Grand Hotel Excelsior

Whist this is listed as five star, it is not and I’m at a loss to know how they maintain the rating? What I feel is really important to note is that every member of staff I’ve come in to contact with has been lovely. It’s pretty true to say that my experience suggests everyone appears to be trying their best. Some of the waiting staff at breakfast aren’t particularly efficient, but those leading them are trying their best and certainly appear to be keeping on top of things. Well done. The hotel Is very clean but it’s extremely tired. The outside is in serious need of a facelift, it’s dirty and an indicator perhaps of what you’re going to find inside. Whilst the entrance is grand everything else is way under par. I haven’t seen a piece of furniture that isn’t old, chipped, frayed or worn out. It’s really bad. I’m paying a lot for a superior delux sea view and there’s nothing superior or deluxe about this room. Im only here a few nights and wouldn’t ask to move as I doubt there’s anything better and what are the team going to do? The issue? the owners aren’t interested. This is years overdue and will cost millions. Many millions. If you want five star look to the Phoenicia at the top of the hill. It’s immaculate, what a five star hotel should look like. As a base this place is fine. That it’s clean hasn’t spoiled things. Had it not been I’d have never unpacked. This needs a serious discussion and plans put in to place to either knock this place down or enter in to some serious investment. It’s scruffy and embarrassingly so. The owners are very lucky their team are working so hard in such a poor environment. Well done team and shame on the owners.

Beautifully situated hotel overlooking the harbour. A 15- 20 min walk into central Valletta or there is a shuttle service. Rooms are a little bit dated but are spotlessly clean and very well equipped with plenty of toiletries, water and tea / coffee which are all replenished daily. Lovely bar area and the breakfast was first class with a great range to choose from. Housekeeping was also first class including a turn down service.

We had a wonderful stay. The staff were extremely welcoming and helpful throughout our visit. Breakfast was excellent, with good quality food and a wide variety of choices. The hotel was very clean and our bedroom was a great size. The evening turndown service was a lovely touch and made the stay feel extra special. On arrival in our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find a complimentary bottle of wine and biscuits, which was a very thoughtful welcome. The location is also ideal, just a ten-minute walk from the centre of Valletta, making it easy to explore the city. We would highly recommend this hotel and would happily stay here again.

First a warning: the hotel is very well located - only at the foot of a very steep hill. There is a free shuttle bus every 20 mins - last run at only 8pm. This is a good place to stay and explore Valletta - just outside the city walls. It is a factory of a hotel - large, resort style. Good facilities, decent service - but personal and intimate it is not. Very spacious, including large, well equipped rooms. Non sea views may be as good or nicer than sea views. It is tired and fraying around the edges - very strong candidate for refurbishment. All said - very decent place to stay at a fair rate (in March.).

I returned here in very late February and the weather was unseasonably fabulous. My room was 7th floor, partial sea view and the views across the harbour were lovely. The room was very spacious and the housekeeping staff very pleasant and thorough in their work. The decor is starting to look very dated and it is hoped the hotel has a forward working plan to address things like this. WIFI in the room was terrible and I actually had to switch it off in order to get any kind of a connection. The TV channels were poor but I wasn't there to watch TV. Reception staff were also lovely and extremely helpful, friendly and pleasant. Thank you. I stayed on a Bed & Breakfast basis. I have to say that I have had better breakfasts in other hotels recently and I feel that for a hotel that still classifies itself as 5 star they should take a long hard look at their food offering. I did not wish to spend 42 Euros on the evening buffet offering because I know I could not eat that much food. So I had my dinners in the A la Carte restaurant which unfortunately closed for refurbishment before the end of my stay. I felt this restaurant could consider offering a wider choice of dishes. What I had was adequate but I felt it was over priced and, in the case of the pork, rather tough. I didn't find staff in either of the restaurants or the bar to be as friendly as others. These restaurants were quiet but I had difficulty in getting a window seat on every single occasion, not because one wasn't available but because they wanted to hold on to the majority of them 'just in case' a larger party came in wanting a window table. This, I believe is discrimination against solo travellers. Quite unfair considering solo travellers always more per head than a couple to stay at a hotel. They should have a combination of table sizes by the window and that would solve the problem. Having said that, I did always manage to get a window table throughout my stay but it was never without 'debate' and that took the edge off things slightly. Outside there is a great large pool area, again with lovely views across the harbour. There is also some kind of a bar or snack bar, but this was closed because of the season. Perfectly understandable. Outside the front and half way up the 89 steps was a lovely little terrace and cafe selling coffee etc. I think this is a new addition since my last stay and I felt it was a great idea but perhaps it should re-purpose itself as a bar, or an ice cream kiosk because it was not really getting any custom. People, myself included, prefer their coffee with the ambiance of the many pavement cafes. On this trip I didn't use the indoor pool or gym so I can't comment on them. It is a steep walk into town and I felt that to cross the main road at the top left of the hotel grounds could be pretty dangerous for anyone with children, a pram etc etc. or simply anyone not quick on their feet. However there was courtesy transport up the hill which Im sure some found to be extremely helpful. Valletta and The Grand Hotel Excelsior are a great place to stay and very close to the bus station for exploring the island. I will definitely return to this hotel and very much look forward to doing so. As a final point, I was sitting with an English lady on the flight home who has lived in Malta for 5 years, she told me that the Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hotel Excelsior is the best on the Island.