Bayview Hotel

just got back from a fantastic holiday - apartment
completely refurbished to a high standard. New TV, cooker, fridge/freezer and washing machine. All amenities nearby. Staff were very helpful and pleasant

We have just returned from our holiday in Malta, Bayview Hotel Sliema. Our room overlooked the Bay with a fantastic view, the hotel was clean, the food ok, the staff very friendly. However we did talk to other visitors who had not paid the supplement to have a sea view and they were very upset and disappointed in their rooms. So I would recommend that if you go - book a room with a view.

1 reader found this review helpful

Had booked a one bedroom apartment with this tour operator. We arrived to check in and were asked to wait as cleaning was not completed. Later on we were told we would be shown to our room. This was three blocks away from the hotel itself. We were not advised this would be the case and even if we had been advised we were to be placed in a seperate block we would not have imagined it would be a ten minute hike away in a residential street.
When we arrived at our room we were shocked to discover there was noisy building work in the next building, also that everything in the room was covered in cement dust which stank and got into the eyes and nose, not to mention feet and clothes. We also were very concerned about the fact the only exit was almost completely obscured by a plaster board temporary structure. I at this point also found out the work would be going on 7am-5pm everyday during our stay except for friday, a public holiday in Malta.
I then went to reception and requested a room exchange and was told, sorry as the reservation had been made non-directly to the hold (ie through an outside provider there was nothing they could do), also that the building work wasn't being done by them, not their fault.
The travel provider was equally unhelpful, saying that these things take time to sort out as the booking as to be sorted out between two seperate parties. By this point due to a mixture of stress and the thick dust my asthma began to flare up quite severly. I again tried to explain to the operator and hotel that I was having major problems with the room and was told that it would be sorted. Nothing.
I was in Malta for a wedding and thought it was a lovely place and hope someday to visit again but would cetainly not recommend either this hotel, nor the operator I booked it with, I work for an airline and travel very regularly, I have never experienced anything like this and sincerely hope I will never never have to in future.

We have just returned from holiday to the Bayview Hotel in Sliema. The Hotel is well positioned. Its close to all amenities. Its close to the main bus terminal and the marina is on the doorstep. It has a lovely view of Valetta, a harbour cruise is not to be missed. Also from the main bus terminal in Sliema they operate the open top bus tours where they either take you North or South of the Island. You can Hop off the bus and spend and hour or so looking around the places they visit and then hop on the next bus to carry on the tour.

The hotel rooms are clean and we had a regular supply of clean towels and linen, though the beds were just camp beds pushed together. The balconey was very small and positioned at the back of the hotel so we had a view of a small courtyard with palm trees so on a windy day you got slapped on the face by the tree.
The staff were polite and friendly, However the food was very disappointing. A tip is to get in early for your breakfast to get it hot. This can be quite hard because 70% of the guests were German. There is not much choice for breakfast or evening meals and we did spend quite a bit extra on takeaways while we were there. While there a few people did inform the rep about the food and she was going to try it for herself. On this particular night the staff reserved a table for her. We did end up with a better choice of menu that night, however she didnt turn up.
There is a rooftop pool with lovely views over the marina and a bar selling hot and cold food and drink where you can relax and soak up the sun. However beware of the sun loungers bearing towels.
We did find on our visit to this hotel that its not really catered for the English!

A lovely hotel in a superb location. Very convenient access to Valletta, which is no more than 15-20 minutes or so away depending on whether you take the bus or the ferry (very frequent buses, bus stop right outside the hotel, ferry only takes about 5 minutes). It's also a very convenient base if you want to explore Malta/Gozo/Comino since a lot of the tours/cruises operated by Captain Morgan/Alliance etc. depart from Sliema Ferries, just a few hundred yards along the seafront which is a lovely place for a stroll with a great view of Valletta and plenty of well-priced restaurants/cafés. Room was beautiful, immaculately clean and the sea view was more than worth the small extra fee. Good facilities - I didn't use them much as I didn't have time, but they did have a pool on the roof with a sunbathing area, Internet access etc. Helpful staff and excellent value for money. Will definitely stay there again if I go back to Malta, which I probably will!

