Hotel Review: The Explorer Hotel, Malacca

Finding and booking accommodation for 3-4 people is kinda pretty easy for me but when comes to a larger group, let's said for 9 people, it's not that really as easy as I thought. Lucky enough for us, I came across this hotel by the name of The Explorer in Malacca which not only fit perfectly for 9 of us, it's also affordable and strategically located in perfect location.

#1: The Explorer Hotel is located within the latest mall of Malacca

#2: We were greeted by friendly hotel staff and the check-in process was fast and smooth

#1: A basic triple room laminated with wood flooring

However, once we entered our room, we were surprised and little bit disappointed with the size of the rooms which were incredibly small, compared to the one we stayed in Singapore, Hotel 81 Dickson. And we even had our hard time of placing our luggage bags. But at the end, this wasn't a big issue for us as we spent most of our time at outside exploring the town, as long as the rooms were completely clean enough and the beds were comfortable for us to rest our body. By the time we stayed in this hotel, it was a new hotel in town and not many people know about this.

#3: A double bed room

As this hotel is designed for eco-friendly concept, hence each and every room is pretty simple and basic one - a minimal designed room with beds, LCD plasma TV, a small bathroom and a small dressing table. Nothing less, nothing more. 

Tip:

Try to avoid from the room near the lift as well as small park cause the wall is so thin that you might easily being disturbed by the noisy sounds.

#4: A small but clean bathroom equipped with hot shower, towels and simple bathroom amenities

#5: Complimentary bottle drinks and coffee and tea maker were provided too.

Despite the size of the rooms, this hotel is compensated for its excellent and perfect location. The hotel is strategically located beside Mahkota Parade and opposite of Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. Besides that, the other reason I love this hotel location was because it was situated few minutes of walking distance from the notable A'Famosa Fortress, Jonker Street, Menara Taming Sari and few historical places of interest.

Overall, I think it's indeed worth every single penning we paid especially when travel in a big group of family like us and most importantly, credit to its strategic location. The hotel rates that we paid didn't come along with the breakfast but who need hotel breakfast anywhere when we were in one the city of Malaysia well-known for a food paradise? Scrumptious and delicious foods are aplenty surrounding the hotel. 

Date Stayed: 21 December 2012 - 22 December 2012 (1 night)

Rate We Paid :  RM138.00 per night for a double bed room and RM198.00 for a triple room (Booked via Agoda.com)

Disclaimer:
This review is truly based on my own personal experience and is my genuine and honest opinion of this hotel, and that I have no personal or business relationship with this establishment.

Follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Dayre | cause I'm currently in Putrajaya! 

And with this, I done with visiting the whole 13 states and 3 federal territories of Malaysia 

This post is mainly to support Visit Malaysia Year 2014. #vmy2014

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Malacca, Historical Gem of Malaysia in 2 Days

If you ask me which of Malaysia state that I never been yet, there will be 2 states; Kelantan and Pahang.

And if you ask me which state of Malaysia that has the most historical site and attraction, I will definitely said Malacca for sure, besides Penang.

The rule of thumb for sightseeing is "If you have never been to this, means you never been to Malacca."

A Famosa Fortress, one of the eye-catching sights you must see when visiting Malacca, or else don't tell anyone that you had been to Malacca.

View of A Famosa from behind

Behind A Famosa Fortress, just a few walking distance and you will came across to the Dutch Square, where Christ Church of Malacca is located. What I like about Malacca was all those ancient architectures are just few distance away and I didn't have to waste my time and money to search for the transportation mode, except from the bus station to the city or plan to go other district like Alor Gajah.

Tired of walking? How about take a ride on this?

A beautifully decorated trishaw

And finally, the third place that we went to was Jonker Street, a small Chinatown street but rich with varieties of eateries, souvenirs, antique goods and more. Here is where you can hunt Malacca mouth-watering local cuisines such as the chicken rice balls, cendol and more.

Jonker Street seems to be more happening and bustling compare the time I came in year 2006.

Most of them recommend this shop, Jonker 88 for the cendol and local cuisines.

Eventually, we went A Famosa Fortress again on the second day to take a nice shot. First day was crowded with the tourist and when we went back again around 5pm, the view of A Famosa Fortress was being blocked souvenir sellers.

So woke up early at 7am, after finish our breakfast, and now ready for our camera.

DT @ Malacca, 2011

Now considering where will be my next destination of Cuti-Cuti Malaysia? Perhaps, Penang or Langkawi again (although I had been these 2 lovely places for 2 times, but I still love to visit them again).


Short Note: Out of my expectation, when I was updating this entry, my everyday-must-read-website, Malaysia MSN is also featuring Malacca: Malaysia’s historical gem. The title of this post of mine was taken from there.

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Foodie Friday: Mille Crepe from Nadeje

Short Note: This is another scheduled post. Having class at this moment until 9.30 pm. I hate having class at night time.
Another segment of Foodie Friday again!

I know that this is not a new and extraordinary topic but for me, it is a new discovering when visiting Malacca. This caught my attention when I saw few of notable bloggers ever posted about this so I suggested to my housemate that we should go and hunt for this when going to Malacca. So, forget about chicken rice balls and also the satay celup. No more hunt for these food since both of us had tried it before.

