48 Reviews
Traveller Rating
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Excellent3
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Very Good9
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Good10
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Average15
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Poor6
Review Overview
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Cleanliness
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Entertainment
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Food
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Service
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Location
20 years 4 months ago
The Hotel originally gave my son and I a basement room with a view of a wall, damp plaster, stained carpet and broken bathroom tiles (with a leak to the floor). We changed to a 4th floor room which was a bit better, but as has been said previously, the roomsare hostel standard and the beds hard as rocks and the pillows not much better.
The food although billed as "self service" is served by a cook, who maintains strict portion control over the meat/fish, but of course, you can have as many chips and boiled veg as you like !You won't want as much as you like because it's overcooked and poor quality.Sweets comprise of ice-cream or melon.
The Bar gives out tiny shots of the local 25% alcoholic spirits to the "all inclusives" , which means you can drink all day and not get drunk. In fact, it's ideal for teetotallers.
The system for getting your "all inclusive" drink involves queuing up for a slip of paper with your drinks listed, then queuing at the Bar to be served.....absolutely ridiculous.
The Santa Maria shares with the San Anton across the road, which means that both hotels get one entertainer each evening, which saves on hotel budgets.The Santa Maria guests have to go to the San Anton for entertainment.
They hotel advertises an "Adult Disco", which in reality plays "trance music " to a bunch of 15 and 16 yr old kids drinking alcopops and getting legless.
A disappointing hotel, and not having air conditioned bedrooms makes it almost impossible to sleep in the heat of summer. Avoid it if possible.
The food although billed as "self service" is served by a cook, who maintains strict portion control over the meat/fish, but of course, you can have as many chips and boiled veg as you like !You won't want as much as you like because it's overcooked and poor quality.Sweets comprise of ice-cream or melon.
The Bar gives out tiny shots of the local 25% alcoholic spirits to the "all inclusives" , which means you can drink all day and not get drunk. In fact, it's ideal for teetotallers.
The system for getting your "all inclusive" drink involves queuing up for a slip of paper with your drinks listed, then queuing at the Bar to be served.....absolutely ridiculous.
The Santa Maria shares with the San Anton across the road, which means that both hotels get one entertainer each evening, which saves on hotel budgets.The Santa Maria guests have to go to the San Anton for entertainment.
They hotel advertises an "Adult Disco", which in reality plays "trance music " to a bunch of 15 and 16 yr old kids drinking alcopops and getting legless.
A disappointing hotel, and not having air conditioned bedrooms makes it almost impossible to sleep in the heat of summer. Avoid it if possible.
Travel operator: Chevron
20 years 4 months ago
Food
Breakfasts were not that great, bacon attrocious, frankfurter sausages. Yukk!! Scrambled egg was lovely.
Dinners were nice, plenty of choice with all courses. Always had fish, meat, and veggie choice. Potatoes could do with a bit more cooking time and vegetables not quite so much. Salads plentiful. Drinks decently priced.
Cleanliness
First impressions not bad, but when you looked more and moved things, ie, bed, very dusty. Bathrooms basic and could have been bleached down before use.
Location
Not too bad if you enjoy a stroll. Takes about 10 minutes to get to the main area. (When you know the way). Hotel gives a map, but only if you ask.
Staff
As always, some nice, some not so nice. Waiters whip your plates away rather too quickly.Always helpful if we asked them anything.
Entertainment
Rubbishy club style. Not sure one of them could actually speak or sing in English. But what can you expect in a foreign country. Different every night but they tend to do the same songs.
Breakfasts were not that great, bacon attrocious, frankfurter sausages. Yukk!! Scrambled egg was lovely.
Dinners were nice, plenty of choice with all courses. Always had fish, meat, and veggie choice. Potatoes could do with a bit more cooking time and vegetables not quite so much. Salads plentiful. Drinks decently priced.
Cleanliness
First impressions not bad, but when you looked more and moved things, ie, bed, very dusty. Bathrooms basic and could have been bleached down before use.
Location
Not too bad if you enjoy a stroll. Takes about 10 minutes to get to the main area. (When you know the way). Hotel gives a map, but only if you ask.
Staff
As always, some nice, some not so nice. Waiters whip your plates away rather too quickly.Always helpful if we asked them anything.
Entertainment
Rubbishy club style. Not sure one of them could actually speak or sing in English. But what can you expect in a foreign country. Different every night but they tend to do the same songs.
