Hilton Malta {MLT}
Jul 24, 2001, 9:11 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
Seth,
I believe that car hire in Malta is very cheap
so it may be worth taking that option ? Otherwise I also believe that local buses can be hit & miss, but would obvioulsy allow you to experience the locals, if you're not in a rush !
BTW, did you find the previous threads I mentioned ?
John P.
I believe that car hire in Malta is very cheap
so it may be worth taking that option ? Otherwise I also believe that local buses can be hit & miss, but would obvioulsy allow you to experience the locals, if you're not in a rush !BTW, did you find the previous threads I mentioned ?
John P.
Aug 9, 2001, 6:06 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by sbm12:
Anyone out there know anything about it. Heading out there in November and wanted to know if anyone had a review.
Seth.</font>
Anyone out there know anything about it. Heading out there in November and wanted to know if anyone had a review.
Seth.</font>
How I got there was interesting... A friend and I initially tried to book at the nearby Westin Dragonara, but was told the hotel was sold out in May. Invoking Starwood Platinum status enabled me to shake free a room for a 3 night stay.
A few days thereafter, the Westin called from Malta to ask us if we wouldn't mind moving over to another hotel. How odd.
Apparently I "sneaked in" via the Platinum backdoor. It appeared that Daimler Benz wanted sole use of the hotel for an executive level retreat, and claiming security reasons, did not want angry shareholders, terrorists, tourists and other claptrap to infest "their" hotel.
As I wanted at least one night at the Westin (to help maintain Platinum status with Starwood), I negotiated a two night stay at the Dragonara, then a move to the new Hilton (while paying the Hilton the same bargain rate I would have paid the Dragonara).
Here's the funny part... while the Westin was new and nice, the Hilton Malta was even much nicer in many ways. And I'm glad this happened.
So how do the hotels compare?
Overall, the Hilton has much nicer interior and exterior decoration in the lobby, public areas, gardens, pool, etc. than the Westin. Much nicer.
At the Westin I had a corner room with large corner balcony. But oddly, where one might think the architect should install a window for a sea view, there was nothing but wall. The Hilton room was smaller, but had nicer interior appointments.
The Hilton club lounge beat the Westin's-- although both were good. Hilton's featured a PC (good as this was a vacation; no laptop) with Internet access, breakfast, afternoon tea, happy hour, evening snacks, special check in-- all very civilized. The Westin Lounge was open for limited hours only. Both lounges had balconies to enjoy the view, but while the Westin's faced the parking lot and sea, the Hilton's faced the pool and sea.
Both hotels are located near nightlife and are within walking distance of various interesting places to eat and socialize.
As for renting a car, it is relatively inexpensive, but the combination of Maltese "freeform" driving, congestion, and narrow, crowded streets can easily send one back to the comforts of the Hilton lounge for the duration.
All in all, an enjoyable stay. The Hilton will be my hotel of choice the next time I'm in Malta.
__
NB: Prior to the arrival of the Daimler Benz executives at the Westin, preparations were made to ensure that they could function during their stay. One important preparation was to cover the brass floor-number plates in the elevator cab (next to the floor request buttons)with "new" numbers using higher contrast graphics!
It is interesting that top executives are unable to read brass elevator floor numbers, or that staff thought that they couldn't.
If I had Daimler Benz stock, I would have sold it.
Aug 29, 2001, 4:26 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
Seth,
Try http://www.hiltonmalta.com.mt for more info than the std. website.
Will try to submit a report soon. All I can say is that it was certainly one of the best Hiltons I've stayed in !! Gr8 food, location, staff, lounge, etc. etc ......
When I've caught up on my 000s of work emails, I'll put a report together. You will enjoy !!
John P.
Try http://www.hiltonmalta.com.mt for more info than the std. website.
Will try to submit a report soon. All I can say is that it was certainly one of the best Hiltons I've stayed in !! Gr8 food, location, staff, lounge, etc. etc ......
When I've caught up on my 000s of work emails, I'll put a report together. You will enjoy !!
John P.
Oct 25, 2001, 4:27 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
Great Stay at the Hilton Malta (last Aug) !
Firstly, I loved this hotel !! My fiancée and I stayed on one night paid, and 7 nights Hhonors award. As my first night was in a king sea-view room and the rest (award room) were in a standard marina view, I requested via email ( a number of times) that we could stay in the same room for the whole stay – this was not a problem “for a Gold VIP”. 
