A hotel room with a ball pit? Yes! That’s the Safari Suite at The Granite Luxury Hotel, Penang, Malaysia!
When traveling as a family with older kids, themed hotel rooms can be a bit of a gamble. They’re often designed for younger children, and it’s not always clear whether teens will enjoy them or roll their eyes the moment they walk in. When we booked the Safari Suite Penang at the Granite Luxury Hotel in George Town, that was exactly our concern, but our boys (16, 14, and 12 at the time of our visit) embraced the novelty and jumped into the experience.
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Here’s a quick overview of the Safari Suite:
Sleeping setup: the suite can realistically sleep 4-5 people, depending on ages. We used the main bed for us and had the boys spread across the remaining sleep spaces. The bathroom was stocked with premium toiletries, a walk-in shower, hair dryer, and toiletries.
Safety notes for parents:
- The ball pit is shallow enough that supervision is casual
- Crawl space exits are visible and netted, so you can see where kids are heading
What we liked:
- The ball pit kept our boys entertained
- Crawl space = energy outlet
- Not a large room, but plenty of space for our family and laid out really well
What to know:
- Great for younger kids (under 10) who enjoy active play, and for older kids (our boys are 16, 14, and 12) who enjoyed the novelty of a themed suite.
- It’s a fun-focused design – not meant for luxury, but for play and memorable experiences
- One or two nights is ideal; the novelty might wear off for longer stays, but the Granite Luxury Hotel is a great location in Penang – stay in a themed suite for a fun experience, and the rest of your stay in one of their other rooms.
- There’s only one Safari Suite in the hotel, so you’ll want to check the Granite Luxury Hotel website for availability and book it as soon as you know when you’ll be visiting George Town.
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During our stay, we were traveling with our three boys and we weren’t sure whether the safari theme might feel a little too young for them. As it turned out, the novelty of the room — especially the play features — made it a surprisingly fun experience even for teenagers.
They’ll start your visit with a remote-controlled safari jeep ride in the lobby. Our youngest was the only one who could fit, so they drove the jeep from the front desk to the elevator and up to the Safari Suite on the 10th floor. This was a fun way to introduce the Safari suite to our boys (who didn’t know we would be staying in a themed suite.
What Makes the Safari Suite at the Granite Luxury Hotel Penang Unique?
The Safari Suite is designed as a family-friendly themed room with built-in play elements that make it feel part hotel suite, part indoor playground. The Safari Suite is especially popular for family vacations due to its child-friendly design.
The standout feature is the large ball pit built into the room. Unlike the small play pits you might find in some kids’ spaces, this one is big enough for a full-grown adult to lie down in comfortably. It doesn’t need to be very deep to be fun, and the generous size makes it more than just a decorative feature — it’s actually something kids (and adults) can enjoy using.
Another element our boys loved was the crawl space that wraps around the upper part of the room and is part of a large tunneling system. This area also includes a bakery corner for imaginative play, letting kids pretend and explore. It creates a hidden pathway that kids can explore and adds a playful, adventurous feel to the suite. Even with older kids, this feature turned out to be a highlight.
The suite also includes a small kitchen area with a basin and kids’ tableware, plus specialized items for children such as child-sized soft robes, kids’ cutlery, and toilet stools.
The toiletries, bedding, slippers, and house coats made the experience so much more than a decorated suite
While the theme and novelty are a big part of the appeal, it’s worth noting that the excitement may wear off after a couple of nights. For families planning a longer stay in Penang, one approach could be to book the Safari Suite for a night or two for the experience, then move to one of the hotel’s regular suites for the remainder of your stay.
Guests often describe the Safari Suite experience as a ‘kids’ paradise’.
Sleeping Arrangements for Families
The Safari Suite is typically configured to sleep four guests with two queen beds.
Because we were traveling as a family of five, the hotel made an exception and added an additional single mattress to accommodate us. That extra flexibility made it possible for all of us to stay in the room together without feeling overly crowded.
If you’re traveling with more than four people, it may be worth reaching out to the hotel in advance to see if a similar arrangement is possible, and if you’re traveling with more than 5, the best arrangement may be to book a second room.
Comfort and Room Quality
Even with the playful design elements, the room still functions as a comfortable hotel suite. The Safari Suite features a spacious room with a dedicated seating area and a dining table, making it ideal for families or longer stays. Amenities include a hair dryer and coffee-making facilities, adding to the convenience and comfort of the stay.
One thing we immediately noticed was how quiet the room was. Despite being in a busy part of the city, we heard very little noise from the street, hallway, or neighboring rooms.
The beds and bedding were also some of the most comfortable we experienced during our travels in Malaysia (which we’re sure is the case throughout the hotel). The hotel offers a pillow menu, which was a fun surprise and a first-time experience for us. Our youngest took full advantage of it and called the front desk to request a full-body pillow and a memory foam pillow to try out during our stay. The suite was exceptionally clean, and the quality of its amenities stood out.
Small touches like this made the suite feel more like a premium hotel room rather than just a themed novelty space.
Guests also have access to excellent hotel facilities, including a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, and a business center, making it a great choice for both leisure and business travelers.
Is the Safari Suite Right for Your Family?
The Safari Suite can be a fun experience for families, but whether it’s the right choice depends a lot on what you’re looking for.
Families with younger kids will likely appreciate the built-in play areas the most, but our experience showed that even teenagers can enjoy the novelty — especially the ball pit and the crawl space.
That said, the room is probably best suited as a short experience rather than a long-term, since the novelty would probaby wear off. Staying for a night or two lets kids enjoy the unique features and then move to a standard suite in the hotel for the remainder of your stay.
For families visiting Penang who want to add something a little different to their trip, the Safari Suite offers a playful twist on a standard hotel stay while still delivering the comfort and quiet you’d expect from a luxury property. The suite provides great value for family vacations and is also a popular choice for romantic escapes, making it versatile for different types of travelers.
We had a great experience and our boys still rush to tell friends about the safari suite when asked about unique hotels in Malaysia.
Here are some of our favorite photos from the Safari Suite:
About The Granite Luxury Hotel Penang:
The Safari Suite is just one of the unique accommodations available at The Granite Luxury Hotel Penang, a boutique-style hotel located in the heart of George Town. The property blends modern design with a few playful touches, making it an interesting option for families looking for something a little different from a typical city hotel.
The hotel offers a range of room types, from standard rooms and spacious suites to themed accommodations like the Safari Suite. While the themed rooms tend to draw the most attention from families, the hotel overall has a modern, comfortable feel that works well for a variety of travelers, including those visiting for business meetings or work assignments, thanks to its business-friendly amenities.
Rooms are designed with contemporary décor and practical features for longer stays, including comfortable bedding, seating areas, and thoughtful details that add to the overall experience. During our stay, one of the things that stood out most was the quietness of the rooms, which made it easy to relax after long days exploring the city.
The hotel’s location in George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage city on Penang Island, also makes it a convenient base for exploring the area’s famous street art, food scene, and historic neighborhoods.
The Granite Luxury Hotel Experience: Infinity Swimming Pool & Fitness Center
It’s safe to say that the Safari Suite is just one part of what makes the overall stay at The Granite Luxury Hotel Penang a memorable option for families visiting Penang. Here’s our full review of the Granite Luxury Hotel, George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
