More Traveller Reviews of Karanne Aparthotel
The worst hotel ever stayed in
from DeeDeae
Stayed at this hotel with two teenagers & husband. Arrived 18th Aug, height of summer season. Hotel felt as if it was shutting down, minimal lighting as if to preserve energy. Dirty corridors, stairs and pool, unfinished decorating and no facilities (coffee shops etc). Food like slop and area lack of people. Nothing for teenagers to do as the hotel was underoccuppied although they tell you it is full. Views non existant. Staff very unhappy therefore not welcoming. Sold as 4 star - 2 star in England much better! Would not recommend this hotel to my enemy!
Think twice before staying
from ibookg4
We have just stayed in the Karanne Hotel for a week and would not recommend it. This hotel has a 4 star rating which really needs to be reviewed. On our first night there our shower did not work, the receptionist suggested we use another room for showering until they got it fixed. I had to suggest to him that it would be easier if we just moved into that room. The rooms only have single beds and we were told by reception that we could push them together and they would put a double sheet on them, which they never did. Our sheets were not changed during the week either. The hairdryer in our bathroom was falling apart and had been all taped up. The only complementary toiletries available was a mini bar of hand soap. We had to pay for the use of the fridge which is LM1 per day! and the iron, which came with no ironing board, and the safe. We were on half board but the first night we went down the the hotel restaurant there was only scraps left even though there was an hour to go before closing. We ate out instead. The second night the only veg on offer was peas and corn which were dried up, chips and the main dishes did not look at all appetising. We ate out again and every night there after. We only had the breakfast once and it was not much better. Both swimming pool's did not seem to get cleaned and the indoor heated pool was not heated. It also had a line of scum around it and the Jacuzzi did not work either. The coffee shop was closed while we were there, a sign up said there had been burst water pipes which they were attending to. There was also decorators sanding and painting the coffee shop and the left hand side of the lobby, which caused a lot of fine dust in the whole lobby area. The hallways were very dark and in some places the ceiling didn't look very safe. The carpets in the hallways were covered in stains and never looked vacuumed. The pool bar did not exist nor did the games room. Although there was a pool table in the lobby. We hardly saw any staff and found that reception could never answer any of our questions and when we asked about using the courtesy room on our day of departure we just got a blank look. Overall we found this hotel to be pretty dirty, run down and not value for money. We felt totally ripped off and it put a damper on our holiday spirit.
Food dreadful
from billpaulin
Booked for two weeks and had to ask rep for move to another hotel at end of first week. The breakfast and dinner at this hotel is absolutely dreadful, overcooked, lukewarm, VERY LIMITED CHOICE, in fact a total disgrace. We have had many excellent holidays in Malta, from 1990 onwards. This was our worst ever holiday experience in over 40 years holidaying all over Europe and the first time we have ever asked for a change of hotel. Complaints to reception resulted in abuse from the owner/manager. We felt sorry for the reception staff and the sole, very overworked waitress, who had to bear the brunt of guest complaints. This hotel is a major problem for Malta tourism and should be closed down or taken over and properly managed. We were not alone at the Karanne in requesting a change of hotel. Our experience will not put us off visiting Malta which we love and, with the exception of the owner/manager of the Karanne, the Maltese people are very friendly and helpful.
All that glitters.....
from A TripAdvisor Member
We decided to have a late holiday after a busy year: Malta was all that was available to suit our particular needs. The hotel, however, did not measure up to our expectations. It was clean enough but the meals on offer were not appetising. In particular the vegetables were either grossly overdone or grossly underdone( especially potatoes). This meant either having a hot meat or fish dish with some of the salads around ( which looked good) or going totally vegetarian. Yes the soups were made up of the previous day's leftovers apparently...they could at least have disguised this. Given the fact that we were up for early breakfast and out early for most of the day, then back for dinner, we did not use any other of the hotel facilities. Reception could have been more helpful: no mention of a courtesy room for late leavers, or facilities for having missed meals on late arrivals....we found this out by luck....others did not find out until after the event. Others were given conflicting information. Damp patches on the ceilings in some areas upstairs did not inspire confidence in the installation of the rooftop pool! Also at night a continued gurgling of the pool system tended to delay sleep. Would go back to Malta but would be very wary of hotel ratings.....this one in UK terms probably would scrape into two star.
Hated The Karanne-Health and safety need to close it down
from A TripAdvisor Member
I would strongly recommend that you do not stay at this hotel. It was described as a brand new 4 star aparthotel. By UK standards the hotel would be closed down. Our room was riddled with damp (not good as i have asthma). When we opened our balcony door it opened into a concrete square with three walls going up the side of the lift shaft! Shocking! The bedding smelt dirty and musty, the corridors had never been cleaned. The indoor pool has a film of green gunk on the surface (like a duck pond). The 'gym' was so outdated none of the machines were run by electric. There wasn't any air conditioning just a heap of cheap old machines (prob over 30 years old)! When we went down for the first breakfast i refused to eat or drink any of the food as it was clearly not fresh. The cutlery was dirty and they didn't even put table cloths on tables -it reminded me of the prison canteen from prisoner cell block H. Except we'd paid for the experience! We only saw 5 members of staff in the two days we were stuck there. The bar man also doubled as a taxi driver when we wanted to book our transport to the new hotel! The hotel manager was also our paving the ground outside the hotel. I don't think they even employed cleaners which explains a lot. We complained to the rep from Malta Bargains. Serah was very helpful and not at all surprised by our opinions. We requested to move hotels and then had to pay an extra to do so. We moved to the Dolman hotel which was also a 4 star. This hotel was actually worthy of the start rating unlike the Karanne who must have appointed their own star rating. We are going to file a complaint with the Malta tourist board to investigate our complaints and see whether trading standards are interested in their fabricated hotel description. This kind of false advertising and disgusting standards should not be allowed to happen.
