Reviews of Palm Court Hotel, Qawra, Malta

How can anyone rate this hotel...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr Gn Poore

Comments:

How can anyone rate this hotel highly? Yes i respect the fact we all have our own opinions but I have stayed in better hostels. I assure you I am no snob and can rough it with the best. I plead with all British holiday makers not to put money in the pocket of the owner of palm court because he is giving nothing back. I am in process of complaining as well as many others who I met during my stay.



Let’s start with flight which was quite good on route to Malta. On return home to Cardiff we found out last day when we questioned duration of flight time that we were travelling via Exeter. Not at any time was I told this and also did not show on booking confirmation, offloaded at Exeter for security checks.



Met by rep at airport but she did not travel on bus to hotel (did not want ear bashing early hours). Reception area at hotel did not seem too bad but no offer of drink after long journey. This is where it all went downhill. Walk along corridor towards room through a rabbit warren of dirty carpets, flaking paint, bowing ceiling boards from leaks and generally run down not looked after hotel.(probably great in 1960's). The room was even better, unbearable.



The food was tasteless served in a hot canteen. I seen only one cockroach in my weeks stay and this was in the canteen on wall behind where food was served. The chef could not kill it quick enough and had a worried look on his face afterwards. Complained to manager who said" this is a Malta problem not hotel problem and they fly in".



The pool area where my kids spent most of holiday was ok but things here were also well worn. Flaking walls, loose steps into pool and well weathered chairs and sun loungers. The first pool I have swam in where you can not see hand in front of you. Constantly worried for daughter who is a weak swimmer in case I would not see her if she went under water.



Saved best to last, the farce called all inclusive. Yes I have had restrictions on all inclusive on other holidays but the purse strings were never pulled as tight as the palm court. All inclusive between 1100-1100. The atmosphere died at 1100 when they also stopped entertainment to clear away tables and chairs.



The kids were only allowed local ice cream and two flavours of crisps. The staff insulted our intelligence by serving you as slow as possible to kill time so you could not over indulge. Queing at reception to order drink then queuing again at bar.

Stuck it out for sake of kids. You did have options that many many people took during my stay. I will tell you a few.



Change rooms 3 4 5 times but basically ending up in what you started with. Dropping down to half board from all inclusive and being refunded £8 a night per person back which is what a family did. I had only budgeted for all inclusive so this was not an option. Move to sister hotel Venus which was owned by same person. Heard bad reports about this. Food was cooked in palm court and wheeled over to Venus. Did not fancy that.



Move to another hotel and pay a few hundred extra. Could not afford to and was not prepared to line their pockets any more. Make sure you fill a complaints form in at hotel or you will not be able to do a thing about it when you return home. They keep this a secret.



Take my advice the reports are all true but you get used to it. You will have something in common with the other holidaymakers and you will make friends listening to everyone’s complaints.



Look before you book I will in future and stay well clear of palm court.

Don't know what all the moaning...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr KA BEARD

Comments:

Don't know what all the moaning is about -hotel is fine could do with a bit of a paint job -but overall my room was clean and tidy--the pool was a bit crowded , the drinks were good ,(so you have to line up for them big deal)



The food was good and had 10 different menus in 2 weeks-and NO COCKROACHES seen anywhere--staff pleasant enough considering all the petty moaning they have to put up with ----would recommend on V.F.M ---but don't expect 5 star service as it seems some people do.

My partner and I, spent 2 weeks...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Dave-W

Comments:

My partner and I, spent 2 weeks at the Palm Court Hotel, in Qawra, all-inclusive, at the end of July.



My partner had been to Malta previously, and also to the same hotel, and I also read the reviews on this site, so I knew what to expect, or so I thought. If I had taken notice completely of the Palm Court reviews, I would have missed out on a fantastic holiday. Luckily, I trusted my partner, and was willing to see for myself.



The Hotel is 3 star. It’s not the Ritz, and it’s not the Hilton, The price reflects this. I didn’t expect (like so many others on this site) 5 star luxury for 3 (or less) star prices, it was what I wanted for a holiday. The room was clean and cleaned every day. We had 3 changes of bed-linen over 2 weeks, Clean towels whenever the maid spotted one that needed changing. Yes.. when we first entered our room, it smelt a little musty, but we opened the window, ran the water and flushed the toilet. The mustiness, of the room cleared, and we had no more problems all holiday.



