AX The Victoria Hotel

"We arrived on Tuesday 4th November for 8 nights and were speedily checked in and given our keys. Our Superior room was spotlessly clean and our maid ensured we had everything we needed every day. There was a crack in the bath panel, but otherwise the room was in good condition. The rooms are very plain and the wardrobe is a rail behind a curtain, but I was able to hang up everything I wanted to after getting additional hangers. Tea and Coffee were provided in the room together with little milk cartons. Each day fresh filtered water was provided to drink in the room. Perhaps 2 tumblers would be better in the room as glasses, we had 1 small wine glass and 1 large wine glass. The 2 swimming pools on the adjoined rooftop were very clean, and there is a hoist for the larger pool for guests that may need it. (Rooftop is both Ax Palace and AX Victoria). Staff at the rooftop bar were very attentive. There is a small menu for bar snacks, I would have liked a few more sandwich choices. We chose half board. Breakfast was buffet style with cereal, fruit, cold meats, cheeses, pastries, breads and a selection of hot food. Omelettes can be ordered fresh. Overall a reasonable breakfast. Again staff very polite and friendly. Hot drinks were from a machine which is where many hotels are heading these days. Dinner was also buffet style and an eclectic mix of flavours most evenings, I think some plainer options were needed, as for me the food seemed to have too much going on. If the potatoes, veg and main all have conflicting flavours your taste buds go into shutdown. Themed nights of Greek and Italian showed that if you want to eat good Greek and Italian food you should visit those countries to experience their food cooked well. There were 2 soup options each evening, which were generally good if a little watery. The desserts were very good, there was a selection of around 8 each evening and these remained available all night. There was also a good selection of cheeses. On our final evening we chose to eat in the Asian Restaurant on the 9th floor and had a wonderful meal of sushi and Thai. We did this by receiving a contribution in respect of our half board and paying the balance. Well worth doing, as the view is spectacular and service excellent. Regarding the main restaurant we found something to eat every day, but I would only return to the hotel on B&B."

"Good points: Clean, pools inside and out great with towels available. Spa and beauty treatments extensive choice. Well located with walk to ferry terminal and promenade 10 mins max. Most staff friendly & helpful Room for improvement: buffet breakfast very busy and felt cramped at times. A few days served on 1st floor as restaurant had new floor installed- were better, as opportunity to sit outside on verandah. Rooms dark. Reception service mixed. Particularly poor welcome late first evening with manager not helpful at all with options for food/ drink and misinformation about closing times of restaurants and bar. ( later discovered room service is offered 24/7) Sister hotel the Palace is joined and some shared facilities- more modern too."

"Absolutely fantastic hotel, 5-10 mins walk down to the harbour and not too bad walking up on an incline! Infact one of the roads down comes out opposite to the Sliema/ Valetta ferry which runs very frequently! Hotel room was clean, spacey and comfortable. Bed was definitely firm but big! Ammenities including roof top pool and bar were great ...expect a strong breeze! Sauna/steam room were great....cocktails during happy hour at 'talk of the town' were incredible and cheap! Food ..and we were on half board basis was ok, there was something for everyone but some dishes were just ok...desert and antipasta sides were good! You also get a bottle of wine between 2... But the best thing about this hotel...the staff! Absolutely wonderful and nothing is too much...including finding us an Uber for the airport ! Legends!!"