Westin Dragonara, Malta [Master Thread]
Aug 12, 2021, 10:17 am
#77
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,276
Stay Report: August 2021
Status: Titanium
Location
The Westin Dragonara Resort is located in Saint Julian about 25 minutes away from the Airport and 10 minutes from Valletta. It is conveniently located if you have a car or don't mind a bit of a walk along the road to the nearby bus stop. Public transportation in Malta especially Valletta is top notch so you most likely don't need to rent a car unless you plan on exploring the entire island and Gozo. The Resort is next to the Casino as well as a rather sleazy area for night life if you're comfortable with walking through a certain area that reminded me of Berlin's Red Light District.
Hotel
The Westin is a bit dated in the rooms in my opinion. I was originally booked in a 1 King, Sea View and my SNA did not clear prior to arrival but I was upgraded to a 1 King, Sea View Junior Suite when I arrived in the afternoon from Cyprus. Ironically there was a Titanium welcome amenity in the room for someone else so I suspect they had a no-show and decided to upgrade me as I had inquired earlier in the day via the chat app. They offered a bottle of local Maltese wine or a complimentary drink at the bar which I took advantage of during my stay. The Club Lounge is closed so everyone was invited to go to the pool bar during Happy Hour for Beer and Wine only with some light canapes (fried chicken, shrimp, and vegetable crudites). I was satisfied with the pool and easy access to the sea though there is no beach at the Resort and one has to be very careful with the slippery rocks to get into the Med.
Overall
While I was in Malta, I did notice that the Marriott had better offerings and location however they were not on the water so the Westin wins in this case if you're looking for a relaxing time in Malta by the sea. Titanium Recognition was shaky at best but they did follow through with the offerings albeit the staff was a bit aloof and could have done better to communicate more information about amenities and so forth. I'm honestly spoiled by my recent stay at the Parklane Limassol before I arrived in Malta. I did not opt for the Breakfast Welcome Amenity Choice because I wanted to eat local and explore as much of Malta during my three day stay.
I do hope this helps answer some questions about the current offerings.
Status: Titanium
Location
The Westin Dragonara Resort is located in Saint Julian about 25 minutes away from the Airport and 10 minutes from Valletta. It is conveniently located if you have a car or don't mind a bit of a walk along the road to the nearby bus stop. Public transportation in Malta especially Valletta is top notch so you most likely don't need to rent a car unless you plan on exploring the entire island and Gozo. The Resort is next to the Casino as well as a rather sleazy area for night life if you're comfortable with walking through a certain area that reminded me of Berlin's Red Light District.
Hotel
The Westin is a bit dated in the rooms in my opinion. I was originally booked in a 1 King, Sea View and my SNA did not clear prior to arrival but I was upgraded to a 1 King, Sea View Junior Suite when I arrived in the afternoon from Cyprus. Ironically there was a Titanium welcome amenity in the room for someone else so I suspect they had a no-show and decided to upgrade me as I had inquired earlier in the day via the chat app. They offered a bottle of local Maltese wine or a complimentary drink at the bar which I took advantage of during my stay. The Club Lounge is closed so everyone was invited to go to the pool bar during Happy Hour for Beer and Wine only with some light canapes (fried chicken, shrimp, and vegetable crudites). I was satisfied with the pool and easy access to the sea though there is no beach at the Resort and one has to be very careful with the slippery rocks to get into the Med.
Overall
While I was in Malta, I did notice that the Marriott had better offerings and location however they were not on the water so the Westin wins in this case if you're looking for a relaxing time in Malta by the sea. Titanium Recognition was shaky at best but they did follow through with the offerings albeit the staff was a bit aloof and could have done better to communicate more information about amenities and so forth. I'm honestly spoiled by my recent stay at the Parklane Limassol before I arrived in Malta. I did not opt for the Breakfast Welcome Amenity Choice because I wanted to eat local and explore as much of Malta during my three day stay.
I do hope this helps answer some questions about the current offerings.
