Reviews of Gillieru Harbour Hotel, St Pauls Bay, Malta

Back again due to a family...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

chevron

Submitted By:

Mr G RYAN

Comments:

Back again due to a family bereavement(long story).



Did not expect to be back again here. Certainly not in the heat of July. I went with the family regulars this time around. This meant a seaview guaranteed(even though we didn't pay for it) and working air conditioning 24/7. Did this make for a better time of it? Erm no.



I first posted on here back in 2001. Then the Gillieru Harbour Hotel was good. But several visits since then have seen a decline. The state of the pillows this time around was truly gross. Blood stains and other nasties, an empty mini bar (apart from one day), the plug broke, towels were not clean everyday and the tv either had a silent sky news or no tv at all.



The food in decline still. Clearly cutting corners. If chicken is on the menu as a main then you know it will be chicken soup for starters. Lamb on the menu as a main, well you can guess. If you like octopus and cauliflower soup you will be in for a treat. It didn't get much better than that. The powdered mash potato is worth remembering too.



Apart from a couple of days when some athletes were there, the hotel was far from fully booked and the quietest I've seen it.



It was also interesting to see first hand my relatives who know Charlie etc and the difference in how the hotel staff behave towards them. Myself and others on here have met with a frosty reception from the same staff. It was laughable that the hotel staff were falling over themselves to help my relatives. I could see though that to other non regulars they were as frosty to them as a cornetto.



Unfortunately the Gillieru Harbour Hotel has fallen into the trap of initially cutting costs to make more money but then *issing first timers off and regulars resulting in less take up the following year. Year on year it has had an effect. What we are left with is a hotel in decay.



In a couple of years I fully expect to see the Gillieru Harbour Hotel on one of those holiday horror shows. It's a shame though. The Gillieru Harbour Hotel is in a fantastic location, but as long as the owner thinks of his wallet instead of the up keep of the hotel it won't get better.



The Gillieru Harbour Hotel is a shadow of the hotel I first visited in 2001. Even my relatives who have been going for 15 years were disappointed. Sorry Gillieru Harbour Hotel time to shut up shop, give it a makeover and start again.

My husband and I have just...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mrs C.a Sewitt

Comments:

My husband and I have just returned from one week at the gillieru harbour hotel for my birthday. I had been before last year but thought i would give it one more go.Unfortunately the hotel is living on past glories and relying on its position to bring people back. I had e-mailed the hotel before we left England to arrange a bottle of champagne in room. Nothing had been sorted and when I spoke to reception next day they said that they had replied to e-mail but nothing sitting waiting for me when I returned

That aside although curtains appear to have been changed still same ex army grey thin sheets that don't fit beds[I spent every night sleeping on mattress]The towels were not much better although they were white. Bath mat only there for first day.Pool towels must have been left by guests .They were odd washed out and threadbare.I was ashamed to be seen with them.

The air conditioning is feeble.What more can I say, Everyone was asking for change of room but same a/c.We were not leaving until 5.30 and had asked to extend time in room form day one.Kept being fobbed off until very last minute when the answer was no.Big rush to pack and put cases in luggage room. Did say they would give us courtesy room to get changed but this turned out to be cramped shower room no a/c tiny for 2 adults and cases.

I cannot comment on food as we did not bother having breakfast at hotel.Anywhere one has to pay for english breakfast in this day and age is to be avoided.Much better offers in cafes all over malta.

Rooms are tired looking,need a complete overhaul.Being on the harbour is no substitute for poor management and substandard linen,etc.

Pool is nice but needs a good clean round the edges.People writing their names in the grease!Bar is basic.Never saw anyone in it.No entertainment at all.My mother had a saying"all fur coat and no knickers" meaning someone pretending to be someone they are not and that explains the gillieru to a t.Lovely from the outside but don't be fooled by the 4 stars on the wall.

Just a word about the gillieru fish restaurant which claims to be the best in Malta.It may have been once but not anymore.We took 2 Maltese friends out on my birthday and were dismayed to have to wait over an hour for our order to be taken.Poor service and although food looked ok it was the one night I was bad all night and another lady who had her birthday there ended up not paying because the food was frozen or not cooked thoroughly and she was also ill.

We have been to Malta 5 times now and would not consider going back now.Things are changing in Malta and not for the better.The empathy for the British seems to have gone for good.All in all we had a good holiday but that is because we made it so in spite of everything.

