Grand Hotel Excelsior

We stayed here from Sunday 8th to Thursday 12th February on a Half board basis (Breakfast & evening meal buffet). This hotel, although 5 star, isnt a boutique hotel its more traditional with a luxury feel. Found room very spacious & comfortable & sleep quality very good. Matress & pillow combinations ensured a good night rest. Breakfast choice was very good with a vast selection from local pastries, cereals, omlettes- made to your choice & full cooked breakfast. English breakfast tea was excellent quality-a nice cuppa. Evening buffet was also great. Pasta dishes lovely, beef & yorkshire pudding with gravy (jus) & my favourite the beef olives in a rich sauce. Salads were also fantastic. Deserts were very good with fantastic cakes & really enjoyed the hot steamed type pudding (just needed an option of some custard but im being picky here they were lovely). Wine list was pretty good & tried a couple of local wones that are highly recommended. Bar service was attentive from Sirjana & Andrea although drinks are a little pricey but in line with a capital city. The conceirge service at this hotel was very good with Heathcliff full of local knowledge, tips, maps & able to provide tickets for local tours / busses etc.

I really enjoyed my stay in this hotel. It has a great old school vibe about it without feeling overly dated. I actually loved the room as it had character unlike some of the new sleek rooms where everything is beige or cappuccino. Hotel is situated about a 10min walk from the main shopping street. The hotel is in the middle of a steep hill, down to to the coast /ferry and up to the main town (they have complimentary shuttle service if needed). Rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, the suite did feel a bit sparse, some artwork, cushions on the sofa would have helped. No coffee machine in the room but a kettle was provided. Beds were comfortable and the soundproofing was excellent. I did find the quality of the sofas a bit poor ans they weren't the most comfortable after a while. No Youtube available and TV was satellite so you didn't have a great selection of channels. The biggest drawback was the breakfast, there was a lot of food but the quality wasn't the best. It was the typical continental breakfast but the food was never hot. It would have been nice if they had maybe one different dish on a daily basis instead of the same things over and over. There was no plant milk available and no vegan or vegetarian specific dishes (obviously beans, tomatoes etc were on offer). One thing that did shock me was, when cleaning the tables the staff just wiped any leftover bits onto the carpeted floor. (I obsevered this a few times so maybe some training is required). Bathroom was small but fine for the two of us and came with a small but deep bathtub. There was no toilet brush which was a bit odd. I had originally only booked a few nights but extended my stay as I liked the overall experience that much. I would definitely stay in this hotel again, location was great, staff were friendly, comfortable bed, decent enough breakfast (egg station was the best option for hot food).

We booked a three week stay with breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The breakfast was great, with everything I could wish for and more. The hotel, whilst being dated on some areas and needing a refurb of some description, was in the most lovely. With good indoor pool area. Great outdoor pool and sea access. ( too cold for me in Jan) excellent food in all restaurants. With varying prices. The bar was a strange one. I had several drinks and unless I was served by the same bar person on the same night my drinks were different prices every time. A large gin and tonic ( the tonic is fab) ranged from 7.60e - 14.35e. Often in between ( ish) the two but never the same. Cleaning staff were great, friendly and accommodating. The door staff were amazing, always happy to help or advise, plus sort the free shuttle bus for us and our aging legs. Most of the reception staff were smiling, not all. A reasonable price, but there are better deals in Valletta. I would love to go back to this hotel. But I’d need to find a good offer when I’ve now seen other hotels in Valletta. Albeit without an indoor outdoor pool and beach area. Would still recommend

Once again a great stay. The Grand Hotel Excelsior ticks all the boxes. Super facilities great location and wonderfully helpful staff. Nothing too much trouble. A brief stay but we will return again soon for superb hospitality. Thanks to all

My stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior was a disappointment, defined by "nickel-and-diming" and a lack of transparency that is entirely out of sync with a 5-star rating. Operational Failures: Pricing Inconsistency: I was quoted three different rates for the same breakfast: €40 in the lounge, €32 at reception, and €19 via the online platform. When I requested that Guest Relations honor the advertised online rate, they were slow to respond and eventually refused. There is zero rate integrity here. Questionable Policies: The first interaction upon arrival was a demand for a €150 deposit to cover "damages." Treating guests as a liability from the moment they check in is an insult. Furthermore, charging €5 for a lost key card is petty for an establishment of this supposed caliber; these are budget-hotel tactics. The Positives: The stay was only redeemed by the cleaning staff, who were exceptionally helpful and diligent, and the shuttle bus service, which was a convenient way to get into town. Conclusion: While the property is physically impressive, the management culture is rigid and unfriendly. A true luxury hotel prioritizes guest experience over rigid, petty fee structures. I will not be returning and cannot recommend this hotel to business or leisure travelers expecting genuine 5-star service.