Maritime Waterfront Hotel

Spacious Lofts, Fantastic Ocean View

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Aug-2015
Ambience & Setting: 10
Food & Beverage: 5
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $165 per person.
- $165 Accomodation 4D3N
- $0 Room Service


Nearby Attractions: Kek Lok Si-Temple of Supreme Bliss, Penang Hill, Penang Botanic Gardens, Amazing Nibong Tebal, Orchid & Hisbiscus & Reptile Garden, Penang Butterfly Farm, Penang Bridge, Snake Temple, War Museum, Tropical Spice Garden, Fort Cornwallis, Toy Museum, Penang Bird Park, Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion, Old Penang City Hall, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Penang Islamic Museum, Penang Peranakan Mansion, Mirrors George Town Street Art, iBox Museum Of Glass, Penang State Museum, Clan Jetties, Gurney Plaza & Gurney Drive, Queensbay Mall, Straits Quay, Prangin Mall, Queen Victoria Clock Tower, Made In Penang Interactive Museum, Amazing World Studios


Hotel Facilities: Business Centre, Free Wi-Fi, Conference Rooms, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Laundry Service, 1 Restaurant (M Cuisine @ Maritime), Cable TV, Currency Exchange Service, Shopping Centre


Hotel Activities: Work Out, Internet Surfing, Swimming, Meetings, Shopping






Introduction
Located about 20 - 30 minutes drive away from the Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang, I absolutely love the Maritime Waterfront Hotel for its fantastic ocean views, spacious loft rooms, and convenient shopping mall with up-market restaurants located directly below. Now in their soft launch phase, having only opened in June 2015, prices at Maritime Waterfront Hotel are currently heavily discounted, as not all their facilities are up and running. With their official opening in October 2015, this year is possibly the best time to stay at Maritime Waterfront Hotel. More than a hotel, it is actually a serviced apartment.


Ambience
Ambience at Maritime Waterfront Hotel is decent, with an classic, sophisticated feel. Colour themes of black and gold are offset with green plants around the premises, but the actual star attraction, the sky garden, was still under construction at the time of my visit. Offices are located strategically on the lower floors, so that guests can stay in the higher floors. The corridors outside the elevators are rather dimly lit though.


Room
Rooms at Maritime Waterfront Hotel are amazing. We stayed at the Deluxe Suite, a spacious loft concept room, with fantastic ocean and city views from the 18th floor. With a living area, dining area, and even a kitchenette! You actually feel so tiny standing in the room, and my friends couldn't help but take photos of the place every single time they stepped in. The 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms are simply stocked, and clean. Complimentary water and drinks are provided, along with simple utensils, but you'll have to bring your own kitchenware if you plan to cook. Cable television options are surprisingly limited, although they do offer a DVD player.


Food
Food at Maritime Waterfront Hotel is served in a nearby restaurant called M Cuisine @ Maritime. Not directly connected to, or even within the hotel, you'll actually have to go out the lobby, walk past a shop, then you'll arrive at the restaurant. Food options are limited, and taste is only about decent. The state of Penang in Malaysia has much better dining options, and even the mall below has several good restaurants. Food is possibly the weakest component at Maritime Waterfront Hotel, as such, you may be better off dining elsewhere.


Service
Service at Maritime Waterfront Hotel is pretty good. Staff are friendly, and efficient. They've taken a leaf out of the service apartment concept, so housekeeping comes by daily to make up the huge rooms, and there is a sense of greater privacy. In fact, there are long-term guests here who live in a service apartment area of the hotel. While the option of room service exists, the kitchenette allows guests to provide for themselves, a home away from home.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities at Maritime Waterfront Hotel are currently limited to a small gymnasium, and a decent sized swimming pool with a view. Besides a business centre at the lobby and the sky garden on the roof which is under construction, there are no other facilities at Maritime Waterfront Hotel, as befits a serviced apartment concept. Shophouses with various convenient amenities and services surround Maritime Waterfront Hotel, all within less than 5 minutes walking distance. Excellent!