Windsor Hotel

If you are looking for the above then go to the Windsor Hotel. Staff were pleasant but cleaning staff were knocking on doors from 8am. The weather was very cold,nothing you can do about that,but all the lounge,reception and diningroom were never heated. There were a lot of elderly people in hotel and all said they were very cold. Heating in rooms was not great, we only had cold air blowing.Spoke to reception,who were well aware of lack of heating, to be told it was faulty.We raised concerns about plug sockets sparking and plugs overheating. Maintainence okayed it, Next day there was a fire on first floor due to a socket being on fire. Thankfully it happened during the day but if it had happened through the night it could have been very serious. The lifts broke down on a daily basis while we were there. We had three different rooms due to first room having large patches in both the bath and door,torn curtains,bedside tables very scratched and battered.
Next room had previous been flooded!! and wall plaster was peeling. absolutely freezing and heater we were given didn't help. This was the plug we were concerned about and asked to be moved again, we moved to third room which was slightly warmer. But after the fire we wanted to be moved out of the hotel,company wanted £400 to move us. No way. We came home. Sold as a 4 star but not even a 2 star. Written to complain,awaiting response.

1 reader found this review helpful

This hotel is not a 4* as advertised. We arrived late due to flight delay and were unable to have any food however we were given a packed lunch on day of departure to compensate. The female day reception staff were friendly and helpful however the male receptionist was something else. We had booked late check out and our taxi was booked for 5pm but the receptionist rang the taxi office and booked our taxi for 5am. The driver waited for an hour and then discovered who the taxi was for. He remembered from the previous week that we were leaving at 5pm. He said that this happens on a regular basis. This same receptionist knew we had booked late check out and also had ordered a packed lunch for 1pm. The rooms were basic and in need of a good clean. The maids were friendly and did their best. The room we were in(527)was damp but fortunately we had a balcony and were able to air the room somewhat. The staff in the restaurant spent their time chatting to each other and sometimes we had all our dirty dishes on the table waiting to be cleared away. We were never wished 'Good Morning' or 'Good Evening' just room number, no please or thank you. the majority of the staff were surly except the Head Waiter who was friendly. If we ordered fried eggs from the kitchen the plate was just slammed down on the table without a word. We were under the impression that we were interrupting their conversations. Soft drinks were poured from a 2 litre bottle although we were still charged full price of a bottle or can. No ice in the drinks and we weren't asked if we wanted ice. There was no tea or coffee after dinner but you could order it at a charge. My husband rang me every night and on one occasion he was told I wasn't in my room, I had texted him that I was now in the room. I rang the receptionist who argued with me that I didn't answer the phone, I assured him that the phone didn't ring. He was quite rude to me. Another night when my husband rang the receptionist hung up on him twice before he was eventually put through. The breakfast wasn't too bad although the orange juice was watered down,but the dinner was not very nice. We ate out on 2 occasions although we had booked half board. We went to the restaurant as usual but couldn't eat the food. We were also told that dinner was at 6.30 when in fact it was 6 pm, we were also told that the rooms were none smoking when I had requested a smoking room but it turned out that I was in a smoking room which I found out 2 days into my holiday. The inside pool was warm but the Jacuzzi was not working and was filthy. The hotel is in a good location not far from the sea or the shops. I wouldn't go to this hotel again. I had read that there was a complimentary bottle of water each day but on asking about this I was informed that as we were on a low cost holiday it didn't apply to us, we had paid over £400 each, not low cost. I don't think that hotels should discriminate where their facilities and services are concerned. I would not recommend this hotel to any of my friends or family. I love Malta and will go back one day to a different hotel.

