Karanne Aparthotel, Bugibba, Malta
Hotel Information
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
Recommended for comfortable accommodation and a good range of in-house amenities, Karanne aparthotel is an ideal holiday choice for all ages. On a quiet street near St. Paul's Bay approx. 500 metres from a rocky shoreline about 10 mins. walk from the resort's lively amenities. loading...
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Karanne Aparthotel Reviews
" This hotel is not a 4 star!!! Maybe a... "
Submitted By: Mrs D Pepperdine
This hotel is not a 4 star!!! Maybe a 2 star.If you are allergic to mold do not stay in this hotel!!!! On our 6th day I told the receptionist that our room is smelling of mold she said that they cover the smell up with a spray that th lasts for 4 days.She will ask them to spray my room again but there is nothing she can do. The reception area is nice, the elevator was broken 90 % of the time.(We stayed here for 18 days only because they charged the full amount to my mastercard) The rooms are nice but bring your own towels and linen. Towels are replaced daily with sometimes clean towels other times with stained barely rinsed out towels. The bed sheets are changed every three days( if they have fresh linen) the maid came in on a friday and told us that she couldn't change our linen because nobody did the laundry.Sunday we asked when our linen will be changed and reception said hopefully by Monday, it wouldn't have been so bad if the air conditioner was working. After 9 days linen was changed. Please bring your own broom, maids do not clean rooms well enough after one checks out. Our room was filthy floor was sticky, sand or dirt every where and dust bunnies in every corner, black ring around the bath tub. Toilet and faucets leak. The swimming pool is nice and is suppose to be closed at 7:30 but at 5:45 they tell you that you have until 6:00 to get out. My kids were disappointed.The reception staff at this hotel are very nice, the maids have attitude problems. When I read some of the reviews I thought it can't be that bad its probably an upset customer that didn't get his/her way. Please listen to the bad reviews stay clear of this hotel and enjoy your holiday.
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Sunworld
" I have literally just returned from... "
Submitted By: Mrs J Stephens
I have literally just returned from my first week ever on the island of Malta. The only reason I decided to go there was I needed a break in the sun and could only take a week and did not want a long flight. Up comes Malta. I did not go expecting to enjoy it or even like it as I have always had a preconceived opinion. Flew Air Malta and the blurb indicated that there would be no food on the plane so we had McDonalds at the airport.(a once a year thing). However, a meal was served but the chicken was so gross I could not stomach it and the sweet was so hard I could not chew it. The bottle of free wine was good though. On arrival in Malta I was not surprised to find a desolate landscape with lots of building sites, no rivers etc. etc. and fairly indiscriminate driving.
The hotel was a bit of a surprise as I had thought it was overlooking the sea, but it is in a road some distance from the front. The frontage looked good though and first impressions of the foyer etc. were good enough and the receptionist was very helpful. When we got to our room we discovered as has been stated previously that all the rooms overlook each other and we actually had the worst corner with no daylight or even hope of seeing the sun from the room. However, it was clean , tidy and perfectly servicable furniture, bathroom was ok reasonable standard. Complaints would be towels came and went as the maid decided, door to the balcony did not appear to lock (but we left it open most of the time anyway) and the lighting was suspect. There were no instructions for the air conditioning and we never got the hang of it. We paid the money for the fridge, it was worth it because I always take a kettle so we can have a cup of tea in the mornings and we needed cold milk and soft drinks. Then - down to dinner. This was the shocker, the food can only be described as completely tastless. We had fish and you would not have known what it was. There were three choices but all as bad as each other. Not very hot either and I like my food hot.
So to bed, quite comfortable, plenty of hot water, window open because it was so hot, fairly quiet until the singer started. Well, I suspect he had probably been thrown out of any pub in England he was so bad and he went on until 11 at night!!!! Little did we know that he was to be the entertainment for the whole week, that put paid to any ideas about sitting in what was quite a nice lounge area.
Next morning, breakfast, people queing to make toast, running out of rolls, tastless yoghurt for the cereal, muesli looked like the stuff I feed my rabbits with but the cooked breakfast actually seemed quite reasonable considering. Again, the staff in the dining room were very nice, if not a little quick of the mark to take our plates. (At this point, considering where we were, we had still seen no sign of any fresh fruit).
Off round the town, and contrary to what has been written, it is very convenient for the bus travel round the island, very convenient for the sea front and there are some small shops nearby if you want to buy gifts or food and drink (a necessity if you stay at the Karanne). We went back for the representatives meeting. That was a big mistake, arrogant, insolent, aggressive gentleman who was quarter of an hour late and then was very upset when I asked him if he was going to apologise for keeping us waiting. His actual reply was you were not going anywhere anyway!!!. When people complained about anything he just said, you have paid for a cheap holiday and you are getting what you paid for. He then asked if anybody wanted to change hotels (I felt this was all a ploy to get people to upgrade). We stayed and I have to say, that getting out and about, seeing Valetta, Gozo, Mdina, some of the temples, Pretty Bay, Golden Bay etc. etc. I got to like Malta and would definitely visit again.
The food did not get any better no matter how much anybody complained and I even offered to cook one evening myself but they turned me down. We ended up with curried chicken and chips one night because nobody had made rice and we never saw any fresh vegetables, just frozen mixed.