not for a girls holiday
from nat&trevor
Well, it was a late deal that was booked for the Santa Maria, which incidentally is across the road; we were upgraded to the Karanne, a four star (UK 2 star). The reception process took over 40 minutes, but apart from being dim, the marbled floor and wide staircase was a good impression. The rooms were basic, you had to pay for a remote, fridge and no tea coffee facilities were available. Apart from there being mould around the shower and bathing area and mirror, I guess the bathroom was basic and not as good as a travel lodge. The room itself, had no balcony just a large window, that should you put your towel out to dry, it gets fag ash from the people above you. TV had one British channel and MTV in German. Maid's made your bed everyday and changed your towel every 3 days. We had an unexpected door opening from a porter at 0800hrs that had come to take the fridge, who spoke no English, who walked into the apartment and took the fridge, no questions asked. The pool was dirty with scum round the edge, which you could write your name in. Pool bar was cheaper than expected and friendly. The half board was limited. Breakfast same as any European breakfast. Evening meal yesterday leftover main course was in the soup; potatoes were cooked in chicken broth, so vegetarians be aware. My friend vomited after the fish soup. The desserts were good if you go there early enough otherwise you had one option, custard based jelly. The staff in the restaurant was all friendly. Advice: sit down at your table and order you wine first; otherwise you will have finished your main course before you have a drink. The resort just wasn’t for me, being aged 25 with a female friend who was 27, we were called various rude names by other holiday goers and can only say the resort was like chav town, full of loud mouthed so called ladies or drunken fight talking men. I can say I have been to Malta and will not be returning. For what we paid as a late deal (358pp) I would have preferred a different holiday. But hey try it you might like it!
Put us off Malta
from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed at the Karanne in May/June 2005 after being told that "if we wanted a bit of luxury, we should stay at the Karanne". What a load of nonsense. This is not a four star hotel - in fact compared to English ratings, I would be surprised if it got a two star rating. The main areas of the hotel, ie, the reception and the two bars, were extremely clean and well-maintained. The rest of the hotel was not. The room we had was extremely small and pokey, although the maid did try her best to keep it clean every day. If you want the remote control to the TV, use of the fridge, use of an iron or use of a kettle (apparently just a kettle), you have to pay a deposit and a rental charge. The restaurant was a shambles inasmuch as the selection of food was almost nil, the food was nearly always cold and food from previous days was almost guaranteed to end up in a soup. Even the coffee most mornings was stone cold (and stewed). The pool area was not cleaned from day to day and the lighting in the corridors and down the stairs was so bad that coming down the stairs from the pool area was very dangerous. The jacuzzi, sauna and indoor pool are only open during "the winter months" so do not expect after a day at the outdoor pool to relax with a sauna or jacuzzi. Also, do not take any notice of the "Internet Cafe" because it is shut. There is no games room, there is one badly kept pool table and three arcade machines in the main reception area. There are too few staff meaning that you have to wait a long time because they are usually trying to serve 2 or 3 guests at a time. A lot of people said to us that it was a shame that our first impression of Malta was the Karanne but, unfortunately, it was and we doubt very much that we will ever go back.
KARANNE HOTEL OUR STAY 04/05
from A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I booked a month through my choosing on the Internet. Stay being 13th Dec through to 10th Jan 95. As a treat to my 2 daughters, not young, I booked them in for the last week of our stay. We were very disappointed with the Hotel, people who we met there said it had declined considerably over the last two years. There were very few guests staying there, never more that 20 sometimes down to 8. Staff were very obliging but due to small guest numbers had to fulfil several roles. Management seemed lacking. The meals were always lukewarm unless one was there as soon as the restaurant doors were opened, any popular item being quickly used up. Food was generally unvaried with items making repeated appearances as other choices. The rooms were well maintained and cleaned, any defects, and there were some being quickly remedied, however the indoor pool was never heated, likewise the jacuzzi. Some fitness items were broken or did not work. Lights in corridors not switched on leaving them in darkness. The Xmas Day meals and entertainment although advertised proved none existent, with the New Years date being better due to drafting in clientele from another hotel. Incidently I thought the charge levied by Chevron of £150 for us two for the two dates was highly profiteering when the meal was advertised outside the hotel for non residents being only half that cost. The fact that our daughters were coming out meant that we stayed the full course !! We will be visiting Malta again but next time we will stay at a proper 4 star rated hotel.
Not 4 star
from scunnyD
Sayed here begining of october 04 dirty rooms, very poor food, no hot water, indoor pool closed, if this is what you expect of a 4star hotel be their guest
great time
from A TripAdvisor Member
HI i stayed in the karanne hotel for one week in oct. i just wanted to say i had a great time there,the staff were very friendly,& most helpfull with any request we had.The hotel was very clean& the service was great.Malta is a great place to visit at any time of year.I would reccamend paying a visit to the pepperone bar across from karanne,it is run by two irish people, SHARON & LIAM they made us very welcome ,they are very frendly & you are bound to have a good night there.also Sharon cooks a great meal.
we went to the karanne for 2 weeks and its so bad. dirty grubby i wouldnt let a dog stay in there lifts broken food horried we complained about the diry ness of out brown stained bedding and the holes in the towels.. the owner stormed up to our room n packed all our stuff n... more