The staff were more than friendly. It was service with a smile, from the cleaners to the management. When they weren’t too busy, they were more than happy to chat, and offer assistance in seeing their beautiful island.



We thought the meals were good. We are not 'breakfast' people, and so didn’t usually bother, but we always had dinner. There was always a tasty soup, and pasta dish to start with. Two potato dishes, two vegetable dishes, three meat/fish dishes, plus carvery, and always a plentiful supply of salad. The food was always hot, and very tasty.



I cannot see how reviewers could say that the food was boring, plain and never varied. There were 10 set menus, and a different one was used every day we were there.



We never had any form of stomach upset during our stay, and those people that complain of food poisoning, should maybe think on, that drinking copious amounts of 'all-inclusive' beer during the day, whilst going lobster red in the 50 degrees of sun, can create similar symptoms.



The location of the hotel was perfect for us. Qawra is a quiet area of Malta, but with plenty of bars, and easy access to the sea. 2 mins walk from the bus station, where you can get to any area of the island, for next-to-nothing. 5 mins walk, and you are in the centre of Buggiba, where there are clubs and night life, if that’s what you want.



Would we go again?

We are looking at a week in November, and already planning next year.



We have found where we want to take our holidays. See you there.

This is my 4th time. Yes forth...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr A Adams

Comments:

This is my 4th time. Yes forth time at the palm court hotel this time as a family of 4 and I can not find a more better VFM place to go. all inc worked out at £33 per day per person for 2 weeks, that inc flights, transfer, bed, breakfast - egg, bacon, sausage, toast, tea, coffee, beans, fruit juice, bread - lunch sausage, chips, burger, salad, tea, coffee, beer, wine etc, evening meal choice of 10 menus in 14 days pork, chicken, gammon, beef, roast - veg, ham, cheese, salad, soup, pasta, beer, wine etc - drinks from 11am - 11pm inc crisps, ice cream, entertainment every night.



The room is very basic one wardrobe, dresser, shower, tv, with sky news, it was kept clean, linen / towels changed every day with a supervisor asking if it is clean to our standard - in 14 days did not see one creepy crawly. In fact the only vermin I saw were wearing man utd or arsenal shirts.



All inc drinks was abused by greedy holiday makers getting drinks for non all inc guest's - so now you have to first line up at reception to order, they give you a print out of your order and you take that to the bar sounds horrendous but it seemed to work well, no more people hogging the bar and pushing in etc, which is why it annoys the Northerners - swimming pool gets a bit crowded and has no lifeguards - as for the smell the only vile smell is that of cigarette smoke from saddies who think it's ok to have thick black cancer goo in their lungs and don't care who else gets it - but that's ignorance for you. God you people really smell, why do you do it? Oh and British Jet airlines are fine, nice flight there and back - so to all you Victor Meldrews out there. Get a life.

I have just arrived home from a...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Dr Swan

Comments:

I have just arrived home from a much needed holiday in the wonderful island, Malta. And I must add that my stay at the Palm Court added to my enjoyment of the holiday. I paid £100.00 for one weeks stay and that price included: flights, transfers, hotel stay and breakfast -a bargain at half the price! I have spent more money on a night out in town.



I must say the hotel staff were very friendly and accommodating. When my aunt and I arrived we found that our hotel room faced the front of the road and we kindly requested a room with a pool view. In spite of a busy check in night- we were granted our wish immediately.



Our room was clean, air conditioning was excellent and we had a pool view. In the mornings our balcony sported a wonderful view of the large pool and at night we heard the music from the entertainment bar! What more could we ask for at that price?



I respect other peoples opinions on this site as we are all entitled to our own- however, I must say I have paid four times the price for holiday hotels abroad and they have not been to the Palm Court's standard.



My highlights were the weather-which was scorching, the staff, the island, the safety and overall the wonderful holidaymakers-I met so many great people. In fact, I cannot say enough about my holiday. When I came home I recommended the holiday to my brother and he has booked up-only wish I was going back with him.

We booked to be at the same...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr Neil Reynolds

Comments:

We booked to be at the same hotel as my daughter and family but when my other daughter said she was getting married in Malta (Luckily at the Radisson Beach hotel) other members of the family also booked into the Palm Court so that we would all be together. First.



