My Solo Stay in a Heritage Hotel in Penang

My Solo Stay in a heritage hotel in Penang

It’s only a few days that I have returned from my solo Penang Trip as a female solo traveller, and It is not easy to find a good place to stay. The average hotel has hundreds of guests and often lacks a personal approach to make a solo traveller feel comfortable.

While planning my 10 day trip to Penang, I was keen to try a heritage hotel in Penang because of my passion for old buildings. The law of attraction must have worked for me as I come across the Campbell House, a little jewel of a heritage hotel in Penang, right in the heart of George Town.

By browsing through their room pictures and reading the guest reviews, I soon had a good feeling. During my stay, I met a couple of women staying on their own, and Nardya, the hotel owner, told me that there are often female solo travellers among their hotel guests.

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A bit of story behind the Campbell House Hotel in Penang

The Campbell House is a boutique hotel in George Town located in a beautifully renovated heritage building, which was originally built in 1903. It used to be a former shop, a hotel, and a vacant building for many years. When I meet the owners, a lovely Malaysian Italian couple who used to live in London as professionals in high-end tourism and hospitality, they tell me that back in 2010, Roberto discovered this colonial house online and purchased it to create the Campbell House.

This hotel has been refurbished with the utmost attention to the smallest detail, thus creating a classy yet not snobbish atmosphere. This is something that comes through soon after entering the hotel hall.

The 12 individually named and designed rooms that have kept the old colonial building’s original dimensions are appointed with the right balance and mix of antique and modern furniture. From Persian rugs, exposed beams and the colourful Peranakan tiles create a special contrast with the wooden floor and ceiling. Truly eye-catching and a delight for design lovers.

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Getting spoilt in my heritage hotel room

I got to the Campbell House Hotel late evening, after +27 hours long flight journey. With 3 layovers and unexpected delay, Vanessa, the hotel manager, and I was warmly welcomed, who showed me the Loft, a suite on the second floor.

My room is on two levels, a sitting room on the ground level and the bedroom with a vaulted ceiling on the upper level, connected through a handmade wooden staircase. The best part in my room was the refreshing carafe of lemongrass tea and iced water with a little sweet treat.

The mini bar corner included a Nespresso Coffee machine and a mini-kettle to quickly prepare a teacup: all that I needed after a long haul flight.

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What makes the Campbell House Hotel in George Town stand out

From my solo traveller point of view, besides the Campbell Hotel’s welcoming atmosphere, one of the best parts is its location. It lies in the corner between Cintra Road and Campbell Road, making this Georgetown hotel ideal to walk to all major attractions. Everything is within walking distance to the Street of Harmony from China Town markets and the Kimberley street foods to the Komtar tower.

As a woman travelling alone, I know how important it is to have a centrally located accommodation that allows you to walk around at night without having to worry about how to get back to your hotel.

Secondly, the service at the Campbell Hotel is superb, the team is very efficient and friendly, always greeting with a smile and offering help, even when you don’t ask for it. They are all passionate and personable people, which you cannot take for granted when staying in a hotel.

Thirdly, I think rooms and public space are well-thought-out. The library on the first floor is an intimate place to sit back, browse through local magazines and books, listen to DVDs and strike up a conversation with fellow hotel guests.

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Dining at the Campbell House Restaurant Il Bacaro

The Campbell House is a boutique hotel and an on-site restaurant, Il Bacaro Restaurant, offering authentic Italian cuisine. This is where I started my day, each morning, with an energy-booster breakfast.

Being passionate about food, as much as I loved to try out Penang’s fabulous food, it was hard not to try their woodfired pizzas. Mine was really a good one! And their daily menu was mouth-watering and so enticing that I would have easily tried more dishes.

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More info about the Campbell Hotel

My stay at the Campbell House was a real hit because I believe that this heritage hotel in Penang over-delivers in many ways. My stay was spot-on and went beyond my expectations. That’s why I can recommend it to fellow women travelling alone in Penang, hoping that you will love your stay as I did.

You can read about my full hotel review here.

Hotel Location: 106 Lebuh Campbell, 10100 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Book Your Stay: Campbell House Hotel Penang

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