1 reader found this review helpful

we booked our rooms through late rooms and had some problems[still haven't found out whose fault it was] but the superior sea view room was nice and clean with a small kitchen unit[sink,fridge, small cooker and utensils]you pay a refundable deposit for remote, iron and ironing board[10 euros each]
the bathroom was very small but spotless with a good shower . my mother's room was slightly different [standard sea view] with a bath but nice and clean also.great views from the small balcony.
we had to move to an inland room and these were the same.maybe slighly larger with a bath and good powerful showers.towels changed and rooms cleaned daily.breakfast was ok.plenty of nice fresh bread and rolls.the pool area was good but too cold to use.convenient for bars and restaurants and bus stops right outside. small bar area were you could get drinks 24 hrs.good hotel if you get a good price.

We agree with most of the above, except that we found all the hotel staff unfailingly friendly and helpful.
The beds are metal framed and firm, but very comfortable and the linen spotless. Fresh towels every day and the whole hotel is very clean.
However, ALL the food was AWFUL. Bad school dinners come to mind! Nothing actually tasted unpleasant, but everything was completely tasteless and often with a strange texture. All the vegetables were tinned, the muesli gave the appearance of having been sieved to remove anything of interest (although I think I did find a sliver of banana one morning). Every other resident we spoke to agreed on this, and after two days we gave up and ate out apart from breakfast.
Location is very good with a bus stop outside and ferries just up the road. If Gordon Ramsey could be persuaded to give a little friendly advice to the chef, it would be a very good three star hotel.

The hotel is on the edge of Sliema and in a quiet area, although to walk into the main area it only takes around 15mins and on the way you pass a few bars and restaurants. Bus stops right outside the hotel very convenient to get to St Julians or Valetta it only costs 20 cents no matter how far you travel. Try not to get a taxi, to go less than a mile it cost us 6 Maltese pounds (about a tenner).
The hotel has great views from the rooftop pool and although its only small the area is clean and tidy and there were ample beds (as long as all the guests aren't sunbathing). I couldn't fault the hotel for cleanliness, the towels were changed everyday and the room and all public areas are spotless and modern.
NOW THE DOWNSIDE: FOOD AWFUL, no choice, quality terrible, (tinned mixed veg) salad sad, only ice-cream for dessert every night, not enough tables. After 3 nights couldn't stand the croquette potatoes or dry pasta any longer! You have to pay to eat in the Indian or Chinese although you do get discount.
BEDS: If you are elderly or infirm think seriously could you easily get up off a camp bed, because that's exactly what they are. Folding metal legs and all.
BAR : Is non exsistent you have to sit in reception which has absolutely no atmosphere. There is no entertainment.
I found most of the staff, particularly the pool bar girl very friendly and helpful. Overall I would stay there again but a on room only basis. The little bar just outside the hotel is a saving grace for many of the guests with its friendly barman and gives you the opportunity to have a decent coffee or nightcap.

The hotel was very clean but basic. Near to ferries and bus stop just outside hotel which was very helpful. Breakfast was buffet style and provided ample choice each morning. The room was cleaned daily and we were given fresh clean sheets and towels.
Only thing we feel that let this hotel down was abrupt, rude manner of two older receptionists who were very unhelpful on numerous occasions so we didn’t bother asking for info after that. The same to receptionists checked us out and couldn’t even say thank you or goodbye. Very poor.
Having worked in hotels myself I know this is very bad practice and a smile does go a long way. Saying that the younger members of staff both on reception and in restaurant were very helpful and pleasant and had good customer relation skills.
We will return to Malta but sadly not to the Bay view.

Positives: Lovely clean hotel / room, self-contained kitchen very useful, nice view to bay, easy access to bus stops and shops, friendly and helpful staff, good value for money.
Negatives: Pool quite small, breakfasts quite basic and bland.
Overall: Would visit Malta again and like Sliema location as it is easy to get to Valletta and some nice restaurants in St Julians Bay (Caffe Raffael, Piccolo Padre Pizerria and Barracuda all excellent and good value).
Tips: Get a 3 day bus pass (LM 4) and experience Malta like the locals - a fun and convenient way to get around the island.