Bella Vista Hotel, Qawra, Malta
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £141
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
The Bella Vista Hotel is located at St. Paul’s Bay. The Hotel commands a beautiful breathtaking view of some of the greenest valleys and country fields in this part of Malta with Qawra Bay on one side and Wardija Hill on the other. The Hotel is located in a prominent position on the Qawra Coast Road and very close to the centre of Bugibba, Qawra and St. Paul’s Bay. You can easily discover all the charms of these tourist villages which are within walking distance walk. loading...
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Bella Vista Hotel Reviews
" worst hotel in Malta "
Submitted By: frankiepett
This hotel is great if you don,t like fun,food,entertainment or a good night sleep. The staff are dicortius ignorant and try to treat guest as if they are the important ones.The pool is small and gets very little sun, the bar on the roof terrace was never open.The food was terrible we were on half board ended up eating out.The rooms lets start with the fridge is not a fridge it a cooler box the T.V you have to pay 5 euro for the remote non returnable air con noise and does not work beds a few pieces of wood nailed together and a cheap mattress on it bedding not changed regular.entertainment 2nights a quiz the other nights someone playing a organ badly.The bar was over priced and drinks were of a low standard.I Love going to Malta but will avoid this hotel like the plague. In fact the local prison would be a better choice
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" A Most Enjoyable Holiday "
Submitted By: alison.ford&freenet.co.uk
My husband and I (he's 61 and I am 59) had one week at this hotel and found it very clean, and comfortable. I think the room was rather on the small side (just had two single beds in it) but it did overlook the back of the hotel with a brick wall and looked down on the rear of the hotel shop.
The food and service together with the staff we thought was excellent - the Maltese are all so friendly!
We travelled all around the island on the local yellow buses (which are great fun!) and used the "on-off" open topped buses too. We were lucky with the weather too, having had just little showers, and just poured down on our last day as we were leaving, so that didn't matter too much.
We would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone, although whilst it is very quiet in the area, it is only a short walk to Bugibba centre (when you discover the short-cuts!!).
The food and service together with the staff we thought was excellent - the Maltese are all so friendly!
We travelled all around the island on the local yellow buses (which are great fun!) and used the "on-off" open topped buses too. We were lucky with the weather too, having had just little showers, and just poured down on our last day as we were leaving, so that didn't matter too much.
We would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone, although whilst it is very quiet in the area, it is only a short walk to Bugibba centre (when you discover the short-cuts!!).
Advice: A quiet, but delightful resort
Activities: Did not go into restaurants as we were half board at Hotel, but there are unlimited sights to see
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Go Travel
" never again to Bella Vista "
Submitted By: janpaul
Had a weeks break at the Bella Vista Hotel.
On arriving at 5am in the morning we were checked in. Absolutely gutted at the room we were allocated. When it was booked, it said TWIN SUPERIOR. What we had was 4 single beds, a shower that dribbled and a balcony that you could just about get 2 chairs side by side. Not what we had exptected. After having 3 hours sleep we went to reception to complain.
We were told there would be another room available at 11. We accepted that not knowing that above it was the roof terrace where entertainment was held nightly. After complaining to the hotel management nothing was done which meant every evening we had to listen to the noise above until 11.30. Our room was directly below the stage.
We did finally speak to the duty manager who was unsympathetic and aggressive in his attitude who even commented that he didnt want 'our type' at the hotel. For Gods sake we are both mid 50's!!!!!!
The pool area is far too small for the amount of rooms. The food in general was bland. Although the service was ok, the bar area was inadequate for the amount of peole using it.
The postion of the hotel is badly positioned. Its on a busy main road, with constant bus and truck traffic, car screeching.
In general this hotel is certainly not a 4* as advertised. It more like a 2*.
No air contioning either in the rooms, despite the Bella Vista advertising they do.
Dont be fooled by their website as we were.
On arriving at 5am in the morning we were checked in. Absolutely gutted at the room we were allocated. When it was booked, it said TWIN SUPERIOR. What we had was 4 single beds, a shower that dribbled and a balcony that you could just about get 2 chairs side by side. Not what we had exptected. After having 3 hours sleep we went to reception to complain.
We were told there would be another room available at 11. We accepted that not knowing that above it was the roof terrace where entertainment was held nightly. After complaining to the hotel management nothing was done which meant every evening we had to listen to the noise above until 11.30. Our room was directly below the stage.
We did finally speak to the duty manager who was unsympathetic and aggressive in his attitude who even commented that he didnt want 'our type' at the hotel. For Gods sake we are both mid 50's!!!!!!
The pool area is far too small for the amount of rooms. The food in general was bland. Although the service was ok, the bar area was inadequate for the amount of peole using it.
The postion of the hotel is badly positioned. Its on a busy main road, with constant bus and truck traffic, car screeching.
In general this hotel is certainly not a 4* as advertised. It more like a 2*.
No air contioning either in the rooms, despite the Bella Vista advertising they do.
Dont be fooled by their website as we were.
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Bella Vista Malta "
Submitted By: fionat
Ok, so first things first. We flew with Easy Jet, shock horror! We were a bit worried because of all the stuff we'd heard about them but actually the plane looked new, the flight crew were really friendly (and more to the point, looked happy to be there) and apart from a delay that was no-ones fault the flight was uneventful.
