Review: Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Malta

Words by Dalene Heck / Photograph by Pete Heck

We arrived at Paradise Bay Resort Hotel excited for ample amounts of rest and relaxation. We got what we came for!

Location

Nestled right in Paradise Bay and ten minutes away from Mellieha, the hotel offers splendid views of the aqua blue Mediterranean water with rocky bluffs lining the landscape.

The hotel is situated on the north west part of the island. Five minutes walking will put you at the bus terminal which can get you back to Mellieha (the nearest town) or anywhere on the island. Many buses run to the ferry terminal so catching a bus into Mellieha is never a problem. The ferry terminal to Gozo is also located right next to the bus terminal and ferries run approximately every hour.

In between Malta and Gozo is the popular island of Comino, which is famous for its blue lagoon. It is also serviced from the ferry port with many companies vying for your business.

Currently on the opposite side of the resort (ferry side) there is a lot of road work construction. However, once inside the hotel it is very peaceful and the road noise disappears.

Rooms

Our room was on the top floor and overlooked two of the hotels five pools.

It was spotless and came furnished with a very comfortable king size bed, sofa, plasma TV, and over-sized washroom. The high-powered air-conditioning unit kept us very cool when we needed, but often the breeze from the balcony was sufficient. The room had beautiful views of Paradise Bay and the beach in the distance. The only improvement that could have been made was to have larger and softer pillows.

Facilities

The hotel lobby and facilities at first glance are a bit dated, although the rooms are quite modern and clean. The hotel has five swimming pools, a sauna, jacuzzi, sauna and fitness room. Wi-fi and internet access in the hotel are available at a cost.

The large salt-water pools were great for keeping cool in the Malta heat. There were plenty of chairs and umbrellas, making our days lounging poolside quite comfortable.

The fitness room could use some freshening up and the air conditioning was unit not working, making it almost unbearable for a workout.

The hotel also has a well-stocked store to buy snacks, souvenirs or sun cream.

A small beach is located just across the street where you can relax in sun chairs and order cold beverages from a nearby stand.

Restaurants and Food

There are three main restaurants in the hotel: the buffet restaurant which serves all three meals, a lunch cafe and the evening a-la-carte restaurant.

The breakfast buffet had a decent selection but the choices for fruit and healthier eating could be improved.

The food in the a-la-carte restaurants was average but fairly priced; we often ate there for the convenience instead of taking a bus into town to dine. The pizzas and selection of sandwiches are the best things on the menu.

Service

The service at the hotel was hit and miss. Certain staff members were quite pleasant and eager to assist, while others were entirely indifferent. (A few more smiling staff members could go a long way!) However, the reception was especially accommodating when we needed to send an urgent fax.

Overall

Paradise Bay was an excellent place to stay and unwind. You can’t beat the views, the pools, and the rooms are beautiful and clean; it is good value for the money! A few more smiles from the staff, and some improvements with the food would have made our stay all the more better.

*****

Our stay was compensated by Paradise Bay and arranged for by Hostelbookers.com. All opinions, as always, are our own.