Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Malta Golden Bay

4 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from the Radisson Blue Golden Bay Hotel on a promotional presentation.
We could not fault the friendliness of the staff and service we were given.
We had booked for breakfast which was most enjoyable with lots of choice. The facilities at the hotel etc became very busy during the weekend with Maltese people coming for the weekend and taking over in the reception area and reastaurant and outside facilities and there was a real buzz to the place but failing that it was very quiet indeed.
We had booked a car previously to coming to the resort for some of the week, which was very useful in getting around the island, but the bus transport system is excellent and cheap if you did not wish to hire a car.
The hotel is in a remote position and we found it a little restrictive as you could not walk out at night as very dark (at this time of year) and no promenade to walk out on as the hotel/holidayownership is situated on the top of a cliff.
We had a side sea view half looking across to the next building with no-one in residence, but the view of the sea was beautiful and I am sure that wherever the accommodation is, at the front, side or back there would be a nice view.
The four hour presentation went quite well but we did not wish to purchase at this particular time, for several reasons.
We really enjoyed Malta as there is something new and of interest at every turn and it was always enjoyable to come back to the Radisson Blue Golden Bay Hotel when we had been out.
The indoor pool was lovely and warm, but the sauna did not reach the required heat and steam room not working.
Obviously there were beautiful outdoor pools, but far too cold to use in January and no-one around the pool.
We would, without hesitation return, but maybe at some other time of year.
The room was spotless and the housekeeping staff excellent.
All in all we found all the staff in the hotel very helpful, polite and very friendly.

8 readers found this review helpful

my wife and i went on 1-3-10 for one week on a timeshare preview the hotel is situated in the middle of nowhere there was a cafe down the road that shut at 5 ocloc two cafes on the beach one was not open and the other shut at 6 oclock so if you wanted to eat or drink in the hotel you will pay through the nose so we used to buy groceries and wine in valletta and as we had a kitchenette in our room we used to eat and drink there as a pint of local lager was 4.70 euros (£4.50)sunday lunch was31 euros (£30.00) yes it was a 5 star hotel but you will pay 5 star prices for food and drink outside the hotel ther was no shops no bars no restaurants you may as well be in the middle of the desert so unless you are training to be a monk or nun or are totally unsocialable do not go to this hotel

20 readers found this review helpful

My husband and I visited the resort for a week as part of a Timeshare Bonus Weeks deal. The room was lovely although we looked onto the countryside and were woken every morning about 7.30 by the sound of gunfire. Due to the local custom of shooting everything that moves or flies, there are many hides on the land behind the hotel where locals spend all day every day trying to lure and kill birds or rabbits. The whole island is very lacking in birdsong! We also had to sit through a 5 hour timeshare presentation - even although we said from the start that we would not be buying. The hotel itself is beautiful and extremely well appointed with a good selection of restaurants and bars. Prices vary but are generally similar to the U.K. Its main problem is that it is quite remote and there is only one small bar/restaurant nearby if you don't want to eat in the hotel itself, which can be expensive. We were on a self catering basis and had a small kitchen. Although there is a Deli in the Hotel, it is expensive too. The nearest, very small shop is about a mile away. Luckily there is a good local bus service to nearby towns where you can stock up on essentials. The hotel also runs a courtesy bus, which we used frequently. We would like to return to the Hotel though- even if we do have to suffer the sales pitch again. All the staff were very pleasant and helpful. On the whole, a lovely break. I don't think we would have liked 2 weeks - not enough to do.