We landed, the luggage arrived, there was a desk in the arrivals hall for all the different tour operators and we were shown straight to the bus to take us to the airport.
The hotel looked ok from the road, not exactly shiney and new but alright, the reception desk was quite shiney, all glass and lights and the reception staff were never less than friendly and helpful and able to deal with any query we had.
Check-in was painless and our room was on the 5th floor. Hooray! I thought, that must mean a good view! Well, luckily for us we weren't expecting to be in the room alot so the view really didn't matter to us. Honest! The view from our balcony (which, by the way, was just big enough for 2 chairs and a little table, if you didn't mind climbing over the second chair to get in and out)was of the opposite balcony. Look down and you can see (and smell) the kitchen extractor fans, look up and you can see chimneys and the aerials and microwave links on the roof. In the mornings you could smell the burning toast and hear the clattering of plates as they came out of the dish washers.
The room itself was good, I have stayed in a lot worse. It had 3 beds, I don't know why, plenty of storage space, a fridge, a TV, a safe in the wardrobe and a lovely bathroom. I've seen the photos that another reviewer has posted of mould etc but honestly, our bathroom was spotless and the best thing of all, constant HOT water, instantly, the best bit of this holiday for me were the hour long baths in the afternoons before going down to dinner. Fantastic! The hotel provides soap, shower gel and various towels. you are not allowed to take towels from the room to the pools, but for €4.75 you can rent a pool towel for the duration of your stay and you get back €2 at the end of the stay.
There were times when we could have done with some heat in the room but it didn't seem to work. It may be that it was turned off by the hotel, but we didn't ask so I don't know. Perhaps by April they don't expect to need the heat.
There is an extra charge for the fridge, the safe and if you want a kettle and tea and coffee facilities that is extra too but it was something like €1.75 a day for loads of tea bags, sachets of Douwe Egberts coffee and creamer plus sugar and if you want more of any of that, just ask and they refuel you.
The hotel has 2 outdoor pools, one kids, one deeper, it also has an indoor pool and steam room (you have to pay extra for that) The sun goes off the outside pools by 1pm but there is a rooftop terrace to catch the afternoon rays and it has a jaccuzi and bar which are open in the summer.
What next? Ok the food. I loved it, hubby wasn't so keen, so it goes to prove you can't please, everyone all the time.
Breakfast was great. Juice, definitely watered down, tea, coffee. Toast, cereal, cooked meats like salami etc cake unusually, fruit and then all the hot stuff. We stayed a week, in the 7 days we had bacon 3 times and sausage 4. We had fried eggs 4 times and scrambled eggs 3 times, (only fried eggs and bacon once at the same time, which peeved hubby) These came with baked beans and hash browny-type potatoes.
The evening meals were different every night. One night they did a Maltese menu, one night an Italian, that was one hubby loved! There was always a choice of 2 meat dishes, 1 fish, 2 vegetables dishes (cauliflower cheese was great!) and one potato dish of some description, fried, boiled, roasted or chipped.
Most of the meat came in a sauce (not to hubbys taste) but one night there was a pork loin carvery which was nice.
There were various cakes and gateaux every night and cheese and biscuits plus ice cream 3 nights a week.
If you are full board you can also ask for a packed lunch to take out with you. According to some friends we made, the lunch time meals were good and they really enjoyed them.
If you like wine with your meal they do a respectable red for €6 or you can get a carafe of house red for €4.50 a litre, the only fault I can find is that you have to walk out of the restaurant with your leftover wine, rather than them keeping it for you until the next night, which is what I've been used to previously. Mind you it does mean you can buy exactly the same bottle in the shop next door to the hotel for €3.75 and take it in with you the next day, no-one questions it. If you are full board you get free tap water, if half board you get to pay €1.10 for a bottle but ditto buy a big bottle outside and just refill the original one.
The hotel has a free Wi-fi area and also provides internet access for €1.50 per half an hour.
You can walk to Bugibba Square in 15 minutes, it is up and down hill, so coming back is down and up hill, it really isn't a long walk, just don't rely on the map from the hotel because you will get lost.
Rather than spend a fortune on excursions we hired a car. €13 a day from a lovely man called Raymond at Astra Car Hire. We found this place on our first walk out along the coast road and he was so friendly we went back the next day and got a car. Really, for the price of a two day excursion that is advertised in the hotel newsletter, you can hire a car for 5 days and go where you like. Its also quite useful when it rains because then you have somewhere to retreat to for shelter. Mind you, you need nerves of steel to drive in Malta. All the drivers are crazy, no signals, lots of hooters, absolute chaos and the roads don't help. They talk about pot-holes over here, but really, you haven't seen a pot-hole until you drive in Malta. We managed though, so anyone can, honest!
They put on entertainment every night, mostly singers, if you like working mans club singers, that's about the mark. We ended up playing cards and then going up to our room.
The trouble was, we walked so far during the day that hubby (bless him, he's not used to walking!)just didn't feel like making the 15 minute walk to where the action was in Bugibba Square so we never went out in the evening. Mind you, we drove all over to some really out of the way places and never felt worried about leaving the car and walking around. All the Maltese people we met were really friendly and spoke great english.
As a place to visit, Malta seemed very delapidated, lots of buildings wrecked or half built, apartment blocks with the bottom 3 floors inhabited and the top floor but the floors inbetween undeveloped. weird!