1 reader found this review helpful

Booked the holiday through low cost holidays.com and a decent price but then of course you have taxes and luggage etc which meant it was back to the normal price of a holiday.
Flying with Ryan air I found the fact that I had to check in online and I paid for this privilege and the fact that I had to print off my own tickets did not put me off to a good start. The flight was very good Ryan Air staff very helpful and food on flight was good and well priced.
Our Transfers were thought the tour operator and were for m William’s Garage which were very good and on time and we now feel that it was still not worth paying extra for taxi transfer.
We stayed at THE WINDSOR HOTEL Silema. It was rated as a 5 star hotel more good reviews than bad. On arrival were informed our rooms were not ready and we would be staying in the hotel around the corner Ambassador was the name. This hotel is basic but nice and it is clean but has terrible dangerous balcony that you cannot even get a chair on. In the morning we were wakened at 7:30am with a maid entering our room this also happened to other guests as we later discovered the hotel wanted the room back. After we had breakfast we went around to the Windsor and again were informed our rooms would not be ready till later, upon entering the room I had requested a double bed and we had been given a twin. I spoke to a very nice helpful young woman on reception who could not do enough and was always pleasant, who advised the hotel was full but may be able to swap us and advised she would let us view a double room the other option was to accept the twin and they would zip the mattresses together which they did as the double room had a small shower that I would not be able to enter and I mean small/ the hotel was not a 5star I would not even say it was a 3 star the room was always clean and bed was ok but hotels in general in Malta are old fashioned.
The meals started off really bad but by the end of the holiday every one had got their act together. The restaurant manager was very good and could not do enough I would not say it was worth the money ok for a cheap B+B if you can get it cheap.
The Safe’s were located in the reception area which was always manned only one draw back the cost 15e and were the size of an A4 envelope that was 1” thick so had to carry camera about everywhere worth us as no facility to leave secure.
Silema is lovely place as a base nice to walk at night as long promenade can walk to St Julians which can be busy at weekends. Buses are fab hope they don’t change them as it cost next to nothing to get from top to bottom of island about 2e, even to the ferry to visit Gozo pick up a time table it is part of the experience and a great way to get around. Visited Popeye Village at Anchor Bay it is a must in my option for all the family and is a good ¾ of a day out if you time it right.
TryCitysightseeingmalta.com this is a bus and it is a good trip buy a combo haggle for price as it gives you a boat trip around Valetta as well as the bus trip which you can hop on and off all day transfer from your hotel if you require and gives you the local bus route if you wish to visit any place like Mdina or Craft village again all for 15e each or less if you can haggle.
Mdina is very historic and really nice to see, I visited Palazzo Falson it was great much to see, Medieval Times just next to this was a rip off all you see is some dummies and no story line.
Mdina experience audio was very good and took you step by step around town which was helpful and very interesting and the later experience was very good we visited the church across from Palazzo Falson make sure lunch time music is on again a great experience if there is nothing on revisit as church is a bit boring otherwise.
Visited the Blue Grotto by bus and then walked down and got tickets for the boat at top and on the boat great photo opportunities only 7e each for the trip on boat.
Visited other areas of island like Bugibba which is real British and is lively at night but is a good base and is nice for something to eat also Qawra which is lively but I could stay there for holiday as far as I have seen.
Finally Valletta try the Malta experiences it very good and will tell you all you need and want to know about the Knights of St john in Malta. If you go to the Grand Masters Palace which is Malta’s Parliament building it is for a traveller of the order i.e. if you have been to Kos, and Rhodes it is a bit of a let down to come to Malta and get the rest of the Knights story. I did enjoy the experience. The war museum is packet full of goodies and if you like that sort of thing it is a must see. St John’s Cathedral is very good I would say even better than the grand masters palace. I Visited the Manoel Theatre this is a building that is really well built and is inspirational.
If you go in September the have a festival called Notte Bianca and you will find all sights of interest in Valetta are open to the public free of charge and they have music in all theatres and churches free of charge and you can see and do anything it is on till around 4am and it something else the best thing I have ever experience on holiday visited the Manoel theatre watched a ballet performance at 10pm and had my own personal box what an experience. Visit nottebiancamalta.com and for Malta visit http://www.contenthouse.com.mt/contenthouse/content.aspx?id=6104 to get the best guide of Malta called GUIDE ME which is published every 2 months. I did enjoy Malta and will visit again I did find it a little dirty and a bit old fashioned but it has something deep down in side which is unmatchable.

2 readers found this review helpful

Having used the Windsor for the last seven years we can not fault it. I am disabled, although one cann't say the hotel is entirely disabled friendly I have found no difficulties and where neccessary the staff very helpful.
In fact the staff have gone out of their way to be helpful and give my wife as stressful holiday as possible.

