Welcome drinks and memorabilia
Say hello to The Beatles
The unmistakable entrance
Although it’s right on the beach, we hardly left the hotel
Shady deck chairs under the trees and by the pool
Big kids and little kids are taken care of with a Kids’ Club and Teen Room + Rock n’ Roll Rickshaw
The Sunset Stage is available for hire for private functions – the most popular time is evenings when the sun goes down and you benefit from salty sea breezes and burnt sunsets
Diversion – all day and into the night
The view from our room – dive straight off your deck into the pool – why would you want to leave?
From some rooms you can swim up to the bar
Sundowners in Kings’ Club
Breakfast in the executive lounge, Kings’ Club, top floor
French Toast with Caramelized Banana
Entertainment for the kids
Entertainment for the adults
Feel like a rock star in The Rock Spa
View from the foot reflexology lounge
The Deluxe Lagoon Rooms all have direct access to the pool – different positions along the pool cater to various needs – get the far end for a quieter couples room, the middle section for kids as they can dive out and swim straight across to the giant water spurting adventure playground and kids’ club and to the left of the lobby lounge to be able to swim up to the pool bar
Fun, fun, fun! Hard Rock Hotel on Batu Feringgi, Penang has to be the most happy and convivial place to stay on the island. I have to admit, with my tail between my legs, that when hubby suggested it, I quickly turned my nose up, snuffing it as an overly commercial gimmick. As much as I dislike putting this in writing, “I was wrong.” Our weekend getaway at Hard Rock Hotel in Penang is one of the best vacations I’ve had. Catering for everyone with a range of accommodation, eateries and activities, even snooty nosed travelers like myself will be pleased.
Starting with the lodging. You must stay in a Deluxe Lagoon Room. With direct pool access you dive off your balcony straight into the enormous, three Olympic sized, pool. For couples stay at the far end for a quieter more private experience. Families should stay in the middle rooms near the lobby where children can swim across to the action packed recreation area and Lil’ Rock Kids’ Club. For the sloshes amongst us, stay on the other side of the lobby where you can paddle directly across to the swim up bar, The Shack. All are technologically pimped out with DVD/CD players, LCD TVs, iPod docking stations, wi-fi and interactive TV. The Sleep Like a Rock bedding will have you doing just that and the small guitar insignias, song lyrics and cleverly worded information will keep astounding you at the amount of effort that has gone into branding every detail.
Tummies will be satisfied by any number of outlets. Chef Joe will cook you up one of his famous wood fired pizzas for lunch or dinner at the Pizzeria, or you could amble across to the Hard Rock Cafe for USA size classic diner meals. Many room packages come with breakfast included at Starz Diner, which is ideal if you have a mob of kids and are tired of pompous places shaking their fingers at children being children. If you’d like a more refined atmosphere pay a small amount extra and take your breakfast, a free flow of non-alcoholic drinks, tea and coffee throughout the day, and cocktails, wine or beer with a light spread during the evening cocktail hour, all with striking coastal views, in the King’s Club on the top floor. For the thirsty, an extensive cocktails list is available from all outlets. You can even splash up to The Shack and have your thirst quenched while wading in the pool.
All ages are taken care of with entertainment too. Wander the site and remember your youth with over 500 pieces of original rock n’ roll memorabilia. Body Rock Gym and the Stylista Coiffure will have you looking like a rock star. While the Lobby Lounge and adjacent Hard Rock Cafe, with it’s nightly live music and tremendous drink list, will have you partying like one. Little kids and big ones are spoiled for choice with a daily schedule of activities at Lil’Rock Kids and Teens Clubs. While the young ones are occupied, adults can be pampered in the Rock Spa with any number of treatments. We luxuriated on the spa’s balcony in oversized lounges while having our feet rubbed by trained reflexologists savouring the cool sea breeze and tropical paradise scenery. And then there’s the pool! 26 000 square feet of free form swimming magnificence. With that much space you can choose: a more subdued end to sun yourself or lay about in a deck chair; the action packed centre with toys, dance classes & all day entertainment; the beach pool section dragging your feet through the sandy bottom; or chill at the bar watching the crowd, cocktail in hand.
With the constant rock ambient music, Hard Rock Hotel is a place where people bop around humming with a spring in their step and a swing in the hip. Lip synching is a wide spread habit and the vivacious staff live by the mantra, “Love All. Serve All.”
Reason to visit: It’s soooo much fun! Chef Joe’s pizza, magnificent pool, Deluxe Lagoon Rooms, toe tapping rock n’ roll
Hard Rock Hotel
Batu Feringghi
Penang
Malaysia