The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences Treats Its Local Guests

By Janice Pelayo

It's a fine time to be Malaysian if you happen to be looking for a place to stay in Penang right now. The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences is currently offering a special promo for Malaysian guests only. With its 1-Malaysia Suite Deal promo, local guests who book the Studio Suite of the Penang hotel will be entitled to the discounted rate of RM 195.00++. This is inclusive of one breakfast meal, with additional person's breakfast costing only RM 12.50++ per meal. Rates are still subject to 10% service charge and 5% government tax, depending on room availability. Guests who wish to avail of the promo only need to present a valid Malaysian ID upon check-in. The promo is valid until November 15, 2010.

Enjoying a prime spot along Gurney Drive, The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences is conveniently close to all of the major shopping and corporate venues of the area, making it an ideal place to stay for business travelers and visiting tourists alike. Guests will find it easy to explore popular tourist destinations such as the Bukit Jambul Shopping Complex, KOMTAR, Bukit Jambul Golf Club, Pearl Island Golf Club, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Tanjung Bungah Beach, Butterfly Farm, Bird Park, Tropical Spice Garden, Tropical Fruit Farm, Botanic Gardens, Kek Lok Si Temple, Snake Temple, Penang International Airport, Jerejak Island jetty, Penang Bridge, Penang Hill, and Fort Cornwallis.

This seafront business and entertainment hotel in Penang provides 259 inviting accommodations that boast of sophistication and style. Every elegant room is filled with amenities for a comfortable stay, each having air conditioning, cable television, coffee/tea maker, daily newspaper, hair dryer, Internet connectivity, ironing board, mini-bar, private toilet and bath, radio, room safe, telephone, trouser press, voicemail system, jacuzzi, three-seater sofa lounge set, electronic entrance lock, express check-in/check-out, data/modem port phone, separate shower stall, full-sized writing desk, and dining table with chairs.

To complement its enticing lodgings, the hotel makes a vast range of facilities available to take care of guests' concerns about dining, leisure, and business. These include a business center, ballroom, bar, nightclub, conference rooms, restaurants, indoor games equipment, gym, steam room, outdoor pool, sauna, spa, recreational park for children, and children's wave pool. Aside from these features, the hotel also offers massage services, a travel agency, valet parking, safe deposit boxes, car rental, babysitting, city transfer, currency exchange, laundry, and wake-up call.

To know more about The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences and its 1-Malaysia Suite Deal promo, visit http://www.gurney-hotel.com.my/. Use its online reservation system to make direct reservations and receive instant confirmation.

Century Pines Resort Offers More Ways to Enjoy Nature with Two New Room Choices

By K.C. Ochoa

Century Pines Resort introduces two new kinds of rooms, allowing you to indulge in great comforts with an exquisite touch of nature as you stay in the lovely resort in Tanah Rata, Malaysia. The two new room varieties are the Superior with Garden and Deluxe with Garden rooms, each offering comfortable accommodations with the addition of a lovely outdoor garden.

Besides its standard room fixtures and the addition of a charming private garden with table and chairs, the Superior with Garden and Deluxe with Garden rooms include lavish amenities such as a television, mini-fridge, coffee/tea maker, private toilet and long bath with individual water heating system, and fresh air ventilation system on selected units. Rates start at MYR 245.00 and MYR 255.00 for the Superior with Garden and Deluxe with Garden rooms, respectively.

The Century Pines Resort prides itself in providing a perfect blend of style, nature, and affordability to create ideal accommodations in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands. Aside from the rich accommodations, you and your family can also look forward to several of the resort’s facilities such as a restaurant and bar, nightclub, and lobby lounge. Their spa, steam room, and sauna, on the other hand, provide the ultimate relaxation treatments to refresh the mind and body.

The resort also provides excellent services through their professional staff such as room service, massage, and laundry services. For added security, a CCTV security system and safety deposit boxes are also installed and is accessible.

Positioned at a premier location in Tanah Rata, you can also visit various destinations during your stay such as the Boh Tea Plantation, night market, and rose farm located near the resort.

So start your dream vacation today and visit http://www.centuryresort-cameronhighlands.com.

