Holiday Inn Melaka by IHG

We’ve been coming here for years when travelling towards Singapore or visiting Malacca for work and leisure. It was lovely to return for the weekend. The hotel has been refurbished since our last stay, and it’s good to see that effort from the management and staff. The piano is still there, adding a warm, pleasant feel. We met some new friends from the USA during a table tennis session. They were staying on the same executive floor, and we invited them along in our car to see some attractions and get food in Melaka. We hope they felt well looked after during their visit at the start of Visit Malaysia year. Staff across the front desk, porter service, room service, executive club lounge and restaurant were friendly, polite and attentive. The restaurant team greeted us with a smile when we stopped by to look at the menu. Thank you to Ms. Nor'azila for the kind arrangements, and to Mr. Azizie for helping make the stay comfortable. We felt welcome and look forward to returning with family and friends. Best wishes to everyone, and keep up the good work.

The rooms are spacious, clean, bright and well maintained, and the staff are generally nice and accommodating. There are good amenities, plus an Italian restaurant on the ground floor that feels more pleasant and appealing. Getting into town and to Taming Sari means crossing via an underpass, which is inconvenient. There’s a free shuttle, but it only runs every two hours, so booking ahead is recommended. The level 2 restaurant isn’t well advertised or explained, and it can look closed. We were often the only diners. Service was slow, though the food was decent and fairly priced. I wouldn’t recommend the breakfast buffet.

The pool and gym are good, and nearly all the staff speak English fluently, which made my stay more comfortable. I’m far too old to learn another language! Breakfast had a wide range of options, and the staff worked hard to accommodate guests. The lounge selection was adequate, though I’d have liked salads, vegetables and desserts to suit my preferences. The location is convenient for the historic downtown, with a free shuttle bus if the heat, weather or walking is a challenge. I was lucky to meet the GM in the lounge this evening. He was a class act, personally responded to a couple of concerns, and had already set his staff on the path towards his goal of making this a 5-star property. Bravo! Special thanks to him for making the effort to find and listen to Diamond Elite members. Most GMs don’t do that.

We were so pleased to find anniversary decorations and a cake waiting in the room, even though we hadn’t mentioned or requested anything for the occasion. The kids were thrilled. The staff were friendly and helpful as always, and those thoughtful touches are a big reason we keep coming back. We’ve stayed at Holiday Inn many times on trips to Melaka, and returned after a 2.5-year break, now with two kids instead of one. The hotel has been renovated, so it feels refreshed while still familiar. We liked the new carpet, updated beds and headboard, the new soap brand, and the added bath mat in the tub. Looking forward to coming back!