Arriving at the airport, I had asked the hotel to book a taxi for us to the hotel – just to make life easier. This was duly done, and the journey took about 20-25 mins (at night) and about $25 or so.
Arrival at the hotel is through small (and a little grotty) side-streets, but you then turn into Portomaso – where the Hilton is at the end of a very smart cul-de-sac. It is within easy walking distance of all local restaurants, bars, shops etc.
The hotel is part of a new development of offices and apartments – some of the Manchester United soccer team (including David Beckham) have apartments here.
The entrance to the hotel certainly looks in line with the hotels’ five star rating, and creates a great impression straight away.
I checked in in the main area – I’m sure that you could also check in at the Exec Lounge if you wanted.
Room was a good size King on the 7 th floor, with average bathroom and reasonably balcony, facing the sea, and overlooking the pool areas. Not particularly large (or small), but very nicely furnished and decorated. Air-con was VERY effective where required – for all you Americans who like the “fridge” rooms.
We received a bottle of wine, and two small bottles of a local liquer in the room as HH Gold VIP.
We also received access to the Exec Lounge on the 9th floor as a Gold.
Must be one of the finest lounges I’ve ever been in !
Great views over the bay – 3 separate balcony areas outside, and sofas etc. inside.
Internet access was charged at $? Per hour – not very good from what I remember – there was a good internet café up the street (turn right at the traffic lights) with a much better rate.
Breakfast was excellent – all cold meats, cereals, fruit etc., and also a cooked to order option – all free for Gold and Diamonds ! (Hint: get down to breakfast earlyish as the Executive Floor guests (9th floor I think) also use the lounge, and it can get quite crowded towards the 10am closing time).
There is also Afternoon Tea from about 3pm – 5pm with canapés etc.
Also a cocktail hour every evening from 6.30pm – 8pm or so, with waitress service.
With the Exec lounge access, you could almost save all your eating expenses if your had to, the food is so good and plentiful !!
We preferred to go to the furthest pool area – “the Beach Club” I think, down in the lift – as it was closest to the sea – better breezes, and had less shouting kids – a small problem in the main pool area. The food and shakes from this bar area were excellent, if a little on the expensive side.
We used room service for lunch on two days to get a break from the sun, and the quality, quantity and speed of service was top class!
The Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant (reservations recommended) was also very good – service a bit slow though. However, on the night we ate there, we’d OD’d in the Exec lounge at the cocktail hour, and really didn’t appreciate it as much as we should !
Concierge – didn’t really use him that much, but when we did, he was very efficient.
In Malta, they are a religious people, and every weekend night (it seems – not sure if this is actually the case) they have a huge procession in the port area near to the Hilton – 5 mins walk or less. There thousands gather to watch the specially chosen people carry a large statue to the church. They also have spectacular fireworks displays everywhere at this time.
By the way, when we were arriving and departing Malta at night-time, the lighting all over Valetta was spectacular !! All churches, buildings etc. were draped in millions of lights to give an amazing view of the city.
We also travelled on Sunday morning to the local market, on a free bus provided by the hotel – take the opportunity to go to this, as it’s very interesting – and buy a Maltese lottery ticket while there – the draw takes place at the market (down at the back).
Also worth visiting is the Casino at the Westin Dragonara – a short walk from the hotel. Enjoyable fun, even for non-gamblers. The Westin markets itself in the same league as the Hilton, but by all accounts, the Hilton is far ahead of its’ neighbour.
There is also a weekly “Managers Meeting” where the Hhonors Gold and Exec Floor guests are invited to a private cocktail party in the main bar – also a nice event.
That’s about it …….. Oh ! We like the place so much that we’ve decided to spend some of our honeymoon there next August, and I’m now HH Diamond, so let’s see what that brings…….
All in all, one of the best Hilton properties I’ve been to – and I recommend that you use the email option to make frequent contact with the people at the hotel before you visit – this maximises your opportunities !!
http://www.hiltonmalta.com.mt
Arriving at the airport, I had asked the hotel to book a taxi for us to the hotel – just to make life easier. This was duly done, and the journey took about 20-25 mins (at night) and about $25 or so.
Arrival at the hotel is through small (and a little grotty) side-streets, but you then turn into Portomaso – where the Hilton is at the end of a very smart cul-de-sac. It is within easy walking distance of all local restaurants, bars, shops etc.
