The Grand Hotel Excelsior

We stayed for a 12 night vacation and could not have been happier. Every one of the hotel staff works very hard to make your time here enjoyable. A couple minor issues which aren't worth detailing because it would detract from our overall impression of the hotel were addressed immediately and to our total satisfaction. Our room was cleaned and refreshed daily yet there was never an intrusion. Even when we left our room late it was always made up on our return. The serving staff throughout the hotel are pleasant, friendly and genuinely interested in seeing that you enjoy yourself. Absolutely everyone was delightful from the buffet to the Blue Ocean waterfront bar. If you are planning an excursion or even just a trip that's a bit more than walking distance the tour desk is more than helpful and the price points are very fair and competitive. Special hello to Tony who took us for a great private day trip to Gozo! The hotel itself is a sprawling complex yet not overwhelmingly large. Everything feels easy to access despite the overall size. The grand lobby feels luxurious yet comfortable. The pools, both indoor and out are beautiful. Location-wise, walking into the main entry to downtown Valletta is easy enough to do repeatedly each day. In fact we often returned to the hotel just to drop a few things off or take a quick break only to head back out on our adventures. Note that there are plenty of stairs to climb coming and going but that's typical of Malta in general anyway and otherwise part of the architecture of the hotel's grounds. As far as the room was concerned it was spacious with a large bathroom encompassing both a separate shower and deep bathtub. The balcony was large enough for four people with a stunning view of the pool area, Manoel Island and the Sliema skyline although we understand not all rooms will have this view. Considering we were there for a relatively lengthy stay we had ample closet and storage room for all our clothing and accessories to be out of sight. If you have the time, the spa offers a great array of treatments. The couples massage was a great mid-vacation break to relax after so much walking and hiking. We would not hesitate to return to the Excelsior and want to thank all the staff for making our stay so memorable.

We arrived by taxi and our cases were taken by the porter. Our check in was supposed to be by 3pm but it was almost 5 before the room was ready. We had a pleasant drink while waiting. When we got into our room we had 2 double beds pushed together, a great view over the harbour, a large bathroom and a balcony. On closer inspection I noticed a skirting board had come away from the wall, a drawer front had come loose, some fittings were adrift in the bathroom and one of the lights wasn't working. We stayed 2 nights and by the time we checked out, these defects hadn't been addressed. The bed was comfortable but the 2 pillows together still went almost flat. Breakfast was buffet style, had a wide selection and was well cooked. We didn't have main meals in the restaurant but did use room service one night. There is an outdoor pool, an indoor heated pool and a gym to use at no extra cost. When leaving the hotel you have to climb 88 steps to the main road, then it's uphill into Valetta. It was only when we were leaving that we found there is a complementary shuttle service into town. Would I recommend this hotel? Yes, I would stay there again. The staff were very professional and polite at all times.

Spent a few nights here while in town on business. My second trip to Malta and the previous trip I stayed at what I assume is a partner hotel in St. Julian???s Bay named the Corinthia. Both hotels have a nice offering of food and bar service on site. The Excelsior looks like it must have been a truly grand place about 20 years ago. That being said, the room was nice and had everything I needed. Internet was strong, room had a queen bed, a large desk, mini-fridge, water boiler for Nescaf?? and a spacious bathroom. Breakfast offering was strong and met all types of breakfast needs you might want. From heavy eggs and meat to fruit, cereal and bread. The location was great because you are a 10min walk from Valetta. This part of Malta is my favorite part. Walking in daytime or night is pleasant especially in March when it is still cool. Overlooking the harbor from the old fort is my favorite spot. All in all the hotel was great and the location in the city was perfect.