Our very first time in Malta,...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Davy G

Comments:

Our very first time in Malta, but not now our last, we booked into the Gillieru for one week, === after arriving on the island at 8-45 on the Tuesday we booked another week the next day, with great help from Receptionist Maryrose, we then got to know most of the other staff what wonderful and polite people ===Josephene,- Raymond, Micheal in the bar == we can also include Charles, and Patrick, we changed rooms on the first Wednesday to a sea view room what a view it was, we have no negative thing to say about the Gillieru and that includes the wonderful fish resturant next door,looking forward seeing you all at the end of September for another wonderful holiday at the Gillieru.

This was our families 4th visit...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Chevron

Submitted By:

Mr M Brett

Comments:

This was our families 4th visit to the Gillieru and having read some of the comments before our recent visit we would have agreed.. HOWEVER :- PLEASE READ ON



All the rooms have been re-painted with new bed covers which whilst not major has had a marked affect on the look of the rooms. The staff at the hotel continue to be very good and their friendliness helps the overall enjoyment of the holiday. In particular Charles & Josephine (who we had not met before) are a credit to the hotel. Many thanks.



I had made room requests, but got it wrong, however the hotel went out of their way to move both myself and partner and my parents to the two rooms we should have requested... what some views !



The food ... the breakfast was varied and plentiful meaning we ate little until the evening. English breakfast was available for an additional cost but we enjoyed the food provide. Make sure you have the toast.. it is a great opportunity to get to meet other guests at the hotel and make friends !!



The evening meals had improved on previous years. Whilst I enjoyed them on all my visits, not everyone in our party did. In particular the maltese night was not our most popular. This has now gone with the occassional dish added into the meals. The food is always well cooked and presented and varied. The egg mayanaise deserves a special mention with the coleslaw underneath. We could have eaten it every night and plenty of it.



The pool was clean and the weather was very pleasant in May, not too hot but a lot warmer than the UK, nice for sun bathing and walking.



The only negatives ... minor one is that one of the lifts did break down a few times, but no one was ever in there for more than a couple of minutes. It conked out on me once, but the staff are now well trained on lift rescue !!! it does need sorting permanently though !!. The towels also need to be next on the repacement list !, although they are adequate and changed daily.



Malta is seeing a lot of improvement but still keeping its charm and friendly residents. For anyone who has never been or particularly to the Gillieru.. go on give it a try.. you might even go back as many times as we have !!



I must also say we have booked with Chevron for the last four occassions and would highly recommend them for cost, efficiency and trouble free holiday service.



We just need to earn some more money to go again in the next couple of years !!



Many thanks to all at the Gillieru & Chevron.



+++++++ Charles, I'm catching bigger fish at home !! ++++++++++++++++

We were transfered to the...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2008

Tour Operator:

Mercury Direct

Submitted By:

Mrs S I Joy

Comments:

We were transfered to the Gillieru Harbour Hotel from the Karanne Hotel, Buggiba. It was like being upgraded to first class on the flight. The service is fantastic and the staff made us feel so very welcome and comfortable. It is very clean and neat overall.

The food is really great, too. The chef came out to meet us and because I am coeliac, he made a special effort to give me anything I could eat....unlike the other hotel.

I would recommend this hotel to anybody who is going to holiday in Malta.

It certainly lives up to its 4 stars.

my husband and i went to this...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

chevron

Submitted By:

Mrs Mg Greensall

Comments:

my husband and i went to this hotel for three weeks and thoroughly enjoyed our staythere our room was comfortable and clean the staff were very efficient and polite, the food was fine but, cauld have been varied as we were there for three weeks, the pool area was good but cauld have done with more umbrellas, as a whole this hotel is one of the best we have been to in malta and would go again

Booked a 12 day stay at this...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr K Knapton

Comments:

Booked a 12 day stay at this hotel and came home after 7 days.



The hotel is very clean and rooms are fine, comfortable beds, nice clean bed linen. Towels were horrible and grey but changed daily.



Breakfast was very basic, okay if you liked plastic cheese and see through ham, salami although we did pay for poached eggs on toast which were good. No facilities in the hotel for getting a coffee or drink, bar did not open until evening, pizzeria opened Saturday night and Sunday lunch. Restaurant open at 7-30pm.



Only 2 TV channels Sky News and BBC world news. Games room was closed nobody knew who had the key. Advertised large screen TV and video for guests use and was told by reception they didn't have one.



We stayed over Christmas and the weather was very bad but had to run across the road to get a coffee and then sit drinking it in wet clothes.



