A Place In The Sun

The legendary Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa offers an extraordinary escape that have guests packing their bags to arrive at a destination they call “home away from home”

- Tan Siok Hoon

Most would concur that the drive up the winding Jalan Batu Feringgi is easily the most scenic to be had on the island of Penang. Lined by stretches of sandy beaches interspersed with rugged rocky seafront and framed by picturesque rainforests on gentle slopes, Batu Feringgi impresses with its brand of tranquil, laid-back charm.

Nestled along this idyllic seaside strip is the iconic Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, belonging to the Shangri-La group’s trove of over 100 hotels and resorts located around the world. Famed for its luxurious accommodation ensconced by lush, verdant gardens that take pride of place at a sprawling 30-acre site, the tropical oasis has over the years endeared itself to many who have encountered it first-hand.

The first Shangri-La property in Malaysia sits on a former private estate and was built based on a design blueprint centred around eight majestic rain trees by the sea. Conceived as Malaysia’s first five-star hotel and resort, Rasa Sayang has continued to draw holidaymakers and haven-seekers from near and far since its opening in 1973, with many regular and long-time guests lured back time and again.

In 2004, the resort embarked on an ambitious transformation that took almost two years and costing RM100 million to refresh itself for the next chapter. Downsizing from 512 to 304 rooms, the revamped Rasa Sayang was reinvented to offer guests an unforgettable experience defined by an intimate ambience; ultra-spacious and tastefully appointed rooms and suites ranging from 42 to 242 sq metres; spruced-up facilities; and unparalleled service with a signature CHI, The Spa.