Experience Luxury and Comfort at the Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences

By: Kara Ochoa

The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences is pleased to announce that aside from offering first-class accommodations, it now also offers lightning speed broadband Internet service, providing you with not just great relaxation but modern conveniences as well.

The resort hotel has just unveiled the latest addition to their world-class service: high-speed broadband Internet connection of up to 22 Mbps. From its current speed of 4 Mbps, this major improvement will be made available by the middle of July 2010 and will make The Gurney Resort Hotel the first hotel in Penang with the highest Internet broadband facility.

Assisting the contemporary lifestyles of guests from the young and trendy to the business elite, this additional feature comes complimentary during your stay at the resort hotel.

The Gurney Resort Hotel & Residences provides top-notch accommodations right at the heart of Penang. It provides spacious and relaxing rooms fully equipped to meet every customer’s need and luxury. Each room is well appointed with cable TV, in-room iron and ironing board, IDD phone, mini-bar, hair dryer, jacuzzi bath, in-room safe, and much more.

In addition, guests can also explore and enjoy much of the hotel resort’s facilities such as the outdoor gym, sauna, swimming pool, wave pool, water slides, and mini-waterfalls, among others. The hotel's expert and hospitable services also include laundry, valet, secretarial, concierge, as well as limousine and shuttle services, making each stay a complete vacation experience.

For more information on the hotel’s premium offerings and to make reservations, visit www.gurney-hotel.com.my.

Hotel Maya Continues Its Discount Offers Until End of June

By: Janice Pelayo

If you are interested in garnering big savings when booking accommodations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hotel Maya has two current promos that are quite appealing. Extending its validity until 30 June 2010, the hotel's two promos are applicable to guests of two persons who make reservations for a two-night and three-night stay at either of its Studio Twin or King, Junior Suite, or Deluxe Suite accommodations. Those who book a two-night stay will get a 10% discount on room rates, while guests who book a three-night stay or more will get 15% off.

Situated in the commercial and business district of Jalan Ampang, Hotel Maya is an ideal place to stay for city tourists and business travelers. It is close to popular tourist destinations such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Independence Square, China Town, Batu Caves, and Merdeka Square, just to name a few. It is also conveniently located near the KLCC Light Rail Transit station, providing guests who wish to explore the Malaysian city a means of transportation.

This Kuala Lumpur hotel provides 207 well-appointed rooms and suites that are elegant yet cosy in ambience. Each is fully equipped with espresso maker, unlimited free calls to landlines in the (03) area code, free unlimited broadband Internet access (wired and wireless), complimentary shuttle services to KLCC, Bukit Bintang and China Town, free pressing of up to five pieces of clothing on arrival, 24-hour butler services, mini-bar, hair dryer, room safe, ironing board, valet services, air-conditioning, daily newspaper, voicemail system, connecting rooms, writing desk with chair, private toilet and bath with shower, satellite TV channels, welcome beverage in room, flat screen TV and DVD player, advanced telephone system, daily fresh fruit platter in room, electronic lock and security system, complimentary mineral water daily, complimentary breakfast at Maya Brasserie, and access to the library and Sky Lounge. Early check-in from 7 am onwards with prior reservations can be arranged as well, but is subject to room availability.

The hotel also takes care of guests' dining, event, and recreational concerns. It houses restaurants that offer a variety of dishes to satisfy every craving, fully equipped function rooms, a fitness centre, and a spa that offers a wide range of wellness treatments. Other conveniences offered include concierge service, airport transfer, limousine service, laundry, valet parking, wake-up call, doctor-on-call, and currency exchange.

For more information about Hotel Maya and its two promos, visit http://www.hotelmaya-kualalumpur.com/. Book using its direct reservation system and get instant confirmation online.

Enjoy an Extra Night for Free with The Northam All Suites' Bonus Free Stay Promo

Business travelers and leisure tourists on a budget who are planning a trip to Penang, Malaysia will want to make their reservations at The Northam All Suites. The hotel is currently offering its Bonus Free Stay promo, which treats guests to an extra night for free when they make a two-night reservation at either the Junior Suite or Deluxe Suite. The promo is valid for reservations until 31 March 2010 and can be availed when booking online at the hotel's direct reservation system found on its website.

