Maria Jane Taylor, one of the most celebrated British missionaries, teachers, evangelists and explorers was born in Melaka in the first half of the 19th century. Brooding over her life experiences in the orient, she once wrote,
'Life here is no different to me. I know none other. Orient isn't strange to me, tis my home.
Having spent her lifetime in the Far East, it's understandable why a woman of intellect chose to call Melaka her birthplace and the east her home. This is, perhaps, the most defining trait of life and people that call Melaka their home. The idea of inclusion, of allowing everyone a fair chance at prospering is the base around which Melaka, and all of Malaysia indeed, has been built upon.
Melaka has seen at least seven periods of rule that were contrasting in nature and culture. This severely unmatched governance has caused the city to become a true melting pot of languages, religions, cultures, manners, foods and lifestyles. The differences in various cultures, over the years, have diffused to create a potpourri of a special Melakan culture that stands out from the rest of Malaysian culture. Because of its diversity, rich history of colonialism and trading, Melaka was included in the list of ˜Global Heritage Sites' by the UNESCO, an event that has since propelled the tourism industry in Melaka to newer heights.
Cutting Down on Hotel Expenses
Tourists and travelers who take great pleasure in spending much of their leisure time exploring newer parts of the world would know for a fact that hotel expenses count for a formidable share of tour budgets. That's exactly why, it's not reasonable on any count (nor is it justified) to not optimizing these expenses.
The best way to do that is to find cheap hotels wherever you plan to tour to. A traveler's rule of thumb states that if you are going to look for just place to crash at night, you might as well allow it to have an insignificant dent in your pocket, at the best. Finding affordable hotels in Melaka is a task that needs to be carried out with a sense of apprehension. The reason for this is that, many times, you might be better off staying at a more expensive but safer hotel. Again, this depends on your own disposition, but making sure that everything is in order with the hotel that's offering you a smash deal!
A Taste of Posh Life in Melaka
Much unlike cheap hotels, luxury and posh Melaka hotels offer their guests a taste of life that's defined by luxury, comfort, extravagance and grandeur of the highest level. Being a Global Heritage Site, Melaka sees a sizeable tourist influx every year from all quarters of the world. As is the case with most tourism oriented places, Melaka has seen a sudden overgrowth of luxury resorts and tourism centers that aim to cater the ever increasing number of visitors to the city.
Casa del Rio Melaka is a leading luxury hotel that regularly hosts celebrities and high-profile guests who prefer a rather detached lifestyle from the chaos of the life that every Malaysian city entails.
Tourists who are planning on staying at such lavish hotels in Melaka, should, however, make sure that the services offered by the hotel under the nightly stay price are complimentary, and not over or beyond the initial asking price of accommodation. If left unaddressed, this issue can fatten up your hotel bill significantly, leaving you leering when you finally check out of the hotel.
Independent & Boutique Hotels in Melaka
Melaka is a city of inclusion. That's why, it only makes sense that there are quite a few establishments of the third kind that lies somewhere in the territory that belongs neither to budget lodges nor to expensive palatial suites in Melaka.
The most popular among these are shared studio apartments and holiday flats. Rented out on weekly (and at times, even monthly) basis, these independent options provide a much needed source of flexibility to travelers and tourists. There are no strict check in or check out times, no over the top charges for facilities as basis as WiFi and most importantly, private parking space is available for guests. This makes such independent accommodation options an option worth probing, especially for tourists who plan on staying for a duration of one month or longer!
Finding Hotels Near Melaka Airport
Melaka airport has become a busy spot of entry and exist for tourists and businessmen over the last few years. Serving a few international locations as well as a host of domestic airports, Melaka Airport presents the easiest and most convenient portal for tourists to reach the city.
In a natural and very reasonable effort, many tourists try to locate and book a hotel that falls within their budget limits and is also in the vicinity of the airport. But this yields little outcome for them as Melaka Airport presides over restricted airspace that is also used for training by Malaysian Air Force. This means that all commercial activities “ including hospitality businesses “ are barred from operating in the immediate vicinity of the airport.
The best way for tourists is to head to the city proper and find a hotel that's reputed as well as reasonably priced.
Melaka: a Case of Changing Tides
Like the rest of the country, Melaka falls under a moderately sever tropical weather, meaning that it is hot and humid throughout the year, no matter what the season is. In fact, old timers in Melaka joke that there are only two seasons in Melaka: hot, wet and hotter, wetter!
Rainfall in Melaka is not distributed evenly across the year. The upheavals caused by the Indian Monsoon in May-September mean that a period of two months “ October to December “ is rather pleasant in terms of weather, and can be considered to be the best time to travel to Melaka. Tourists should, however, stay informed that most Melaka hotels get sold out pretty quickly during these months, and hence, booking well in advance is always the best course of action!