I would actually stay at the Karanne again on self catering if I could find out how to book it because at the end of the day, its the people that make the holiday, and everybody local that we met was very nice (apart from the rep of course). So, you do get what you pay for and 4 star in Malta is not 4 star in England, but anybody who went out there thinking this (like the man who complained he could not get BBC on the television????) obviously does not travel very much.
p.s. Food on the way back on the place was fine AND there were no delays.
The hotel was a bit of a surprise as I had thought it was overlooking the sea, but it is in a road some distance from the front. The frontage looked good though and first impressions of the foyer etc. were good enough and the receptionist was very helpful. When we got to our room we discovered as has been stated previously that all the rooms overlook each other and we actually had the worst corner with no daylight or even hope of seeing the sun from the room. However, it was clean , tidy and perfectly servicable furniture, bathroom was ok reasonable standard. Complaints would be towels came and went as the maid decided, door to the balcony did not appear to lock (but we left it open most of the time anyway) and the lighting was suspect. There were no instructions for the air conditioning and we never got the hang of it. We paid the money for the fridge, it was worth it because I always take a kettle so we can have a cup of tea in the mornings and we needed cold milk and soft drinks. Then - down to dinner. This was the shocker, the food can only be described as completely tastless. We had fish and you would not have known what it was. There were three choices but all as bad as each other. Not very hot either and I like my food hot.
So to bed, quite comfortable, plenty of hot water, window open because it was so hot, fairly quiet until the singer started. Well, I suspect he had probably been thrown out of any pub in England he was so bad and he went on until 11 at night!!!! Little did we know that he was to be the entertainment for the whole week, that put paid to any ideas about sitting in what was quite a nice lounge area.
Next morning, breakfast, people queing to make toast, running out of rolls, tastless yoghurt for the cereal, muesli looked like the stuff I feed my rabbits with but the cooked breakfast actually seemed quite reasonable considering. Again, the staff in the dining room were very nice, if not a little quick of the mark to take our plates. (At this point, considering where we were, we had still seen no sign of any fresh fruit).
Off round the town, and contrary to what has been written, it is very convenient for the bus travel round the island, very convenient for the sea front and there are some small shops nearby if you want to buy gifts or food and drink (a necessity if you stay at the Karanne). We went back for the representatives meeting. That was a big mistake, arrogant, insolent, aggressive gentleman who was quarter of an hour late and then was very upset when I asked him if he was going to apologise for keeping us waiting. His actual reply was you were not going anywhere anyway!!!. When people complained about anything he just said, you have paid for a cheap holiday and you are getting what you paid for. He then asked if anybody wanted to change hotels (I felt this was all a ploy to get people to upgrade). We stayed and I have to say, that getting out and about, seeing Valetta, Gozo, Mdina, some of the temples, Pretty Bay, Golden Bay etc. etc. I got to like Malta and would definitely visit again.
The food did not get any better no matter how much anybody complained and I even offered to cook one evening myself but they turned me down. We ended up with curried chicken and chips one night because nobody had made rice and we never saw any fresh vegetables, just frozen mixed.
I would actually stay at the Karanne again on self catering if I could find out how to book it because at the end of the day, its the people that make the holiday, and everybody local that we met was very nice (apart from the rep of course). So, you do get what you pay for and 4 star in Malta is not 4 star in England, but anybody who went out there thinking this (like the man who complained he could not get BBC on the television????) obviously does not travel very much.
p.s. Food on the way back on the place was fine AND there were no delays.
- Date of Holiday:Apr 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Mercury Direct
" I, too have chosen 1 because there is... "
Submitted By: Mrs S I Joy
I, too have chosen 1 because there is no 0. I can honestly say I have never stayed in a worse hotel. As other people have said...it is filthy, mouldy and worse.
The food was atrocious.
If cheapness is the object of your holiday, then you are better off getting a tent.
The food was atrocious.
If cheapness is the object of your holiday, then you are better off getting a tent.
- Date of Holiday:Feb 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Mercury Direct
" We stayed at the Karanne during... "
Submitted By: Mr J Debicki
We stayed at the Karanne during Christmas week and had a splendid time.
First; the building. It is contructed as three sides of a square: many of the rooms overlook a quadrangle/void at the rear. The facade is impressive (check the photos): the entrance leads to an equally impressive atrium/reception area. And it is big - hence, perhaps, that it can appear a little poorly lit in places: but this is not true of the seating/dining areas. In respect of the heating it needs to be borne in mind that, like many countries, for example those in North Africa, Malta never experiences snow or freezing conditions. Therefore, buildings are rarely constructed with that same attention to heating systems as would be found in, say, the UK. This, and the large size of the atrium, means that temperatures would be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain at UK levels. Having said that, it was nothing that the wearing of a cardy or sweater would not deal with adequately and we were very happy to sit in the well-appointed and comfortable reception area.
Accommodation is to be found on six floors. There are four lifts (a pair on each side of the hotel). It has to be said the carpeting in the corridors is getting tired. I cannot speak about the apartments but our 4th floor room was spacious with a tiled floor throughout. The room's air-conditioning meant that you could have it as hot or cool as you liked. There was a large, double wardrobe, dressing table and stool, suitcase stand/drawer unit, armchair, the larger-type single beds and bedside tables with a phone. The bathroom comprised toilet, sink and bath incorporating a shower unit; and a hair-dryer. There was a verandah with plastic chairs. I am not too fussy about a little dust, but that is not the case with my wife who is fastidious about these things and on our arrival declared the room clean and satisfactory. There was normal wear and tear. Our room was cleaned every day during the afternoon.