Oct 19, 2021, 10:52 am
#78
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,926
Spent four nights here and must say: pretty impressed!
Applied SNA, which cleared a couple days out (although not at the 5 day mark, keeping the suspense going) into an Executive Suite King, Seaview, Top Floor. Upon arrival, we were assigned room 826, directly next to the (closed) club lounge. It's a pretty stunning room, very large, nicely refurbished, with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. A prior poster mentioned the resort was a bit dated -- we didn't feel so at all, our room was in impeccable shape, and the public areas looked recently redone. Obviously the building has old bones, and the furniture is not brand new, but what we saw was in excellent repair. We slept very well here, the bed was soft enough, and with the door open, one could hear the waves crashing.
Breakfast was given as Titanium benefit, and additionally, there was a choice of 1000 points or a local gift, plus another voucher for a bottle of wine at the restaurant or via room service, or drinks at the bar. Chose the latter -- the lobby is a very appealing space with a piano player, but the drinks were very mediocre. Drink prices were very reasonable by resort standards, €7.75 for a mojito or mai tai.
Breakfast was an "assisted buffet," meaning that you'd queue up and point, and a staff member plates the requested items. The crowds were significant, but overall, it was handled well. After 10am, I would estimate 5-10 minute waits for a table, plus another 5-10 minutes at the egg station, but before 9.30am or so, it was smooth sailing. Selection was good -- wide choice of egg dishes, three different kinds of sausages, hash browns, unhealthy fried stuff, half a dozen salami/cheese/fish options, fruit, danishes/waffles/pancakes, sparkling wine, etc etc -- you likely wouldn't miss anything here as an American or European, but the quality was middling.
There's also a club lounge replacement benefit from 6pm-8pm, apparently held at the poolside bar in good weather, and in mid-October in a small section off the breakfast restaurant. A plate of appetizers is brought out (and seconds proactively offered), plus wine/sparkling/beer/soft drinks (but no hard liquor). Appreciate the effort, although I'm not sure why they're not reopening the club lounge.
Overall, very pleased with this stay on a BRG of €120. Unexpectedly, the hotel was rather busy --fall holidays in some German states and the UK apparently-- and regular rates were quite high at €230 (although still BRGable day-of to €150 with a quick glance). Even at that rate, the suite would be great value, although to be fair, I have no idea how common of an upgrade this is, and I'm sure this place, like most large resorts, have a number of undesirable "garden" (=parking lot) view rooms. There are a bunch of "luxury suite" room types listed on the website, which apparently are in a new annex and outside the upgrade pool.
Finally, for anyone who's not familiar with Malta, it's important to note that the Westin is a proper resort with large pools and a lot of ocean front, with terraces to lounge on and swim in the ocean. There are very few comparable real resorts in Malta, as we learned when we moved on to the nearby Hyatt for two more nights (big mistake!). That hotel, along with the IC and a number of non-chain properties in the area, are basically city hotels with a rooftop pool, but not proper resorts. The same goes for the Marriott, which is about 10 minutes away. The Westin is in a completely different league.
View from the bedroom.
Bedroom, suite 826.
Living room, suite 826.
Lobby area. Reminded me a little of the Westin Moana. Very pleasant at night, with a piano player.
View from the suite. Restaurants in the foreground, and pool and terraces for lounging/swimming (in summer).
Balcony, suite 826. Strangely, there's a divider between the bedroom and living room. I wish they had loungers out here -- in fall, this has direct sunlight from 7.30am to 5pm, far longer than the pool.
Applied SNA, which cleared a couple days out (although not at the 5 day mark, keeping the suspense going) into an Executive Suite King, Seaview, Top Floor. Upon arrival, we were assigned room 826, directly next to the (closed) club lounge. It's a pretty stunning room, very large, nicely refurbished, with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. A prior poster mentioned the resort was a bit dated -- we didn't feel so at all, our room was in impeccable shape, and the public areas looked recently redone. Obviously the building has old bones, and the furniture is not brand new, but what we saw was in excellent repair. We slept very well here, the bed was soft enough, and with the door open, one could hear the waves crashing.
