Overall, a pleasant stay in a nice surrounding.
POSITIVE:
- Private beach with crystal clear water. Beaches in Malta are rare (95% of the coastline is jagged rocks) and usually all the guests from multiple hotels are crammed together on the few crowded public beaches. This hotel has its own, 100-meter stretch of sandy beach, with free sunbeds and umbrellas, and plenty of these for all guests. The water is crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling and swimming. Wear rubber shoes when swimming to protect against underwater rocks and sea urchins. The occasional purple jellyfish delivers a mean sting, steer well clear of them. If you are all-inclusive, then the kayaks can be borrowed free of charge.
- Calm location, 300 metres from the main coastal road, so no noise or smells. The sea view rooms have a beautiful view of Gozo island and the sunset. The rooms on the other side get to look at the main island which is more peaceful than the busy seaside. In 10 minutes you can walk to the local bus stop, or in 20 minutes to the ferry terminal for Gozo.
- Excellent food and beverages, with the all-inclusive option you never go hungry or thirsty with service almost around the clock in various locations. Breakfast is decent but you see the same favourites return every other day. Lunch and dinner are excellent, each time around 6 hot dishes to choose from, always at least one meat, fish and vegetarian option available. In one week you may see a certain main course for a second time, but they vary quite a bit. You could compose an entire meal just from the salad bar and the cold starters. Alcoholic beverage repertoire is a bit limited, but adequate. Staff in general is friendly and helpful, but at peak times they appear to be overloaded.
- Rooms are spacious and cleaned properly, not much noise from the neighbours or the corridor. Evening entertainment finishes before midnight, and no noise from other resorts.
- The indoor pool is nice and calm, and at certain hours completely off-limits for kids. The large outside pools have enough sunbeds, and a separate restaurant. The animation team tries their best and has an indoor kids room and small amphitheatre outside.
Negative:
- Our return flight left at midnight, and from the day we arrived we had to go to the reception every morning to request a late check-out, only to be told that none was available yet and we should come back to check the next day. They could have put us on a waiting list and inform us if anything became available, rather than us having to chase them.
- When returning from the beach, there is no possibility to wash the sand off your feet, so you carry it with you through the corridors and into your room. Is it so hard to supply a hose or a bucket of water?
Other than that, nothing to complain about, so overall a very pleasant stay.