The hotel does not deserve 4 stars and gold award. We have stayed in many hotels and I have never felt I had to write a bad review until now.

We were under the impression...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr C Graham

Comments:

We were under the impression when we booked with Thomsoms that the Gilleru was a 4 star hotel, I would not even think it better than a 2 star.



The first day we arrived we were shown to a room, the bathroom was disgusting all brown scum round the tiles and bath, filthy shower curtain and grey (suppose to be white) thin towels, after complaining, they informed us they would clean it up. They put up a clean shower curtain and covered the brown slime with white mastic, towels remained. As we had complained we were given the cold shoulder the two weeks we were there, a friend called while we were out and left a message for us and it was not passed on.



As for breakfast what can I say? Very basic indeed, the only good thing about it was the bread and fruit. We don't call dairylea slices, thin ham a continental breakfast, I don't think so. You had to pay extra for any thing else.



We thought we had paid for Bed and breakfast, wrong again. Dirty tablecloths on the table every morning from dinner the night before. It is a shame as the hotel was in a nice location, and we did like that, on complaing to the Thomsom rep, he said Thomson only sell as a 3 star and was a most rude man, and if we go back to Malta it won't be to the Gilleru.

Excellent base for exploring...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2007

Tour Operator:

Sunspot

Submitted By:

P & V Emmett

Comments:

Excellent base for exploring Malta.



The hotel is well situated, and provides very good amenities. Food standards are very good (though English breakfasts are only available at extra cost). The buffet breakfast can be as substantial as required, and fresh fruit is available. Dinners consists of a choice of 3 starters and main courses, plus a choice of deserts. Food at Dinner is a very high quality.



Rooms are more than adequate, with towels changed daily, and cleaning regularly and effectively carried out. Beds are on the hard side, uncomfortable for arthritis sufferers, but otherwise OK. Radios tend not to work, and the controllers for the TVs have to be obtained with a LM5 returnable deposit. The range of TV channels available calls into question whether it is even worthwhile paying this amount!



Rooms have a balcony with chairs and a small table, and even those facing the inland square are very acceptable. If you hire a car, then parking is on the streets surrounding the hotel. The hotel swimming pool is pleasant, but the position of the hotel on the harbour makes swimming in St Paul's Bay an even more attractive proposition. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the shops in Bugibba and Qawra.



An excellent hotel to which we would happily return.

Hotel was excellent - clean and...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

Not Specified

Submitted By:

Ms Ruth Hancock

Comments:

Hotel was excellent - clean and pleasant room and friendly helpful staff. It's worth asking for a sea view - we didn't pay any extra, and had a lovely view over the harbour.



Breakfast was basic, but adequate (although if you want full English, you'll be paying extra!).



There was a lovely pool, also overlooking the harbour, with plenty of sun loungers and a small bar. The hotel was a short walk from the centre of Buggiba, with plenty of bars and places to eat.



Overall, we had a really good stay, and the hotel was an excellent base for exploring Malta and Gozo.

My husband Ray and I stayed at...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked IndependentlySkyplane Norwich

Submitted By:

Mrs D Bushell

Comments:

My husband Ray and I stayed at the Gillieru for one week at the beginning of June. We had been there for one week the year before and thought we would give it another try. We paid a supplement to guarantee a bedroom with balcony overlooking the sea and were very glad we did. Well worth the extra, the view from our room was spectacular. The view of the harbour with its colourful boats and the cruise liners passing by on the horizon was very relaxing and interesting.



We were very happy with the hotel, the staff, the food and the general ambience. We had our evening meals at the Gillieru Fish Restaurant and were very impressed by the quality of the food and the service. The bar staff and the waiters were excellent.



We like the area, very peaceful and one can always wander further down the coast if more entertainment is required. We are now considering booking a two week holiday at the Gillieru next June and are quite willing to pay the extra to have a bedroom with balcony overlooking the sea.



Only one vote against and that is not the fault of the hotel. We were continually bothered by people on the streets trying to sell us holiday space in grotty hotels. We were caught once and spent two miserable hours looking at awful places. We will be more wary next time!

Read these reviews before we...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2007

Tour Operator:

MyTravel

Submitted By:

Miss S Copping

Comments:

Read these reviews before we went and so upgraded ourselves to a sea view room. So glad we did as lady staying in inland apartment had trouble sleeping all night because of the noise from the boy racers. However, we had lovely peaceful nights and loved our balcony overlooking the pool and the bay.



