Gillieru Harbour Hotel

I have to take this opportunity to speak up on behalf of the staff at The Gillieru Harbour Hotel. We have just visited Malta for the first time, and spent a delightful week at the Gillieru. We are 29 and 31 years of age.
ROOM SEVICE
Now, if you're used to pampering yourself in UK 4* hotels you may be a little disappointed; however, the Gillieru matches any good UK 3* hotel, and is on a par with many Mediterranean 4* hotels. The room was complete with mini-bar, well-priced and refilled daily. The room was tidied and cleaned daily, with clean towels provided, and extra ones available on request for the pool. The TV had a mix of channels - from the interesting TV Malta, through the bizarre Italian channels, to BBC World and BBC Prime. Complimentary shower gels and shampoos were also very welcome.
THE STAFF
All very friendly. We found that some of the early morning restaurant staff were perhaps a little over-efficient, with our coffee and tea being refilled as soon as the cup was emptied! I would like to single out two members of the team in particular - Edric (one of the barmen) and Raymond (a Duty Manager). We were made to feel very special by them both, and now consider that we have two great friends on Malta! They even taught us Maltese - not the easiest language to grasp - but great fun - they'll give you a great 'Merhba!'. We passed some great nights in the bar, drinking Bajtra, Leila and Madlien, and having a laugh with the staff.
THE FOOD
Breakfast was of the 'continental' variety. Dairylea slices, I'm afraid, but coupled with a selection of cold meats and fresh bread, cereals, toast and jam, tasty nonetheless. English breakfast is also available for a charge, but we found the continental more than enough.
Evening meals were superb - a selection of at least 3/4 starters and main courses each night, and no skimping on the portions! In fact, if we couldn't decide what to have, we were readily offered a mixture of them all! Great with the desserts, I have to say! The Gilleru specialises in fish dishes, with the public restaurant (attached) having international acclaim. They also do great stews, curries, and traditional Maltese fayre.
OVERALL
The hotel is conveniently located around 5-7minutes walk from central Bugibba, but in a quiet end of the bay, so there's the best of both worlds. There's ample parking if you hire a car to sightsee the island.
We had a fantastic week - our first time in Malta - and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this hotel to anybody... we'll certainly make it our choice whenever we return to Malta! A very friendly, professional and enjoyable place to be. Tajjeb!

1 reader found this review helpful

Arrived on 30.07.05 at approx 6.30am. We were shown to our room, No.099 (known as a Courtesy Room !!). The only water that came out of the tap was scalding hot (i.e. there was no cold water available to mix) and Mrs Lee scalded her hand. The air conditioning was so inefficient that the room was oppressively and stifling hot. We complained and were told that we would be moved to Room 506 by 1pm and this in fact did take place. We informed the Sunspot rep Jonathan of these problems when we met him that morning.
On Monday 1st August in the early hours (2am) we were both woken up by the extreme heat in our bedroom, we were in a terrible state, dripping with perspiration and we discovered that the air conditioning had failed. It was unbearable. We could not sleep.We went down to Reception and complained. They were very apologetic but could not do anything to help us.
We met another 2 couples who experienced similar problems. We were unable to sleep a full night in our bedroom because of this situation and it seriously impacted on the enjoyment of our holiday. Emma represents Sunspot and has so far (today is 14 Sep 2005) stated that there was not a problem as far as the Hotel was concerned and it appears that she is trying to 'wriggle out' of the situation. My comments are 'Without Prejudice’; I will post to this forum again when the matter has reached a conclusion.
You can contact me at Malcom@help4pcs.com.

My wife and I stayed here from the 24th of July to the 3rd of August on honeymoon and where very disappointed indeed. Firstly though I would like to say that the staff at this hotel are really nice people and should not be blamed in any way for this review be a bad one.
Firstly the food, breakfast is just crap! paying extra for a boiled egg is something that I find appalling and a dammed rip off, the fruit juices offered are just cheap cordials (I know this because we saw them making large quantities of the stuff) the ham was cheap to say the least and the cheese slices used in these so called continental breakfasts are the same as the ones you would buy to put into cheeseburgers, wrapped in plastic and just as rubbery! The evening meals are nearly as bad.
The air-conditioning in this hotel is so bad we had to go out to a local shop and buy a fan to keep us cool just so we could sleep at night.
the air-conditioning doesn’t blow out cold air it blows out normal air, it is no colder than the air that is already in the room.
Forget having the doors open if you have an inland room because the traffic makes so much noise you can’t get to sleep.
No way on earth is this a four star hotel, this is not me being a winger or a snob but I have stayed at four star hotels and three star hotels and this one believe me is a three star if it’s lucky, now when you pay for a four star hotel you should get a four star hotel, you wouldn’t pay for a car with air-conditioning and happily take delivery of a car without air-conditioning would you? the same applies to not getting what you paid for with a hotel or any other product or service. I will be staying at the Hilton next time! at least that way we will be getting what we pay for.

2 years on from the last review.
Still no entertainment of an evening (though more in Buggiba,). Staff as friendly as ever and the food still good. However, in line with other reviews on other websites....the cracks are showing. Literally. A small hole in our floor along with a leaky sink and small bits of plaster falling into the bath. The safe was smaller, there are less drinks in the mini bar, couple this with time share touts doing the rounds along the main road and it seems all is not as it should be. Also overheard a receptionist saying the air conditioning is not on 24 hours a day now. We will be back next year though....with the mother and father in law! (now there is a reason not to back!)
By the way....if you get a chance, pop in on a Sunday or Thursday to see Keith Camilleri at Angelo’s (just up the road). A singer with a great future and who puts most of the x factor/pop idol contestants to shame. Finished 4th in this year’s national Malta song for Europe contest. Watch out for him....

Advertised as a four star family run hotel, sounded just what we were looking for. Very disappointing. Reception very drab and unwelcoming, the seating area at the side of reception was in darkness most of the time. Only ever saw 2 people utilising space. Breakfast was edible but nothing special. staff not over friendly except evening porter on the desk. Room acceptable but needed a really good clean. Bed sheets covered up not so nice dirty covers. Pillows flat and worn out. Only small pool, no other facilities. Nothing friendly about this hotel, definitely not worthy of 4 star rating. Wouldn't go back.
Found some nicer places to eat in the evenings, after the first couple of mornings didn't bother going down for the breakfast. No seagulls to worry about in Malta but lots of small black flies. Plagued by them when trying to eat outdoors and indoors in some places. Not very nice.

I’m shocked by the previous reviews. I went to the Gillieru 2001 (honeymoon) and 2003. My family go there every year to meet up with friends who also stay there every year. I have found the food to be traditional and good. The rooms have always been clean and the atmosphere friendly.
However, if you want any nightlife at all (and I’m not talking noisy nightclubs or some guy playing a piano), then you will be disappointed. No nightlife whatsoever at the Gillieru. If you want any you will have to walk the 800 or so yards into Bugibba and search for it.
I certainly think that the Gillieru has its favourite 'customers'. One of my relatives who stays every year even gets the same room as the previous year. Nothing is too much trouble. But then, that’s where the Gillierus business is, its regulars. Unfortunately, this is at a detriment to the newbies sometimes.
When I went in 2001, someone was complaining about building work, they were fobbed off. Someone who I spoke to who had been coming for the previous 5 years said their room was changed straight away.
I would give the Gillieru 8/10. If it could just focus more on its first timers and introduce bingo, a piano evening, anything! then I would give it 10/10. As it is, the Gillieru is a nice place to stay if you are in bed by 8pm and go every year.