Dorirose Holiday Complex

6 readers found this review helpful

On arrival we were met and given our key straight away. This was at about 11:00AM- the woman in front of us had to wait until 2PM for her room and it was scorching outside!
Balcony overlooking the pool was nice as was the room. Basic but only what we expected.
Beds were two singles but easily pushed together.
Maid came everyday and even left extra towels sometimes or none at all.
Shower is a very basic plug-into-the-tap type but it worked.
Safety deposit box cost £24 euros for 2 weeks but don't really think we needed it.
Never used air-con but fan supplied was great.
In our second week the flat above us leaked into our kitchen, I phoned reception twice about it and they said it was under control. Eventually I had to go and get the woman to tell her and she said the maintenance bloke couldn't see anything wrong??? (It was obvious). I eventually just loaded towels on the leak and left it. It never leaked again.
Apart from that it was an OK base, the fridge was a godsend and the position just 5 mins one way and ten mins the other to the beach.
The bus station is a 2 minute walk and so are lots of "English" pubs which were not to our taste but like I said it's only ten minutes to a decent restaurant.
If you want a base where all the amenities are local (Launderette 5 mins, shops 1 min) then this place is great. Make sure you don't pay too much as some people we heard had paid a fair bit for the same place that we had paid very little for!
Bugibba is very touristy and the food gets a little samey - basically it's English cafe food or pizza and pasta in varying scales of cost. Best food we had was in the places on the seafront.
Nowhere ever got busy, from the hotel pool to the pubs and restaurants we visited so I think we picked the best time to go.
Temperatures ranged from 30 to 35 every day and it was a great holiday snorkelling in the sea everyday and eating like a king.
One thing about Malta though- the flies, every time you sit down there are 2 or 3 flies around you and your food. This does only apply if you eat outside, air conditioned restaurants had no flies but it's more fun to eat outside! That was the only bad thing about Malta- everything else is wonderful and we will be going back next year for a week to spend on the Captain Morgan Catamaran and snorkelling every day! Would we stay at the Cardor again- well sometimes it's the devil you know so YES.

Having read the reviews on Holiday Watchdog I was scared about what the Dorirose was going to be like. But I had paid a bargain price and so was aware it was going to be basic.
As another reviewer said, if you are after cheap and cheerful, this did the job.
We spent most days by the hotel pool, and it was cleaned daily and was always quite pleasant.
There was some building work going on next to the place, but this wasn't anything to do with the Dorirose.
The hotel next door, The Canifor, was an excellent place to have your final evening drink, and watch the world cup..if that's your thing. The Canifor staff were very helpful and polite and we were able to use all there facilities which are literally on your doorstep.
All in all a good holiday!

Refurbished last year? I don’t think so.
Our room overlooked the ventilation shaft, the balcony was a death trap due to loose brick work and plaster hanging off everywhere. Inside was worse. Sockets hung off the wall, the boiler did not work, the door lock did not exist, the shower curtain looked like it had been mauled by a dog, the bathrooms was also missing lumps of plaster and the mould growing around the bath was a health hazard.
However the sister hotel next door were just great and moved us into one of their spare rooms saving us a holiday from hell. What a dump!

If your looking for cheap, comfortable and clean accommodation then these apartments are an ideal base.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked a 2 bed roomed apartment for less than £100 for the week, but was pleasantly surprised!
Be aware that they may mess up your booking, as we arrive at night and were given a 1 bed apartment at first, then went to reception the next morning and ended up with a lovely 2 bed apartment with quite a large veranda.
Ok it wasn't perfect, the hotel was a bit like a ghost town, and the pool was small, but you had the full use of the pool and facilities in the adjoining hotel which was lovely including 2 bars and entertainment.
Didn't eat in the hotel as it is pretty cheap to eat out, with so much choice.
We plan to go again in the same apartments in May!