10 readers found this review helpful

excellant hotel 5 star rating very clean rooms we had a one bedroom apartment with a sofabed in a second room which was not very comfortable so the children tell me . we had a large balcony overlooking the maltese country side with lots of campsites some of the sites had groups of scouts camping , as we were staying on a promotional basis we did not get the seaview , but we did not mind . It was more interesting watching the maltese camping out. our room had airconditioning , 2 tv so we could watch the news and olympics , the restaurants were a bit expensive we found it cheaper to order room service for breakfast . We ordered one contiental breakfast and one baskets of pastrys and cakes which came with a pot of coffee and orange juice , which we all shared between the 4 of us 2 adults and 2 children . in the evenings we eat out of the hotel at local restaurants . My wife on our second day had a small accident with the heat and climbing steps from the beach [ we had not yet worked out the lift to the beach] she fainted whilst with the children , i was still on the beach , the hotel staff were excellant and quickly attended to my wife the response was very professional . i found out as i came up the steps to this scene which was a shock at first , but all ended well . we found the staff helpful and polite , when needed , information local buses they provided bus timetables and advice . the free mini bus to Valletta and back which the hotel run .

14 readers found this review helpful

We arrived at this hotel and from the moment we stepped out of the courtesy shuttle bus this holiday experience was magical. The hotel is spotless - staff work tirelessly to keep all rooms and areas up to the high standard that it is. Everyone so kind and efficient. The spacious room we had was great - main living area with bed sofa, dining and study areas as well as SAT TV also twin room. To our surprise the sheets were changed daily - much appreciated, as was the double sinks in the luxurious marble bathroom. The attention to detail was great in all areas - housekeeping, restaurant, reception etc. we had read on web about area being remote, not for us ....bus calls regularly (cheap)with a choice of destinations and journey times and also the Apples eye restaurant / bar is a very short stroll and has an extensive and reasonably priced menu. It is easy to access the beach from inside the hotel but if you take the route through the car park and down the hill you will come across a truck selling a great range of things from fruit cocktails which are chilled and delicious to homemade wine.....we'd recomment the 4 bottle deal!!! Both beach bars good too, not just for drinks but toasties and ices are good too and cheap! Other things to note about hotel is: there's a shop on lower ground floor, the pool, spa and gym are all great and do not do what we did and leave it a few days before you visit them as you will only be disappointed!! Room service menu is good value and good quality - even the childrens menu is quality!! Order something to try , as we did, early on and you will discover what it is like.
Part of our holiday deal was to go to a presentation...no problems, interesting and unfortunatley we were not in a position to consider this - or any other - resort. Would we go back? You bet! It was so very special and our only problem now is finding a holiday within our budget that compares!
I wish there was something we could moan about to make this sound less like an ad but the truth is there was'nt in our case. On the last night there was a really big storm with thunder and lightening and we even loved that!!!

3 readers found this review helpful

Excellent comfort and service.
The facilities were great and even if it was late in the season, everything was in tip-top shape. And getting away from Valetta is a good idea. If you need to see the town, there are good bus connections.
The food was good, but after 5 dinners from the same buffet, even the finest food becomes ordinary. And don´t miss the lounge bar on the terrace in the afternoon. And for dinner, remember your evening dress/suit.
The room was marvelous with excellent view overlooking the ocean and the sunset. Room service/cleaning came twice a day to look after our needs. And there is a very nice SPA next to the pool area. Only disadvantage for us, was that kids below 16 where not allowed there.
The pool area and beach was also very nice and well suited for families with kids. Ours are 10 and 16. Clean and nice beach, towel service etc. etc. Leisure activities like paragliding and snorkeling are available. And don´t miss the horse riding close to the hotel.
I would very much recommend visitors to go there, if you are not "party animals". As well families with kids as couples without will have a real great vacation there.

2 readers found this review helpful

This brand new hotel was only finished last October but the teething problems seem to have been ironed out.
Fantastic service, the staff are very friendly and cannot do enough for you. We only had trouble with things added to our bill that should not have been, but they were soon ironed out. Restaurants/bars on the expensive side, but this is a 5-star hotel. Alio Olio restaurant the best value. Great wine.
Kids club a bit erratic but there was always something on. Can't wait to go back next year!