Breakfast was given as Titanium benefit, and additionally, there was a choice of 1000 points or a local gift, plus another voucher for a bottle of wine at the restaurant or via room service, or drinks at the bar. Chose the latter -- the lobby is a very appealing space with a piano player, but the drinks were very mediocre. Drink prices were very reasonable by resort standards, €7.75 for a mojito or mai tai.
Breakfast was an "assisted buffet," meaning that you'd queue up and point, and a staff member plates the requested items. The crowds were significant, but overall, it was handled well. After 10am, I would estimate 5-10 minute waits for a table, plus another 5-10 minutes at the egg station, but before 9.30am or so, it was smooth sailing. Selection was good -- wide choice of egg dishes, three different kinds of sausages, hash browns, unhealthy fried stuff, half a dozen salami/cheese/fish options, fruit, danishes/waffles/pancakes, sparkling wine, etc etc -- you likely wouldn't miss anything here as an American or European, but the quality was middling.
There's also a club lounge replacement benefit from 6pm-8pm, apparently held at the poolside bar in good weather, and in mid-October in a small section off the breakfast restaurant. A plate of appetizers is brought out (and seconds proactively offered), plus wine/sparkling/beer/soft drinks (but no hard liquor). Appreciate the effort, although I'm not sure why they're not reopening the club lounge.
Overall, very pleased with this stay on a BRG of €120. Unexpectedly, the hotel was rather busy --fall holidays in some German states and the UK apparently-- and regular rates were quite high at €230 (although still BRGable day-of to €150 with a quick glance). Even at that rate, the suite would be great value, although to be fair, I have no idea how common of an upgrade this is, and I'm sure this place, like most large resorts, have a number of undesirable "garden" (=parking lot) view rooms. There are a bunch of "luxury suite" room types listed on the website, which apparently are in a new annex and outside the upgrade pool.
Finally, for anyone who's not familiar with Malta, it's important to note that the Westin is a proper resort with large pools and a lot of ocean front, with terraces to lounge on and swim in the ocean. There are very few comparable real resorts in Malta, as we learned when we moved on to the nearby Hyatt for two more nights (big mistake!). That hotel, along with the IC and a number of non-chain properties in the area, are basically city hotels with a rooftop pool, but not proper resorts. The same goes for the Marriott, which is about 10 minutes away. The Westin is in a completely different league.
View from the bedroom.
Bedroom, suite 826.
Living room, suite 826.
Lobby area. Reminded me a little of the Westin Moana. Very pleasant at night, with a piano player.
View from the suite. Restaurants in the foreground, and pool and terraces for lounging/swimming (in summer).
Balcony, suite 826. Strangely, there's a divider between the bedroom and living room. I wish they had loungers out here -- in fall, this has direct sunlight from 7.30am to 5pm, far longer than the pool.
Oct 19, 2021, 11:23 am
#79
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Hotel Guru
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Gold
Posts: 1,456
Thanks for your update. The Marriott is no resort but it has been completely renovated last year… wouldn‘t that make it a good choice though now in the winter months when resort facilities can‘t be used? Also: are any of the outdoor pools heated and therefore usable in October/November?
Oct 19, 2021, 12:50 pm
#80
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,926
Thanks for your update. The Marriott is no resort but it has been completely renovated last year… wouldn‘t that make it a good choice though now in the winter months when resort facilities can‘t be used? Also: are any of the outdoor pools heated and therefore usable in October/November?
Oct 20, 2021, 12:30 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 487
They are all beautiful hotels and I had great stays there, but my personal choice remains the Westin: a peaceful and quiet place, the views over the sea, large rooms, beautiful external area and pools, great service and good attention to Elite Benefits are among the plus of this hotel.
