224 Boutique Hostel

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and the location is great. The room was extremely spacious, with a comfortable bed and an amazing bathroom. A really nice hostel, probably the nicest one I'll ever stay in.

The location was just right, a few minutes' walk to Sliema's waterfront and also to Lidl. While I was there, it wasn't the most social hostel, though I chatted with a few people around the pool and sauna. That probably comes down to luck, and there was also a school type trip going on, so there were fewer other travellers to meet. The place was bigger than I expected, with eight floors and three rooms on each. Dorm bathrooms were massive, and the shower was warm and powerful. There was lots of room in the kitchen too, with three fridges, and two balconies had great views. The spa and pool are a lovely feature. Overall, it felt more like a hotel than a hostel: spacious, clean, and every staff member was lovely, smiley and genuine. One of the best hostels I've stayed in.

The hostel itself was good and met what I expected, but Ester is the reason I wanted to leave a review. As a first-time visitor to Malta from Australia, I had lots of questions, and she took the time to suggest places to eat, attractions, sunset spots, boat tours and hidden gems. She was always glad to help and never asked for anything back. From the start, the reception team welcomed me warmly and the customer service was excellent. Ester went far beyond what I'd expect from a hostel staff member. The care she put into helping me have a good trip impressed me, and showed real character and a sincere wish to help people enjoy their stay. She's a real asset to the hostel and played a big part in making my trip memorable.

The place was clean, and during my stay the staff were really nice and helpful with tips. That made the experience enjoyable, and is why I gave three stars rather than one. Still, my experience at 224 boutique hostel was mixed, and I expected better from a boutique hostel. After booking a bed, I emailed to ask for an airport transfer, which the website said they offered. No reply came. A few weeks later I called, and they said transfers weren't available and that the site didn't say they were, though it did. The woman on the phone said I could take a bus and promised to email the details, but never did. At the hostel, the receptionist said they weren't offering transfers at the moment because the hostel had only started a few months earlier. The receptionist also said the water filter wasn't working because of startup problems and advised me not to drink tap water. When I asked about organized social events, I was told they weren't offered yet, although the website said they were. My biggest issue is that the hostel advertised services it didn't provide.