We went out of season, so lots of stuff was closed. I'm sure that working waterparks and shoreside lidos would make a difference to families with children.
We thought that overall the hotel was ok, not 4 star, definitely, but reasonable for the price. One excursion we did go on, (on our last day) involved having lunch at a real 4 star hotel in Selima. It was an eye-opener! A real 4 star hotel and to be honest, if forced to go to Malta again I would have to stay at the Fortina.
We landed, the luggage arrived, there was a desk in the arrivals hall for all the different tour operators and we were shown straight to the bus to take us to the airport.
The hotel looked ok from the road, not exactly shiney and new but alright, the reception desk was quite shiney, all glass and lights and the reception staff were never less than friendly and helpful and able to deal with any query we had.
Check-in was painless and our room was on the 5th floor. Hooray! I thought, that must mean a good view! Well, luckily for us we weren't expecting to be in the room alot so the view really didn't matter to us. Honest! The view from our balcony (which, by the way, was just big enough for 2 chairs and a little table, if you didn't mind climbing over the second chair to get in and out)was of the opposite balcony. Look down and you can see (and smell) the kitchen extractor fans, look up and you can see chimneys and the aerials and microwave links on the roof. In the mornings you could smell the burning toast and hear the clattering of plates as they came out of the dish washers.
The room itself was good, I have stayed in a lot worse. It had 3 beds, I don't know why, plenty of storage space, a fridge, a TV, a safe in the wardrobe and a lovely bathroom. I've seen the photos that another reviewer has posted of mould etc but honestly, our bathroom was spotless and the best thing of all, constant HOT water, instantly, the best bit of this holiday for me were the hour long baths in the afternoons before going down to dinner. Fantastic! The hotel provides soap, shower gel and various towels. you are not allowed to take towels from the room to the pools, but for €4.75 you can rent a pool towel for the duration of your stay and you get back €2 at the end of the stay.
There were times when we could have done with some heat in the room but it didn't seem to work. It may be that it was turned off by the hotel, but we didn't ask so I don't know. Perhaps by April they don't expect to need the heat.
There is an extra charge for the fridge, the safe and if you want a kettle and tea and coffee facilities that is extra too but it was something like €1.75 a day for loads of tea bags, sachets of Douwe Egberts coffee and creamer plus sugar and if you want more of any of that, just ask and they refuel you.
The hotel has 2 outdoor pools, one kids, one deeper, it also has an indoor pool and steam room (you have to pay extra for that) The sun goes off the outside pools by 1pm but there is a rooftop terrace to catch the afternoon rays and it has a jaccuzi and bar which are open in the summer.
What next? Ok the food. I loved it, hubby wasn't so keen, so it goes to prove you can't please, everyone all the time.
Breakfast was great. Juice, definitely watered down, tea, coffee. Toast, cereal, cooked meats like salami etc cake unusually, fruit and then all the hot stuff. We stayed a week, in the 7 days we had bacon 3 times and sausage 4. We had fried eggs 4 times and scrambled eggs 3 times, (only fried eggs and bacon once at the same time, which peeved hubby) These came with baked beans and hash browny-type potatoes.
The evening meals were different every night. One night they did a Maltese menu, one night an Italian, that was one hubby loved! There was always a choice of 2 meat dishes, 1 fish, 2 vegetables dishes (cauliflower cheese was great!) and one potato dish of some description, fried, boiled, roasted or chipped.
Most of the meat came in a sauce (not to hubbys taste) but one night there was a pork loin carvery which was nice.
There were various cakes and gateaux every night and cheese and biscuits plus ice cream 3 nights a week.
If you are full board you can also ask for a packed lunch to take out with you. According to some friends we made, the lunch time meals were good and they really enjoyed them.
If you like wine with your meal they do a respectable red for €6 or you can get a carafe of house red for €4.50 a litre, the only fault I can find is that you have to walk out of the restaurant with your leftover wine, rather than them keeping it for you until the next night, which is what I've been used to previously. Mind you it does mean you can buy exactly the same bottle in the shop next door to the hotel for €3.75 and take it in with you the next day, no-one questions it. If you are full board you get free tap water, if half board you get to pay €1.10 for a bottle but ditto buy a big bottle outside and just refill the original one.
The hotel has a free Wi-fi area and also provides internet access for €1.50 per half an hour.
You can walk to Bugibba Square in 15 minutes, it is up and down hill, so coming back is down and up hill, it really isn't a long walk, just don't rely on the map from the hotel because you will get lost.
Rather than spend a fortune on excursions we hired a car. €13 a day from a lovely man called Raymond at Astra Car Hire. We found this place on our first walk out along the coast road and he was so friendly we went back the next day and got a car. Really, for the price of a two day excursion that is advertised in the hotel newsletter, you can hire a car for 5 days and go where you like. Its also quite useful when it rains because then you have somewhere to retreat to for shelter. Mind you, you need nerves of steel to drive in Malta. All the drivers are crazy, no signals, lots of hooters, absolute chaos and the roads don't help. They talk about pot-holes over here, but really, you haven't seen a pot-hole until you drive in Malta. We managed though, so anyone can, honest!
They put on entertainment every night, mostly singers, if you like working mans club singers, that's about the mark. We ended up playing cards and then going up to our room.
