Hallmark Express Hotel

The location was fine, but we weren’t happy with the hotel itself. The bathroom had no glass divider between the shower and toilet, so water splashed around and left the whole floor wet. The toilet seat was cracked, so we had to be careful sitting on it. The carpet looked worn and not very clean, even though it may have been vacuumed before we arrived, and there were no disposable slippers. The air conditioner was very noisy and didn’t seem regularly serviced. Thankfully, we stayed only one night.

The hot rainfall shower was relaxing, and there’s free, spacious parking behind the hotel for guests. It’s good value for a budget stay, with Jonker Street, Stadhuys, and Melaka red church around an 800-meter walk away. Melaka River Park, with the upside-down house popular with children and the ferris wheel, is about 200 meters away, just behind the building across the road. From there, the wooden riverside walkway runs about 700 meters to Kg Mortem, then another 500 meters to Kg Rempah jetty, where the Melaka river cruise starts. There’s no fridge or bathtub, but a kettle, hair dryer, and safe are provided. I’d highly recommend it.

I couldn’t connect to the hotel Wi-Fi at all during my stay. There’s no self-service laundry nearby, so I walked about 500 meters to find one. I didn’t see halal eateries close by either, but food can be ordered for delivery or picked up by ride-hailing. BIG pharmacy is just a few lots away and was handy for snacks, drinks, toiletries, and health supplements. The single room was small, even for one person, and I kept catching my leg on the bed’s sharp wooden edge. Still, there was enough floor space to perform my solat. I got clean towels and a toothbrush kit each day, but the body wash ran out on my last day and hadn’t been refilled during my three-day stay. The toilet seat had a small crack, so I had to be careful. What I appreciated most was the icy cold sirap in the lobby and the front desk being staffed around the clock. They helped arrange daily room cleaning, which you have to request each day. I was often out early during Subuh hours or returning late at night, and the Coway water machine was right in front of my room. Bukit Cina, one of my favourite spots for a morning jog, is within walking distance, as is the Melaka river walk, where I liked going in the evening. I’ve been making annual trips to Melaka for years, but this was my first stay at a Hallmark hotel. I usually choose cheap places as a budget backpacker, since comfort is something I can’t afford when travelling locally and overseas throughout the year. Alhamdulillah, last December I had a little extra rezeki and treated myself to a better hotel. If I had more budget for accommodation, I’d choose Hallmark again, and next time I’d like to stay at the Hallmark near the Kg Hulu's mosque.

The staff were polite and friendly, and the location worked well. The room had air conditioning, a safe, small fridge, water heater, and outlets beside the bed. Cleaning was available daily if requested. The TV only had eight local Malaysian channels.