The Northam All Suites takes pride in being a business hotel in a luxurious resort setting. All of its 142 air-conditioned suites are fitted with modern conveniences including a king-sized bed, private toilet and bath, powder room, water-massage jacuzzi, Internet connectivity, two (2) cable televisions, coffee/tea making facilities, ironing board, daily newspaper, mini-bar, room safe, two-line speaker phone, personal fax machine, full-sized desk, and lounge. All are non-smoking rooms.

Guests will also be pleased to know that the Penang hotel offers several dining options, the Coffee House, Lobby Lounge, East n' West Restaurant, Taipan Fins Restaurant, and Roof Terrace. All provide a wide array of cuisine to satisfy every craving. Those who are interested in keeping themselves in shape, meanwhile, can avail of the recreational facilities of the hotel, which include a swimming pool, walking or jogging track, and tennis, squash, or golf match equipment and venues. For winding down and relaxing after a hectic day, there is The Suite Spa, which provides a variety of rejuvenating spa treatments.

The hotel enjoys a strategic location in Georgetown, a city famous for its architectural history, mixing new designs with the traditional. Cathedrals, mosques, temples, government offices, shops, and cafes are all proximate to the hotel, which is also just walking distance away from the old business district and commercial attractions.

To learn more about The Northam All Suites' Bonus Free Stay promo and to make direct reservations online, visit http://www.northam-hotel.com.my/. Instant confirmation of bookings is guaranteed.

Have A Sunny Christmas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Christmas doesn’t always have to be all about the cold and thick clothes. In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, it can be about light clothing and tropical weather.

Have a warm and sunny Christmas in Malaysia before 2009 comes to a close. Check out the stately Petronas Towers. Shop, wine, dine, and party at The Golden Triangle – Kuala Lumpur’s bustling entertainment, shopping and business district. Check out other nearby tourist destinations too.

Be in the midst of all this merriment as well, when you check-in at The ZON All Suites Residences On The Park. The ZON All Suites Residences On The Park boasts 182 spacious and modernly-furnished rooms and suites. All accommodations come with air-conditioning, cable television, private toilet and bath, IDD telephone, coffee/tea maker, digital safe, hair dryer, ironing board, electronic smoke detector, complimentary newspaper and mineral water, and computerized door lock.

If you are planning to book at The ZON All Suites Residences On The Park you’d be pleasantly surprised to know that you can now enjoy your guestroom at lower rates.


One-Bedroom Superior RM-230.00 net
One-Bedroom Deluxe RM 270.00 net
One-Bedroom Executive RM 330.00 net
Two-Bedroom Superior RM 360.00 net
Two-Bedroom Deluxe RM 380.00 net

*All rates are inclusive of breakfast until 31 March 2010


The hotel also has in-house facilities and services for your enjoyment and convenience. These include a business center, gymnasium, jacuzzi, sauna, swimming pool, meeting room, tour office, laundry, valet, and the Weenie Minnie Kids Club. If you want to dine within hotel premises, the ZON All Suites Residences On The Park houses the Terracotta Restaurant, and offers in-room dining.

For more hotel information or for direct online booking, log on to www.zonhotel.com.my.

Be At the Heart of Malaysia, Be At Meliá Kuala Lumpur

When visiting cosmopolitan Malaysia, there’s nothing like being in the middle of all the excitement. If you want to experience this round-the-clock during your Malaysian getaway, come to Meliá Kuala Lumpur.

Book yourself into a fully-furnished and fully-equipped guestroom with elegant and stylish ambiance. All rooms come with air-conditioning, IDD phones, private baths, sofas, satellite TV with pay-per-view, mini-bars, room safes, and hair dryers. You are also entitled to welcome drinks and complimentary breakfasts. Choose from the hotel’s Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, I-Rooms, and The Level E-Rooms.

Extra services are also provided by the hotel for your convenience. These include daycare, laundry/dry cleaning, limousine service, parking, travel/tour desk and 24-hour security.

