Calypso Hotel

We'd seen the reviews before booking, but we were walking the Gozo coastal path and this hotel was right on our route. We also got a discounted rate. There were a few good things: the foyer was nice, they let us check in early and store our bag safely, and the Wi-Fi worked. We did get a nice bay view too. The room was really big and fairly clean, though a bit tired. The breakfast was easily the worst hotel breakfast I've ever had. I saw the list of guests, and there were only eight couples staying. We arrived at 7:20, twenty minutes after breakfast opened, but the food looked like it had been sitting out for ages or reused from another day. Even the fruit was bad. The cups were stained, chipped and cracked. There was a mix-up with our room, and the hotel wouldn't give us the sea view we'd paid for. They asked for more money. It wasn't their fault there was a mix-up, but they wouldn't help and told us to contact Agoda. That took hours and got us nowhere. With so few guests, I don't understand why they couldn't put us in one of the sea-view rooms. The room curtains were very dirty and had holes, the air conditioner rattled all night and wouldn't cool the room, and the fridge had rusty shelves inside. The pool was closed for maintenance and too cold for us anyway. We booked a week before but nobody told us about the closure when booking or checking in. It felt like the owner had given up a bit. If it's like this in March, I imagine it will be the same in summer. There were Jet 2 signs inside. If you're booking a Jet 2 holiday here, don't bother unless you get a really, really good deal, and even then plan to eat breakfast elsewhere. It felt more like a 2-star hotel than a 4-star one. The location is good and can't be faulted. The hotel has a lot of potential, which makes it a shame. They should improve breakfast and communication, maybe offer a welcome drink, and help guests sort out room problems. When there are so few people staying, they could just upgrade them anyway.

The reception ladies were kind and helpful, and let us leave our luggage before check-in. When we asked about a later checkout because my husband felt unwell, they offered a stay until 3 pm for 30 euro. Regular checkout is 11 am. The location is Marsalforn bay, handy for restaurants and beaches. Sometimes cars can't get into the street outside the hotel, though, which makes Bolt or Uber less convenient. Our room was fine and had the basics, including a TV, fridge and electric kettle. The small balcony faced the side of the hotel, with a distant sea view. We could smell cooking from the kitchen in the hallway, which wasn't nice. Breakfast had a nice variety, and there's a small terrace where you can enjoy the morning view of Marsalforn. Upstairs, the rooftop has a pool, sunbeds and a self-service bar. The cocktails were nice, though served in plastic cups. The view from the roof is fantastic, especially at sunset.

The front desk staff were awesome, friendly and welcoming, and the location is great. It's dog friendly too. The room itself was run down: some tiles were broken and wobbly, a chair arm was ripped, the shower curtain had large black stains, and the morning shower had no hot water. We had to spend three minutes on the phone explaining that we hadn't checked out in an emergency and were still in the room waiting for our room service. The pizza definitely wasn't made on site, and I got a Coke Zero instead of a Coke. I wouldn't recommend the food, though I can't say enough good things about the staff.

The location across the bay is good, but it doesn't make up for the poor service and basic facilities. We expected a 4-star hotel, and this stay fell far short. The air conditioning was stuck in heating mode, and the rooms got up to 28°C despite repeated complaints. The basin plug never worked properly, the bath was stained and slippery, and the toilet shifted when used. Room cleaning and upkeep were lacking. Even with a "please clean" sign, nobody vacuumed or replaced the towels and linen. The breakfast was dull and low quality, with cheap sliced bread, dry croissants and poor coffee. Wi-Fi in our room didn't work for the entire stay. Avoid unless you're prepared for something closer to a budget 2- or 3-star hotel than the 4-star place you think you're booking.