Saint Julian's, Hotel Juliani

After arriving at midnight (long delay out to Malta), we were told that our room was not ready and that we were being upgraded to the Hotel Intercontinental for the night. We travel to Malta every year and have stayed at a number of different hotels (including the Hotel Intercontinental) and this has never happened. The following day we were left to wonder if our room was ready until the time came that we had to check out. We were transferred back to the Hotel Juliani, were we were delighted to hear that our room was ready. It was not. It also had no standard balcony. As this what we had booked we returned to the reception to debate the point when our "Rep" walked in.

I have to say that in all my time traveling with Malta Direct and being Maltese myself, I was appalled with the rep's attitude. If I was not Maltese, and based on this experience, I would never go back. She had the cheek to tell me that the balcony was a "french balcony" which is what they are now building in Malta. If anyone tells you this is not true - Don't listen to them.

After much debate with the manager of the hotel, he agreed to move us to a superior room 3 nights later. Which they did (after much waiting around). This room was lovely and if this is what you have booked, I am sure that you will be very happy.

The hotel itself is a lovely hotel and well laid out considering the limited space. It is a real shame that many hotels in Malta seem to have a problem with overbooking in summer (as we found out was really the case for moving us to a different hotel for the first night and giving us what appeared to be a single room of some sort for the next 3 nights). The rooftop pool, although small was enough for a quick dip on a hot day.

They do have some lovely touches, which i have never experienced before, such as a biscuit or cake brought round to every room in the afternoon. Although I had a bad experience being moved around, I would be tempted to stay there again when it is not so busy, but during the peak months I would not touch it. They call themselves a boutique hotel, perhaps they should take a look at the Palace Hotel?