The hotel is part of a new development of offices and apartments – some of the Manchester United soccer team (including David Beckham) have apartments here.
The entrance to the hotel certainly looks in line with the hotels’ five star rating, and creates a great impression straight away.
I checked in in the main area – I’m sure that you could also check in at the Exec Lounge if you wanted.
Room was a good size King on the 7 th floor, with average bathroom and reasonably balcony, facing the sea, and overlooking the pool areas. Not particularly large (or small), but very nicely furnished and decorated. Air-con was VERY effective where required – for all you Americans who like the “fridge” rooms.
We received a bottle of wine, and two small bottles of a local liquer in the room as HH Gold VIP.
We also received access to the Exec Lounge on the 9th floor as a Gold.
Must be one of the finest lounges I’ve ever been in !
Great views over the bay – 3 separate balcony areas outside, and sofas etc. inside.
Internet access was charged at $? Per hour – not very good from what I remember – there was a good internet café up the street (turn right at the traffic lights) with a much better rate.
Breakfast was excellent – all cold meats, cereals, fruit etc., and also a cooked to order option – all free for Gold and Diamonds ! (Hint: get down to breakfast earlyish as the Executive Floor guests (9th floor I think) also use the lounge, and it can get quite crowded towards the 10am closing time).
There is also Afternoon Tea from about 3pm – 5pm with canapés etc.
Also a cocktail hour every evening from 6.30pm – 8pm or so, with waitress service.
With the Exec lounge access, you could almost save all your eating expenses if your had to, the food is so good and plentiful !!
We preferred to go to the furthest pool area – “the Beach Club” I think, down in the lift – as it was closest to the sea – better breezes, and had less shouting kids – a small problem in the main pool area. The food and shakes from this bar area were excellent, if a little on the expensive side.
We used room service for lunch on two days to get a break from the sun, and the quality, quantity and speed of service was top class!
The Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant (reservations recommended) was also very good – service a bit slow though. However, on the night we ate there, we’d OD’d in the Exec lounge at the cocktail hour, and really didn’t appreciate it as much as we should !
Concierge – didn’t really use him that much, but when we did, he was very efficient.
In Malta, they are a religious people, and every weekend night (it seems – not sure if this is actually the case) they have a huge procession in the port area near to the Hilton – 5 mins walk or less. There thousands gather to watch the specially chosen people carry a large statue to the church. They also have spectacular fireworks displays everywhere at this time.
By the way, when we were arriving and departing Malta at night-time, the lighting all over Valetta was spectacular !! All churches, buildings etc. were draped in millions of lights to give an amazing view of the city.
We also travelled on Sunday morning to the local market, on a free bus provided by the hotel – take the opportunity to go to this, as it’s very interesting – and buy a Maltese lottery ticket while there – the draw takes place at the market (down at the back).
Also worth visiting is the Casino at the Westin Dragonara – a short walk from the hotel. Enjoyable fun, even for non-gamblers. The Westin markets itself in the same league as the Hilton, but by all accounts, the Hilton is far ahead of its’ neighbour.
There is also a weekly “Managers Meeting” where the Hhonors Gold and Exec Floor guests are invited to a private cocktail party in the main bar – also a nice event.
That’s about it …….. Oh ! We like the place so much that we’ve decided to spend some of our honeymoon there next August, and I’m now HH Diamond, so let’s see what that brings…….
All in all, one of the best Hilton properties I’ve been to – and I recommend that you use the email option to make frequent contact with the people at the hotel before you visit – this maximises your opportunities !!
http://www.hiltonmalta.com.mt
Oct 27, 2001, 7:47 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JAP:
Internet access was charged at $? Per hour – not very good from what I remember – there was a good internet café up the street (turn right at the traffic lights) with a much better rate.</font>
Internet access was charged at $? Per hour – not very good from what I remember – there was a good internet café up the street (turn right at the traffic lights) with a much better rate.</font>
This Hilton was one of the nicest I've ever stayed at.
Glad to hear that not much has changed since my stay a couple of years ago when the hotel first opened.
Odd... when I stayed there the creaky internet access was free of charge. Perhaps they've upgraded the access and now charge for it?
Oct 29, 2001, 4:39 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
Vindesante,
Gled you enjoyed our hospitality !! Kinsale is certainly a nice place to live - just had the Gourmet Festival earlier this month, and the Guinness Jazz Festival this weekend - some alcohol WAS consumed !!
