InterContinental Malta by IHG — Hotel in Saint Julian's

As the saying goes.. 'when you have nothing good to say, say nothing'... but I have both positive and negative feedback or to be more precise... 'best reasons to stay' and 'areas of improvement'..

The Hotel is in the middle of St. Georges Bay/ St. Julians.. an area densely packed with hotels and apartments, bars, restaurants and shops.. but its mid winter now so it completely alters what you can expect. It has a direct bus from the airport and good frequent connections to the city. there is also a taxi at the door of the hotel 24/7 but Malta has major traffic issues so be prepared for heavy traffice, slow journeys and high fares. I stayed here 6 years ago, when the new club lounge had opened and it was an excellent stay.. even though the hotel was undergoing renovation and the site next store was being transformed into an 8 storied Holiday inn Express.

Now the renovations on the lobby, reception and bar are complete and its very impressive.. very modern, polished and classy.

But my Check in didn't go go with the surroundings..

As I was transferring from the HIE next door, I popped to IC reception after b/f and asked if it was possible to check in early.. (so I could then transfer my bags and leave for downtown meetings early and not have to wait until 3pm to check in).. I was informed (considering the hotel had less than 10% occupancy) that 1pm was the earliest I could check in (I'm spire elite IHG rewards!) as it would 'take some time to prepare the room'!!!.

The receptionist then 'advised' me to take extra time to do my packing'!!! and she was 'super excited' at the prospect of my arrival.... (Why the false/fake enthusiasm?).

I arrived at 1pm to meet the lovely Shylene at reception who explained the reception computers were undergoing an upgrade and so she could not complete all procedures and as She did her best to get me checked in, she had to get assistance from the tech support team as the machine for programming the room keys were not working..

Eventually It came back online and I got the keys to a room at the very furthest point from the reception on the 11th floor. It was a LONG walk... only to discover when I got there that the keys didn't work.. So back I walked to reception to be told that the keys were issued for the wrong room!

I know I'm not the only hotel guest who concludes that a poor check in procedure can have a knock on effect on the stay...

I couldn't understand that after I left reception to go to the incorrectly allocated room, that they didn't send someone after me with the keys to the correct room, as it was on the same floor, so I didn't have to trudge back to reception with my luggage to be told they knew of the error! When I did get to the room, it was spacious with a good balcony overlooking the garden. There was no direct sunlight to any of the rooms on that floor. The bathroom was a little dated but the power-shower made up for this..

The Bed and Sleep quality was excellent, the TV/Internet top class.

I got a call that evening from a very nice receptionist asking if all was ok as she was informed that I 'had some issues at check in'!! a poor choice of words considering I didn't have issues, the HOTEL had issues at check in... I was merely the pawn in a poorly played game of chess!

During the stay I was able to use the gym/pool etc which was followed by a complimentary bottle of wine and Chocolates as part of Spire Elite amenities, not as an apology for the room mix up..(delivered by a very friendly and positive room service agent), and this proved a good sedative and helped with a good nights sleep.

On check out next morning, I was asked if my stay was OK, I said technically, yes... but then the receptionist noted that it was listed on the room profile that I 'had some issues with my stay'!!!! and called a senior receptionist who I informed that it was the check in procedure of the hotel that was in error NOT the guest.. He then placed a card in front of me and handed me a pen and asked if I would list any complaints I had there and then.. this not only was AMBUSHING a guest on departure but the other guest who was also checking out found it both amusing for him but embarrassing for me... At this point I just wanted to leave and go check in BACK at the Holiday Inn Express next door where I did not experience any of this DRAMA! (it must be the first time in IHG history that a guest was HAPPY to leave an IC and return to an HIE!). I kindly informed the senior receptionist that anything i had to say would be in my review so other guests dont get labelled as 'having issues' NOT of their making!

Finally.. for others considering this hotel, check before you book if 1. the Club Lounge is open (it was closed), 2. The Sky Beach is open, (it was closed) 3. The 10th floor Pool is open and supervised, 4. The beach and Restaurant Paranga are open (closed in winter) and 5. that there isn't continuous construction work happening not only to the right of the hotel, but to the back and the left... (the construction work is NOT at the InterConti premises but literally at all walls connecting to the hotel.. and it starts at 8am to 6pm so if you are out all day you wont be affected.

So I now have mixed feelings about returning to the InterConti Malta and to be on the safe side I have booked all 4 nights of my next stay at the HIE next door.

ps.. Hotel management, Please Please dont patronize me with one of the algorithm...