If you want to relax and unwind, the hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a gym, and a souvenir shop. For dining within the hotel premises, the hotel houses the El Patio Coffee House and the Piano Lounge.

For more hotel information or direct online bookings, log on to http://www.meliahotel-kualalumpur.com/ppc.

Manukan Island Resort Provides the Perfect Sanctuary for Vacationers

If you want a vacation that’s sure to relax your mind and rejuvenate your senses, then Manukan Island Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia is the place for you.

Surround yourself with crystal clear ocean, beautiful corals and tropical trees. Indulge yourself in the resort’s luxurious accommodations and wake up to an amazing view of the South China Sea, right from your very own guestroom.

Whether you book the resort’s Hilltop Cabins or the Beach Lodges, you are sure to find yourself in your own little piece of heaven. All resort chalets are stylishly decorated and are equipped with modern amenities for your comfort.

All accommodations at Manukan Island Resort come with air-conditioning, spacious dining and living areas, televisions with satellite channels, private bathrooms, and daily breakfasts. All chalets are double-storey units. All bookings also come with return boat transfers, 20% discounts on all SeaQuest watersports and National Park entrance fees.

If you want some adventure for your holiday, then you can avail of different activity packages such as the Manukan Island Resort Excursion Program which features sea and island adventures, snorkeling and a barbecue lunch. Diving, parasailing and other water sports are also available upon request.

For more resort inquiries or for direct online booking, log on to http://www.suterasanctuarylodges.com.

Eastin Hotel Offers Early-Bird Promo for September 2009 Bookings

If you’re planning to head to Malaysia this September, then you’re in for a treat. Eastin Hotel is offering an Early-Bird Promo for vacationers who book their September accommodations between 21 July and 20 August, 2009.

Enjoy discounted rates and extra perks. The Early-bird promo offers Eastin Hotel’s Deluxe Rooms at a marked down rate of RM195++. This package also comes with 20% discounts on F&B outlets, as well as complimentary WIFI. Room rates are subject to service charge and government tax and are subject to change without prior notice.

All of Eastin Hotel’s accommodations come with cable television, air-conditioning, coffee/tea makers, king-sized beds, daily newspapers, mini-bars, private baths, room safes and telephones. All rooms are spacious and are non-smoking.

Whether you’re traveling for business or for leisure, Eastin Hotel has the amenities and services to cater to your every need. You can opt to use the hotel’s business center for all your work-related activities. The hotel also houses restaurants, lounges, a gym, swimming pool with jacuzzi, tennis court, and a spa and wellness centre for all your leisure and relaxation needs.


Valet parking and limousine service are provided, as well as complimentary shuttle services to Mid Valley Megamall, The Curve, One Utama, Tropicana City Mall and Bangsar Shopping Centre on scheduled days.

For more hotel information or for direct online booking, log on to http://www.eastin.com.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Dorsett Regency Hotel

Whether you’re Chinese or just someone who appreciates Chinese culture, whether you’re in China or in some other part of the world—there is no doubt that the passing of a lunar year to another is a well-observed event. Those who celebrate the Chinese New Year look forward to “Prosperity through Fortitude” in the Year of the Ox. What better way to usher this in than getting the best deals while enjoying abundance at the same time? Dorsett Regency Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia gives the best deal this month as people all over the world celebrate Chinese New Year.

Herald the Year of the Ox with lots of good fortune and Dorsett Regency Hotel’s Chinese New Year package for only RM338.00++. The package is good for two guests and includes an array of delectable buffet breakfast, a choice between a Chinese New Year lunch or dinner and a CNY goodies gift pack. To make the lunar spirit merrier, Dorsett Regency Hotel also gives its guests a CNY Red Packet (which includes food and beverage credit worth RM88.00, a discount on the rooms and a complimentary breakfast for 1 person). Those who will avail of the special package can also get a 20% discount on laundry and pressing services and an additional breakfast meal for a special rate of only RM20.00++ per person. This special package is available from 25 January to 2 February 2009.

