Penang · Malaysia
House of Journey
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Bedbugs-Warning! The vibe of the hostel is cool and the people working there are nice and try to help you wherever they can. The beds don‘t have curtains and you can hear everything - feels like there are no walls… I was pretty sure I got biten by bedbugs in my first night there, so be careful. They helped me changing rooms and had a look at the bed - stuff was very nice and helpful but still due to my experience I won‘t stay there again.
HostelPunk native reviews
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Vibe Analysis
The motorbike tour is the standout extra at House of Journey: it turns the social setup into an actual shared day out, not just another hostel hang. The place leans very social, with nightly activities such as trivia, karaoke, pub crawls, movie nights, group meals, and walks around Georgetown. The location does a lot of work here. House of Journey sits around Chulia Street and Love Lane, with street food, bars, old-town sights, cafes, Armenian Street, mansions, temples, and the pier all within easy walking distance. It works especially well for solo travelers who want a ready-made way into Penang rather than a quiet hideout. Facilities are more scrappy than polished: free toast breakfast, coffee, tea, filtered water, lockers, AC bedrooms, an AC chill room, outdoor social space, movie room, pool table, foosball, and rooftop views. The atmosphere is the main draw; the building, bathrooms, and dorm setup are more basic.
Signals to check
- Dorm beds generally do not have privacy curtains.
- Noise can be an issue from thin walls, doors, late arrivals, street activity, and nearby bars or restaurants.
- AC may be switched off during the day in dorms, and common areas can get hot.
- Bathrooms and showers can feel basic, cramped, humid, or inconsistently stocked.
- The volunteer-heavy setup can feel warm and fun, but at weaker moments it can also feel cliquey or disorganized.