A tale of 2 hotels depending on your budget...on the one hand, an exceptional hotel with amazing staff and amenities, on the other just an average experience. There was a bit of a rough start but management came through with a quick and fruitful resolution. I booked a 2 room suite (bedroom with 2 kings plus living area with a pull-out sofa) for 3 adults. I could tell it was meant for heavy use by families or larger groups as there was room for 6 to sleep. All of the features were just average and heavily used. The door separating the bedroom from the living area had a lock which locked from the living room side. I ended up travelling alone instead of with my group due to last minute issues. As a result, I was enjoying the place by myself. But, one morning I awoke to the door closed and locked from the living room side (how that happened is still a mystery though a drunken stupor plus poor design combination is most likely the culprit ). I could not leave the bedroom. I am clausterphobic. I phoned the front desk and maintenance had to come rescue me. They too were confused as to why the lock was on the opposite side of the door it should have been. An unfortunate oversight. I was issued a new room. I got a smaller but upgraded suite. It faced the hotel courtyard instead of the loud street and clearly had just been renovated. It featured a whirlpool bathtub, new carpet, a large veranda with lounge chairs and a sea view. The decor was modern and fresh, the mattress was super comfy. It was a night and day comparison to the previous room, plus no door lock between the bedroom and living room. My booking came with club lounge access. This was pretty amazing. Set on the 15th floor, access was restricted by room key so only those with club priviliges could access. Breakfast, afternoon tea time and cocktail hour all separate from the other guests. Along with an outdoor dining area overlooking the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Breakfast was awesome with both a traditional Euro style buffett with plentiful offerings and an a la carte menu with made to order dishes like eggs benedict and pancakes. Lots of variety so never got bored even after 14 days. All the club lounge staff were amazing. But, special shout outs to Viday, Kumar, Elmer, Elsa, Uzma, Asal, Hazle, and Mnamdia (most likely mis-spelled, sorry!) as they went above and beyond. Mohammed the manager was a total superstar. His training and treatment of his employees were extremely impressive and should be highly valued by his boss(es). Deftly capable and problem solving oriented they handled even the most curmudgeonly guests with a professionalism that seemed second nature. The quality of food was superb and the creativity was appreciated. Well thought out and executed, the club lounge totally elevated my experience. Their Ambassador program I joined is also great. I had a separate check in area so I didnt have to wait in line and got access to their super dope rooftop infinite pool. Again, all the staff were amazing but Irene was an absolute stand out. Shaded bungalows and lounge chairs with pool side food and bar service made for a very decompressing and unforgettable experience. Plus swimming up to the pool waterfall edge 19 stories up and staring out into those perfect blue waters of the Mediterranean was an absolute dream. The included sauna room was also an absolute gem, great for eliminating jet lag. Room service food was great quality and value. In terms of room for improvements, I would say furniture upkeep could be better. In my first room there were some floor and furniture stains, same as in the lobby. Their comfort levels could be watched a little more closely as there were some pieces needing replacement due to high wear and tear. Overall I would say you get out what you pay in. A good value for those on a budget given its location and amenities. But also a pretty freaking awesome experience if you spend more for access to the the upgraded areas. I would highly recommend no matter which...

This is going to be a lengthy one…🤦🏽‍♀️

To make it easier I will do separate headings so you can just skip to the part you’re interested in knowing about.

This is an unbiased review solely based on our experience this weekend.

Prior to check in: We were travelling to Malta for an anniversary celebration so I contacted the hotel prior to arrival to inform them and also enquire about booking the club lounge.

I received responses to all my emails in less than 24hrs from Mina who gave me comprehensive information and also offered a discount as we were travelling for a special occasion. This was a lovely extra touch that I was not expecting but made the upcoming trip a little more exciting.

Check-in This was bar far the easiest and quickest check-in I have ever experienced at a Hotel. Tariq was on hand to greet us. He was so friendly and professional and made us feel very welcome and special. Honestly we were treated lip VIP’s but from what I observed, it was the same for everyone I saw any staff interacting with.

We received a complimentary upgrade which was amazing and had the most delicious anniversary cake and bubbles waiting for us in our room. My hubby was very happy about that, particularly the cake 😂.

Tariq explained how the club lounge worked, gave us a pre-prepared information sheet so we’re were aware of times and what was on offer and directed us to our room. He did offer for someone to take us, but we opted to make our own way.

The room: I can’t remember the grade of our room but it was very spacious and VERY CLEAN. the bathroom was spotless and if we forgot any necessities such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shower gel, body lotion etc (which we didn’t), it was all there in the bathroom.

The bed was comfortable and we also had a lovely little balcony which would be great in the summer. We still sat outside as it overlooked the courtyard and the panoramic pool. Honestly cannot fault anything in the room.

Our remote control didn’t work but someone came up immediately to change it and problem solved.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have often found that calling reception or room service is often a multiple phonecall situation for an answer. We never found this. Ever call (there really was only a couple) was answered almost immediately with an upbeat voice.

Amenities: We went to club lounge for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. It was a table service and actually really lovely. The lounge was very quiet compared the the main breakfast hall so it made a difference for us.

We went out all the days we were there so we did miss afternoon tea and only managed to use the lounge on one of the evenings. The evening we went there was finger food on offer as well as cocktails and top shelf alcoholic drinks. Outside of this, there were very well stocked fridges with soft drinks, water and beers. We definitely made use of this.

The hotel is very large and there is plenty to explore there. We did not visit the casino which can be accessed on site or the restaurants that belong to the hotel. Had we had more time we would have gone to water biscuit and Paranga but we ran out of time!

The Spa: We had access to the indoor pool, sauna and steam room (we went later on as it was less busy after 8pm). The only complaint I had with this is the steam room was way hotter than any other steam room I’ve ever been in. It was like leaning over a boiling kettle but we left the door slightly ajar to regulate it a bit. Due to the time we were there, there was only one member of staff in there and he was busy out back so we couldn’t speak to him. I think the steam room needs a little love as the seating had some missing tiles which prevented me from wanting to sit down thinking about bacteria etc.

The sauna was lovely and the pool is also lovely. The area itself is very calming and a nice way to end a busy day.

We had a couples massage on our last morning there. Unfortunately I can’t remember the ladies names but it was very very good and I believe they went over our time as well. Run out of...