Soreda Hotel

There is no way that this is a 4 star hotel. We went on a all inclusive deal and wasted our money.
The food was awful, very limited selection, very poor on quality and presentation. There is a lounge bar area between reception and the dining room which was closed all the time we were there, (a good job really because the carpets were filthy and the stench from them turned your stomach).
We were on the 5th floor of what looked like a fairly recent refurbishment, but the carpets on the landing leading to our room appeared to have never been vacuumed since being laid, and in our week there never got hoovered, there were bits of white linen which we saw the cleaner brushing out of the bedrooms on to it and an accumulation of dust about a foot in from each of the wall sides.
A path had been worn through it by the feet of the guests showing the true colour of the carpet.
Every British and German guest we spoke to was of the same opinion as ourselves...They would not return to the Soreda.
The saving grace of this hotel was our room, which was clean and the towels changed every day, although the view of the building site and a dog barking somewhere in the distance at the first show of daylight, did somewhat detract from this.
All in all this hotel spoiled our first visit to Malta and if we ever return, it will not be to the Soreda.

This hotel was dirty and very unkempt. Staff were rude, if you could find them. Facilities that were advertised were not available. The A la Carte restaurant had closed down and the lounge bar never opens. We took photos on a daily basis of the dirt that was never cleaned up. There was a stench on route to our room, that I wish I could have bottled and sent to the tour operators. We had a building site 20 feet from our room, building started at 5:30am every morning. The crane actually passed over our balcony. The food was served in dirty dishes and was generally lukewarm. A bottle got smashed in the ground floor pool and no notices were put up to stop people from using it.
If I had booked into a two star hotel I would have been satisfied, but I booked a four star hotel and certainly did not get it. We visited other four star hotels around the island and they were all what one would expect of a four star hotel. We eventually moved to another hotel and would never go back to the Soreda Hotel under any circumstances. I offered to take the rep on a tour of the hotel, but he never took me up on my offer, even though he was supposed to investigate our complaints. We were not the only ones that were dissatisfied.

We would like to warn anyone planning to spend their holiday at the Soreda Hotel not to waste their money. This hotel is classed as 4 stars which it most DEFINITELY IS NOT! To give this hotel 1 star would be most generous.
We arrived on Saturday evening to a very drab looking hotel in an even drabber looking street. We asked to be moved from the first room we were placed in as the noise from a group of students staying at the hotel, screaming and shouting throughout the night, running past our door and shouting to each other across the balconies until 3 – 4 in the morning was unbearable. The room was very depressing and dark with no natural light; we had to keep the electric light on all the time to be able to see! The balcony was very tiny with barely enough room for 2 chairs and overlooked other balconies in such close proximity we could not escape the noise from the students. There was no sunlight and our only view was that of other balconies within the enclosure. We asked to be moved and eventually moved into another room at the front of the hotel on Monday afternoon which was basic and shabby, the walls were dirty but at least we had sunlight part of the day and seeing that our view was that of a concrete jungle and waste land frequented by feral cats, we were not contemplating spending too much time in our room. Again, the balcony could only barely accommodate 2 chairs.
Outside our bedroom, workmen were sanding down the walls and painting the ceiling in the corridor although they placed a towel in front of our door this did not stop the dust getting into our room and when they finished for the day they did not wipe down any areas and left the door handle of our room and handrails leading downstairs completely covered in dust. This went on for the week!
Food in the restaurant was very repetitive and uninviting, on many occasions there were dirty dishes and cutlery and tables that had been re-laid without first having the food wiped away from the previous guests! We ate out a lot!
The angle at which the picture has been taken of the roof top swimming pool area is misleading, as the pool appears to be quite large, which is not the case! It is very small. The indoor pool is very dimly lit and depressing. There was no entertainment during the day. The bar was always understaffed during the day and evening, with only one attendant trying very hard to serve everyone and there was always a queue. The 2 bars closed down at 11.00pm. The third bar outside the restaurant was never open.
At no time were we able to get a cold beer in the bar on the ground floor, even after many complaints from us and numerous other guests, it appeared that the fridges just did not work. A trip to the bar on the 5th floor pool area was the only place to get one and you then joined a long queue! There was no lighting in the tiny outside bar area on the ground floor at the front of the hotel and we were told repeatedly that it had been reported and the bulbs would be replaced – they never were.
The hotel caters for many students and we were told that this is due to an agreement that the Maltese Government has with certain countries and the Soreda is signed up to this agreement. The students we encountered were extremely rude and noisy and caused a lot of physical damage to the hotel, breaking down concrete walls in the pool bar area and smashing lights! The hotel staff were having continual complaints from disgruntled guests during the whole of our stay. I strongly believe the use of this hotel by students should be advertised in all marketing material for the hotel. This was not a quiet hotel in a quiet residential area – far from it!!!
All in all a very disappointing holiday, this hotel is in desperate need of a complete deep clean and upgrade. The furniture is old and the drab and most areas are very poorly lit. It is described as being in a quiet residential area; we found the area noisy and filthy, not being able to walk more than a few yards without encountering dog dirt in the street outside the hotel and all the surrounding areas. We definitely do not recommend it.