Enjoy the colorful Chinese New Year celebrations even while in Malaysia and book now at http://www.dorsettregency-kl.com/ppc/

Holiday getaway in Malaysia

Celebrate Christmas. Enjoy the beach from a scenic resort in Malaysia. Explore the countryside of the rustic Johor Province. And feel the sand between your toes. There is now a unique, new way of celebrating the holidays at the exciting Fishing Bay Resort in Malaysia.

This Christmas the Fishing Bay Resort offers a holiday special of discounted getaways. Resort guests can celebrate Christmas at the Fishing Bay Resort, relax on the beach, and partake of the island adventures available at their resort in Malaysia.

The Christmas Special from the Fishing Bay Resort is now available at their official website to give guests the convenience of booking their resort rooms ahead of the busy Christmas holidays.

The Christmas Special starts at SGD158 per person for resort accommodations of 3 days and 2 nights (Dec. 24 to 26). Rates are already inclusive of Special Western Dinner and Buffet Dinner, Breakfast for 2, and cocktail. Plus, guests will receive a special holiday gift from the Fishing Bay Resort in Malaysia.

The Christmas Special can be availed through early reservation at the Fishing Bay Resort website. For more information on the Christmas Special in Malaysia, click here.

Happy Eid!: Another New Year of 2008 in Malaysia

Hari Raya (Day of Celebrations) is a Muslim celebration of the end of Ramadan during the holy month of fasting. In Kuala Lumpur it is a joyous occasion that commemorates the personal triumph of every Muslim by the end of the fast. It also marks the start of the Muslim New Year. It is actually the fourth New Year in a country like Malaysia where Muslims, Chinese, Hindu, and Christians coexist.

In the run up to the Hari Raya celebrations, Muslims keep vigil at the Mosques for the Night of Decree, the night when the Muslim holy book Quran is sent down. Muslims believe that on this night angels descend and shower grace. To receive these blessings, homes as well as mosques and commercial buildings are brightly decorated with oil lamps. Malls and hotels in Kuala Lumpur and throughout Malaysia also play Selamat Hari Raya jingles.

Everyone Invited—But Hari Raya in Malaysia is not just for Muslims. During the celebrations, Malaysia has a tradition called Open House, where friends are welcomed to households and are offered buffets, while government offices like the King’s Palace is opened to the public.

Of course, the great-bargain sales at malls and low-rate promotions at hotels in Malaysia are for everyone for the taking as well. In addition, the colorful displays on the streets, the festivities, and merry festivities can be enjoyed in Malaysia during this time of year.

Selamat Hari Raya!—Another tradition observed in Malaysiaaway of duit raya to kids. For non-Muslims, it is pretty much like gift giving during Christmas. Wrapped in green envelopes, duit raya is goodwill money handed out to loved ones and friends.

Malaysia's commercial establishments like the Zon Hotel in Kuala Lumpur raffle off duit raya to its guests and patrons. From September to October, two guests at the Zon Hotel get a chance to win RM1,000. In keeping with the spirit of Hari Raya, these establishments and hotels are also garbed in colorful decors and festive atmosphere.

Eid ul’Fitr Buffet—During the holy month of Ramadan on the month of Syawal, Muslims serve buffets called Buka Puasa at the end of the day to break the fast. Toward the end of the holy month, the buffets get bigger in serving and the celebrations pick up. Malls, restaurants, and hotels in Malaysia serve Buka Puasa to mark the end of fasting and the start of the New Year.

Of particular interest is the last 10 days of Ramadan, when the religious traditions become more and more joyous celebrations of the New Year and merrymaking. Among the specialties served at buffets in the Malaysia hotel include ketupat (beef cooked with spices and coconut milk and/or grilled meat on a skewer), lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes), serunding (desiccated coconut fried with chili), and curry chicken.

You don’t have to suffer from inflated hotel rates in Singapore to watch the 2008 Formula1 Grand Prix

With less than two months to go before the historic 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Formula1 fans and tourists alike are beginning to swamp Singapore hotels with room reservations.

So swamped with room reservations are the Singapore hotels, in fact, that rates have gone up and tourists brimmed over the island and turned their attention to nearby Malaysia for their hotel reservations.