The trouble was, we walked so far during the day that hubby (bless him, he's not used to walking!)just didn't feel like making the 15 minute walk to where the action was in Bugibba Square so we never went out in the evening. Mind you, we drove all over to some really out of the way places and never felt worried about leaving the car and walking around. All the Maltese people we met were really friendly and spoke great english.
As a place to visit, Malta seemed very delapidated, lots of buildings wrecked or half built, apartment blocks with the bottom 3 floors inhabited and the top floor but the floors inbetween undeveloped. weird!
We went out of season, so lots of stuff was closed. I'm sure that working waterparks and shoreside lidos would make a difference to families with children.
We thought that overall the hotel was ok, not 4 star, definitely, but reasonable for the price. One excursion we did go on, (on our last day) involved having lunch at a real 4 star hotel in Selima. It was an eye-opener! A real 4 star hotel and to be honest, if forced to go to Malta again I would have to stay at the Fortina.
Advice: If you love churches or coastal scenery, this is the place for you. Bring your camera!
Activities: We didn
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2009
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Chevron
" Food very poor "
Submitted By: V. Daisy
The food at this hotel is very poor. They serve up what isn't eaten at dinner one night, slightly altered the next night. All Inclusive is a choice you do not want to make. You will not be able to enjoy your stay if you are made to feel that you should not ask for anything or have more than two drinks each.This hotel wants to make as much out of the foreigner as possible. The worse they treat you the more likely you are to eat out and thus saving them even more money.The locals however have the run of the place at the weekends. The hotel should be a two star and be a lot cheaper than the book price.
Advice: Great bus service
Activities: Valletta
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" don't go all inclusive "
Submitted By: mrphillipepiper
This hotel is barely a 4 star, don't expect much from the food and the barman is a miserable sod. You won't get crisps, fruit or yoghurt on the all inclusive and the snacks are hard to get hold of too.
Set your alarm for breakfast they are virtually packed up by 9am.If you get this hotel and 3rd of brochure price you will not be unhappy, if you pay half brochure price you will feel hard done by. Be warned, don't pay over the odds for this hotel or it will ruin your holiday.
Set your alarm for breakfast they are virtually packed up by 9am.If you get this hotel and 3rd of brochure price you will not be unhappy, if you pay half brochure price you will feel hard done by. Be warned, don't pay over the odds for this hotel or it will ruin your holiday.
Advice: warn them not to go unless it was cheap as chips
Activities: Going all over the island with a cheap weeks bus pass
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Great home from home "
Submitted By: jontippett
I booked this hotel for my teenage son, Wife and I to stay in for a week over half term and was staggered at the deal they offered me.
From our arrival to the time we left we found all the staff to be extremely courtious and very friendly. We had a problem on arrival but they resolved it quickly and efiicently and without any hassle,
The food was good and Sunday Lunch was simply devine.There was never a bad ly cooked item and all was very fresh. The fish was almost the freshest I had ever tasted.
My one and only niggle was that the beds are all single standards and when you are 6 foot 3 and of heavy build a single bed is quite uncomfortable.
I highly recomend this hotel to all who want a homne from home and where nothing is too much bother for ANY of the staff.
John Tippett
Daventry, UK.
From our arrival to the time we left we found all the staff to be extremely courtious and very friendly. We had a problem on arrival but they resolved it quickly and efiicently and without any hassle,
The food was good and Sunday Lunch was simply devine.There was never a bad ly cooked item and all was very fresh. The fish was almost the freshest I had ever tasted.
My one and only niggle was that the beds are all single standards and when you are 6 foot 3 and of heavy build a single bed is quite uncomfortable.
I highly recomend this hotel to all who want a homne from home and where nothing is too much bother for ANY of the staff.
John Tippett
Daventry, UK.
Advice: Its a boring town but Bubbiga is close by and is a lot better and a 10 min walk from hotel
Activities:
Good for: City Breaks
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Brilliant "
Submitted By: dyjas
Arrived on 30th december for a week half board, there should have been 2 of us but i holidayed on my own ( female), I was a little anxious when I arrived but the receptionist soon put me at ease, the room was clean and spacious. The meals were lovely and plenty of choice, soup, pasta. salad , fish or meat choice etc. and the staff were friendly. the bar staff were friendly and if you make an effort to talk to them they become like friends by the end of your holiday.the free bus into town has to be booked the day before. If you go on the local buses get a day ticket which is 3.49 and you can hop on and off whenever you wish, very good value, I have holidayed in malta several times before and the people are so friendly and laid back, I would certainly return to this hotel again probably all inclusive next time as I stayed in the hotel most evenings and even the entertainment was ok - I think this hotel is most suited to the over 40's - the only possible downside i could say is the pool isn't huge and would be very crowed in summertime . thank you to all the staff and the friends I made who made my holiday a success.
Advice: Take a ride on an old bus !!!!!