On arrival we had misgivings, as the hotel appears to be in a backwater on a hill in a residential area on the outskirts of Qawra. Actually it is a couple of minutes walk down hill to the Qawra seafront but only around a ten minute stroll from the Buggiba bus terminus which is key to getting to the rest of the island. The Buggiba seafront is just past that, and continues west right through to St Paul's Bay.
Staff very friendly, helpful, and efficient.
Room clean on arrival and kept spotless by maid service. Not the most modern furniture but the tiled bathroom was fine. Aircon worked OK. Small balcony facing inwards, no direct sun.
Breakfast buffet OK, plenty of choice. We did not eat any other meals so cannot comment, but the dining room always seemed busy in the evening.
B&B clients are offered HB or All Inclusive upgrade on arrival, ML 3.50 and ML 8.25 per day respectively. Could be worthwhile if you are not moving around, but there are plenty of eating places nearby within an easy stroll. Upgrades have to be for a minimum of 5 days so on a weekly stay it is worth checking out the neighbourhood first.
Outside pool on roof, with loungers on two levels. Main pool 1.5m deep across, could intimidate non swimmers but there is a small paddling pool adjoining for young children. Pool was very clean.
There is a no diving rule, and management were quick to deal with a bunch of students who could or would not comply. Some loungers were broken as were most of the parasols.
Views from the sun terrace are excellent, across Qawra bay and as far as Mosta and even Mdina.
Did not try the outside small pool at ground level or the jacuzzi. Also the gym and fitness room.
Internet access from 4 pc's in the lobby. ML 0.75 for half an hour.
Nightly entertainment on the roof terrace. To be honest not our cup of tea, mainly visiting one man bands (who do the rounds of the area hotels and pubs) or dj's with the same selection of cheesy 70's pop, but to be fair there were always plenty of people who seemed to like it. Youngsters will probably be out clubbing anyway.
One important discretionary facility is offered which should be mentioned. Like many people, we had a pickup taxi to the airport at 16.45 from the hotel, which could pose a problem with an 11.00 check out time. They will let you keep your cases in a secure room, but also allow you to use a shower (they even supply the towel) so you can have a quick change before finally leaving. Great when you have been rushing around in the sun all morning last minute shopping. A really thoughtful touch. Alternatively you can extend the room booking, although that is subject to charge and 48hr prior notice.
Comments made regarding accessibility to the hotel for persons with mobility problems are noted (my wife is recovering from a knee operation and found the walk up from Qawra seafront a challenge) but going in to Buggiba was not too arduous.
On balance I would definitely recommend to adults and those who prefer to have a good base for exploring Malta- easy by bus. If you have kids you may be better off at one of the larger resort type establishments which are more geared towards families. The only tour operators using Soreda appear to be German, so no English reps for arranging trips etc.
We would definitely consider going back.

I have been to several hotels around the world and THIS IS DEFINITLEY NOT a four star hotel. I read some reviews before booking, but chose to ignore them and book this hotel anyway-BIG Mistake. We were lucky enough to be moved to another hotel by our tour operator- you may not. Air conditioned rooms consisted of a fan and a poor air con in the main bedroom (due to the heat this meant we were confined to our room) The room was supposed to be in the hotel, but instead we were put in an annex building (which was more like a prison block) where local residents lived. We stayed for one night and that was long enough. The hotel was dirty throughout, we passed a cleaner throwing a fag ash on the floor in the basement, and the food was terrible. Do not waste your money.

We stayed on a bed and breakfast status, in the apartments opposite the main hotel and were delighted with the size and layout.
The maid service was first class and all the hotel staff were efficient and caring.
Really good value for money and we would be pleased to stay there again.

