Mid-Range Travel Guide: Melaka

Accommodation

$35-80 per night

Private rooms in boutique hotels, heritage guesthouses, mid-range hotels with air conditioning

Food & Dining

$20-45 per day

Mix of local restaurants, tourist-area dining, café meals, occasional upscale local cuisine

Transportation

$10-25 per day

Mix of public transport, taxis, ride-sharing, occasional private transfers

Activities

$25-60 per day

Paid guided tours, museum entries, cultural experiences, river cruises, heritage walks

Eat at local coffee shops and hawker centers instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-70% cheaper)

Use public buses for city transport instead of taxis (usually 80-90% savings)

Visit temples and heritage sites during free hours rather than paid guided tours

Book accommodation in residential areas rather than prime tourist zones (typically 30-50% less expensive)

Shop at local markets for snacks and drinks instead of hotel convenience stores (generally 200-300% markup avoided)

Walk between nearby attractions in the compact historic center to save on transport costs

Take advantage of free museum days and cultural center events typically offered monthly

Eating exclusively in tourist areas near major attractions (typically 100-200% markup over local areas)

Taking taxis for all transportation instead of learning the public bus system (usually 4-6x more expensive)

Booking accommodation without comparing prices across different neighborhoods (can vary 40-80% for similar quality)

Not checking for combo tickets at multiple attractions (individual entries typically 20-30% more expensive)

Exchanging money at tourist areas instead of banks or authorized dealers (usually 5-15% worse rates)