Grand Hotel Excelsior

Valletta has several small luxurious boutique hotels within it's walls but if you want a large quality hotel with 5* facilities within walking distance of the City, the choice is limited. When money is no object and you want to rub shoulders with celebrities and statesmen, there is the Phoenicia. if your wallet doesn't quite stretch that far or you prefer something a little less ostentatious there is the Grand Hotel Excelsior. This is a long established 5* Hotel ten minutes walk from the City's Main Gate. It is maybe a little long in the tooth but it is still opulent and has all the trappings expected of a 5 * hotel. Public areas are "traditional" rather than modern but give an air of luxury and the staff are well groomed, efficient and friendly. There are also several bars and two main restaurants, a large outdoor area around a big swimming pool plus an indoor pool, gym and spa. Bedrooms are spacious with older, traditional quality furniture. The "superior" rooms (one of which I stayed in) have en-suite facilities, a fridge, kettle and safe. What of the down sides? The plumbing in the rooms is a tad dated as are the decor and the electrics. You cannot drink the tapwater (although bottled water is replenished daily) and there are no bed side reading lights in the rooms. Changing and showering facilities for the pools and gym are very basic with no lockers, saunas or steam rooms outwith the spa. The hotel is also located on the harbour side and the walk up to the City is quite steep. A limited free shuttle service runs throughout daytime beween the hotel and the main approach to the City but if you are able it is more convenient to walk. My Wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our 10 day stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior and would be happy to return. I understand though that it is soon to be closed for over a year for major refurbishment. If so that probably means it will loose much of its character and charm and it's prices will go up.

yes this hotel is a little dated but we found it cosier for it ! The pool area is lovely and is sited next to The Bay, so nice views. The pool bar does decent food so handy for those lazy lounging days .The staff are excellent and always have an 'hello' as they pass. We already knew that check-in was 3pm and this is fairly ridged so don't expect to get into your room any earlier, maybe pack your swimwear at the top of your case. We had travelled since very early so Valetta was a walk too far until we had rested. The shuttle bus ran frequently (we didn't use it) preferring the 'challenge' of the steps followed by the hill into Valetta centre! Valetta is very hilly so if you have mobility issues manage you holiday accordingly. Breakfast is pretty good but manic, we liked that you were seated by staff, there was sometimes a little wait (but not too long). Bottled water was replenished daily during room cleaning, as were toiletries. I expect some room views are better than others, we faced the front and were next to a very nice small garden area. Probably the partial and full seaview were the more expensive rooms, or maybe you need to request a seaview. I don't like heights and contacted the hotel direct via email and they accommodated my request for a room 'not too high up', so I was okay with our room. There is a popular gym and an indoor pool. The outside pool is a good size with steps and ladder type steps (but not heated). We had no problem getting loungers. We were required to pay E150 up front for transactions. Overall we liked The Grand Excelsior !

Just returned from our 2nd trip to this hotel . Only hotel in Valetta that has direct access to the sea ( small beach and swim area) and outdoor and heated indoor pools. Location is great and walk up the hill to Valetta centre( 10 min) is a good way to walk off a substantial breakfast. NOW - one main gripe also picked up by other reviewers. Why do they need to run a techno beat loop of " music" at the Ocean Blue bar. The base beat reverberates across the whole pool and beach area and spoils the relaxing atmosphere . I went to the bar 3 times on separate days to ask for it to be addressed but every day the beat was back - please sort this out management! Rooms are all having major refit in future so we will be back once that is completed.

This is our go to hotel in Valletta with its fantastic outside pool, private beach area with harbour access for a swim, friendly helpful staff, comfy rooms and a very good breakfast selection even if it does get busy at times. Its location a short walk away from the Valletta city gate makes it ideal although if you can’t manage the steep steps up to the main road the hotel does provide a shuttle bus on a regular basis. That said hotels need to move with the times and some people will find the rooms a little dated and that’s a fair comment. Also technology is not something that the Excelsior has yet to really keep up with. For example there are no usb ports in the rooms, in fact our room with a sea side view has no bedside table plugs which is frustrating. The WiFi also drops out and slows are times. These are basics in this day and age which I hope the hotel can invest in. For all the great service that the staff provide, and everyone is friendly, the most bewildering aspect for many is the lifts. Reception is on floor 6 and that just throws all newcomers with people riding the lifts up and down for a while to find their bearings. Perhaps a few more signs would help. The lift programming probably doesn’t help as they are slow. All in all though this is a very good hotel for a Valletta stay. Nowhere else will you get harbour access for a sea swim. Just some tech things to improve.

Pros - good location and clean hotel. Modern pool area and beach area overlooking the harbour. Cons - underwhelming check in - had to queue, only 2 positions open out of 4 and nobody available to help when asked. Efficient when finally got to front but no questioning, how was your journey and how was your stay at checkout. Chaotic breakfast room, two maitre d’s waving to each other telling you where to sit. staff seem untrained, didn’t know how much a cappuccino was when asked and didn’t come back. No coffee machines , coffee served in a flask to your table any other type of coffee extra. Orange juice is sugared squash, undrinkable, Same breakfast food each day at buffet. Okay but not amazing. 3 bottles of water left in room daily then we saw the tiny notice underneath the bottle saying 2 are complimentary per day but a 2 euro charge if you use the 3rd - how nice! Charge you 5 euros if you lose room card - such consideration for their guests! Pre authorised 150 euros on arrival for hotel spending -why? Pool towels - have to give room number to get them and then same process when hand back. Kept the staff member in a job all day! Room dated and old fashioned. 2 bins in bathroom one put over drain cover to hide the odour. Garden view is not garden but front of the hotel where coaches etc drop off & the road behind this. There is a flower bed but not a garden as we know it. Evening turn down service hit and miss, got one small chocolate or two if very lucky! Overall enjoyed our stay but the pettiness on focusing on trivial details needs addressing by management. You are supposed to be 5* please up your game.