Luxury Rentals on Penang from Just $310 a Month
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real estate: malaysia s one of the easiest places in the world to retire, the Southeast AAsian haven of Malaysia is a tropical paradise that goes out if its way to make expats welcome. Though foreigners can buy property here, many people decide to rent. It’s great value, without the headaches that can come with property ownership. Problem with your pool? The condo board deals with it, not you. And prices are low… Imagine yourself living on an exotic island surrounded by swaying palm trees and rolling hills. As you open your wall of sliding glass doors, the saltwater breeze wafts in, making you break into a wide smile. The dusky, green-blue Straits of Malacca gently roll in, making just enough sound that you can hear it from your balcony. It truly is paradise. And it can be Morning sea breezes and afternoon swims add a touch of indulgence to Penang’s great-value rentals. yours. And we’re not talking about some vaca- tion or dream home that only the uber- Luxury Rentals on Penang wealthy can afford. It’s a three-bedroom, four-bathroom rental that goes for $723 a month on an island full of amenities and From Just $310 a Month expats. On the island of Penang, in Malay- sia, this condo is not the exception to the Kirsten Raccuia rule; it’s the norm. I live in a suburb close to the city of grandfathered into your original arrange- water and mainland Malaysia. It doesn’t George Town called Tanjung Tokong, in a ment. have a beach where you can lounge or 2,300-square-foot, bright and sunny condo But the visa is only a small slice of the take those daily sunrise walks, but it will on the 10th floor of a 12-story building benefits of living here. English is widely have soon. Currently, there is a huge land called Pearl View. The wall-to-ceiling slid- spoken, making day-to-day life easier. reclamation project taking place along the ers are open all day, allowing the breeze to If you’re lost, no problem; ask someone. waterfront to add a new multi-purpose flow through the apartment and keep me Can’t find the Cheerios? Just ask. Life is development, with retail, restaurants and cool even on the hottest day. From every less complicated when you don’t have to bars, and a plan to build a public beach. room’s wall of windows, I can see either learn a new language to get the basics. Persiaran Gurney 1, a building in the water, the jungle, or the city lights, if Many expats find their homes on the the area, has a modern three-bedroom not all three. I get to watch the monkeys island’s north side. George Town is a big condo renting for $645 a month. It has a on my neighbor’s roof, sea eagles gliding draw. However, the housing options there partial sea view and comes with parking. in circles with their lunch in their talons, aren’t as abundant as in the coastal towns, The building has a full gym, a pool, and and monitor lizards going and most expats want to live squash and tennis courts, located right on about their daily rituals. right near the water, or at fashionable Gurney Drive. This street has It’s like living in a National “English is least have a view of it. This plenty of restaurants and food stalls to eat Geographic magazine. I have widely spoken. is hard to come by in George at, two malls, two grocery stores, and a a small pool and a large Town. Instead, the island’s movie theater, so you’d never have to leave Western-style kitchen with If you’re lost, many international expats this street if you didn’t want to. an oven, dishwasher, and look outside the city. Edgecumbe House is another option plenty of space. All this is ask someone.” Pulau Tikus is the clos- that has a perfect location in Pulau Tikus. just $723 a month. est suburb to George Town, A three-bedroom, two-bathroom pent- More and more expats are retiring which means getting into town only costs house rents for $776, which includes cable to Malaysia. The attractive MM2H visa a few bucks in an Uber and takes about TV and internet. It has a giant balcony fac- program is one of the best and most flex- 10 minutes. Expats live here because of ing the water that’s perfect for entertain- ible in Southeast Asia. It allows you to its convenient location and proximity to ing, and two of the rooms also have private stay for 10 years at a time, come and go as everything they need—it’s also the suburb balconies. you please, and it’s renewable. If the terms with the most amenities. The area hugs the A 10-minute drive north from Pulau ever change—which does happen—you’re coast, so some buildings have views of the Tikus lands you in Tanjung Tokong, where HARMER © VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL LIVING JUNE 2018 10 I choose to live. It’s an expat enclave on the rian, and Indian restaurants, as well as a view, they make up for in amenities. These Straits Quay Marina. The marina is con- burger joint. All within a five-minute walk. include a 24/7 guard house, a massive nected to a small shopping mall that has a There are a good number of high-rises swimming pool, a barbecue party area, spa, nail and hair salon, a gym, and lots of right on the water that attract both expats and a small modern gym, all in a beauti- restaurants. While it is along the coast and and locals, yet it’s not overcrowded. It’s fully maintained garden setting. There are some condos have views, Tanjung Tokong a friendly, diverse mix, like so much of restaurants, bars, food stalls, a bakery, and isn’t the best area if you are a beach lover. Penang. Being hilly, this is a great area for a large park within a few minutes’ walk. But if you just like to be by the water, the sea views, even if you’re not right on the Drive northwest along the coast for 15 marina acts as a central hub for expats and water’s edge. minutes, and you’ll be in Batu Ferringhi, locals alike. It has 13 restaurants, a couple This neighborhood has plenty of beach that beach spot I mentioned. It’s a more of coffee shops, and Aussie and Irish pubs access. Just turn down any developed part of the island, with live music daily. Who doesn’t love street toward the water, and with a massive night market to sit with a cocktail and watch the boats you’ll find a beach. Best of “Turn down that stretches along the main glide by? all, when I come here, I often any street and street parallel to the beach. The Brezza is a building in Tanjung have it all to myself. Even It’s packed with restaurants, Tokong that’s worth a look. It was com- though this area has the you’ll find pubs, and a few beach bars pleted in 2011, and within a mile or so of highest density of condos, where I love to chill out and it you’ll find three grocery stores, Gurney the beaches are unexpectedly a beach.” watch the sunset. Other than Plaza, food stalls, and the marina. The empty. It’s one of the reasons George Town, this is the most lavish amenities include a swimming pool, why I chose to live in this general area popular place for vacationers to stay. It’s jogging track, wading pools, gym, a bar- myself. I knew I wanted to live near Tan- the consummate beach destination on the becue, a clubhouse, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna. jung Bungah, because it’s right between island, where you can ride a horse along A three-bedroom, three-bathroom unit George Town and Batu Ferringhi (the the sands, go parasailing at sunset, swim, comes with a view of the water and two-car island’s beach destination), and I wanted or just sit back with a cocktail and watch it parking for only $517 a month. to have access to both at the drop of a all go by. One of the most popular places to live dime. It was also very important to have Ferringhi Villas, on the far end of town, in this area is Quayside, a resort-like condo views, not just of the water, but of all the across from the Hard Rock Hotel, offers complex complete with an expansive yet surrounding hills and nature. It delivers all large homes at affordable prices. How private 4.5-acre pool, two tennis courts, those things. about renting a two-story bungalow with a gym, and a café. There are free monthly Alila Homes has townhouses, or ter- four bedrooms and three bathrooms for movies, fitness classes, and hammocks to raced homes, spread over three stories. $853 a month? It’s fully furnished, has a laze the day away in. It is more expensive A fully furnished, four-bedroom, three- small garden to plant your herbs in, and it’s than some of the other buildings, but the bathroom home of 2,500 square feet will across the street from the beach. The gated amenities and the condos’ modern style run you $646 a month.