Barceló Fortina Malta Reviews

Fabulous experience and scenery (except a delayed check-in time)

Great hotel

The price of the hotel is still relatively expensive. I think it is possible to book some activities at most, so that I might like to stay there again next time and experience the beautiful room.

Facilities: good Hygiene: clean nice environment Service: warm

For visitors who previously visited the Fortina Spa Resort, the hotel is now a very different hotel. The Barcelo Fortina is in a fantastic location in Sliema with beautiful views of Valletta. The staff are definitely a strength of this hotel, they are attentive, professional, friendly and efficient. The rooms are modern and spacious and are kept beautifully clean by the house keeping staff who service the rooms at least twice a day. The breakfast buffet is excellent with a good range of hot and cold food with eggs cooked to order. The evening buffet has themed menus some of which are more inspiring than others but there’s always plenty of choice and individually, there are some really lovely dishes. The Bridge Bar is a good choice for pre dinner drinks but also serves food from a well though through menu; the burgers are particularly tasty! Nino, the gentleman who runs this bar, has great hosting skills too! The gym has a variety of facilities which include an indoor pool (over 16s) and is very well equipped. There are treatments available in the spa but we didn’t try any of these. The location of the hotel is ideal for many bars and restaurants. The ferry to Valletta is a short walk away and takes less than 5 mins to get across; there are also local buses which are easy to use and allow travel around Malta. The Tigne Point shopping centre which is next door and offers lots of shops, coffee shops etc, the EuroSpar is great for provisions! The outdoor pool is run by a separate company and although we enjoyed using it on several occasions, there is a bit of a mis match between the 5 star hotel and the beach club. The pool is available for use by hotel guests and there are loungers which require booking the day before at the hotel reception, we didn’t have any difficulty booking loungers when we wanted them. The hotel advertising could be considered misleading as many of the loungers are not available to hotel guests but we were happier to be in a more secluded spot. The beach club would not be to everyone’s taste due to the amplified modern beat which is played from about midday. There are also a lot of people smoking and drinking in and around the pool which doesn’t really make it family friendly for young children.M but there are tables near and around the pool which are very pleasant to enjoy a cocktail. The waterfront in front of the hotel offers a generous area for swimming and snorkelling. In conclusion, Fortina is a lovely hotel in a great location, suitable for couples and families with older children but less suited for those looking for a tranquil experience.

Beautiful hotel, massive rooms which are very clean and well equipped. Staff very helpful and polite and breakfast was delicious, with a good range of food. We paid for a sea view and the view was amazing, worth the extra money. My only complaint is the pool, even when booking a day in advance you don’t get a space. We got to use this facility for 4 hours on our last day, hotel guests are put away from the pool and sea views (even when there are multiple free beds - see photos) and it smells of urine. If you’re going to chill by the pool there’s bound to be better options in the area. But the hotel itself is great, 5 mins walk to the ferry to Valletta

Wow, this hotel exceeded all my expectations in every possible way! From the moment we arrived, the warm and genuine welcome set the tone for an unforgettable stay. The room was a perfect blend of luxury and comfort, with meticulous attention to detail in every corner. The ambiance was nothing short of magical, with every detail carefully curated to create a serene and luxurious environment. If you’re looking for a place that truly goes above and beyond, look no further – this is it. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so memorable. We’ll cherish these memories forever.

