Name: Chulia Racks Hotel
Address: 27, Lebuh Chulia, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, George Town, George Town, George Town, 10200, Malaysia
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Smoke-free property

General

Non-smoking rooms

Shower/Bathtub

Rooms

Transfer services

Transfer

English

Languages Spoken

Location

At the hotel

Penang International Airport

Chulia Racks Hotel

George Town

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

20-beds

21-beds

22-beds

23-beds

24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

27-beds

28-beds

29-beds

3-beds

30-beds

31-beds

32-beds

33-beds

34-beds

35-beds

36-beds

37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

This hostel is called milky coat & sunny side to not confuse people. 

The rooms at “sunny side” are dirty, have thin walls (can hear absolutely everything next door says/does). The WiFi didn’t work at all, air con didn’t work, the room smelt strange and unclean. Wouldn’t recommend this place to my worst enemy.

The only positive was getting out with a full refund.


Dirty rooms


Multiple problems resulted in my first ever refund request and walking around at midnight searching for a better place. Please read this review if you plan on staying here. 

1. Extra untold charges which are made up at check in and make no sense - no receipt given - manager pockets the cash.

2. Booked double bed, was given two single beds and no window without warning or even at check in.

3. Large key deposit which wasn’t in the terms I agreed to on booking.com

4. Large number of ants all over the beds in room and on the floor.

5. Pubic and head hairs on the ‘clean’ bedding. Room was utter filth especially under the beds. Never been cleaned properly.

6. Air con knackered and had to be reset with a pin.

7. The manager at check in doesn’t care, lies and chooses to be smug. Rudely laughed off my complaints and legit questioning.

I had booked a room through booking.com and kept in contact with the staff about my arrival time. I had been emailed the total price I needed to pay at check in: RM 130.

Upon check in I was asked to pay a total of RM 137. The extra 7 was apparently for ‘room tax’ and he had emailed me prior stating I must pay 3% extra for this. I checked my email later and no mention of this, only him informing me the entire total is RM 130... when I got my refund the extra 7 was no where to be seen on the invoice. If it was for room tax it would be on there. The total cost on the invoice sheet was RM 130 as I inspected it when I was refunded.

The manager also asked for RM 20 deposit for the key. I questioned why this wasn’t stated on the website, which it absolutely should be. His only reply was ‘this is Malaysia everyone has deposit everyone do this’ NOT TRUE. I have stayed in many places here without needing to give a deposit.

I chose to pay the RM 7 and deposit anyway as we had flown in and gotten the bus. It was late and I was tired. Arrived at our room (204) which was a twin room (not what I’d booked and wasn’t informed of this prior to arrival, not good). We couldn’t push the beds together as they were very different heights! I went and asked the manager why we haven’t been given a double and he said a man had already booked it and paid one month in advance. But you have to pay in cash upon arrival...?! Excuses after excuses. Why advertise that room two days before hand when it was already booked one month ago.....

The aircon refused to work and could only be reset via the remote with a needle which took five minutes to get one. No window in room, room stank and it was next to a huge dorm. We could hear inside both rooms either side of us - people sniffing and coughing which sounded so loud as the walls are so thin you can push them in with your hand. When next door closed or opened their door our wall shook.

The final straw were the public and head hair all over the sheets, and hundreds of ants running all over the floor AND on the bed. Inspected closer and found that they were coming from under the bed.

We lifted up the bed and nearly threw up. We shined torches all over the room and took photos of the grime.

Called it a day after 15 minutes and went to find the ‘manager’ who checked us in . He had gone for a meal, but another, older man was there. Now I have to say that this  other man was extremely nice and refunded me without question after I explained about the ants. He asked to see my receipt... I hadn’t been given one from the rude manager at check in! I explained about the extra RM 7 and he didn’t understand what it was for, as the invoice stated RM 130. It seems that rude manager at check in over charged us small amounts without a legit reason. You must question if this is happening to all of the customers who just agree to it. 

We luckily got all our money back and left. The older man asked if we wanted a seat inside while we booked somewhere else which was a very kind gesture. I felt sorry for him as the other manager will be the downfall of this place. He is absolutely disgusting.

The accommodation has been renamed many times, one name was ‘chulia rocks’ and the description on tripadvisor hasn’t even been updated!
On booking.com there is a reviewer who has rated the place 4 or 5 times within one month giving it a very high score each time. Very suspicious.

I would never stay here again due to the rude and corrupt manager and health hazards within the rooms. What a waste of time. 

Refunded. Ants. Grime. Horrendous manager. Shambles.

Pros
Rooms were generally clean and everything looked new.
Great location. Can walk to everything. 
Located in Little India so lots of great food places around.
Locker included.
Good value for money.
Small common area where you can meet other guests.

Cons
Beds creak for the slightest movement!
Receptionist just handed over the keys and asked me to find my way. Didn’t even show the bed or give a tour of the facilities.
No drinking water provided.
There was never toilet paper in the bathrooms. Took me a while to figure out guests had taken them into the dorms.

Value for Money

The place is clean with three shower-toilet cubicles per floor. Ideally, located a short walk from the ferry terminal in little India with lots of cheap eating nearby (or if your treating yourself, try the Black Kettle French Cafe.)

However, the wall's are thin. If your in 204, a standard twin, your next to a dorm that seems to be reserved for kids and teenagers. Don't expect to get much sleep! Also the A/C hardly works in 203 (another twin room.) The last twin on floor is 202 is next door to a mixed dorm. 
The beds aren't exactly brilliant, so after a few nights don't be surprised if you wake up with a bad back.

There is a fridge on the first floor, but there's no kitchen. It looks like they use to have a cafe downstairs, but that's long gone. Also, there's no laundry facilities, but they do own a laundry not far away which charges RM5 per kg.

If your looking for a sociable hostel. This is not it. There is a common area at reception, but this is only open between 9.30-6.30pm - the only time the place is staffed. Its not exactly welcoming as for some reason they don't open two of the three metal shutters. So, not much light gets in and your left wondering if the place is open when you first arrive.

Also, if your veggie or vegan you might be put off by the open shop butchers next door, as in the heat it's very smelly.

Fine for a day or two, but noisy especially at weekends

This place is a budget Guesthouse. The staffs here are superb friendly! Location is exceptional, walking distance to street art, and located right opposite Little india. Would recommend to everyone :) 

Chulia Racks Hotel

Main amenities of the hotel

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hotel

What other amenities are there?

Policies

Check-in terms and conditions

Payment