If I am ever back in Georgetown and want a cheap, no-fuss place to stay which is near the heart of it all but quiet, I know where I will be staying. Red Inn Heritage Guesthouse. I actually think I might have started to feel at home there, because I prolonged my stay more than once.
Georgetown can be a little on the pricey side. It is after all, a great location. But if you don't need luxury, but at the same time like a few simple comforts, Red Inn Heritage is my pick of the bunch. There is nothing glamorous about this place, but comfort and convenience is everything when in a new city, and I found all this there.
Red Inn Heritage is located on Lorong Love, just off the main street of Georgetown - Lebuh Chulia. The first thing to be aware of is that there is are
three places called Red Inn Heritage on the same street. Avoid some confusion and find out the exact address of the place - 15 Lorong Love, Georgetown. Easy to identify by the big '15' above the door.
Lorong Love is a great street to stay on in Georgetown. It puts you within walking distance of so many places of interest - Little India, various historical buildings, and some good bars and restaurants.
The Church of the Assumption just a few minutes walk away
The biggest compromise that you need to make when staying at Red Inn Heritage Guesthouse - in anything but the best rooms - is that you will be sharing the bathroom and toilet with other guests. Yet, despite not being a great fan of shared bathrooms, it also highlights one reason why I love this place so much.
Shared facilities
The staff keep the whole place so clean, and this includes the shared bathroom and toilet facilities that they clean multiple times a day. Furthermore, I counted at least 4 toilets and 4 showers on the ground floor. Fragrant shower and hand gel is provided in all the bathrooms and at hand sinks, as well.
Meanwhile, they have great hot water showers - water pressure is wonderful from the rainfall showers in particular. It might seem like nothing, but when you are travelling and spend lots of time out and about in the heat, having a really good shower at your accommodation becomes a priority.
Enjoy the shower
Another great thing about Red Inn Heritage is that it has a spacious feel - probably because of its many shared spaces. I'm not usually a fan of hanging out in lounge areas, but the way it is set up here really appealed to me. There are three main shared areas. The first is the tables out front where you can watch the world go by and meet other travellers.
Browse the internet
The second is in the lobby, just beyond the reception desk. They provide computers where you can access the internet, a large flat screen t.v, and lots of lounge space. There is a dining table as well, and free tea and coffee making supplies available there around the clock.
Enjoy the simple breakfast
This is also the area where you get your free breakfast in the mornings. It is a very basic breakfast, and most people wouldn't be impressed, but I loved it because it is very simple. Fruit, bread, jam and butter and a simple dish of noodles, stir fried in little more than soy sauce. You can spend a lot of time eating complex food while travelling (out of necessity), so it is nice to have some simple options for free at your accommodation every morning.
A space to chill
Near the rear there is another common area. It is clearly a former outdoor area, that is still partially open to the exterior. There are massive fans there and indoor plants. This space is chilled out; you can eat your dinner there, get some reading done or work on your laptop. The whole ground floor has good WiFi - in fact there are a few different connections, so you are always online.
The rooms are nothing fancy, but like most of the beds that I have used in Malaysia the ones here are very comfortable. The linen is sparse, but to be fair you don't need much more than the sheet and blanket they provide; it is pretty hot in Malaysia most of the year. Speaking of temperatures, the air-con was reliable in my room as well, which is priceless in hot climates.
Simple but comfortable bed
On the whole, Red Inn Heritage just made me feel really at home. The staff are nice, helpful when you need it, and leave you to your own devices the rest of the time. There is a good-natured cat on the premises who wanders in the common areas, keeping solo travellers company, and I found I didn't want to leave at the end of my stay. What else can convey an enjoyable stay more than that sentiment? Needless to say, I'll probably be back.