The hotel is located in a quiet side street in Bugibba, 2-3 minutes walk from the sea, and 100 metres from a main road where, conveniently, is a bus stop giving access to all parts of the island. It is about 10 minutes walk to the main Bougibba/Qawra square.
There is an outdoor, rooftop swimming pool (not open in winter); an indoor pool with bar (the bar is not open in winter); sauna; jacuzzi (not operational when we there). As part of the hotel there is a bar/snackbar/coffee shop; there is a pub; games room; fitness room (not visited by us!). During our week there was karaoke in the pub (not my cup of tea but entertaining for many) and a wonderful folklore show with performing groups from Italy, Austria and Bulgaria.
Food. As the main dining room and kitchens are large facilities, and during the early part of our stay there were relatively few quests they were dined in an area beyond the hotel entrance/reception close to the coffee shop/snack bar. When, after a few days, the hotel filled the main dining-room and kitchens were opened. Breakfast was a choice of four cereals, yoghurt, cooked meat and cheese. The self-service toaster was working fine for us. In addition, a full English breakfast or a combination of its parts was, during the first few days, cooked to order. There was tea and coffee. Dinner was also seved at this location for the first few days. There was soup, a wide range of salads and pasta, and a choice of several hot main courses. Christmas Eve was a triumph for the chef (a friendly, ever-present, always checking that things were OK), with a marvellous choice of some eight or nine, fine quality hot meals. When the hotel filled and we moved to the main dining room, naturally things moved to a slightly more industrial scale and so, for example, at breakfast there was a continuous-feed toaster and all the elements of a full, cooked breakfast could be selected. For dinner, in addition to the salads & pasta there was always a choice of 3 or 4 hot mains (there was no limit on how much or how many you could choose). We found the food entirely satisfactory in choice and quality - think of a meal in one of the UK national pub chains. Beer and wine were inexpensive and the latter was agreeable and in always generous measure.
The hotel's owner was also an ever-present - at front-of-house from first thing in the morning until last thing at night checking on everything and always with a friendly word for guests.
We booked with Apollo Travel (they were absolutely fine) using the operator Malta Bargains. They use BritishJet - our flight was from Manchester - in an MD90. Unusually for a charter they provide a free hot meal.
As I had (worryingly) read various poor opinions of the Karanne I kept a careful eye on things. I have tried to tell the story as objectively as I could. I do not know if you will like the Karanne but it has to be seen for what it is. It is not 5-star and its accommodation, facilities and food reflect that fact. But we take frequent holidays of varying standards and found the hotel and Malta ideal for an inexpensive break. We guard against expecting 5-star treatment for 3-star prices. We paid £408 (Christmas week!!) for flights, transfers and half-board and were more than satisfied with what we got.
First; the building. It is contructed as three sides of a square: many of the rooms overlook a quadrangle/void at the rear. The facade is impressive (check the photos): the entrance leads to an equally impressive atrium/reception area. And it is big - hence, perhaps, that it can appear a little poorly lit in places: but this is not true of the seating/dining areas. In respect of the heating it needs to be borne in mind that, like many countries, for example those in North Africa, Malta never experiences snow or freezing conditions. Therefore, buildings are rarely constructed with that same attention to heating systems as would be found in, say, the UK. This, and the large size of the atrium, means that temperatures would be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain at UK levels. Having said that, it was nothing that the wearing of a cardy or sweater would not deal with adequately and we were very happy to sit in the well-appointed and comfortable reception area.
Accommodation is to be found on six floors. There are four lifts (a pair on each side of the hotel). It has to be said the carpeting in the corridors is getting tired. I cannot speak about the apartments but our 4th floor room was spacious with a tiled floor throughout. The room's air-conditioning meant that you could have it as hot or cool as you liked. There was a large, double wardrobe, dressing table and stool, suitcase stand/drawer unit, armchair, the larger-type single beds and bedside tables with a phone. The bathroom comprised toilet, sink and bath incorporating a shower unit; and a hair-dryer. There was a verandah with plastic chairs. I am not too fussy about a little dust, but that is not the case with my wife who is fastidious about these things and on our arrival declared the room clean and satisfactory. There was normal wear and tear. Our room was cleaned every day during the afternoon.
The hotel is located in a quiet side street in Bugibba, 2-3 minutes walk from the sea, and 100 metres from a main road where, conveniently, is a bus stop giving access to all parts of the island. It is about 10 minutes walk to the main Bougibba/Qawra square.
There is an outdoor, rooftop swimming pool (not open in winter); an indoor pool with bar (the bar is not open in winter); sauna; jacuzzi (not operational when we there). As part of the hotel there is a bar/snackbar/coffee shop; there is a pub; games room; fitness room (not visited by us!). During our week there was karaoke in the pub (not my cup of tea but entertaining for many) and a wonderful folklore show with performing groups from Italy, Austria and Bulgaria.
