Bayview Hotel by ST Hotels

The room fridge came in handy, and we got around Malta easily on the buses. A weekly pass was good value at 25€, though the buses could get crowded and you needed to keep your balance. The breakfast buffet had a bottleneck around the bread, so the layout could be better. From the street, it wasn’t obvious this was a hotel; a more visible entrance and reception desk would help. Staff were okay but nothing special. The cleaner left our balcony door open, and the stiff shower door injured my foot. There was no English-language TV, though you could try Germany’s version of Watch Dog, lol. We used YouTube and our laptops instead. The nearby bars were okay, but there were lots of young people around, and one homeless person might put solo travellers off.

The ferry to Valetta is right nearby, and the bar was convenient with live events. We had a lovely harbour view from what seemed like a nice room, and watching the sunrise from the balcony was amazing. The service was good, especially at breakfast, where they offered full English and continental options. But the sausages and bacon were swimming in fat, and the machine coffee tasted instant. The room got quite hot overnight when the sun came in during the day and the air conditioning was disconnected for winter. Opening the balcony door helped, though many rooms apparently don’t have one. There was nowhere to put toiletries in the bathroom, and the shower door opened inward, letting water splash onto the floor outside it. Those little things cost it some stars. They didn’t spoil our stay, but we paid a lot and the place still missed the mark.

The harbour view from the room was great, and sitting on the balcony to watch the sunrise was amazing. The room itself was clean and tidy, though there was no bathroom shelf for toiletries. Reception staff were helpful and efficient, and traffic noise didn’t bother me. Bayview worked well for our short break, with most local attractions easy to reach. We used Bolt to get around and found the fares reasonable, but try to avoid peak times.

We skipped most of the half-board dinners after trying the hotel around the corner. The buffet choice there was limited, the food wasn’t hot, and the place had no atmosphere. We ate there just three times and went to local restaurants for the rest of our evening meals. Other guests told us they’d done the same. Breakfast at the hotel was good. The public areas were clean and spacious, with a nice bar, and the location put shops, bars, restaurants and transport links right nearby. Our room was adequate, though the bathroom was small. There wasn’t much hanging space, and it wasn’t long enough for dresses. The balcony was a good size with two chairs and a side table. From the front of the hotel, the bay view was fabulous, especially at sunrise if you’re up early.