Hotel Santana

The location was good, the hotel was clean, and service was good. Breakfast and dinner were nice on the half-board plan, with beer and wine included at dinner. There was entertainment at night too. I was there on a group trip. The view from my room was of a construction site, and I wasn’t impressed by the rooftop pool. It needs a full refurbishment. Be very careful with your personal belongings in the room. I might have stayed again until something on my last day completely changed my mind.

The weather here is 15 degrees at the moment, while it’ll be -2 back home in Dublin when I fly back tomorrow. Not looking forward to that! The hotel is excellent, the food is amazing, and I had a spa treatment yesterday. Staff are very helpful, and it’s in a great location.

We had a lovely post-dinner drink at Zazen Bar, and the rooftop pool and bar were another highlight. They were great for sunbathing, and we even watched the Malta Air Show from there. The location in St Paul’s Bay was handy for boat trips and nearby beaches. The staff were all welcoming and friendly, especially Prashanth at the bar. Food was a bit disappointing, perhaps because it was near the end of the season. My partner is vegetarian and felt the veggie choices were more like side dishes than proper mains. The hotel was generally clean, although we did find a pair of underwear in the wardrobe!!! The small gym has basic equipment, but its low ceiling meant I couldn’t use the treadmill at 6’1”. A good week overall, with a few quirks. I’d recommend it.

The staff were polite and professional throughout, but the hotel itself felt very average and badly in need of refurbishment. I don’t see how it got a four-star rating. Three stars at best. The rooftop pool was closed for repairs or refurbishment, and there was damp on the walls where showers had leaked through. The food wasn’t good and choices were limited, though there was always something edible.