Travel operator: First Choice
Recommended
20 years 4 months ago
on first entering my room i was quite horrified at the basic standard and lack of cleanliness. the bathroom must never have seen bleach since it was built and when moving the beds to get underneath the ceiling fan to sleep there were receipts dated from two weeks previous as well as fluff, crisps and an empty condom packet. the meals were very poor. to be fair there was always something that was edible and the roast of the day was always nice. vegetables were undercooked and the kitchen staff not particulary pleasant if you asked for a larger portion. the soup of the day was nearly always delicious. puddings were rubbish.
regarding the entertainment i have heard better karaoke. one thing i did enjoy was bingo every night.
quieng for a receipt to get a drink and then standing in another queue to get the drink got a bit ridiculous.
you are not allowed to get a double spirit at the bar so what i did was order a martini and lemonade and a single martini - very small measures - and then mixing the two together. if you wanted a pint of orange you were not allowed as they would only serve them in child size cups.
considering this was advertised as a 3 star hotel my husband rated it as a 1 and thought the other 2 must be still in the sky.
would not go back to this hotel and would not recommend it to anyone in fact it has put me off ever going back to malta.
regarding the entertainment i have heard better karaoke. one thing i did enjoy was bingo every night.
quieng for a receipt to get a drink and then standing in another queue to get the drink got a bit ridiculous.
you are not allowed to get a double spirit at the bar so what i did was order a martini and lemonade and a single martini - very small measures - and then mixing the two together. if you wanted a pint of orange you were not allowed as they would only serve them in child size cups.
considering this was advertised as a 3 star hotel my husband rated it as a 1 and thought the other 2 must be still in the sky.
would not go back to this hotel and would not recommend it to anyone in fact it has put me off ever going back to malta.
Travel operator: airtours
20 years 5 months ago
Late booking - Allocation on arrival. Would have definately not booked if seen in a brochure.
Room double booked. First room offered was disgusting. Bathroom needed upgrade, tiles all cracked on floor, beds terrible, second room offered stunk with bleach, patio door did not lock and beds rubbish again. Third room okay looking out onto pool at Santa Maria hotel (much better than St Anton). Beds better, room clean if not a bit basic but much happier.
Food was terrible, only had breakfast 3 out of the 7 days. If it's a quiet sun worshiping holiday your looking for its okay although the pool was over chlorinated which stung your eyes. Pool area cleaned every day as well as room. Staff where okay but the reception staff (mainly the ladies) where very rude. The pool bar system was silly as well.
I would go back to Malta but not the the Santa Maria or St Anton.
Room double booked. First room offered was disgusting. Bathroom needed upgrade, tiles all cracked on floor, beds terrible, second room offered stunk with bleach, patio door did not lock and beds rubbish again. Third room okay looking out onto pool at Santa Maria hotel (much better than St Anton). Beds better, room clean if not a bit basic but much happier.
Food was terrible, only had breakfast 3 out of the 7 days. If it's a quiet sun worshiping holiday your looking for its okay although the pool was over chlorinated which stung your eyes. Pool area cleaned every day as well as room. Staff where okay but the reception staff (mainly the ladies) where very rude. The pool bar system was silly as well.
I would go back to Malta but not the the Santa Maria or St Anton.
Travel operator: Airtours
20 years 5 months ago
The Hotel Santa Maria was very clean, maud service every day, swimming pool treated every night. Saw one cockroach the entire fortnight, which was outside in the bar area of the San Anton. I also stayed at the San Anton last year which is why I came back this year and we will return next year. The rooms at both hotels are basic but clean. The bathrooms could do with a makeover but it didn't bother me as I've stayed in worse hotels in the UK which cost a lot more. The food was excellent and plenty to choose from with a different menu for everyday of the week and suitable for veggie folk as well.
Excellent value for money!
Excellent value for money!
Travel operator: Airtours
Recommended
20 years 5 months ago
I stayed in the Santa maria hotel and found it quite pleasant. Your room were cleaned everyday but not always your sheets. They gave you fresh towels everyday but not always in the right number.
I thought the food was very good the bufft was varied but not much choice for vegetarians. When you ordered a dessert I found it came in about 2 minutes -very good. I thought the pool bar food was very reasonaly priced.
We diidnt have much problm with the hotel staff and found them quite helpful.
The entertainment wasnt that good but will probabl suit a quite young or quite old age.
part from the down falls I would probably visit this hotel again!