Five star luxury at it’s best on this Mediterranean island. The hotel is luxurious and benefits from an enviable position above its own private beach.
Provides ideal & perfect relaxation for sun worshippers or it’s safe to get out & about for those who want more of an active holiday.
Staff & locals are very friendly, courtesy bus provided, restaurants of excellent standard. Ideal base in absolute comfort for holiday makers who want to explore Malta.

8 readers found this review helpful

Arrived 3am at what seemed like a palace, rooms were waiting for us with the beds turned down and curtains drawn.
Next morning we were shown round the hotel facilities which were the best I have ever stayed at, steam rooms, saunas, Jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor pools, private beach with water sport facility, jet skiing, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, banana boat rides etc, etc run by extremely capable helpful staff.
All members of staff, in fact all people on the island, couldn't be more helpful and caring, they were just too good to be true, unlike here in the UK.
The accommodation was very spacious, there were 4 of us, we has a separate bedroom with double bed and 2 singles for children, a bathroom which was larger than my living room, a balcony overlooking the gardens and free internet access to my children’s delight. You don't need to take towels, they supply some for the pool/beach and more for the bathroom, wish I'd known before hand.
Everywhere was immaculately clean, fresh and a pleasure to be in, mellow music played in the corridors just to add to the atmosphere.
The resort is a little out of the way and therefore car hire is highly recommended - there are buses but not very often, hire the car when you get there, go by bus into one of the local towns, they are dirt cheap compared to the hotel or internet prices, (around £180, for the week).
Be prepared for the hotel prices, it is 5* and deserves ever one of them, but the prices of everything are too, e.g. snickers bar, £1.70 from the room service. Food is fantastic here if you like all the fancy foreign types, no basic chicken nuggets and chips for the little ones I'm afraid and again, very expensive.
Go out into the local town and go where the locals eat, excellent quality and value and much more of an experience and if you want that special meal, go to Nostalgia Restaurant, I can guarantee it will be the best meal that you will probably ever have, I can highly recommend the baby swordfish and the chicken with orange and grand Marnier sauce, divine.
The nearest tourist centers are on the bay front at Bugibba, absolutely fantastic night out, go horse riding at Golden Bay is well worth a visit, and the aqua park, advertised as having the largest wave pool in Europe was a fun day, but it's small compared to others I've been too.
Our holiday was a timeshare promotional deal, but I really can't fault any of it, the staff at BWB were extremely helpful and knowledgeable re everything I asked. The staff at the hotel couldn't do enough for us, and the reps at the hotel took us for a guided tour which was great as I don't think I would have found half of the things I did, they supplied a very nice lunch and at the end we told them we were not in a position to buy into a timeshare at this time and they were fine, no problems at all.
We got very cheap flights online, we flew with British Jet, again very helpful staff, when we checked in we were given seats which weren't together, once on the plane the air stewardess moved us to all sit together. Had a meal on each journey which was OK for an in-flight meal, very clean plane and a smooth journey.
I can't praise the Radisson enough for making our holiday so comfortable and relaxing. Well done to all involved. 5* hotel, 5* staff, 5*service.

The hotel/apartment was a building site. When we got to the hotel, they had just laid the tarmac and the cab was able to drive up to reception. Only one of the three buildings had been completed.
Whilst we were there we had no electricity or water for a couple of days. Building work (banging started very early in the morning and went onto quite late). No entertainment, shop, children's facilities, no staff around pool, no bar at pool, no private beach, no laundry. There was one restaurant and an indoor swimming pool, and outdoor swimming pools, but no children’s paddling pool (dirty water - told not to go in it - my son ran to it). By the pools outside, there were part of steps that led nowhere - a building site.
We were given one of the smaller one bed apartments - there are no ovens in these apartments. We had two young children with us (9 months and 2 years) and there was no space - they would not take any of the furniture away for us. We could not watch the television in the bedroom as none of the flat screens worked in the hotel and anyway there were no programmes in English.
The staff kept apologising but saying that the hotel is not open yet - it was supposed to have been completed beginning of August and we had received a phone call before we went saying it was just cosmetic.
The hotel will probably be very nice - but I think it will take a long time.