Activities: Sliema and valetta, popeye village and tai crafts centre
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- Date of Holiday:Dec 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Airtours
" Bella bella bella! "
Submitted By: abdoujarapov
So what's with all the whinging about this hotel? I was nearly put off going but I'm glad I did. It is one of the best hotels that I've stayed at in Malta. The best things:- The food was exceptionally good. There was a fair choice, a good variety and the desserts were a revelation. The situation is unusually scenic, unless you get an interiour room and an easy ten minute stroll into town. Worst things:- Pools were freezing! I was so taken aback by the comments I had read previously I asked the manager why there had been such bad reviews. He told me that the person who complained (in the review) about the state of her bathroom didn't make any comment at the time she was there. The people who said the food and drink was rubbish disliked it so much that they spent every waking moment in the bar or restaurant later collapsing unconcious and abandonning their children! Ok, so this hotel isn't perfect but it's one of the best and most of the complaints I've read seem to come from people with unrealistic expectations. Some of the reviews appear to have been written by Wayne and Waynetta.
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- Date of Holiday:Oct 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Disappointed "
Submitted By: KathHoney
We booked this hotel because it looked great and it was four star. Yes, we did think it was a bargain compared with other four star hotels in the Med we looked at, but what would most people do? So we booked it! My husband and two children (aged 13 & 9) stayed for a week, over the Christmas period. The kids were made up with the indoor pool and jacuzzi. Unfortunately it closed at 7.30, so they weren't too impressed with that. Another dosappointment was the fact that breakfast was only served until 9am.I don't know about others, but we like to stay up quite late and have a bit of a lie in, ceratinly not having to set the alarm to make sure we're up at the crack of dawn every morning (after all we did pay for breakfast!) The staff at the hotel were exceptionally friendly and efficient at all times, and the cleanliness of the hotel was of a very high standard. There was a small internet facility which the kids took advantage of, and a games room which included a pool table. However, they got bored pretty quickly with this. The evening entertainment left a lot to be desired too, although I must say it was certainly aimed at the more mature clientele, who obviously loved it! Fortunately for us, we could easily walk into the busier part of Qawra, Buggiba and St. Paul's Bay, and there was a local cinema too which we visited on a couple of occasions (loads cheaper than at home). The Bella Vista is ideal for older couples (at this time of year anyway) but if you have kids it's not ideal, unless yours are the kind who like to sit in front of a computer for hours on end! I'm sure it's a completely different atmosphere in the summer. We left feeling that we got a little less than we paid for - it's certainly not a four star hotel, but the staff did all they could to make our stay comfortable.
Advice: Quiet at Christmas!
Activities: Mdina and Sliema. Do the open top bus tours at the start of your stay - highly recommended.
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- Date of Holiday:Dec 2008
- Board Basis:Bed & Breakfast
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" I have to start this as once upon at... "
Submitted By: Mrs Elizabeth Curtin
I have to start this as once upon at time, I arrived at the Bella vista about 4.30 in the afternoon, i recently had a condition and was in a wheelchair when i tried to enter the hotel my path was blocked outside by tables and chairs, as i went into a small disable lift my path was blocked once again by large red lounge chairs there was no help in removing these chairs ( thank god for my hubby. I was told i would be on the ground floor, on speaking with the reception a young lady i was told that there is no ground floor, i was then given a piece of paper to put all my details and was sent to the first floor, when i came out of the lift the smell of damp water took me back, so i thought i will see the room. The room was basic with two single beds a little tight as i had my chair, i went into the bathroom and i was shocked to see a bath with a small shower head on the wall, when i turned it on the water hit the wall and the shower curtain (and me) but not the bath floor. I then went to look out of the balcony and i saw a high blue wall as my view , i could not believe i had to look at a wall for a week, i went back down stairs and but my concerns about the room to the young lady, she then got the manager a black haired women 30ish who was polite but told me, there is no ground floor, there are no showers in Malta that you walk into they said they would give me a box to step on into the bath, and someone would come and see the shower. I could not believe i had to spend 7 days in this hotel, o yes i have to say i have never been in a hotel of a 4 star that you have to pay 11 euro for a fridge ( that did not work). I Know this sounds like a horror story but it could of been if we did not check out the next morning and found another hotel ( The suncrest Hotel) the ending of this story is
ONE for people in wheelchairs the bella vista hotel is not suitable
TWO you get what you pay for and the bella vist is not a 4 star hotel and you should get a 4 star for what you have payed for.
THREE Malta is a lovely place but when you are looking for hotels please, please take heed of the reviews and you wont waste money or time. Sorry this , my review took so long.
ONE for people in wheelchairs the bella vista hotel is not suitable
TWO you get what you pay for and the bella vist is not a 4 star hotel and you should get a 4 star for what you have payed for.
THREE Malta is a lovely place but when you are looking for hotels please, please take heed of the reviews and you wont waste money or time. Sorry this , my review took so long.
Management response:
Ray Formosa, Manager: The hotel has access to all floors by means of lifts, but it is not really suitable for wheelchairs. All rooms have balconies and in front of the hotel there is the Salini National Park. The management tried to allocate a quite room in the first level pool view.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Bed & Breakfast
- Tour Operator:freedomdirect
" OMG! Just be glad that You did not... "
Submitted By: Mr C Cini
OMG! Just be glad that You did not share your holiday with these moaners and complainers. If you have booked or worried about booking - you have nothing to fear. The Bella Vista is fantastic!.
Most of the rooms are in a great location and are of a good size. The Bathroom was a good size and clean with a fantastic power shower. Yes some of the tiles could be re-grouted, but hardly a holiday killer.
Rooms were cleaned daily except Sundays, we came back daily to clean rooms, beds made, floors clean, bathroom fresh.