This signals the end of the tourist season, so it'll be quiet in Kinsale now until next season, start ing on St Patricks Day.
Globehopper,
The internet access is still creaky !!! However, they may have had to limit the access on the single computer, to ensure that all get a chance to use it !
Gled you enjoyed our hospitality !!
Kinsale is certainly a nice place to live - just had the Gourmet Festival earlier this month, and the Guinness Jazz Festival this weekend - some alcohol WAS consumed !! This signals the end of the tourist season, so it'll be quiet in Kinsale now until next season, start ing on St Patricks Day.
Globehopper,
The internet access is still creaky !!! However, they may have had to limit the access on the single computer, to ensure that all get a chance to use it !
Jan 20, 2002, 11:13 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Anywhere and Everywhere
Posts: 318
Hilton Malta was great
I just returned from an award stay at the Malta Hilton. This is a great property and is only an Executive level, plus I had no problem getting six nights' worth of Point Stretchers (so only 60,000 points were needed). The property is quite new, the room was large and had a VERY large balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. The sunrises were beautiful.
You want to talk about free breakfast? The Executive Lounge does not serve breakfast in the slow months of Jan/Feb so boo hoo hoo I was forced to the all you can eat buffet (and I'm only 70kg but I can EAT, let me promise you!). This sucker was huge and would satisfy Americans like me as well as the Brits and Germans to whom they more frequently cater. We're talking about a long, double-sided buffet with a hot side containing eggs (boiled and scrambled on alternate days), bacon (undercooked IMO), English sausages, potatoes and something I disremember on alternating days, and the local pastizzi (ricotta filled pastry dough). The cold side had local goat cheese, some kinda Dutch Swiss-type cheese, ham, a couple types of salami, and three or four different kinds of cold fish such as gravallax, herring, and the like. Then there were two rotundas, one with cold cereal, whole fresh fruit, and several types of nuts and seeds. The other had fresh OJ and (non-fresh) grapefruit, tomato, and apple juice, cut fruit (mostly canned but fresh watermelon and yellow melon), and yogurt. There was a station with a hearty chap who would make omelettes and eggs to order (so why eat the scrambled eggs from the buffet, although they were good), and a large selection of breads (good) and pastries (lousy).
Your coffee or tea was never empty and your dirty plate was always gone by the time you came back from stocking up at the buffet. I ate three huge plates every morning and was never hungry again until dinner time (9 or 10 PM down there).
They had afternoon tea in the lounge which I never tried as I was always out. Then from 6:30 - 7:30 they had an open bar with all quality liquor brands, beer, and wine. Not much food here other than a few hors d'oeuvres, but you could sure get the start of a drunk if that's what you fancy (I do).
Executive check in, executive check out, offered me a choice of the Executive floor or the non-smoking floor (I chose the latter), turn-down service every night, well-stocked mini-bar which was FAIRLY reasonable (1.5 Maltese liri for a local beer, or about $3.5 US or 3.75 Euro), friendly and helpful concierge, and blah blah blah.
The location is excellent. It is in St. Julian's and there's plenty of clubs and bars and restaurants there. They have a great waterfront area that runs from St. Julian's through Sliema towards Valletta. The bus is right there. It costs 30 Maltese cents to get to the hotel from the airport and that is about 65-70 CENTS yes CENTS US. They have these really old British buses that you could say were run down and stinky but I thought they had a lot of character; there's many different types and they are cute and quaint and never broke down. Although, some don't have working starters and they have to bump-start them!
Take the bus and don't drive. You can go anywhere on the island for less than one US dollar and most places for about $0.35 US. Combining the busses and the ferry, you can go anywhere in the country for 2.85 Maltese, about $6.50 US, and that is ROUND TRIP (or return for you Ozzies and the like). They drive, like ****, on the left. A Maltese gentleman told me that actually they drive on neither the left nor the right but rather on whichever side has more shade. He also said that traffic control devices are just a suggestion. He asked me if, when I came to a red light and there was obviously no one coming on the perpendicular straight, did I wait until the light was green. I said certainly and he and his friends all had a good laugh and then bought me several Cisk beers to compensate for my obvious defects.
Really a great hotel and quite a nice country, although the weather was a bit rainy and cool (about 15 C). If there is a better use of Hilton Honors points, I can't imagine what it would be.