The booking of the holidays. when my daughter booked our holiday we asked for extra legroom seats and was told it was booked, so was surprised when not on the invoice and only told it was at only book able on check in. booking extra rooms for my son and granddaughter was fine but when booking a last minute additional room for my brother in law my wife phoned the week before we went and got told there was a single room and flight available for £370 all inclusive, phones her brother to get his OK, phoned back 5 minutes later to a different salesperson to be told that there was no holidays left and if he wanted a room at a different hotel it would be almost £600.



The Flights.



I found the booking in and the flights simple and good. The plane being a MD90 had good leg room and the crew was very good both ways.



The Hotel / The Room.



Basic with a brand new air conditioner, the towels and bedding changed regularly and a quick clean now and then. Bathroom worked OK for 4 days then the shower stop working, Luckily son had a real bathtub next door. Both were clean but needed maintenance.



Breakfast.



If you arrived too early it was cold or luke warm, during peak periods it was hot and plentiful.



Lunch.



Always burgers and hot dogs and chips.



Dinner



Good selection of basic fare and salads, eatable but not memorable, reasonable for price paid, but you would do better with just B&B and eat out.



The Bar and all inclusive.



This is the Joker, to keep prices down they restrict drinks and snacks by forcing you to get your drink or snack receipt from the main desk, one drink per person per room (while people are trying to get keys and get the room defects sorted) then wait at the one open bar to get the drink. If you want a liquor coffee this is two drinks so only you or your partner can have one, most of the staff I spoke to were as frustrated as the guests at this routine as it increased their work loads and they were the ones getting the moans from the guests.



The staff.



Most were very good and helpful, but some were well into the hotel rules serving drinks and food as slow as possible.



Overall



If all you can afford is the Palm Court or it Sister Hotel the Venus go B&B and eat out, you will still have a good time in Malta but spend as much time away from the hotel as possible. If you can afford a bit more, there are some very good hotels in Malta but there are also some worse then the Palm court. Look at the various web sites for reviews before you book.

We have just returned from a...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Miss D Mckechnie And Mcgrouther

Comments:

We have just returned from a fantastic stay at the palm court hotel. The hotel was clean and the food was great.



To be perfectly honest I do not know what people are complaining about. What do people expect when paying for a cheap holiday at the end of the day you get what you pay for.



The staff were so helpful and catered to our every need. The palm court is wonderful and the people who complain should get a grip of their life.



Palm court Malta- we will be back!

I had booked an all inclusive...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mrs Agnes Melrose

Comments:

I had booked an all inclusive holiday for my husband and myself at a fantastic price of £540 for one week then discovered this sight however, we both decided to go along with an open mind and enjoy, please don't do the same!



1 Flights & Transfers - no problems here, food was ok and everything went as planned



2 On arrival (in the wee hours) we were welcomed at the Palm Court Hotel with a cup of tea and slice of cake which I thought was a really nice touch. Check in went extremely quickly



3 As soon as we ventured into the main reception area the smell hit us! That smell will be my lasting holiday memory of Malta



4 Our room was clean and continued to be cleaned on a daily basis. Bed linen and mattresses (yes I checked) were also clean however, the air con was a joke, very noisy and never really worked properly. The noise from the street below was surprisingly minimal (except for when the Scots Corner got going!)



5 The only way to describe the pool is very murky and sun beds very mucky! In the week we were there we never seen the pool area cleaned once. The indoor pool was a no go area as one child was hospitalized for 2 days allegedly after he ventured into this green liquid! As for the roof top pool, well this collapsed the 2nd day into our holiday.



6 As you make your way to the very hot dining room, the smell in the corridors really hits the nostrils. (Top tip - cover your nose and run!) The food is ok for the price paid, just not very varied (there's always chips & rolls if you don't like anything else!)



7 Staff are very busy at the Palm Court especially at the reception area where all drinks & snacks must be ordered and many daily complaints dealt with. During our stay only one bar was ever opened at any one time which made queuing inevitable, tables were very rarely cleared never mind wiped or washed!



8 After all this would I go back? Palm Court - no, Malta - yes. I know this was a cheap holiday but I have paid less and got basic clean surroundings. No matter how much you pay I would always expect a level of cleanliness the Palm Court did not provide. We did not let the standards of the Hotel spoil our holiday, in fact we had a great time. Malta is a beautiful country with lots to do and see.



Last piece of advice, knock the Palm Court Hotel down and start again, it really is that bad!

