Grand Hotel Excelsior

Arrived nearly 4 hours ago and was told at check in they would have a word with housekeeping to see if our room could be done sooner due to us mentioning we had been up since 02.00 to get here - we didn't ask for this but appreciated it being said to us. Otherwise we would get access to our room at 15.00. Went at 15.00 to get access to our room - reception not really sure if ready so rang housekeeping. Housekeeping apparently said they would need to go and check the room. I was told to return in 10 minutes. My husband went back at 15.20 and he was told the exact same thing! They needed to check the room. My irritation is don't tell us that rooms will be ready at 15.00, when they clearly aren't and then just keep adding 10 minutes on each time we ask! Surely the hotel must have a room that is ready!!!

Great location. Accessibility to public transport and other amenities 10minutes away. Also Valletta is 10minutes walk. Convenient and only 20mins airport. Atmosphere is old and is like gold. The carpets around the hotel need changing. The Staff is very kind.A Special mention goes to Mario (shuttle service) and one from the reception can not spell her name so adding her photo. Our room had the perfect view. It was very spacious and house keeping was extremely good. Room was cleaned 2times a day. What a delight. Overall the stay was very comfortable and peaceful. This hotel being in the city is like an Oasis. Family or friends all can enjoy this retreat. But no partying.

Location is great, a short but steep walk to Valletta gate. There is a shuttle bus that I did not use to get you up the hill but it really is not a problem for anyone remotely fit! Rooms are big and plenty of storage, yes there are some areas that need a bit of updating but overall it was fine and the Hotel has a feeling of space. Despite going in August, never had a problem getting a sunbed and the pool area is nice, would be added bonus of the sea access. The food served at the pool bar was quite average and expensive. Really could do with some snack options rather than full blown meals. I would say, however, there are some very easy improvements that could be made to make this feel more of a five star experience. The staff were very hit and miss as previous reviewers have said. Some staff are just rude and unhelpful which is completely unacceptable in a hotel of this standard. None of the staff were particularly warm and friendly, definitely an area that needs some training! Breakfast was good and most of the time things were fully stocked and varied, although no choice of coffee which I’ve never had in a hotel of any standard, let alone five star. It is literally a choice of tea or coffee and that can be slow to come out at times. Investing in a few decent coffee machines would make all the difference! We were a big group and ate in the Hotel once. Most expensive meal we had and the worst service. Again rude staff. On the whole most of us enjoyed our meals so it’s a shame that the Hotel just can’t get this right. I would have also expected guests to be offered some form of discount or perk for eating in the hotel, they need to do something as the restaurants were largely empty the whole time we were there.

Great holiday at the Grand Hotel, Excelsior in Valletta, Malta. Initial queries about size/qty of beds in pre-booked rooms were quickly sorted to enable us to experience an enjoyable stay at this hotel. Staff were always helpful and courteous, and the free taxi lift up to the fountain in the intense heat this week was much appreciated. I was particularly grateful to enjoy a front-sea view room with wonderful views which i found clean and quiet for the duration of my stay. A pianist entertained quite late on some evenings but my family and i would have appreciated a variety entertainment starting earlier as we might’ve spent more time in the hotel eating and drinking instead of braving the heat and walking up the hill into the centre - otherwise….we will be back. Thank you staff! Ps. Heard that you are refurbishing! Please put door spy-holes a little lower as some of us are too small to be able to see through for safety reasons. Also, poor lighting in wardrobes made it very dark to be able to see clothing! Other than that a brilliant holiday.

Good location, but not a five-star experience The Excelsior is in a great location for exploring Valletta, but in my opinion the hotel falls short of a five-star standard and is in need of refurbishment. Much of the property feels quite dated. The staff were inconsistent. Some were excellent, particularly the pool team, who were friendly and helpful, but unfortunately my experience with reception was disappointing. The biggest issue was the telephone in my room, which was broken. I reported it several times but, despite waiting three days, it was never repaired. I was eventually moved to another room. Apart from the inconvenience, I felt this was a safety issue — guests should be able to contact reception or call for assistance from their room if needed. The pool area is large and there is plenty of shade, although it gets very busy. There is technically a small beach area, but it is tiny and not really something I would choose the hotel for. It was also surprising that a hotel of this size and supposed standard has no ATM, and reception was unable to change money into euros. Overall, the location is a real plus and there were some excellent members of staff, but the dated facilities, inconsistent service and problems I experienced mean I wouldn’t personally consider this a five-star hotel.