Ol' Joe
You want to talk about free breakfast? The Executive Lounge does not serve breakfast in the slow months of Jan/Feb so boo hoo hoo I was forced to the all you can eat buffet (and I'm only 70kg but I can EAT, let me promise you!). This sucker was huge and would satisfy Americans like me as well as the Brits and Germans to whom they more frequently cater. We're talking about a long, double-sided buffet with a hot side containing eggs (boiled and scrambled on alternate days), bacon (undercooked IMO), English sausages, potatoes and something I disremember on alternating days, and the local pastizzi (ricotta filled pastry dough). The cold side had local goat cheese, some kinda Dutch Swiss-type cheese, ham, a couple types of salami, and three or four different kinds of cold fish such as gravallax, herring, and the like. Then there were two rotundas, one with cold cereal, whole fresh fruit, and several types of nuts and seeds. The other had fresh OJ and (non-fresh) grapefruit, tomato, and apple juice, cut fruit (mostly canned but fresh watermelon and yellow melon), and yogurt. There was a station with a hearty chap who would make omelettes and eggs to order (so why eat the scrambled eggs from the buffet, although they were good), and a large selection of breads (good) and pastries (lousy).
Your coffee or tea was never empty and your dirty plate was always gone by the time you came back from stocking up at the buffet. I ate three huge plates every morning and was never hungry again until dinner time (9 or 10 PM down there).
They had afternoon tea in the lounge which I never tried as I was always out. Then from 6:30 - 7:30 they had an open bar with all quality liquor brands, beer, and wine. Not much food here other than a few hors d'oeuvres, but you could sure get the start of a drunk if that's what you fancy (I do).
Executive check in, executive check out, offered me a choice of the Executive floor or the non-smoking floor (I chose the latter), turn-down service every night, well-stocked mini-bar which was FAIRLY reasonable (1.5 Maltese liri for a local beer, or about $3.5 US or 3.75 Euro), friendly and helpful concierge, and blah blah blah.
The location is excellent. It is in St. Julian's and there's plenty of clubs and bars and restaurants there. They have a great waterfront area that runs from St. Julian's through Sliema towards Valletta. The bus is right there. It costs 30 Maltese cents to get to the hotel from the airport and that is about 65-70 CENTS yes CENTS US. They have these really old British buses that you could say were run down and stinky but I thought they had a lot of character; there's many different types and they are cute and quaint and never broke down. Although, some don't have working starters and they have to bump-start them!
Take the bus and don't drive. You can go anywhere on the island for less than one US dollar and most places for about $0.35 US. Combining the busses and the ferry, you can go anywhere in the country for 2.85 Maltese, about $6.50 US, and that is ROUND TRIP (or return for you Ozzies and the like). They drive, like ****, on the left. A Maltese gentleman told me that actually they drive on neither the left nor the right but rather on whichever side has more shade. He also said that traffic control devices are just a suggestion. He asked me if, when I came to a red light and there was obviously no one coming on the perpendicular straight, did I wait until the light was green. I said certainly and he and his friends all had a good laugh and then bought me several Cisk beers to compensate for my obvious defects.
Really a great hotel and quite a nice country, although the weather was a bit rainy and cool (about 15 C). If there is a better use of Hilton Honors points, I can't imagine what it would be.
Ol' Joe
Apr 30, 2002, 2:45 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
Hilton Malta email ?
Does anyone have the email address of the General Manager (or Hhonors Manager) at the Hilton Malta ?
I will be going there as part of our honeymoon in August and wanted to ensure the best possible stay .....
Thanks in advance
I will be going there as part of our honeymoon in August and wanted to ensure the best possible stay .....
Thanks in advance
Dec 6, 2002, 10:44 am
#27
Join Date: May 2002
Location: If you want to sit up front THEN PAY FOR IT!
Posts: 429
Any advise on Hilton Malta?
Has anybody stayed at the "new" Hilton marina resort in Malta? I am booking a weeks for my wife and a friend for next June ( Yes I am booking early ). The hotel looks good etc but I have had no feedback on it.
Thanks
Thanks
Jul 6, 2003, 11:31 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cork, Ireland. Aer Lingus (in the bin), BA Gold (woo hoo!), EBB Blue, HH Diamond, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,347
CTEASDEL,
How did things go on the trip to Malta ?
It is my favourite Hilton resort, and my wife and I will be going there for a week again in September ...
Regards,
John P.
How did things go on the trip to Malta ?
It is my favourite Hilton resort, and my wife and I will be going there for a week again in September ...
Regards,
John P.