Ta' Bertu Host Family Bed & Breakfast

The pool, outdoor space, and BBQ are fantastic, and Violet was a lovely host. We’ve had a few family days here and each one was a great experience. I’d definitely recommend it.

Wonderful place, and the manager was really cool. I loved it.

The farmhouse and grounds were beautiful and peaceful, and everything we needed to feel comfortable was excellent. We spent one wonderful night in this welcoming family home. The hosts were extraordinary and interesting people, and they even drove us to the airport at six in the morning for our flight.

Leaving the property was a problem from the start. It sits down a narrow lane, opposite a camp for illegal African immigrants, an army base, and a major road junction. The place is surrounded by a 3-4 meter wall, and after the owners electronically open the gates, they're locked electronically around the clock. There's no key for guests to get out. You have to ask for permission, or try to leave when somebody else is going out. At night, migrants wandered around and appeared from bushes, which made walking feel scary, though they were pleasant to talk to in daylight. There are no shops or places to eat within walking distance, and with no transport I couldn't get out to buy anything. I needed drinking water, but none was provided in the room or elsewhere. The woman owner couldn't understand why I wanted any. Malta's tap water comes from the sea and is very salty and unpleasant, even boiled, and nobody drinks it. Everywhere else I stayed during my 11 days supplied plenty of water, often in a fridge. It became a nightmare being stuck without any. I was told I had to pay for the room and breakfast before I had even seen the room or eaten breakfast. I had booked the most expensive accommodation available, so my expectations were high, but it turned out to be an unattractive outbuilding in the garden, with almost no natural light in the bedroom. It was nicely furnished, but otherwise just an unattractive shell. There was no internet Wi-Fi, as the woman owner clearly confirmed. There was no kettle, no glass or cup to use for water, and no goodies or extras. There was no TV in the room either, and the toilet wouldn't flush. The B&B says it is a 2 Star Hotel with a restaurant, but it definitely has no restaurant and certainly isn't a hotel. The woman owner was aggressive and bizarre, and erupted for no reason. At 9:30, after trying to find a shop, I went to ask her for water and got so much abuse. I asked twice for her to stop, but she kept ranting, and I left without water. If you're British and decide to stay, be warned that the woman hates our wonderful Queen and foul-mouths her for no reason other than resentment. She wouldn't stop even when asked repeatedly. Not wanting another round of her insults at breakfast, I asked her delightful, long-suffering husband to electronically unlock the 3 meter gates, then left in the early hours without breakfast.