Where to Stay

The hotel scene in Malacca exhibits the effects of a sustained tourism boom. This ancient city after all ranks amongst the most-toured places in Malaysia alongside Kuala Lumpur and Penang. At least 80 hotels across all classes serve a constant stream of visitors drawn to its architectural, cultural, culinary and recreational riches.

More than half of all local hotels are located within a 2km radius from Bandar Hilir, at and around which most tourist, dining and shopping highlights can be found. Other accommodation choices, many of which are family-resort types, congregate in the leafy Ayer Keroh recreational enclave and the beachside locale of Klebang district.

The price tag for a standard room per night's stay peaks at around MYR180 at top-draw marquees, while a clutch of budget joints in Taman Melaka Raya and Chinatown feature no-frills, air-conditioned lodging for as little as MYR30. Backpackers can get a bunk for MYR12.

Bandar Hilir (Malacca Town)

Nearly half a millennium of occupation by four different foreign powers left interesting architectural imprints in Malacca. The Bandar Hilir historic core is anchored by famous landmarks such as the 1650-built Stadthuys building and the Dutch Square (or Red Square). In close proximity, the newest five-star Equatorial stands alongside A'Famosa, linked by a 200m paved walkway. The Renaissance MelakaDutch Square, another of three luxury class hotels downtown, is located in the hotel belt at the fringe of Chinatown. This recently renovated member of the well-known chain is but a 15-minute stroll away from Bandar Hilir, with a large number of eateries, shops and conveniences in between. The other five-star marquee, the Golden Legacy Hotel is in another part of the city, along Jalan Hang Tuah, an arterial street running northwards from the centre in the direction of Ayer Keroh.

Popular with Singaporean family groups, the Century Mahkota Hotel is a large-scale operation, featuring apartment-style lodging and competitive prices. It sits neck-to-neck with Mahkota Parade Shopping Mall, the largest shopping complex locally. Hotel Seri CostaDutch Square, an upper intermediate new comer, falls within the same commercial district of Taman Melaka Raya, where a great many restaurants, pubs and nightspots, as well as budget hotels, have their address.

The downtown hotel belt revolves around the junction of Jalan Munshi Abdullah and Jalan Bendahara and hosts about a dozen less expensive options than the Renaissance. Just a notch below luxury class, the City Bayview Hotel is well regarded for its standards of service, upkeep and food. In the same area, Hotel Orkid, Mimosa Hotel , Emperor Hotel, and Hotel Grand Continental Malacca offer a sizeable number of rooms which compete in the intermediate to lower end of the business. Still less expensive are smaller operators like Accordian Hotel, Belmount Hotel and Bentona Hotel. Boutique Hotels and Service Apartments

The legacy of the Peranakans in this former Straits Settlement colony is most evident in the aged shophouses and antiques bazaar of Jonker Street. Besides a visit to the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, you can relive a day from the Straits Chinese era in any of the three boutique hotels, studiously crafted from century-old shophouses and all located along Heeren Street or Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Best of the lot, the award-winning Hotel Puri is worth a visit even if you do not intend to be a staying guest. Heeren House exudes a home-stay feel as the rooms are located atop a cosy little restaurant on the ground floor, with a staircase leading upstairs. Least expensive is the Baba House. Travelling with a family? A couple of service apartment-style lodgings are available in Taman Melaka Raya. The Harbour Club combines service apartments with a host of sports facilities, restaurants and entertainment joints within its seaside compound. Pangsapuri Garden City Service Apartment features a block of service apartments that are newly converted from residential condominiums.

Family resorts

Malacca also has its own fair share of resorts, both beachfront and country retreats. Just north of Malacca town, Ayer Keroh beckons with numerous golf courses and nature-themed tourist spots. Several resort-style lodgings here feature expansive, green-capped compounds and plenty of fresh air. The Paradise Malacca Village and the Ayer Keroh D'Village Resort lie at the site of the Ayer Keroh Lake, the former being the more expensive and better appointed of the two. Ayer Keroh Country Resort offers discounted access to an 18-hole golf course at Ayer Keroh Country Club. Yet another option is Puteri Resort Ayer Keroh, a little further from the main road but the newest of the lot.

Malacca's largest family resort is located about 30km from Malacca, along the North-South Highway. The sprawling A'Famosa Resort boasts a "total resort living" concept, featuring the highly rated 36-hole A'Famosa Golf Resort and the excitement-filled A' Famosa Water World theme park.

If you prefer beachfronts, Riviera Bay Resort and Klebang Beach Resort are quality choices with views of the famed Straits of Malacca. In their midst, Shah's Beach Resort retains a time-stood-still charm with its unusual Malay-style chalets. Also, on the shoreline of pristine Tanjung Bidara Beach, stand two hospitable resorts, the Tanjung Bidara Beach and the Samudera Bidara Resort.

On a shoestring

About 100m from the Equatorial, the cheapest bed in Malacca costs just MYR12 at the Kancil Guest House. Other conveniently located budget choices, charging no more than MYR25 for a bed/room, include Malacca Youth Hostel, Robin's Nest Guest House, Grandstar Rest House and Zaini Mesra Hotel.