What can I say? Absolute filth...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Ms R Bartlett

Comments:

What can I say? Absolute filth doesn't even come close. If you are booked into the palm court cancel now. I booked a week all inclusive for myself & my two children. We haven't had a "proper" holiday in five years, & this deal from Malta bargains was just within my price range. I did not expect the Hilton but I at least expected the place to be clean. The corridors are dark & dingy. There is a mouldy, musty smell throughout the whole place, mixed with a hint of stale urine. Bed linen stunk & we didn’t even unpack for fear the smell in the wardrobe & cupboards would get into our clothes. Bathroom & toilet much the same, dirty & smelly & the view from the toilet window is of pipes leading down to a septic tank. They're so close you can touch them!



The dining room is also dark & dingy, a very depressing place. The food is disgusting, even the rats don’t like it! & there are lots of those! The pool is unsafe, extremely deep in the middle & the steps into the pool are coming away from the side. We asked to be moved on our first day, as did eight other families! (We can’t all be wrong). We were moved to palm courts sister hotel across the road, the Venus, which was at least clean but that’s its only good point. I met at least twenty others during the week who had been moved from the palm court. A nine year old girl was taken to hospital with food poisoning.



Our first few days were totally ruined because of this experience & had we not eaten out every night (something I had not budgeted for being AI) & taken day trips to other parts of the island, our holiday would have been a total washout. I am so disappointed. I wanted to give my kids a great holiday & relax myself. Now I feel as if I need a holiday to recover. Unfortunately being a single parent & a student I can’t afford one.



I am in the process of writing to Malta Bargains in the vain hope of a refund. I urge others to do the same. Maybe if enough people complain something will be done. The palm court should be shut down immediately. I’m surprised the cockroaches haven't moved out, they deserve better! I can’t understand why anyone would spend one night here let alone return repeatedly as Malta Bargains claim they do. I wouldn't stay there if they paid me!

Well where do you start. Read...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr A Reid

Comments:

Well where do you start. Read the reviews and obviously regretted booking in at the palm court.



First lets start with the flight, have used Malta Bargains before and they always got you there via Air Malta, this time over the phone they proudly announced they have there own air line-impressive stuff!



Dig a little and you will find British Jet is a one plane outfit who rent this very old tired plane from hello airlines, not suggesting this plane is unsafe but it knocks its pan out all day going back and forth.



Palm court. Its no good moaning about it needing a lick of paint, the hotel is a complete hell hole that cannot be improved upon unless they knock it down. At least it fits in with its surroundings in that Bugibba is rubbish with nothing but concrete everywhere. On booking in we changed room 5 times but still ended up in a dirty room with pathetic air con, brown toilet and bath a fan that sent sparks flying when you tried to switch it on etc, etc and this was the best they can do. I cannot stress enough do not go to the palm court. Yes you get what you pay for but i do think this hotel! Sinks to new lows. Plus points there was always hot water the staff are superb, they know the hotel is rubbish but do their best to appease.



They are always cleaning but it makes no difference. There is nothing they can do about the disgusting smell that reeks through the hotel. The food is total slop but it wont kill you, stick to the salads. They are not catering for the gourmet palette, the type of clientele they are catering for put liver and onions with gravy on the same plate as battered fish, i kid you not. If its free got to have it mentality lives. Other plus points Malta is a beautiful safe country, hire a car and go and explore places like Valleta, Sliema, Blue Grotto, Medina, Golden bay. Forget the buses there rubbish take a photo and then hire a car from a local.



All things considered we had a nice time, would I go back? Malta definitely, Palm Court or Bugibba Qawra not ever never ever, when that tired old plane came to a stop on the runway I had the biggest smile of the whole week. Happy Holidays.

With this hotel I think what...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2005

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr F Radon

Comments:

With this hotel I think what people need to realise is that you pay for what you get. When you pay about £150 - £200 half board in July-august what really do you expect? The 5 star Ritz?



I paid £180 for half board and I wasn’t expecting much but I was surprised how over exaggerated people make this place out to be. No it isn’t the best hotel in Malta but it isn’t the worse, the facilities in the hotel were much better than most and the food was of good standard.



For people who are looking to book this hotel, go for it because it’s a great hotel and the staff are very nice and friendly.

If you are reading this and are...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mr O.C Charter

Comments:

If you are reading this and are considering going to this Hotel then reconsider immediately! We booked a week at the hotel, (With my dad - I'm 12 years old) and in the first hour we had 5 different rooms!