Beside that, the IC has a great Club Lounge if you are Royal Ambassador or if you book a Club Room and it is located in the middle of Paceville (bars, pubs, discos, nights, mall etc.).
The Marriott (was Meridien) is directly on the route to Sliema, with bus stop to Valletta in front of the entrance, and it has a beautiful SPA in the basement.
Oct 31, 2021, 9:48 am
#83
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Surrey
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, Eurostar CB, IHG Spire, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 435
Just checked in for a 4 night stay but will be leaving tomorrow morning.
Both mugs and 1 glass in the room was very obviously dirty. I called up to report this and they said they would send someone to replace them (without apologies). No-one turns up. The bathroom also has a slightly unpleasant smell.
As for elite treatment for Titanium guest, no upgrade given proactively and only offered a cheaper room in same category after asking. This despite a huge number of higher category rooms and suites being available to book for cash for my dates.
I sent a message in the app to say I'd like to leave early due to the above reasons and ask if there was any additional charge above the cost of the first night. They said they're sorry I'm leaving early and that they wouldn't charge anything above the cost of the first night, and that they would replace the mugs. How very gracious of them
Update: mugs have been replaced but not the glass
Both mugs and 1 glass in the room was very obviously dirty. I called up to report this and they said they would send someone to replace them (without apologies). No-one turns up. The bathroom also has a slightly unpleasant smell.
As for elite treatment for Titanium guest, no upgrade given proactively and only offered a cheaper room in same category after asking. This despite a huge number of higher category rooms and suites being available to book for cash for my dates.
I sent a message in the app to say I'd like to leave early due to the above reasons and ask if there was any additional charge above the cost of the first night. They said they're sorry I'm leaving early and that they wouldn't charge anything above the cost of the first night, and that they would replace the mugs. How very gracious of them
Update: mugs have been replaced but not the glass
Last edited by s1362083; Oct 31, 2021 at 9:55 am
Oct 31, 2021, 1:39 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 487
Just checked in for a 4 night stay but will be leaving tomorrow morning.
Both mugs and 1 glass in the room was very obviously dirty. I called up to report this and they said they would send someone to replace them (without apologies). No-one turns up. The bathroom also has a slightly unpleasant smell.
As for elite treatment for Titanium guest, no upgrade given proactively and only offered a cheaper room in same category after asking. This despite a huge number of higher category rooms and suites being available to book for cash for my dates.
I sent a message in the app to say I'd like to leave early due to the above reasons and ask if there was any additional charge above the cost of the first night. They said they're sorry I'm leaving early and that they wouldn't charge anything above the cost of the first night, and that they would replace the mugs. How very gracious of them
Update: mugs have been replaced but not the glass
Both mugs and 1 glass in the room was very obviously dirty. I called up to report this and they said they would send someone to replace them (without apologies). No-one turns up. The bathroom also has a slightly unpleasant smell.
As for elite treatment for Titanium guest, no upgrade given proactively and only offered a cheaper room in same category after asking. This despite a huge number of higher category rooms and suites being available to book for cash for my dates.
I sent a message in the app to say I'd like to leave early due to the above reasons and ask if there was any additional charge above the cost of the first night. They said they're sorry I'm leaving early and that they wouldn't charge anything above the cost of the first night, and that they would replace the mugs. How very gracious of them
Update: mugs have been replaced but not the glass
Oct 31, 2021, 7:06 pm
#85
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: Various airline, hotel and credit card programs
Posts: 1,903
Nov 1, 2021, 2:47 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 487
Nov 1, 2021, 5:35 am
#87
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: Various airline, hotel and credit card programs
Posts: 1,903
Mar 6, 2022, 10:21 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,689
Does anyone know if there is a third/fourth person in the room extra charge on an award/certificate stay? It doesn't show up at checkout on point stays, but it does on paid stays....
Mar 6, 2022, 10:44 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,276
There is usually a nominal surcharge when you select 3/4 adults. If it does not mention it then you could most likely play that angle should the hotel decide to surprise you with a hefty additional per person surcharge.