Food was piping hot, delicious and plentyful. however Breakfast ends at 9am, so guess what happens when half the hotel descends for breakfast at 08.45am? Queues, long ones. I suggest arriving before 08.30am. Dinners are tasty and different daily.
The Pool is in the sun from 9.30am till 2pm, for more sun use the rooftop terrace. We found the pool to be just big enough for the hotel, our kids loved it.
Overall the service was fantastic and the hotel is great as a base for your holiday.
Personally I would recommend this for B&B or HB only, This is not really the place to go all inclusive - if you are the sort of person to stay in your hotel for the whole holiday this is not the place for you - spend some more money and stay elsewhere more suited to you.
I chatted to a lot of people in the Hotel who were worried after reading the reviews for this hotel, and all said the negative ones were a load of rubbish as the Hotel was simply great and they had a fantastic Holiday.
Most of the rooms are in a great location and are of a good size. The Bathroom was a good size and clean with a fantastic power shower. Yes some of the tiles could be re-grouted, but hardly a holiday killer.
Rooms were cleaned daily except Sundays, we came back daily to clean rooms, beds made, floors clean, bathroom fresh.
Food was piping hot, delicious and plentyful. however Breakfast ends at 9am, so guess what happens when half the hotel descends for breakfast at 08.45am? Queues, long ones. I suggest arriving before 08.30am. Dinners are tasty and different daily.
The Pool is in the sun from 9.30am till 2pm, for more sun use the rooftop terrace. We found the pool to be just big enough for the hotel, our kids loved it.
Overall the service was fantastic and the hotel is great as a base for your holiday.
Personally I would recommend this for B&B or HB only, This is not really the place to go all inclusive - if you are the sort of person to stay in your hotel for the whole holiday this is not the place for you - spend some more money and stay elsewhere more suited to you.
I chatted to a lot of people in the Hotel who were worried after reading the reviews for this hotel, and all said the negative ones were a load of rubbish as the Hotel was simply great and they had a fantastic Holiday.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Sunshine.co.uk
" A VERY LONG AND PRECISE REVIEW!!! ;-)... "
Submitted By: Other M&p Smith
A VERY LONG AND PRECISE REVIEW!!! ;-) Sorry
We booked the holiday in March 2008 and to be honest, it wasn't our first choice. The hotel we'd originally booked was further into busier seafront however the reviews were really bad so we changed it for the Bella Vista.
We found Malta to be a lovely place though thought Qawra lacked in colour in some parts. St Pauls Bay was much more colourful than Qawra and is such a pretty bay! The cost of the holiday was reasonable yet not the cheapest package holiday by far. We were quite realistic but found ourselves expecting a higher standard [at the bella vista] than we actually experienced.
The transfer to the hotel was promt and the gentleman was very informative, friendly and polite. We arrived promtly at the hotel around 12.30 and was informed that we could book in at 2pm. The reception staff were polite and quite friendly.
We sat in the lounge area and decided to try out the all inclusive snack range. The snacks arrived delivered by a uninterested and rude barman (young, local and very slim - rarely smiles) and we hoped that things would improved on the hospitality score.
The pool area was sunny until around 2-3pm but it was still roasting way after that and sometimes a nice place to get some shade. We went to the rooftop area most nights to get the last of the sun. The entertainment was very simple and relaxed. There was a couple of nights of Kareoke which gave some light entertainment, another night a bit of a disco and twice i think there were two men who had excellent voices and weren't that bad looking either. The all inclusive drinks end on the dot at 11pm as does the entertainment. It was good but everyone wanted it to be extended later than that. The hotel was made up of mainly middle aged people, older people, young couples, a few young familes (though in the minority) and small pleasent groups of european teenagers.
Generally, the hotel was clean, the staff mostly informative, polite, and a few very friendly and happy... look out for Bob Marley lol
Our rooms were clean and there was enough space to move around in. Nothing really fancy but acceptable. As others' have noted, the TV just had one channel in English but who goes on their holidays to watch tv? They put family movies on in the evening which both our 17 and 10yr old was happy with and if asked they would replay them a little later on too. The bathroom could have benefited with an update although everything worked (just watch out for the shower temperature changes ... ouch!). Our balcony looked out onto a back street - it was clean though and was nice to wave and say "morning" to the local gentleman who enjoyed his morning relaxing with a coffee however the daily bin collection is sooo noisy. Our children shared their own room which again was clean and spacious enough. They wasnt as happy with their balcony which was tiny and facing a wall.
Considering we paid for all inclusive, we were very disappointed with the food. It couldn't have got more basic. Breakfast was a meal we never missed - the bacon tasted a little odd but otherwise it was all okay and much better than the following meal times. The lunch time and main meals lacked in variety, taste and quality. It all was very basic. With regards to the snacks; these were very limited and only on at certain times of the day. The children couldnt even get an so much as an icepop.
The walk into town wasnt too bad even if it is uphill on the return walk. Some larger people struggled with the walk and looked as though they needed wringing out on their return to the hotel but if you are able bodied and not massively overweight you should be fine.
Their is a nice little pizza place that sells pizza slices at a really reasonable price - we ate their a few nights a week rather than rushing back to the hotel for a disappointing meal. We also ate at a few seafront restaurants around the prom further into Qawra and an italian restaurant which was excellent (it has a huge sculptured head outside poss called michaelangelos?)