We enjoyed a lovely week at this hotel- staff were very friendly, maid service very efficient with a clean and tidy room. We loved the quietness of this hotel and if we wanted entertainment we walked 5 minutes into Buggiba along the bay where there was plenty to see and do.



We were so pleased with the hotel's prime location right on the sea front and we enjoyed people watching along the bay. A great place to stay.

We have just got back from the...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Bed & Breakfast

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2006

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Mrs M Slee

Comments:

We have just got back from the Gillieru Harbour Hotel in Malta and I just want to say that it is rated by the tour operator as 4* but believe me it is just bordering on a 2*.



My husband and I found that nothing worked in the place. They had two lifts and 50% of the time only one was working. The room was a disaster. It had a telly and a radio none of which worked. The air-conditioning was rubbish as we could not feel it at all no matter how we tried to adjust it. The bed clothes were a disgrace, they were so badly stained and the net curtains were full of holes and the heavier curtains were plastic.



We had a smell of sewers coming up from the sink in the bathroom which we were not able to get rid of and the best of all was that out of the two weeks we were there we did not have a toaster for 9 days. When we asked them what happened to the toaster all we got told was that it was broken so we ended up eating bread and butter for breakfast as the cereals that were there tasted of cardboard. The staff were appalling and not once did any one of them make us feel welcome, not a good morning or a good night, and maid service was non existent as none of them knew how to make a bed. I hasten to add that we were not the only ones complaining, I don't think there was anyone there that had a good word to say about the place.



Having said all this it really is a pity because the location of the hotel could not be in a better spot and if they pulled their socks up and got their act together I am sure that it could be turned into a lovely place.

I am sooo shocked by the other...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Miss K L Howe

Comments:

I am sooo shocked by the other reviews. I have only been to the Gillieru Harbour Hotel twice but I think it’s great. My parents have been coming to Malta for about 30 years (even though the hotel has only been there for 11 years).



I find that the staff are VERY friendly - especially Tonio, Joseph, Paul, Raymond, Sean, Charlie and well, actually everyone. There is definitely a great atmosphere around the place. The restaurant lives up to its reputation of one of the best, if not THE best fish restaurants in Malta serving fresh fish daily (the swordfish is especially fantastic).



The pool is a nice place to go during the day as it overlooks the sea and you get some great views. It is perfectly situated in a quiet area but it’s only a few minutes walk to Buggiba where there’s always something going on.



Also, Sirens water polo club is just up the hill from the hotel and won the championships this year! All in all, I think it’s a fantastic place and would recommend it to anyone. I am planning on returning early next year. As for the air conditioning, I had no problems this year.

Back again, this time during the...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Chevron

Submitted By:

Mr G Ryan

Comments:

Back again, this time during the world cup and with the mother and father in law, both of which are an experience!



Cars (boy racers) driving round in circles past the hotel with the flag of the latest winner on it at all hours. I've never seen so many Italian looking English fans. Although horns and screeches of cars is ok at say 11pm after the game has finished...it still happening at 3am is a bit much. Note that more cars pass the Gillieru now for some reason and exhaust upgrades on cars seem to be the thing this year.



Very hot this time around (note the hot... come back to that later). Despite the uk papers saying it was 31- 42 or more was reality.



Anyway, the Gillieru Harbour Hotel this time around is looking tired. In need of an upgrade. Our air conditioning in line with others at the hotel was on during dinnertime only. Bulbs were not working and the mini bar contains just 3 soft drink bottles and 4 miniatures. At night we registered a temperature of 49 in the room, that’s around 120. Taking multiple showers during the night was not uncommon. By the end of the holiday we had had enough.



We heard others complaining to the Rep about the air con. On our return, a call to the tour operator revealed they had received no complaint from the Rep (comforting yeah?).



The food in the hotel is as good as always, but seems to be leaning toward a more Maltese feel. Maltese night (on Wednesdays) seems to overlap into other days of the week. A choice of rabbit or octopus left us heading up the road to another restaurant (on more than one occasion).



Still no entertainment at the hotel. We knew this but still heard others moaning about it. They did open the bar early for the England world cup game though (maybe things are looking up?)



This will be my last time at the Gillieru after 5 or so visits. The air con not working all the time or in some rooms at all seems to be a continuing problem (I understand that the Gillieru gets the 4th star in its accreditation for having air con!). For me that is the biggest bugbear along with the change of menu.



Thanks Gillieru but it's time for a change.