We absolutely loved our 7 days at Barcelo Malta. So I thought I would outline some of the experiences we had to better guide anyone looking to book this hotel as I feel the most recent negative reviews are very unfair and solely based on the pool situation (which I will explain in detail later) The quality of this hotel is second to none and the staff are extremely helpful every step of the way. We were greeted with a taxi at the airport (not included) organised by the hotel for a seamless transfer. We were met by a porter who carried our bags to the door from the car and into reception. Check-in was super easy and relaxing with a complimentary drink. The room was STUNNING. We opted for one of the more Premium rooms with sea view on the 17th floor. The photos do not do it justice. It is a beautiful view of Valletta. The bed is extremely spacious and comfortable, we didn't want to leave. The room is equipped with a lovely coffee machine, kettle and mini fridge. These facilities were topped up daily and bottled water provided. The shower and bath were amazing, great water pressure from the rainfall shower and hot tub bath was an added bonus. House keeping is amazing at this hotel and our room was kept spotless throughout our stay. Bed refreshed and bathroom wiped down daily. They were always on hand to help no matter what time. We stayed for bed and breakfast only as wanted to explore Malta for our evening meals. Breakfast was one of the best I have ever experience. SO much variety and the quality of the dishes were excellent. There was an omelette bar with a chef to cook to order, continental and cooked breakfast. we loved the honeycomb and health shots everyday. Gym was the best I've been to! Can get busy so avoid peak times. Great machines, not as clean as I am used to personally but I think that is more to do with guests not wiping down machines. In terms of the negative reviews on this hotel we were expecting it to be a lot worse so went with an open mind. Personally I think a lot of these reviews are a bit unfair as the pool club isn't really a reflection of the hotel staff at Barcelo as it is a totally separate company. We experienced the rudeness of the staff at Manta after booking a sunbed and not getting one but if you want to avoid this- Book 24 hours in advance and go and put your towels there at 9am when they open. reception will help you book so maybe book for the whole week when you arrive to avoid disappointment.That way you get a good bed with a sea view and not hidden away in a corner. Don't let this put you off the hotel! The beach area was way more fun anyway! Yes the beach club plays music but it wasn't too loud! If you are over 40 though you might not enjoy the pool area as majority of people were aged 20-35. We also weren't bothered by the noise from the pool in our room/ off the balcony so ignore those reviews as it really isn't that bad. If you expect silence in a city then I suggest you book a Villa more inland

Travelled with my partner and two Older children. It was our First time in Malta. The hotel is really great. We had two superior sea view rooms, great views over Valletta. Clean, great location and staff are so attentive and friendly. So many restaurants and shops nearby, right next to a shopping mall which we all enjoyed. We had breakfast included and there was plenty to choose from. Staff at breakfast are amazing and so helpful. The pool was quite peaceful up until about 12, then the dj steps in and it gets a bit lively. We enjoyed it but I can see why a lot wouldn’t. I’d say it’s aimed more at the younger generation. Reminded me and a few others of love island! We had lovely beds all week at the pool but on the Saturday we were put around the corner. It was smelly, too hot and not enough beds for myself and my family. We chose to leave as it was not a pleasant experience. We went for a swim in the spa, lovely and peaceful. We also had some massages in the spa. Defo recommend. Be amazing if the hotel had its own pool, would make it a 5 star.

Our first visit to this hotel since its reopening, following its major rebuild. Having been to the old Fortina, we were interested to see how the "new" hotel would fair. The Good: 7 We stayed in Room (1034), which has a fantastic view across the bay to Valetta (see photos). The room itself is lovely, a bit corporate maybe, but we like it. It's roomy enough, a great bed, and a nice large bathroom with separate bath and excellent large shower cubicle with rainfall shiwer. The provided toiletries are decent. The balcony is large with a table and two chairs. It would be better if some relaxation chairs could be provided. A fridge is provided. And a nice touch is a daily provision of quality bottled water. Housekeeping of the bedroom is top notch, with daily towel changes and turndown and chocolates in the evening. The housekeeping staff, themselves, are absolutely lovely. In fact, all staff are lovely and mainly very helpful, except the Spa staff who are rude. Breakfast choice and quality is generally very good. The Not So Good: The TV in the room doesn't work all that often, with the picture breaking up or going off completely. We were told they are waiting for a fix, but I know from other people who have stayed at the hotel, that there has been a problem with the TVs since the hotel opened in the new year. We don't come on holiday to watch TV, but it's nice to have it at night. Evening meal was a themed buffet each night. Unfortunately, choice and quality was sadly lacking on occasions, and at times, the food was not sufficuently warm. Certainly not 5 star standard in our opinion. The Downright Unacceptable: The hotel claims to have an outside swimming pool. This isn't actually the case. The outside pool is owned by another company, and is open to the public for a fee, and so is not spontaneously available to hotel guests. In order to access the pool, one has to book it 24 hours in advance, and even then, one has to book a morning or afternoon session. For a five-star hotel to not have its own outside pool in a summer resort, is totally unacceptable. The hotel also only has a small allocation of sunbeds at the pool, and so one may not even get access when one tries to book 24 hours in advance. It's bad enough having to book in advance, but once there, the sunbeds are packed together like sardines and so it is difficult to move between the beds, even the waiting staff struggled. Not only that, but one has then to suffer the ridiculous cacophony of drum and bass music from morn to night with the volume increasing as the day goes on. One can't use the small pool to swim as there are groups of people standing in all areas of the pool, smoking cigarettes, and drinking out of glass beer bottles. It's more like a pool party in a run-down resort in Spain than a five star resort. It really isn't on. Similarly, one can't relax on the balcony because of the constant thump of bass and loud music emanating from the pool. There is an indoor po