I thought the food was very good the bufft was varied but not much choice for vegetarians. When you ordered a dessert I found it came in about 2 minutes -very good. I thought the pool bar food was very reasonaly priced.
We diidnt have much problm with the hotel staff and found them quite helpful.
The entertainment wasnt that good but will probabl suit a quite young or quite old age.
part from the down falls I would probably visit this hotel again!
Travel operator: First choice
Recommended
20 years 5 months ago
we took a week out to go on holiday to malta and couldnt wait to come back it all looked good but we were mistake.we were all inclusive and i though that lining up twice to get your food was terribel.the rooms were not that bad but the big fan on the seling was awful it didnt cool us down it did the opisit
staff at the hotel were rude they ignored us sevral times.the toilets were blocked the whole week we were there. the entertanment was great if you were in you 70s
i would not recomend this hotel
and would recomend malta
staff at the hotel were rude they ignored us sevral times.the toilets were blocked the whole week we were there. the entertanment was great if you were in you 70s
i would not recomend this hotel
and would recomend malta
Travel operator: Airtours
20 years 5 months ago
We have just come back from a one week holiday at the santa maria on the first of august and were happy to be home, the hotel pool area was swept every night leaving any food brushed into the pool tiles, and the waste bins around the pool were left until the following morning attracting a host of wasps etc, the food was quite nice when you could get to it after queing, there are signs telling customers not to use their fingers to get the food for hygene reasons, this would be ideal if their were utensiles for the job, and the plate warmers are on sprung containers yet the staff use their hands to push the plates down to see how many are left then leaving the top plate in the stack, not very hygenic. if you have any dificulty walking then leave this hotel well alone it is uphill from the town area weaving through rubbish ladden streets, the hotel staff expect you to move out of their path in the hotel after all your only on holiday and they are at work, there are some nice staff, but not many, entertainment depends on your age group but none could sing ? we were on the second floor which stunk of some kind of fuel smells for the whole week it was awful, the bathroom had severel broken tiles and the shower was like being bombarded with a pea shooter and actualy hurt if on full and flooded down the back of the bath into the room the ceiling fan was just a waste of time, just a constant rumble keeping you awake, Thank goodness were home.
Travel operator: first choice
20 years 6 months ago
The hotel was very clean, maid service everyday, hotel food was good, very good choice on the menu for both the 2 weeks that we stayed. Staff were always pleasant and helpful.
The location is not very good if you have walking difficulties or asthma which i suffer from because there are a lot of hill and steps.
The entertainment in the hotel was really catered towards the over 60's, bingo every night not our cup of tea so we used to go out to the many local bars around.
The disco was catered towards the other end of the scale and was all that boom boom music a bit too much.So in the hotel there wasnt anythin for the in betweenies, so thats why we went out.
On the whole it was an enjoyable stay at the santa maria and would recommend it as it was one of the better hotels in st pauls bay.
The location is not very good if you have walking difficulties or asthma which i suffer from because there are a lot of hill and steps.
The entertainment in the hotel was really catered towards the over 60's, bingo every night not our cup of tea so we used to go out to the many local bars around.
The disco was catered towards the other end of the scale and was all that boom boom music a bit too much.So in the hotel there wasnt anythin for the in betweenies, so thats why we went out.
On the whole it was an enjoyable stay at the santa maria and would recommend it as it was one of the better hotels in st pauls bay.
Travel operator: first choice
Recommended
20 years 6 months ago
This was our first holiday after the birth of our daughter so, we were looking for somewhere relaxing and friendly with good amenities.
The hotel was very nice and we found the staff to be very friendly and helpfull. We would certainly recommend this hotel to others and we have also planned to visit again next summer.
I must also mention the staff at Planet Travel Direct - I spent a good couple of hours with them on the phone looking for the perfect holiday to fit our budget and busy life style. Both my partner and I feel that they managed to find exactly what we looking for at a very good price.
I have recomended both this hotel and the travel company to my friends and colleagues.
The hotel was very nice and we found the staff to be very friendly and helpfull. We would certainly recommend this hotel to others and we have also planned to visit again next summer.
I must also mention the staff at Planet Travel Direct - I spent a good couple of hours with them on the phone looking for the perfect holiday to fit our budget and busy life style. Both my partner and I feel that they managed to find exactly what we looking for at a very good price.
I have recomended both this hotel and the travel company to my friends and colleagues.
Travel operator: Planet Travel Direct Ltd
Recommended
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