The hotel is an affordable, cheap base to stay and we would stay there again however we would never go all inclusive there again.
We're looking at going back in Decemeber time but would stay at St Pauls bay - its prettier there and much closer to the sea. We spent a lot of time around there, hired a little boat from a maltease man called victor and took it out to St Pauls island, anchored up and went snorkling in the shallower (15/20ft) waters. It was great, clean green and blue waters swimming with little fish :-). Golden sands was a great beach too but was really busy unless you go there later on in the day - its visable as it stays hot til 7-8pm.
We liked malta, its people are mainly nice, we felt safe on the streets and even considered buying/leasing a holiday home there! Just don't go expecting too much unless you're willing to pay for the Radisson!
We'd give malta 9 points out of 10 but the hotel only really scores a 5 due to food
We booked the holiday in March 2008 and to be honest, it wasn't our first choice. The hotel we'd originally booked was further into busier seafront however the reviews were really bad so we changed it for the Bella Vista.
We found Malta to be a lovely place though thought Qawra lacked in colour in some parts. St Pauls Bay was much more colourful than Qawra and is such a pretty bay! The cost of the holiday was reasonable yet not the cheapest package holiday by far. We were quite realistic but found ourselves expecting a higher standard [at the bella vista] than we actually experienced.
The transfer to the hotel was promt and the gentleman was very informative, friendly and polite. We arrived promtly at the hotel around 12.30 and was informed that we could book in at 2pm. The reception staff were polite and quite friendly.
We sat in the lounge area and decided to try out the all inclusive snack range. The snacks arrived delivered by a uninterested and rude barman (young, local and very slim - rarely smiles) and we hoped that things would improved on the hospitality score.
The pool area was sunny until around 2-3pm but it was still roasting way after that and sometimes a nice place to get some shade. We went to the rooftop area most nights to get the last of the sun. The entertainment was very simple and relaxed. There was a couple of nights of Kareoke which gave some light entertainment, another night a bit of a disco and twice i think there were two men who had excellent voices and weren't that bad looking either. The all inclusive drinks end on the dot at 11pm as does the entertainment. It was good but everyone wanted it to be extended later than that. The hotel was made up of mainly middle aged people, older people, young couples, a few young familes (though in the minority) and small pleasent groups of european teenagers.
Generally, the hotel was clean, the staff mostly informative, polite, and a few very friendly and happy... look out for Bob Marley lol
Our rooms were clean and there was enough space to move around in. Nothing really fancy but acceptable. As others' have noted, the TV just had one channel in English but who goes on their holidays to watch tv? They put family movies on in the evening which both our 17 and 10yr old was happy with and if asked they would replay them a little later on too. The bathroom could have benefited with an update although everything worked (just watch out for the shower temperature changes ... ouch!). Our balcony looked out onto a back street - it was clean though and was nice to wave and say "morning" to the local gentleman who enjoyed his morning relaxing with a coffee however the daily bin collection is sooo noisy. Our children shared their own room which again was clean and spacious enough. They wasnt as happy with their balcony which was tiny and facing a wall.
Considering we paid for all inclusive, we were very disappointed with the food. It couldn't have got more basic. Breakfast was a meal we never missed - the bacon tasted a little odd but otherwise it was all okay and much better than the following meal times. The lunch time and main meals lacked in variety, taste and quality. It all was very basic. With regards to the snacks; these were very limited and only on at certain times of the day. The children couldnt even get an so much as an icepop.
The walk into town wasnt too bad even if it is uphill on the return walk. Some larger people struggled with the walk and looked as though they needed wringing out on their return to the hotel but if you are able bodied and not massively overweight you should be fine.
Their is a nice little pizza place that sells pizza slices at a really reasonable price - we ate their a few nights a week rather than rushing back to the hotel for a disappointing meal. We also ate at a few seafront restaurants around the prom further into Qawra and an italian restaurant which was excellent (it has a huge sculptured head outside poss called michaelangelos?)
The hotel is an affordable, cheap base to stay and we would stay there again however we would never go all inclusive there again.
We're looking at going back in Decemeber time but would stay at St Pauls bay - its prettier there and much closer to the sea. We spent a lot of time around there, hired a little boat from a maltease man called victor and took it out to St Pauls island, anchored up and went snorkling in the shallower (15/20ft) waters. It was great, clean green and blue waters swimming with little fish :-). Golden sands was a great beach too but was really busy unless you go there later on in the day - its visable as it stays hot til 7-8pm.
We liked malta, its people are mainly nice, we felt safe on the streets and even considered buying/leasing a holiday home there! Just don't go expecting too much unless you're willing to pay for the Radisson!
We'd give malta 9 points out of 10 but the hotel only really scores a 5 due to food
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:uk travel shop (i think)
" We were obviously a bit worried after... "
Submitted By: Mrs G Taylor
We were obviously a bit worried after booking this hotel then subsequently reading the reviews written by people who have obviously spent their whole holiday just looking for things to moan about! We needn't have worried as the hotel was very pleasant (although yes not 4 star but for the price you pay you cannot expect luxury!!)
Some of the things that a lot of people seem to moan about:
HOTEL BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE & 25 MINUTES (UPHILL) WALK INTO TOWN - THIS IS NOT THE CASE! If these people only had the common sense to ASK the hotel receptionist how to get into town they will gladly give you a map with directions! (Or they will even tell you how to book the bus which picks up right outside the hotel) We strolled at a leisurely pace & were in Bugibba Square (full of cafes, bars, shops & restaurants) in under 10 minutes!