The 1st one had a leak in the roof. The 2nd had no A/C whatsoever. The 3rd was filthy, and if you looked outside the window, you could see concrete slabs with oil everywhere (This was by the POOL!) The 4th the member of staff did not let us in the room because the room was dirty, smelled of smoke and other! The 5th one we settled into but was far from ideal, but decided this was the best they could do.



The dining room was unbearable, the heat was insane, it was just a quick meal and out! The food was edible but not particularly nice. The bottom floor hallway absolutely stunk of, unknown! There are signs scattered around the place saying 'Hidden Cameras- Beware!' Well the only cameras we saw were massive ones hanging off the walls! Every time we went to reception there were people complaining, the staff tried there best and were fantastic, they just don't stop! And at the end of the day- it's not their fault. Our room had a faulty fan, you lived there in fear switching it on and off- when you turned it to the high setting- sparks came out of the switch!



If you've already booked, make sure you don't book in to: 541, 360, 367, or pretty much any room! A 3 star rating? More like a minus 3 star rating! We went on Blue Grotto- you could see the bottom of the sea at 20ft, at Palm Court- the pool was 4ft- and you couldn’t see a thing! Take me and my dad's advice: don't go there. Thank you for reading.

If you have booked to say in...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Select

Submitted By:

Mrs O Petrie

Comments:

If you have booked to say in this hotel, no matter how inexpensive please re-think! To give this 'hotel' 1 out of 10 is over generous - who has given it a 3 star rating? We have never come across such a dirty so called hotel in our lives. The reception area is awful, the pool area is disgusting and the rooms are beyond belief. Our rooms were dirty, cockroach infested, the balcony was dangerous (rail hanging off the wall), the bathroom consisted of a dirty stained toilet, hand basin and square trough which was supposed to be a shower! The bed linen and towels were filthy. The dining room was dark, damp, and cramped and flies were all over the food. The toilet block disgusting smell all over the hotel was overwhelming.



We arrived mid evening and decided there and then that if we could not be changed to another hotel we would insist on a flight home immediately. Obviously there was no rep available at the hotel when we arrived so we had to stay the evening. The next morning my husband saw the rep who moved us immediately without charge to the hotel over the road (The Venus) which was very poor indeed but 100% better than the Palm Court. We then found out that the two hotels have the same owner, surprise, surprise. We strongly recommend it is pulled down, never mind closed down! As the week went on, we realised that the majority of people who had booked into the Palm Court and who complained, were then moved to the Venus. This happened every day there was an arrival.



Please take notice of the poor reviews people have submitted, we wish we had. Once again, if you have booked to go to this hotel from hell, please think again.

We arrived at Palm Court at 3am,...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Malta Bargains

Submitted By:

Mrs A Hannah

Comments:

We arrived at Palm Court at 3am, no rep to greet us! Reception area very untidy, used teabags, paper cups etc littered every table in the reception. Given key to room to find the room in a disgusting state! the toilet/bathroom was all stained brown the tiles were dropping of the walls the bed linen curtains were all soiled the towels were full of holes. The room was our worst nightmare! We complained straight away we were then offered an alternative room which was in the same state.



After no sleep for 24hrs after complaining several times along with the rest of the hotel guests we were moved to the hotel next door which was owned by the same company the room was better but the pool and sunbathing are was filthy as was in the first hotel, you could not see the bottom of the pool and the sun loungers were covered in thick dirt. We were all inclusive and had to eat in one and drink in one hotel and sleep in another.



Both hotels should be condemned and demolished I have never experienced anything like this. Me and my husband would like to say a very special thank you to Connie who worked in the hotel as she was very helpful and become a very special friend to us! I would strongly advise for nobody to go and stay at this hotel or any ran by the same company!

Well I have just got back from...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Not Specified

Submitted By:

Miss RJ Jones

Comments:

Well I have just got back from one week at palm court. It was our 2nd time. I just loved it.



Its situated in Qawra near everything its just great, I’m 15 and all I wanted was a bed, sun, nice staff lol and I got it all. I was amazed to see how people go there and complain like the previous reviews it’s outrageous.



You pay for what you get so of you want the Ritz or something to ''your standards'' well pay more, but for the ridiculous price I think over all its great.



I even met lovely barmen and receptionists, the staff are lovely! So whoever wants to spend a cheap lovely holiday book at palm court immediately!