Malaysia, a country that borders Singapore to the south, is connected to the Grand Prix host via the Johor-Singapore Causeway. With approximately 30 minutes travel time to Singapore, the Malaysian southernmost city of Johor Bahru gives visitors an alternative to the inflated rates of Singapore hotels.

Singapore-based newspaper The Business Times reports that a fraction of the country’s visitors are booking five-star hotels in Johor Bahru where prices work out to a mere fraction of what is being charged in Singapore.

At the five-star Puteri Pacific Hotel, bookings have started to come in recently from both individuals and groups. Rooms are going at RM500++ (S$209) per night, with a minimum of three nights, which is still vastly cheaper than the rates charged by some of the local hotels.

At this point, the Puteri Pan Pacific has 300 rooms taken up—an occupancy rate of about 60 percent. Other hotels in the area are getting their share of reservations as well. Below is a list of hotels in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, worth checking out for the Formula Grand Prix on Sept.28:

• Hotel Selesa, Johor Bahru
• Selesa Beach Resort, Port Dickson
• A Vista Melati Hotel
• Selesa Beach Resort, Port Dickson
• JB Central Hotel
• Hotel Selesa, Pasir Gudang
• Tropical Inn Johor Bahru
• Suria Resort and Hotel
• Grand BlueWave Hotel

Of the reservations received by Johor Bahru hotels in Malaysia, over 60 percent of the bookings are from Europe, while close to 30 percent are from Australia. Some of the hotels are planning to offer chartered private buses via the Tuas Link to ferry its guests.

How to counter bad luck this month of Hungry Ghosts

Do you need to travel but are afraid to because August is the month of Hungry Ghosts? Counter the bad luck that it brings with these charms and tips from feng shui experts.

The Chinese in Malaysia and across the region believe that during the seventh lunar month the gates of Hell are opened and souls are left to wander Earth. That lunar month is the equivalent of August—a month that Chinese folklore says is the time of year when myriad spirits roam around the Earth trying to fulfill past needs, wants, and desires.

These spirits are called Hungry Ghosts by the Chinese, and are often held responsible for tragedies and disasters that happen in August. For the Chinese, these Hungry Ghosts need to be satisfied in order that fortune instead of bad luck will come to them.

One tradition that Chinese in Malaysia do to appease the spirits during the Hungry Ghosts Month is to prepare a lavish meal for the wandering spirits. Some say prayers to their deceased relatives and burn joss (luck) sticks. At the Chinatown district in Malaysia, the Chinese stage street operas and paper effigies of daily items are burned for the spirits to use in the afterlife.

The Chinatown in Malaysia is located at the city of Georgetown in Pulau Penang. A resort island northwest of capital Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Penang in Malaysia is a favorite destination among tourists because of its storied cultural heritage sites, beaches, and architectural gems.

Despite the supposed dangers that the Hungry Ghosts Month brings, however, there remains tourists that visit Pulau Penang and locals that instead try to counter bad luck with charms and tips from feng shui experts.

Accommodation providers in Malaysia, from budget to five-star hotels, often enjoin their guests to do certain practices meant to counter the bad luck of the Hungry Ghosts Month. When staying at a hotel in Malaysia like the Century Bay Service Suites, Chinese guests place a bowl of rock salt beside their bed. Others believed that wearing bright-hued clothing will help fend off the negative energy.

Old practices, on the other hand, include wearing sandalwood and using pomelo as incense and perfume during the Hungry Ghost Month. Nowadays, these scents are readily available in spray bottles. Charms are also believed to be effective, like ruby with Kwan Yin and cinnabar charm, dragon crystal quartz with the No. 8, and lotus with mantra dzi beads.

Instead of shutting in the house or living a normal life for the whole month of August, the Chinese in Malaysia use these charms and tips to counter the bad luck of August. A lot more are put into practice in the Chinatown district during the Hungry Ghosts Festival.

Most hotels in Malaysia, especially in this part of Pulau Penang where the Chinatown is located, practice a keen observance of the Hungry Ghosts Month. Century Bay, a hotel in Malaysia located in Georgetown, Pulau Penang, is 30 minutes away from Chinatown provide a convenient jump-off point to the annual Hungry Ghosts Festival.