THE POOL - Yes the pool is not massive but neither is the hotel & so is sufficient I believe for the potential number of guests (plus there is also an indoor pool). As for there being no sun by the pool this is ABSOLUTE RUBBISH! We arrived at around 11am and there was sun around the pool until at least 1.30pm - after this time you can take the lift up to the roof sun terrace which has sun from around 8am until early evening & is lovely! There is a bar up there and a jacuzzi if you need to cool off from the heat - we used the sun terrace every day
FOOD - there was a large variety on offer daily - for breakfast you could have bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, beans etc, or a choice of 3 cereals, as well as cheeses, ham, fruit, bread, salad. For dinner there were always 3 main hot dishes to choose from, including a fish dish plus a vegetarian option (different each day) as well as a pasta dish, salad, soup, plus a selection of delicious cheesecakes! Mmm... the meals were quite nice, although as it states in the brochure that it is a "buffet style" dinner service you cannot expect restaurant standard meals - I would recommend that you book bed & breakfast rather than half board if you're going to be fussy about what you eat - there are loads of restaurants in the square & they are reasonably priced - we ate in a really nice restaurant with a bottle of wine & it came to 38 euros for the 2 of us & was delicious (Venus Restaurant - lovely!)
ROOMS - the room was quite basic but comfortable & clean - a few tiles in the bathroom could've done with replacing but this hardly spoils your holiday! We had one of the smaller balconies as it was on a corner but it was sufficient for the two of us to sit out in the evening & enjoy a lovely bottle of wine from the general store next to the hotel! All rooms have a tv & hairdryer as well as a fridge (which you can pay a surcharge to use - approx £7 for the week). If you look in your information pack in the room there are many other "upgrades or extras" available for a small cost
Most of the things that these people were moaning about could have quite easily been rectified if they only had the sense to ask the staff - who were friendly & helpful....but then what would they then be able to talk about!?!?!
We stayed at the Bella Vista for 4 nights following our wedding & were pleasantly surprised by the hotel overall (it is NOT the Hilton by a long shot but I think only a fool would expect such a high standard from such a reasonably priced holiday) We absolutely loved Malta & will definitely visit again. Everyone speaks English & everyone is really laid back which (if you let it) leads to you having a very relaxing & enjoyable holiday.
Some of the things that a lot of people seem to moan about:
HOTEL BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE & 25 MINUTES (UPHILL) WALK INTO TOWN - THIS IS NOT THE CASE! If these people only had the common sense to ASK the hotel receptionist how to get into town they will gladly give you a map with directions! (Or they will even tell you how to book the bus which picks up right outside the hotel) We strolled at a leisurely pace & were in Bugibba Square (full of cafes, bars, shops & restaurants) in under 10 minutes!
THE POOL - Yes the pool is not massive but neither is the hotel & so is sufficient I believe for the potential number of guests (plus there is also an indoor pool). As for there being no sun by the pool this is ABSOLUTE RUBBISH! We arrived at around 11am and there was sun around the pool until at least 1.30pm - after this time you can take the lift up to the roof sun terrace which has sun from around 8am until early evening & is lovely! There is a bar up there and a jacuzzi if you need to cool off from the heat - we used the sun terrace every day
FOOD - there was a large variety on offer daily - for breakfast you could have bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, beans etc, or a choice of 3 cereals, as well as cheeses, ham, fruit, bread, salad. For dinner there were always 3 main hot dishes to choose from, including a fish dish plus a vegetarian option (different each day) as well as a pasta dish, salad, soup, plus a selection of delicious cheesecakes! Mmm... the meals were quite nice, although as it states in the brochure that it is a "buffet style" dinner service you cannot expect restaurant standard meals - I would recommend that you book bed & breakfast rather than half board if you're going to be fussy about what you eat - there are loads of restaurants in the square & they are reasonably priced - we ate in a really nice restaurant with a bottle of wine & it came to 38 euros for the 2 of us & was delicious (Venus Restaurant - lovely!)
ROOMS - the room was quite basic but comfortable & clean - a few tiles in the bathroom could've done with replacing but this hardly spoils your holiday! We had one of the smaller balconies as it was on a corner but it was sufficient for the two of us to sit out in the evening & enjoy a lovely bottle of wine from the general store next to the hotel! All rooms have a tv & hairdryer as well as a fridge (which you can pay a surcharge to use - approx £7 for the week). If you look in your information pack in the room there are many other "upgrades or extras" available for a small cost
Most of the things that these people were moaning about could have quite easily been rectified if they only had the sense to ask the staff - who were friendly & helpful....but then what would they then be able to talk about!?!?!
We stayed at the Bella Vista for 4 nights following our wedding & were pleasantly surprised by the hotel overall (it is NOT the Hilton by a long shot but I think only a fool would expect such a high standard from such a reasonably priced holiday) We absolutely loved Malta & will definitely visit again. Everyone speaks English & everyone is really laid back which (if you let it) leads to you having a very relaxing & enjoyable holiday.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
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Advice: The centre of Qawra is a live with restaurants, most of the people who work in Malta are lovely.
Activities: