Grand Hotel Excelsior

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.

We were very happy with our choice of hotel. Very quiet. Great harbour view, spacious room, friendly and proficient staff throughout the hotel, excellent room service.

Position -8 mins to valhetta main strip (three flights of steps or a free shuttle bus). Breakfast and the view from the restaurant. Our room , 503 had a great view, kept spotlessly clean. All the staff were friendly and professional. It was all a great experience and stay. Not really a 5* more a really really sound 3+++ as it is frayed around the edges in places. Would be really easy to spruce those bits up with effort, but we liked it, characterful and a home from home. Recommended highly.

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).