Food. As the main dining room and kitchens are large facilities, and during the early part of our stay there were relatively few quests they were dined in an area beyond the hotel entrance/reception close to the coffee shop/snack bar. When, after a few days, the hotel filled the main dining-room and kitchens were opened. Breakfast was a choice of four cereals, yoghurt, cooked meat and cheese. The self-service toaster was working fine for us. In addition, a full English breakfast or a combination of its parts was, during the first few days, cooked to order. There was tea and coffee. Dinner was also seved at this location for the first few days. There was soup, a wide range of salads and pasta, and a choice of several hot main courses. Christmas Eve was a triumph for the chef (a friendly, ever-present, always checking that things were OK), with a marvellous choice of some eight or nine, fine quality hot meals. When the hotel filled and we moved to the main dining room, naturally things moved to a slightly more industrial scale and so, for example, at breakfast there was a continuous-feed toaster and all the elements of a full, cooked breakfast could be selected. For dinner, in addition to the salads & pasta there was always a choice of 3 or 4 hot mains (there was no limit on how much or how many you could choose). We found the food entirely satisfactory in choice and quality - think of a meal in one of the UK national pub chains. Beer and wine were inexpensive and the latter was agreeable and in always generous measure.
The hotel's owner was also an ever-present - at front-of-house from first thing in the morning until last thing at night checking on everything and always with a friendly word for guests.
We booked with Apollo Travel (they were absolutely fine) using the operator Malta Bargains. They use BritishJet - our flight was from Manchester - in an MD90. Unusually for a charter they provide a free hot meal.
As I had (worryingly) read various poor opinions of the Karanne I kept a careful eye on things. I have tried to tell the story as objectively as I could. I do not know if you will like the Karanne but it has to be seen for what it is. It is not 5-star and its accommodation, facilities and food reflect that fact. But we take frequent holidays of varying standards and found the hotel and Malta ideal for an inexpensive break. We guard against expecting 5-star treatment for 3-star prices. We paid £408 (Christmas week!!) for flights, transfers and half-board and were more than satisfied with what we got.
- Date of Holiday:Dec 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains/Apollo
" I rated this hotel a 1 as a 0 score... "
Submitted By: Mrs L Coombes
I rated this hotel a 1 as a 0 score was not available. Unfortunately we did not do our homework before booking this holiday and put our faith in the tour operator that a 4 star hotel meant what it said on the tin.
It is without doubt the worst hotel we have ever stayed in - I have stayed in hotels with no star rating much better than this. It was blatantly clear that no money was being spent to upkeep or maintain the building and all services had been cut to the bare minimum (including the food) for maximum profit. It was so bad that 12 hours after our arrival we moved hotels (at an additional charge of £140) as it was our first family holiday for 2 years and I was not going to spend it being miserable. (The second hotel we stayed in, The Santana, was also a 4 star and absolutely no comparison - full services and facilities, great food, friendly staff and clean rooms.)
Three fellow guests at the Karanne smiled knowingly at us when we commented on our disbelief and advised us not to bother to complain to the owner - apparently they had complained the previous day and were told, with a shrug of his shoulders, that it was not his problem if they were not happy - he was a rich man and already had their money.
About the hotel - where do I start? Here is just the tip of the iceberg: No heating on in hotel (we all had to wear our coats to dinner), no lighting apart from around the dining area, the rest of the hotel was in darkness. Rooms were in extremely poor state of disrepair, dirty and tired - the door to the balcony was broken and would not lock. Our "white" sheets were grey with age and the pillows were so old and disintegrating that it felt like there were tennis balls inside them. The bed cover was stained and threadbare. The towels were also grey and so threadbare that they had holes in them. The bath was rimmed in black mould and the shower curtain slimy with mould. When we tried to shower at 11am, the water had been turned off.
The kitchen was closed and all meals were served from the "coffee shop" in the hotel foyer. One "chef" and one waitress was the sum total of the staff on kitchen duty. It took us over an hour to receive our inedible, tasteless food. At breakfast, when the plastic 2 slice toaster stopped working, a fellow guest turned it upside down and large pieces of concrete fell out! You just couldn't make this stuff up - it was straight out of a bad comedy show, I kept looking for the hidden cameras recording the chaos.
The hotel owner and reception staff puffed away happily on cigarettes in the hotel. The hotel was situated in a grubby part of Qwara, so not good for wandering around or window shopping. If we return to Malta, we would definitely stay in another area (St Julien and Sliema were much more lively and clean for the "beach front" feel).
Our advice: if you are booked into this hotel, change your booking now (the cancellation costs will be worth it). Malta is a lovely island and worth a visit, but hotels like this do not deserve our custom.
It is without doubt the worst hotel we have ever stayed in - I have stayed in hotels with no star rating much better than this. It was blatantly clear that no money was being spent to upkeep or maintain the building and all services had been cut to the bare minimum (including the food) for maximum profit. It was so bad that 12 hours after our arrival we moved hotels (at an additional charge of £140) as it was our first family holiday for 2 years and I was not going to spend it being miserable. (The second hotel we stayed in, The Santana, was also a 4 star and absolutely no comparison - full services and facilities, great food, friendly staff and clean rooms.)
Three fellow guests at the Karanne smiled knowingly at us when we commented on our disbelief and advised us not to bother to complain to the owner - apparently they had complained the previous day and were told, with a shrug of his shoulders, that it was not his problem if they were not happy - he was a rich man and already had their money.
