Hotel Bendahara @ Malacca City

There are restaurants nearby with plenty of choice if you're adventurous, and the counter staff member Mike was very helpful. Beyond that, our stay was rough. The hotel is run down, breakfast was the same both days, and it was better outside the hotel. We waited until late at night for towels because laundry hadn't sent them in time. The first floor was dim, some friends' rooms had cobwebs, and mine had to be moved from the first floor because of a strong smoke smell. On the second floor, the ceiling paint was cracked and peeling, and the washing was choked. I reported it at the counter and was told it had been repaired, but it was still the same. The room wasn't cleaned the next day, the towel was stained, and the bed cover didn't cover the whole bed. Mike was helpful, but seemed to be doing everything himself, including setting up breakfast.

I've stayed at Bendahara Hotel four times now, and this visit showed improvements in the rooms, lobby, and TV channels. I was in room 305. The room was very clean, had LED lights, and its arrangement felt classy. The lobby was clean too, and seeing my favourite beautiful orchid there felt welcoming. I like being able to walk to town, Little India, Jonker Streets, and the historical places. The car park feels very safe, and the hotel works well for families. Elderly guests can get rooms next to the lift. My rate was RM140 with breakfast, and walking meant I saved money and time without needing to drive. I'm a regular visitor to Malacca, and this is still my absolute favourite hotel. I'll definitely come back.

We came as a group, and everyone ran into different problems. Management seemed inefficient with registration. Some rooms had faulty sensors, unmade beds, or shower problems. I was lucky that my room was okay apart from a fridge that kept leaking and wasn't very cold. The sensor in my room had an issue earlier, but their technician fixed it very quickly. Staff were friendly, though I heard they don't provide breakfast.

The front desk people were awesome, but the place was grotty and hadn't been cleaned. We were the only guests in the six-floor building and got a ground-floor room. It had some "old school charm," but really wasn't worth $20usd.