving to The Bayview Beach Resort

Arguably the most impressive feature of the Bayview Beach Resort is the huge atrium that houses the reception area. With whitewashed walls and glass-panelled lifts whizzing up and down the exterior, it’s a welcoming arrival, with a good time holiday vibe and fast check-in time.

Be warned that at check-in and checkout times, the lifts soon become over-subscribed and can often result in queues to get inside.

The rooms

The Family Rooms with a partial sea view (slightly cheaper versions are available with a hilltop view) are an ideal space for a family, with two separate (but interconnected) rooms, one twin and one with a huge king-sized bed. With balconies in both rooms, it provides plenty of space to relax and take in the views.

Although the hotel label them partial sea view room, in reality there’s an excellent vista awaiting you, only slightly obscured by trees and the edge of the hotel building.

In the room you’ll find a fridge, two satellite TVs, AC, kettle, tea, coffee and water. The only bathroom has a bathtub and powerful shower, although the ceiling desperately needed repainting.

The rooms are probably the best part of the resort and, aside from the bathroom, were in good condition and incredibly spacious. If you’re here as a family and each need your own space for an hour or so, these rooms will deliver.

The swimming pools

The resort has two pools, one for kids and one general pool. It’s here where the resort starts to show its age, with obvious signs of lack of a maintenance and care. The pool walls are filthy once you look a few feet under the surface, the swim-up pool bar is abandoned and seemingly used as a storage area, and the whole vibe is ‘ten years since the last refurb’.

It’s such a shame because everything is in place to make the swimming area appealing and modern, it just needs some money spent on it and a good clean.

If you’re here with young kids, there’s a fun splash area with slides and water features. Again, as long as you don’t scratch below the surface, it’s fine, but nowhere near the same standard as elsewhere in town.

The breakfast

Alongside the rooms, the breakfast is one of the real highlights of the Bayview Beach Resort. Even during busy holiday periods, there are enough spare tables, and the food is constantly topped up, right until closing time (6.30am to 10.00am).

There’s the usual hotel breakfast selection, covering every cuisine and area of the globe, from nasi lemak and noodles, to scrambled eggs and beef sausages. The roti canai station is a popular stop.

The beach

It often comes as a surprise to visitors, but the beaches in Penang aren’t always great, and the one outside Bayview Beach Resort is nothing to get excited about. The jellyfish and murky waters mean the water is unappealing for swimming, although there’s enough watersports on offer to fill the time if you do want to get out onto the water.

At sunset, the beach is pleasant enough to sit and take in the view, but it’s quite narrow at this point and tends to get quite busy with other tourists.

The local area

Bayview Beach Resort is at the far end of Batu Ferringhi, so you’re a short walk away from the night markets, restaurants and other resorts. If you’re heading east towards the main area, a walk along the beach is best at busy times, as the road is filled with cars and the pavement is often non-existent or taken over by stall-holders.

One of the best beach bars in Penang (Frandy’s) is next door to the resort though, well worth a visit. Or, if you need some exercise and want to see another side of Batu Ferringhi, check out the Iron Waterfall walk, which begins just outside the main entrance.

Check out our guide to the best things to do in Batu Ferringhi.

For more idea’s on what to do on your visit to the island, check out our guide on the best things to do in Penang.

Things to do in Penang

Wondering what to do in Penang? Whether you’re seeking adventure, or need to relax and unwind, here we provide a detailed guide to all the things to do in Penang, so that you can get the most out of your visit. From heritage landmarks to epic viewpoints, we’ve got you covered.

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Final thoughts on a stay at Bayview Beach Resort

You can tell that Bayview Beach Resort used to be something quite special. It has an excellent location, the main entrance is grand and all the key elements are still in place for a beautiful beach resort. And while the rooms and breakfast gain high marks, so much else in the resort feels uncared for and in desperate need of upkeep and a few tins of paint. For this reason, we haven’t included it in our guide to the best hotels in Penang.

In spite of this, a stay here is still something we’d recommend, it’s a good deal cheaper than its competitors along the road (e.g. Hard Rock Hotel and ParkRoyal), and it’s easy to overlook the problems once you’re sat on the balcony, cold drink in hand, watching the sun disappear behind the rainforest-covered hills.