I travelled by bus from Singapore, where I was staying for two weeks, to spend Friday and Saturday night in Malacca. The Jonker Boutique Hotel proved to be perfect for the purpose of my stay which was experiencing the weekend night market and visiting the local attractions.
I used the Luxury Coach Line which picked up in Singapore from the Concorde Hotel on Orchard Road and dropped off in Malacca outside the Casa del Rio hotel. The reverse applied on my return journey back to Singapore. I found the comfort and service on this coach line to be exemplary and the Casa del Rio hotel is a short 10 minute walk to the Jonker Boutique Hotel so no taxi or bus was required.
Perhaps the things that stand out for me at Jonker is firstly, the staff. For Khay, Amy, Jermine, Aspier and Vince (apologies if my spelling of names is wrong), nothing was too much trouble. The offer of a map, a cold drink when they saw I was looking 'done in' from the heat, the offer of a shower before I caught my coach back to Singapore late in the afternoon was most appreciated. Khay, in particular, spent time explaining the history of Malacca to me and suggesting food I might like to try and places I might like to visit. It was lovely to see their smiling faces and hear their greeting whenever I passed through the reception area.
Secondly, the location, which is literally right on Jonker Walk which particularly comes alive after around 6 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I spent several very enjoyable hours walking the street enjoying different foods, shopping for souvenirs and then sitting listening to the karaoke on the stage situated right outside the hotel. I found the streets to be busy and hot during the daytime as well so it was wonderful to be able to easily pop back to my room to drop my shopping and have a rest.
I found my room, a deluxe, to be comfortable and very clean, however if you are looking for a 5 star, plush set up, this is not for you as this is an old boutique hotel with character. The room was spacious and my bed, which was king sized I believe, was on a raised platform just off the floor. This was the only problem I found with the room as I had a little difficulty getting in and out of bed as it was only just off the ground. Next time I visit I will ask for a regular bed. Also, there were quite a few steps inside the room, i.e. from the door, down from the bed and a little one into the bathroom, that I had to think about all the time to avoid a fall. I know though from looking at the pictures on their web page, that there are rooms which are more appropriate for 'mature aged' people. I was on the first floor, overlooking the car park and the noise from outside, even at night from the night market, was minimal and did not bother me.
I loved Malacca and hope to visit again staying at Jonker Boutique Hotel of course.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.