2 readers found this review helpful

Fortunately enough I had read the reviews before I went but not before I booked. My husband and I where open minded when we read what was being said within these reveiws and hoped that they were all made up but they weren't. I don't think that it has had the refurbishment that it says it has had. The entrance was very dark and low ceilings didn't help. The staff were very unfriendly and unhelpful. the rooms were terrible, liht fittins precariously situated and sockets not sound. Supposed to have satalite but the only channel in english was BBC workd news, not even a decent radio station. Also the TV was so small. For a 4 star hotel I would have expected tea/coffee making facilites - even just a kettle and cups would have done. Breakfast wasn't too bad though the staff in the restaurant where not happy people. The plates were very cold so by the time you sat down with your cooked breakfast it was cold. The Reception staff looked at you as you were something the cat dragged in - how dare you bother them. I have complained but as you can image they didn't agree. If you do decide to go to this hotel, they say inform the staff and something can be doen about it or at least looked into.

Where not to stay - certainly not the rated 4 star!
Location perfect - hence the 2. Food - little choice, lacking in imagination (mash potatoes, mouldy bread). Staff underpaid (and months in arrears, some rude, mostly untrained, lacking managagement - except for bar manager. All inclusive - hardly any stock, some nights no basics (tonic, draught lager, and a full range of spirits - got the feeling they were not paying suppliers and as their first year of all inclusive did not appreciate consequence of what it might cost! Cleanliness - depends which cleaner you get, some lazy (again result no doubt of poor pay) - one guest vacuumed own room. Our penultimate night - 50 French schoolchildren arrived 10.30 pm - not allocated their rooms until midnight when most guests in bed - needless to say noisy kids, doors slamming etc. This is only part of what could have been a disaster had it not been for fellow guests staying there who made the stay bearable. Tour operator Mercury Direct provided little service.

This was a lovely Hotel, great for families or couples. Brilliant location on the beach front and easily within walking distance to the town centre. The staff were all really friendly and made a lovely breakfast in the morning.
It had a relaxed atmosphere and we felt very welcomed we were arrived. We went in August and we were lucky to have great weather as well which made it even better.

3 readers found this review helpful

Our hotel was on a street set back from the main promenade in Sliema which was a blessing because the main road along the front was noisy with traffic.
Our hotel room was really big and had 2 balconies because it was on the corner of the building. The facilities at the hotel were good but like a lot of the hotels in Sliema it had a small rooftop pool. There was also a Jacuzzi and sauna but they were inside.
In that part of Malta it was just a hard shelf of sandstone in place of the beach which dropped off into the sea but we spent most of our holiday out and about exploring or at the hotel pool.
It was built-up in Sliema but it was the epicentre of the island and we loved the location.
We had fantastic restaurants and bars round the corner from us and the food was gorgeous. We tried lots of the local dishes which were unusual and delicious. Some of the food was Italian, some British and some traditional. We even went to a little Texmex place which served goldfish bowl cocktails and yummy food.
Malta is a fantastic destination if you want to experience culture and history on holiday. I loved that the island was small enough to explore in a week and because it used to be British it had just enough familiarity about it. Most people spoke English which was a bonus and they were very friendly.
The public transport is very good with the old single decker yellow buses. It's really easy to organise small minibus and boat tours of various attractions through the local travel agencies. We went on quite a few and thoroughly enjoyed them, visiting ancient temples, medieval cities and neighbouring islands.
The trips were surprisingly cheap and Malta seemed cheaper than Spain and Italy. The capital Valletta is full of history and even the bus station was picturesque- set around a big fountain with loads of cake and sweet treat stalls at the end of the main street. It's one of the few holidays that I'd like to repeat.
If you want a beach holiday in Malta the north of the island has all the big resorts with sandy beaches and it doesn't take long to travel around.

2 readers found this review helpful

Second time I have visited this hotel. Although the location is good and the price of the holiday reasonable there were a number of things about the Windsor hotel that were disappointing this time.
The hotel is in need of updating and our room was up two floors across the landing and down two floors - very frustrating if the lift was slow or not working! The food was poor with a lack of choice and the service not very impressive. The room was cold and no extra blankets were provided when requested. The lounge/reception was crowded with no seats some evenings and, although we were all inclusive the mini bar was not restocked everyday and locked 24hrs before our departure.
Staff promised to reopen it but did not (we only wanted the water for our journey home!). I now notice that Mercury Direct are not offering AI at the Windsor.