The hotel was perfect for our trip. Clean, incredible staff and great facilities. The breakfast was great, with plenty of option and always stocked. The rooms spacious, comfortable and very clean. Staff were 10/10, all very kind and helpful. Pool area is great, lively and great vibes. I recommend booking a number of days in advance for the pool to save forgetting. Great location with plenty to do nearby and easy enough to get the Valletta. I would recommend to anyone visiting Malta.

My partner and I stayed here in April 2024 as we were in Malta on holiday. We booked this hotel as part of a package holiday with EasyJet. Upon arrival a member of reception greeted us at the road side and took our luggage. Once at the reception desk for check in, we were offers complimentary drinks and our bags were taken to our room. We stayed at Fortina for 4 nights and I can truly say it was the best hotel experience we have ever had to date. The hotel was clean throughout, members of staff were so friendly and dealt with our every need. The rooms are spacious, clean and have a wonderful luxury finish to it. The cleaners regularly tidy rooms and in the evening left us complimentary chocolate which was a nice touch. The cleaners did an exceptional job at cleaning our rooms and changing towels etc. We also had a balcony which was a nice touch. Our only negative comment about the balcony was the fact that we did not have quite a good view as the building opposite our room was under renovation. The members of staff truly made our experience 10/10. We were always greeted with a smile and a warm welcome and they catered to our every need, The facilities at the hotel are fantastic. We used the spa area which was really clean,peaceful and very spacious. Luckily both times that we had visited the spa we were the only people in there, however if more people were to use it there would be more than enough space for everyone. My partner booked for a massage at the spa and he said he had a great experience where after his massage he was offered complimentary drinks and a area to zen and soak in the beautiful ambience of the spa area. The gym was also great and had some fantastic equipment. One of the most wonderful things about Fortina is the access to food without actually leaving the hotel. On our second night we ate at Tora. The food was divine. There are also 2 other restaurants within the hotel plus the bar area which also serves food (room service or eat in). The hotel is situated in the perfect location. We were less than a minute away from the point shopping mall and also a short walking distance into the town where they had many food and shop options. From our hotel you could also see Valetta which was a lovely view to see once we left the hotel. I would recommend anyone to stay at this hotel and I have already suggested it to people who are thinking of visiting Malta! It is the perfect location to stay at if you want to explore Malta but also have a laid back holiday.

The Fortina remains a great hotel despite losing some of it's facilities and individuality after re-development over the last 6 years. The location remains convenient for the waterfront, Sliema and local bars, restaurants and shops. The views if you have a tower room are still wonderful. The staff are all exceptional and extremely helpful and the rooms are well furnished. Accessibility for disabled people could be improved, but that's a fairly common issue in Malta generally. Overall though, a great place and base for a break in Malta.

Went here for my birthday holiday, the staff were friendly and helpful. Location was amazing and felt safe for a solo female traveller. Amenities were provided, with nice clean spacious room.