About the hotel - where do I start? Here is just the tip of the iceberg: No heating on in hotel (we all had to wear our coats to dinner), no lighting apart from around the dining area, the rest of the hotel was in darkness. Rooms were in extremely poor state of disrepair, dirty and tired - the door to the balcony was broken and would not lock. Our "white" sheets were grey with age and the pillows were so old and disintegrating that it felt like there were tennis balls inside them. The bed cover was stained and threadbare. The towels were also grey and so threadbare that they had holes in them. The bath was rimmed in black mould and the shower curtain slimy with mould. When we tried to shower at 11am, the water had been turned off.
The kitchen was closed and all meals were served from the "coffee shop" in the hotel foyer. One "chef" and one waitress was the sum total of the staff on kitchen duty. It took us over an hour to receive our inedible, tasteless food. At breakfast, when the plastic 2 slice toaster stopped working, a fellow guest turned it upside down and large pieces of concrete fell out! You just couldn't make this stuff up - it was straight out of a bad comedy show, I kept looking for the hidden cameras recording the chaos.
The hotel owner and reception staff puffed away happily on cigarettes in the hotel. The hotel was situated in a grubby part of Qwara, so not good for wandering around or window shopping. If we return to Malta, we would definitely stay in another area (St Julien and Sliema were much more lively and clean for the "beach front" feel).
Our advice: if you are booked into this hotel, change your booking now (the cancellation costs will be worth it). Malta is a lovely island and worth a visit, but hotels like this do not deserve our custom.
- Date of Holiday:Dec 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta BargainsApollo
" When I first entered the hotel it was... "
Submitted By: Mr R Holder
When I first entered the hotel it was dead, the room was dirty and grotty and the bath was brown and around the sides it was black. In the pool there was hair floating in the water and right at the bottom of the pool there was a big ball of hair. The jacuzzi and the sauna didn't work and the bar was not open. The food was uneatable and there was herbs everywhere on the food and you had to pay a deposit for the t.v remote. It was so bad we had to move hotel. It was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in and I will not return to the Karanne again.
p.s It's in the middle of nowhere.
p.s It's in the middle of nowhere.
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains
" This gives a bad name to flea pit. It... "
Submitted By: Mr T James
This gives a bad name to flea pit. It is dirty (cockroaches in bedroom), every thing and I mean everything is extra, TV remote, safe, fridge, Jacuzzi, sauna.
The food is about as cheap as it gets; fatty, overcooked, and don't be late or it will all have gone because there is not enough for the guests. The bathrooms and toilets are filthy, you have been warned, I stayed there -never again!
The food is about as cheap as it gets; fatty, overcooked, and don't be late or it will all have gone because there is not enough for the guests. The bathrooms and toilets are filthy, you have been warned, I stayed there -never again!
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Appollo
" Just got back from a week in Malta... "
Submitted By: Miss L Dutton
Just got back from a week in Malta and I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to go back!
We were there right at the beginning of October and it seemed that was the cut off date for the 'end of the season' as some places were closed/closing but it also meant it was really quiet in places like the water park which was great!!
After reading the reviews on here before we booked I wasn’t expecting much but it is true that you get what you pay for! The Karanne Hotel was okay if all you want is a place to sleep which suited us as there was so much else to do.
The rooms were clean as was the hotel generally and the beds were really comfy. The hotel staff seemed pretty useless so I am glad I didn’t need to have any dealings with them but they were all friendly enough.
As for the food... I am glad I read the reviews before we went so we had already planned to eat out, which we did every night!! (Would have booked on a bed and breakfast basis but it was more expensive) We did look at the food on the first night to see if we fancied it and to be fair the food itself didn’t look too bad, it was more the environment you had to eat it in which was the problem.
It was a bit like a dodgy canteen! - the staff wheel trays around while they are clearing tables with 'slop buckets' which they just scrape everything into which is not what I wanted to see. I guess if you wanted to just eat and go it wouldn’t be too bad but to us having dinner is a big part of the evening and we wanted to enjoy it.
There are plenty of really decent restaurants within easy walking distance and we ate somewhere different every lunch and dinner and never once had a bad meal! It is fairly reasonably priced too so you don’t need to spend a fortune.
We couldn’t even face breakfast in there on the last morning and had a lovely cooked breakfast in a restaurant overlooking the sea instead!
The buses are a cheap way to get around and the drivers are helpful - if you ask them they will tell you when you get to the stop you want.
A trip to the Blue Lagoon is a must! The water is so crystal clear and is amazing for swimming and snorkelling.
We also took an organised trip over to Gozo which was very good. I had planned to make our own way on public transport but I am glad we did the trip instead as I don’t think we would have seen all we did. The Blue Grotto's are worth a visit too, we did the ones on Gozo and Malta and both were beautiful.
All in all the holiday was fantastic! If you want a luxury holiday then the Karrane is not the place for you to stay but if you just want a clean room to sleep in then it is fine.
Enjoy your holiday!
We were there right at the beginning of October and it seemed that was the cut off date for the 'end of the season' as some places were closed/closing but it also meant it was really quiet in places like the water park which was great!!
After reading the reviews on here before we booked I wasn’t expecting much but it is true that you get what you pay for! The Karanne Hotel was okay if all you want is a place to sleep which suited us as there was so much else to do.
The rooms were clean as was the hotel generally and the beds were really comfy. The hotel staff seemed pretty useless so I am glad I didn’t need to have any dealings with them but they were all friendly enough.
As for the food... I am glad I read the reviews before we went so we had already planned to eat out, which we did every night!! (Would have booked on a bed and breakfast basis but it was more expensive) We did look at the food on the first night to see if we fancied it and to be fair the food itself didn’t look too bad, it was more the environment you had to eat it in which was the problem.
It was a bit like a dodgy canteen! - the staff wheel trays around while they are clearing tables with 'slop buckets' which they just scrape everything into which is not what I wanted to see. I guess if you wanted to just eat and go it wouldn’t be too bad but to us having dinner is a big part of the evening and we wanted to enjoy it.
There are plenty of really decent restaurants within easy walking distance and we ate somewhere different every lunch and dinner and never once had a bad meal! It is fairly reasonably priced too so you don’t need to spend a fortune.
We couldn’t even face breakfast in there on the last morning and had a lovely cooked breakfast in a restaurant overlooking the sea instead!
The buses are a cheap way to get around and the drivers are helpful - if you ask them they will tell you when you get to the stop you want.
A trip to the Blue Lagoon is a must! The water is so crystal clear and is amazing for swimming and snorkelling.
We also took an organised trip over to Gozo which was very good. I had planned to make our own way on public transport but I am glad we did the trip instead as I don’t think we would have seen all we did. The Blue Grotto's are worth a visit too, we did the ones on Gozo and Malta and both were beautiful.
All in all the holiday was fantastic! If you want a luxury holiday then the Karrane is not the place for you to stay but if you just want a clean room to sleep in then it is fine.
Enjoy your holiday!
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains
" The first impression was of a smart... "
Submitted By: Mr Jon Carp
The first impression was of a smart frontage and foyer in a reasonably quiet area. The reception staff were friendly, polite and helpful.
It's worth noting that Malta 4* equates to a UK 2.5 to 3*. What you get is a room with a small (hotel size) TV, a small fridge, and a hair drier in the bathroom. There is also a small safe in the wardrobe.
What the brochures don't tell you is that there are some additional hidden charges. There was a deposit of ML7 (approx £10.50) for a lock for the safe and a remote for the TV, and there was a rental charge on the safe of 80c (about £1.20) per day. There is also a charge for an iron and ironing board, kettle and key for the fridge (all obtainable from reception) but we didn't bother with these.
The room was basic but comfortable and clean. However, I did note that the door frame was badly damaged (as if the door had been forced open at some time) and the inner door skin was partly coming off the door. I mentioned this to the staff as we checked out.
The view from the balcony was good (towards the bay) and the room was quiet despite being by the lifts. It's worth noting that, in addition to the holder by the door for your room key (which switches on the electricity for the room), the air conditioning only operates if the doors to the balcony are fully closed - a good energy saving measure but not mentioned anywhere.
Breakfasts were good with reasonable choice and plenty available. Evening meals were fair to indifferent but again with plenty of choice and lots available. Drinks (tea/coffee/squash/water) are only included at breakfast. They can be purchased in the restaurant at the evening meal on request from the staff.
I recommend Jamie's bar - attached to the hotel. The paperwork that we received stated that items from Jamie's could be charged to your room, but it turned out that this was not the case. However, the prices are reasonable and the freshly-made pizza is excellent. The main barman - James - is a joy to behold; friendly, efficient and infectiously cheerful.
The hotel is very well sited. It is close to several bars but the occasional noise was not intrusive with the windows closed (as they have to be to use the air conditioning). It is a very short walk to the sea front or the bus stop (bus 49 to Valletta).
There are ATMs everywhere so getting cash is not a problem. Most places take the usual cards - the majority using chip-and-PIN.
Buses are really cheap (around 15-20c per journey - about 22-30p) and frequent, and a one day all-day ticket to anywhere is ML1.50 (about £2.25). There are also 2, 3, 5 and 7 day tickets, the latter costing ML6.90 (about £10.35) - not bad for a full week's unlimited travel. This is far preferable to hiring a car as the driving is 'exciting' and not likely to be an aid to relaxation.
There is an Internet cafe on the main road about two minutes away - 50c (75p) for 25 minutes or ML1 (£1.50) for 70 minutes. It is open 24/7.
Please note that Malta will be using the Euro from 1 Jan 08 and everywhere now quotes prices in both Maltese Lira (ML) and Euros. They accept Euros but currently only give change in ML.
In all, it was a brilliant week. It's a shame that the brochures don't mention the extra 'hidden' charges - or increase the total cost of the holiday by £10-15 to cover them - but once you've sorted out what you want, you can look forward to a great holiday.
It's worth noting that Malta 4* equates to a UK 2.5 to 3*. What you get is a room with a small (hotel size) TV, a small fridge, and a hair drier in the bathroom. There is also a small safe in the wardrobe.
What the brochures don't tell you is that there are some additional hidden charges. There was a deposit of ML7 (approx £10.50) for a lock for the safe and a remote for the TV, and there was a rental charge on the safe of 80c (about £1.20) per day. There is also a charge for an iron and ironing board, kettle and key for the fridge (all obtainable from reception) but we didn't bother with these.
The room was basic but comfortable and clean. However, I did note that the door frame was badly damaged (as if the door had been forced open at some time) and the inner door skin was partly coming off the door. I mentioned this to the staff as we checked out.
The view from the balcony was good (towards the bay) and the room was quiet despite being by the lifts. It's worth noting that, in addition to the holder by the door for your room key (which switches on the electricity for the room), the air conditioning only operates if the doors to the balcony are fully closed - a good energy saving measure but not mentioned anywhere.
Breakfasts were good with reasonable choice and plenty available. Evening meals were fair to indifferent but again with plenty of choice and lots available. Drinks (tea/coffee/squash/water) are only included at breakfast. They can be purchased in the restaurant at the evening meal on request from the staff.
I recommend Jamie's bar - attached to the hotel. The paperwork that we received stated that items from Jamie's could be charged to your room, but it turned out that this was not the case. However, the prices are reasonable and the freshly-made pizza is excellent. The main barman - James - is a joy to behold; friendly, efficient and infectiously cheerful.
The hotel is very well sited. It is close to several bars but the occasional noise was not intrusive with the windows closed (as they have to be to use the air conditioning). It is a very short walk to the sea front or the bus stop (bus 49 to Valletta).
There are ATMs everywhere so getting cash is not a problem. Most places take the usual cards - the majority using chip-and-PIN.
Buses are really cheap (around 15-20c per journey - about 22-30p) and frequent, and a one day all-day ticket to anywhere is ML1.50 (about £2.25). There are also 2, 3, 5 and 7 day tickets, the latter costing ML6.90 (about £10.35) - not bad for a full week's unlimited travel. This is far preferable to hiring a car as the driving is 'exciting' and not likely to be an aid to relaxation.
There is an Internet cafe on the main road about two minutes away - 50c (75p) for 25 minutes or ML1 (£1.50) for 70 minutes. It is open 24/7.
Please note that Malta will be using the Euro from 1 Jan 08 and everywhere now quotes prices in both Maltese Lira (ML) and Euros. They accept Euros but currently only give change in ML.
In all, it was a brilliant week. It's a shame that the brochures don't mention the extra 'hidden' charges - or increase the total cost of the holiday by £10-15 to cover them - but once you've sorted out what you want, you can look forward to a great holiday.
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains
" This is rated as a 4 star hotel. In... "
Submitted By: Mr R Belton
This is rated as a 4 star hotel. In my opinion IT IS NOT, it's more like a poor 2 star hotel.
The room was filthy. Wrote a comment of 'DIRTY' in the dust on the TV...it was still there 6 days later. Room cleaning consisted of making the beds and a quick sweeping up, clean towels not always provided until asked for. Cleaners sometimes didn't turn up until late in the evening.
Food was very poor with limited choice and we normally ate out. DON'T GO TO THIS HOTEL. It's a joke.
PS. Don't let this put you off Malta...just this hotel!
The room was filthy. Wrote a comment of 'DIRTY' in the dust on the TV...it was still there 6 days later. Room cleaning consisted of making the beds and a quick sweeping up, clean towels not always provided until asked for. Cleaners sometimes didn't turn up until late in the evening.
Food was very poor with limited choice and we normally ate out. DON'T GO TO THIS HOTEL. It's a joke.
PS. Don't let this put you off Malta...just this hotel!
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Apollo
" We have been visiting Malta for many... "
Submitted By: Mrs P Guttridge
We have been visiting Malta for many years now and always stay at St. Paul's Bay, this year we decided to try the Karanne Hotel. We had a very enjoyable stay at the Karanne Hotel and was a pleasure to stay there and was what is expected from the usual Maltese hotels.
Reading some of the reviews before we went made us a bit doubtful and didn't know what to expect, but we should not have worried! What some people complain about is unbelievable! The apartment was lovely, it was spotless when we arrived and regularly cleaned during our stay. The hotel pool on the roof, with views all round of St. Paul's Bay is excellent and would recommend that to anyone!
The pool was kept clean at all times and the surrounding areas good, the pool bar meals were nice as well, although not all meals were available as the menu was being reviewed. One thing that we would like to mention is the hotel towels! There are some nice stripped blue and white towels for the bathroom, but unfortunately a lot of holidaymakers took it upon themselves to actually take them to the pool with them whereby us who take our own towels were then left with less better ones in the room!
The young lad working in the pool bar did try to do his bit and tell people about it and not to take them to the pool, but the poor boy often had abuse thrown at him! Perhaps bigger notices should be put up around the pool although people would still take them we suppose!
The staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful and would sort any queries out for you on the same day and always with a smile! We would definitely stay at this hotel again in the future.
Reading some of the reviews before we went made us a bit doubtful and didn't know what to expect, but we should not have worried! What some people complain about is unbelievable! The apartment was lovely, it was spotless when we arrived and regularly cleaned during our stay. The hotel pool on the roof, with views all round of St. Paul's Bay is excellent and would recommend that to anyone!
The pool was kept clean at all times and the surrounding areas good, the pool bar meals were nice as well, although not all meals were available as the menu was being reviewed. One thing that we would like to mention is the hotel towels! There are some nice stripped blue and white towels for the bathroom, but unfortunately a lot of holidaymakers took it upon themselves to actually take them to the pool with them whereby us who take our own towels were then left with less better ones in the room!
The young lad working in the pool bar did try to do his bit and tell people about it and not to take them to the pool, but the poor boy often had abuse thrown at him! Perhaps bigger notices should be put up around the pool although people would still take them we suppose!
The staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful and would sort any queries out for you on the same day and always with a smile! We would definitely stay at this hotel again in the future.
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains
" After reading some of the reviews on... "
Submitted By: Mr S R Johnstone
After reading some of the reviews on this website I was particularly concerned about staying at this hotel. I shouldn't have been though.
The Hotel is nice, the rooms and all other areas of the hotel were clean and well looked after. The rooftop pool is brilliant. I found the staff in the hotel to be friendly and helpful. I really don't see what there is to complain about!
The food is not brilliant but is far from disgusting. I would recommend a couple of meals out as food is so cheap in Malta and there are lots of nice restaurants in and around the St Paul's Bay area.
If you pay Travel Lodge prices you can't expect a Sheraton experience now can you?
The Hotel is nice, the rooms and all other areas of the hotel were clean and well looked after. The rooftop pool is brilliant. I found the staff in the hotel to be friendly and helpful. I really don't see what there is to complain about!
The food is not brilliant but is far from disgusting. I would recommend a couple of meals out as food is so cheap in Malta and there are lots of nice restaurants in and around the St Paul's Bay area.
If you pay Travel Lodge prices you can't expect a Sheraton experience now can you?
- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Apollo Travel
" If you plan on going to Malta the... "
Submitted By: Miss N P Townshend
If you plan on going to Malta the Hotel Karanne is only a couple of streets away from the seafront/buses to Mellieha Bay (water sports and sandy beach), and the harbour from which to go on the various boat trips. Can recommend Hornblower and OkiKoki Speed Boats of St Julian’s Bay.
The hotel itself is lovely with a rooftop pool giving views of the sea and St Paul’s Island and the hillside. It has very clean and spacious rooms with air conditioning ... a must have!
One fault with the Karanne is the food. If you have the opportunity of going Bed and Breakfast or Self Catering take it. The food is so terrible and eating out so cheap you might as well go out and get something edible in the many restaurants in Bugibba where the portions are huge and the food great.
All in all you will either love or hate Malta. Personally I liked the chilled out/laid back atmosphere of the place and in many ways felt that it was nice to go somewhere unchanged/unregulated by the EU.
The hotel itself is lovely with a rooftop pool giving views of the sea and St Paul’s Island and the hillside. It has very clean and spacious rooms with air conditioning ... a must have!
One fault with the Karanne is the food. If you have the opportunity of going Bed and Breakfast or Self Catering take it. The food is so terrible and eating out so cheap you might as well go out and get something edible in the many restaurants in Bugibba where the portions are huge and the food great.
All in all you will either love or hate Malta. Personally I liked the chilled out/laid back atmosphere of the place and in many ways felt that it was nice to go somewhere unchanged/unregulated by the EU.
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Apollo Travel
" After reading some of the reviews on... "
Submitted By: goldenbagpuss
After reading some of the reviews on here, I really didn't feel like going, i even checked that we could change hotels if things really were that bad, but had a very nice surprise.
We arrived at 5am and were greeted by a very friendly English guy at reception, which is furnished with some very welcoming sofa's. It is not well lit but considering the heat, the dimmed lighting made a great cool contrast to outside.
When we got to our room I was a little disappointed, it was small and was situated next to the lift, which was noisy, but at that point all we wanted to do was sleep. We spoke to a different guy on reception the following morning and asked if we could move and he immediately arranged for us to inspect another room, which we did, this was very spacious and had a nice balcony.
We had our linen changed 5 times in 7 days and clean towels every day, the maids were very meticulous. In fact all of the staff were friendly, some even gave us advice on different bus routes to get around the island.
The pool area was clean and very hot on the roof with some nice views
I would not say it was a 4 star hotel, but would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a peaceful holiday that won't cost the earth.
We arrived at 5am and were greeted by a very friendly English guy at reception, which is furnished with some very welcoming sofa's. It is not well lit but considering the heat, the dimmed lighting made a great cool contrast to outside.
When we got to our room I was a little disappointed, it was small and was situated next to the lift, which was noisy, but at that point all we wanted to do was sleep. We spoke to a different guy on reception the following morning and asked if we could move and he immediately arranged for us to inspect another room, which we did, this was very spacious and had a nice balcony.
We had our linen changed 5 times in 7 days and clean towels every day, the maids were very meticulous. In fact all of the staff were friendly, some even gave us advice on different bus routes to get around the island.
The pool area was clean and very hot on the roof with some nice views
I would not say it was a 4 star hotel, but would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a peaceful holiday that won't cost the earth.
- Date of Holiday:Jun 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Malta Bargains
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STAFF POOR
MANAGEMENT DRUNK ALL TIME
FOOD RANK
CLEAN NO WAY
Advice: BUGGIBBA IS GREAT LOVELY BARS N CHILLED OUT FOR RELAXING
Activities: VILLA MARE IN THE SQUARE IS NICE FOR FOOD