We travelled with Choice Holidays for a two-week all-inclusive stay at the Soreda Hotel. The Soreda Hotel has a four star classification from when it was inspected by the Maltese Tourist Board (1959?) First impressions were not good, as a notice on one of the doors into the hotel warned it was broken. The other, a sliding door, had to be opened manually; quite a departure from the automatic doors at four star hotels in the Canaries.
We were told that the hotel had five restaurants. Oh yeah! There are actually two. And one, the pleasantly furnished Tico Tico we were only allowed in the once, when a conference had taken over the usual restaurant. The rest of the time there was a notice on it informing you that it was closed for staff holidays and refurbishment.
Our room was quite large, although the bathroom had a small bath with a plug which took the plughole with it when you pulled it out. There were five English language TV stations. Unfortunately, no Sky News, although I knew they were capable of receiving it as it was on the television when we had breakfast at the Tico Tico. They spoil us!
The food was dull. It was buffet, so there was a choice, but it was small. One night you could have had rabbit, followed by bread and butter pudding and custard. I thought, I couldn’t eat all that, it would have taken all my ration coupons.
They had a lot of waitresses in the dining area, who showed you to your table and then forgot about you, standing at the edge of the restaurant adjusting their scarves. The one really hard working member of staff was the young barman in the lounge. He was so busy, and I thought it a shame they didn’t get some of the staff out of the restaurant to lend him a hand.
There was a games room which had two tables out of order. Then there was the evening entertainment. We had DJ Arthur on the decks most nights. He didn’t just cater for the more elderly clientele with Dean Martin, but there was something for you youngsters as well, such as Freddie and the Dreamers or the Dave Clark Five. Sometimes we had a “band”, that was one elderly man sitting behind a Roland keyboard. So enthralled were the guests, that many sat and played cards. The only excitement coming when a football match was projected onto the large screen on the wall.
The hotel’s pool was on the roof. There was another pool at ground level, but that was closed. Apparently, between May and September the roof bar is supposed to be open until four o’clock. One person told that it had only been open the one day while we were there. There was plenty of room to sunbathe, and quite a few sunbeds, so that was something. Unfortunately the weather in Malta at the time was not quite as good as it was at home, so I rarely had opportunity to use them.
The only defence, and the only reason it has a score at all, is that the Soreda is cheap. It was under £600 for two weeks all-inclusive. If I had known this four star hotel was as shabby as it is I never would have booked. I expect to be able to use the star system as a guide. One Maltese tourist guide admitted on a trip that she didn’t understand how the Maltese classification system worked.
But that’s still no excuse. The Soreda has a couple of things that are going for it. It is only a few minutes walk from Bugibba bus depot, so it’s easy to get around the island. And only a few more minutes from the centre of Bugibba itself. If it smartens itself up it could make a good hotel, only I won’t ever be the one to find out.

One out of ten is being generous. We arrived at the hotel and as soon as we walked into the Reception area we thought 'oh no'. When we got to the room we couldn't believe it. The room was poorly decorated, dim, stuffy, had an odd smell which I can't describe. They provided a rickety old camp bed for my two year old daughter which was completely inadequate.
A previous reviewer stated, you get what you pay for, not true. It was more expensive than the Santana which we moved to and it was head and shoulders above the Soreda.
When we looked at the outside pool from our balcony, it was filthy and gave off a disgusting smell.
When my husband complained they couldn't care less and when he said we were moving out we found they in fact could care less as long as they got their money.
We got there at 3am and by 10:00am we had found another hotel and moved out. I really don't know how people could give this anything above a 1 Rating.
Don't stay at this hotel - you have been warned!

We read reviews of this hotel before our holiday, and queried the points raised with Mercury, but were assured that all was well....not the case...
There are some things the hotel does well...it’s in a quiet location, comfy beds, plenty of hot water, fluffy clean towels and linen.
There are plenty of things that they don’t do well....the whole hotel is grubby and in need of a facelift....the furnishings, curtains, carpets etc are musty and grotty. We saw food on the carpets in the dining room, which wasn’t cleaned away for the whole three weeks of our stay....fire doors throughout the hotel were hooked open.
The indoor pool was dirty, in dire need of a deep clean. There is no separation of outdoor shoes and the pool area. The food is of school dinner quality, sometimes okay but mostly quite unpleasant. No fresh veg, all tinned and frozen. Food handling leaves a lot to be desired, with fresh food being placed in dishes before the old food is removed. I placed a piece of orange peel in the bowl of sliced oranges to check how long it would remain there...3 days!
The staff are mostly pleasant, but some are surly and offhand, not wanting to interrupt their social life to serve guests.
Yes, I know that the answer for all of this is to bring things to the attention of management at the time, but we would have spent the whole holiday waiting at the desk!
The Soreda is not a four star hotel. Don’t go!

We stayed here for 2 weeks in January. I cannot agree with the other comments.
The food was excellent, the staff very friendly and went out of their way to help us. They responded to any request as soon as possible.
The rooms were comfortable airy and clean, although I think it would benefit from a refurb. We had no complaints and are looking forward to returning next year.
There was entertainment most nights not always to our taste but there was a piano lounge for us to sit in with our friends, away from the bar where the entertainment was.
The hotel is situated in a side street with a few bars around but when we were there it was very quiet.
The main bus station was a comfortable 10 minute walk away where we could get a bus to other places cheaply and easily, which meant we did not need to hire a car so saving money.
Our friends who were with us enjoyed 5 weeks in the Soreda and they too hope to return next year, if not before as they are retired.
We all enjoyed the atmosphere in the Soreda.