Penang is relatively a very safe place for travellers, however like in any other place, Penang has its share of crime, so common precautions must be taken against snatch-thieves and scams. Some other precautions:
Don't walk alone in dark and deserted places.
Don't accept rides from Kereta Sapu (passenger car / unlicensed taxi).
Don't carry valuables in motorbike-baskets.
Don't leave valuables in hotel rooms.
Don't place valuables on restaurant tables.
Do be wary of snatch-thieves - especially when wearing jewelry and/or carrying bags. Some of these felons practice the art of 'ride-by' snatching of ladies' handbags which can result in serious injury to the victim. So ladies: walk against traffic and keep the handbag on the side away from the road or better still, don't carry one.
Do be wary of the (sometimes aggressive) long-tail macaques at the botanical gardens.
Be careful about your surroundings in waters off Batu Feringhi beach, where you may be harmed by unregulated jet skis and/at other water activities.
Look both ways when you cross the road.
But don't be too paranoid and enjoy Penang!�:-)
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Penang
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Penang - updated Apr 2024
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Penang Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