Mille Crepe from Nadeje, is a French cake consist of many layers of crepes filling with thick sweet cream and stacked together. This is the first thing we hunt for once we checked-in to the hotel since one of Nadeje's outlet located on the top of Dataran Pahlawan mall which just few miles away from the hotel we were staying.

See the crowd and all of this is just because the crepe.

Lots of choices; Original, Tiramisu, Green Tea, Cheese and more.

Nadeje does serves other kind of foods as well besides the crepe.

At first, my housemate intended to order 4 cakes. I was like "Huh??!! 4 cakes for 2 people? How about we order 3 first?". Luckily she agreed with my idea and these are what we ordered.

3 Mille Crepe for 2

Try count how many layers each of this crepe

The original flavour. Many people recommend for this.

Banana chocolate flavour. Very similar taste to one from Secret Recipe.

Parline Lover. Both of us love this.



My special drink known as Red Moon. A bit too sweet for me

Selling at the price of RM9 and above which I think it's kinda reasonable if you have this once in a while, right?

Thanks Yin Yin for this photo from her DSLR Canon D60

Plan to go Malacca and search for this? Here is the address:

Nadeje Cafe Sdn. Bhd.

Lot No. UB051, 052 & 053, Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall,
Jln Merdeka, 75000 Bandar Hilir, Melaka.

(Updated: Not more located in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka. They had shifted to Mahkota Parade which just located opposite of Daratan Pahlawan. Address is stated as below)

Nadeje Plaza Mahkota

G-23 & 25, Jln PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka.
Operation Hours: 12:00pm - 10:00pm (Weekdays)
                            11:00am - 10:00pm (Weekend)

Nadeje Mahkota Parade
G-23B, EG 4 & EG5, Ground Floor, Mahkota Parade, 7500 Melaka. 

Operation Hours: 11.00am - 10.00pm

Nadeje Jaya 99
G-01, Bangunan Jaya 99, Block A, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100 Melaka.
Operation Hours: 11.00am - 10.00pm (Daily)

Mahkota Parade is just opposite/beside Dataran Pahlawan Mall.

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Great Deal of Equatorial Hotel, Malacca

I think it is so fortunate for those who lived in around Peninsular Malaysia with all these online great deals where they offers varieties of discount vouchers, coupons and promotions around Peninsular Malaysia only. I hope they can expand to East Malaysia so that more Malaysians can enjoy these great deals and offers.

I signed up to few of these online website ever since I at KL and came across this:

Appear exactly at the right time because I was searching for Malacca hotels through agoda.com. After informed my housemate regarding this deal, there's goes our journey to Malacca. We need to call Equatorial Hotel first in order to check whether our preferred travel date available or not. After being confirmed by their staff, then only can purchase this deal from Groupon. This promotion is only valid from Sunday to Thursday and some of the dates are blackout especially during holiday season.

Since my housemate and I have no class on Monday, so we plan heading down to Malacca on Sunday. Luckily my housemate told me that the bus terminal to Malacca is no more located at Pudu. All this while I still thought at Pudu, but they had changed to Bandar Tasik Selatan. Really no updated one!

By the way, the bus terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan is so huge and both of us really lost and nearly miss the bus. Thank God manage to get into the bus 3 minutes before the bus depart but I was wondering will Malaysia bus depart exactly on time.

Reached Malacca after 1 hour and 45 minutes journey and we decided to take taxi to Equatorial Hotel because both of us had no idea how to take the domestic bus. The taxi fare cost RM15 which is quite expensive but I guess currently KL taxi also do the same thing. Refused to use meters and charge higher.

This 5-star international business class hotel is located in the center of Malacca city. It is really a strategic location.

Taking this package comes with lots of privileges. Upon check-in, we were being requested proceed to 21st floor for exclusive check-in. For common hotel check-in time is either 2pm or 3 pm but for this, we are allow to check-in the room regardless the time. Nice right?

A warm welcome note from the hotel with my name on it. First time in my life because most of the time was my daddy's name on it.



Equator Club Room. Only 64 rooms of this type available in this hotel



I heard many people saying that some of the hotel photo are cheat and totally different when check-in to the room but for this, it looks exactly the same. No cheat. No lie.



Comfort bed

Coffee and tea maker for the lovers.



The bathroom is huge and most importantly, clean.







Another privileges that we got was evening pre-dinner cocktail with free flow of light snacks and drinks from 5.30 pm until 7.30 pm. After eating this, both of us didn't had dinner because we were full.



Lastly, daily complimentary breakfast. Really eat non-stop for this trip. Gonna do some exercise once going back KL.

Regarding the location of this hotel, see from the photo above. Opposite of the hotel (the high building in orange colour) is shopping center such Dataran Pahlawan and Makhota Parada malls. Find the famous mille crepe from Nadeje in Dataran Pahlawan is just few steps away. Not only that, all the famous historical sites such as A'Farmosa Fortress, Christ Church and even the bustling Jonker's Street is all just behind this hotel. Great hotel with great location I can said. I will recommend this hotel to my mom as she always said she wants visit Malacca someday.

Sorry for this camwhore pic but loves to take pic from hotel recently =P

Thanks to Groupon.my for this great deal and offer. Buy the deal at a lower price but being served as a princess. Can't wait to grab for another great offer from you guys!

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