Hotel Seri Malim, Tanjung Malim

Another weekend in Tg Malim for us and no, it's not really a vacation. My wife is continuing her studies at the University Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and  every so often we would stay at the budget hotels here. For the initial year of her studies, we would always stayed at the Sahara Inn Hotel in Taman Bahtera. This I guess is one of the first budget hotel in Tg. Malim. Over the years that we have been coming here, many more budget hotels have sprung up like mushrooms. I have reviewed one of them in this blog. This time around we have  booked ourselves into another newer budget hotel namely Hotel Sri Malim. The hotel is just a walk away from the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus of UPSI (Known as the 'old' UPSI for students) in Taman Universiti. Very convenient for students whose having classes at the "old" campus.

If you'd like to try this hotel out then I suggest that booking be made well in advance to avoid dissapointment. We had booked the family room for the 4 of us. The room has a queen and  single bed configuration. The room is quite big and comfortable, of which you can expect of a new hotel. There are selected ASTRO channels and every room is furnished with LCD TVs. This saves a lot of space for hotel rooms nowdays.

Spacious rooms with wall hung LCD TV

Black tiles adorn the lower part of the bathroom which
reminds me of  big hotel's bathrooms

The weekend rate is RM110 per night plus a refundable deposit of RM20. I learnt from the manager that extension of hours is allowed provided that the room is available and only for an additional RM5 of each extra hour after the initial 12pm check out time. Checking in was ok as we had already made prior booking.

Hotel Sri Malim is made out of a 2 storey shoplot building turned hotel. Parking is quite adequate and given it's very close to the old UPSI campus, it seems to have become a popular budget stay with the part time students.

It seems that the hotel has also cooperated with one of the restaurant nearby to cater packed food right to your room. The menu is displayed at the reception and set menu starts from RM7 per pax. A budget hotel with 'room service'. How's that for you?

We actually did go to D'Jerai Cafe which is just a few doors from the hotel. The food is quite surprisingly good and I would recommend you to try the Siakap 3-rasa which had become a favourite to my wife. The Nasi Goreng Sardin is also commendable with squids and prawns thrown in to enhance the taste. Do give it a try.....

One of the menu for single pax from D'Jerai Cafe costing RM7.00.
It can be packed and sent to your room.

I noted another shoplot is under some extensive renovation. Guess what? Yup, another hotel is underway.

This may be our next destination for the future weekends in Tanjung Malim

For whatever reasons you may have come to Tg. Malim,Perak, do give one of its newer budget hotel a try just like Hotel Sri Malim.

For bookings, you can call 05-459 9333 or direct to Mr. Anand @ 013 356 8699

MATTA Fair March 2014

Another session of bargain hunting of travel packages at the Marh session of MATTA  Fair 2014. It is true that if you love travelling, MATTA Fair which is organized bi-annually is a must visit. It does not matter if you're looking for overseas or domestic travels, the offer and packages offered are quite attractive. If you're thinking of going to MATTA Fair do go in the morning. They open at 10am till 9pm. Parking could be a problem if you're late. We arrived at 11am and the crowd had yet to swell up. However at around 2 pm, scores of people start crowdidng bothe the domestic/ASEAN and international booths which are separately located at Hall 3 (domestic/ASEAN) and Halls 1 & 2 for international destinations.

If you are a frequent traveller domestically, you might notice that the cost of hotels have almost doubled in some places this year due to the Visit Malaysia Year 2014. As such, MATTA Fair is the best place to hunt for a package bargain. However, do be careful as I have heard of unsrupulous operator who fails to deliver the packages bought by travellers. Some hotels claims special MATTA Fair accomodation rates of which you can actually get with online bookings & purchases. So no special rates there. 

This time around though we came across the Glory Beach Resort in Port Dickson which they claim had been recently refurbished.No more old worn-out rattan settees.

We told ourselves that this we have got to see. So we bought the special package for 2D1N stay at the 3-bedroom Family Deluxe Apartment for RM280 and applicable on weekends and school holidays without surcharges!! We have surveyed earlier that the cheapest online rate is around RM500++  . So this was a good offer.

People actually waits for this bi-annual event and flock PWTC by the thousands. If you are keen to travel, do give MATTA Fair a visit and hopefully you'll get your dream holiday. The next MATTA Fair will be in September 2014, so do make a date with us then.

Till then do enjoy some of the pictures taken at the March 2014 Edition MATTA Fair.

Celebrity Sathiya was on hand to promote one of the exhibitor's booth..

Our hearts go for the passengers and crews of the missing flight MH370.

We will not cease to extend our prayers that the aircraft would be found soonest....