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The George Hotel (St Julians, Malta)
by beauty88 I stayed here with my boyfriend in September this year for 10 nights in a Junior Suite. I booked almost a year in advance at a time when the hotel was offering reduced rates. I booked directly with the hotel using the online facility which was easy to use and a confirmation email was sent to reassure me that the booking was made. I chose ... this hotel because it looked modern and was located well in St Julian's - which was where we had decided we would like to stay. I was aware that the hotel had only been open around 1 year but was reassured by various positive reviews on tripadvisor that it had found its feet well after a few teething problems when first opening. I have been to Malta on several occasions - I won't spoil this review by going into masses of detail about Malta but I can say in my opinion it is beautiful island with extremely good (hot) weather and plenty of interesting places to visit. **Prices** On average the price for the Junior Suite in September is Euro99 per night but we paid roughly Euro80 per night as the rates were reduced at the time of booking. (possibly because the hotel was still quite new at this stage) For a Standard room the rate is roughly Euro85 per night. **Location** The hotel is located in St Julians within a district called Paceville, having been to Malta several times before I was aware of the fact that Paceville happens to be the main clubbing area in Malta and houses a strip of bars aimed at young people. We're fairly young ourselves but not really into these kind of bars, especially on a relaxing holiday, so I was slightly worried about noise from the bars and overspill of kids on the streets. Fortunately this wasn't an issue, the hotel was set significantly apart from the main bar area, and although we did see and hear a few young people on their way to and from the bars, we weren't aware of being in this area at all. The hotel was easy to get to from Malta Airport - it was a 20 minute taxi transfer which we booked upfront with www.holidaytaxis.com and cost us just Euro25 for a return journey. It was also only a 5 minute walk to the nearest major bus stop and just a few minutes walk from the main restaurant area in St Julians and the beautiful harbour. A hire car isn't a must for this area as it is close to major bus stops which can take you to everywhere in Malta, however I must warn anyone reading that despite upgrading to modern Ariva buses, the Maltese bus system is very unreliable. We were waiting for up to an hour for some buses to arrive which was very frustrating. At times we really wished we had opted for a hire car!! **The Rooms** We stayed in a Junior Suite but there were also Courtyard Rooms (standard rooms), Deluxe Rooms and Penthouse Suites. As you will see above in the prices section the rates for the normal rooms don't differ that much from the Junior Suite which is why we decided to go for this type of room. The room was big and had a bedroom area with a double bed and 2 bedside tables, a dressing area with dressing table, chair and television and also a living area with a sofa, chair and table. These areas were all combined effectively into one space. The room looked extremely modern and trendy, which we were really pleased with. The majority of the furniture and fabrics were whites and greys, giving a simplistic modern look. The bed was comfortable and a generous number of pillows were provided as well as an actual duvet (a thin one) which is quite unusual in warm countries like Malta. The bedside tables each had their own lamp and also had a drawer which was useful for books/magazines/phone charger etc. There was a spacious wardrobe in the room which had several hangers and also an electronic safe which was easy to use. The sofa and chair in the living area were modern looking, although not particularly comfortable to sit on. But this didn't bother us too much as we didn't spend much time in this area. We were on the fourth floor of the hotel so had a balcony which included 2 chairs and a table. Unfortunately the chairs were made of wood which hadn't been treated too well so the colour was literally running off them! I made the mistake of leaving my white beach bag to dry on one of the chairs and realised the next day that the wood had stained the bag : ( Despite this we enjoyed sitting out on the balcony in the evening and even had a glimpse of the sea from our room, although the overall view was of surrounding buildings. The room had one bathroom which consisted of a toilet, sink with huge mirror and spacious area around it for toiletries etc and a wet room style shower, but with a glass screen. The shower was powerful and worked well, but unfortunately the wet room concept didn't work too well as the shower floor wasn't sloped enough so the water would come flooding out onto the bathroom floor if you weren't careful. The solution was to have the shower on a low power setting which was a bit annoying! Overall we were really happy with the room but we did notice a few small problems which seemed to be more building related. There were several cracks in the ceiling, one of which would leave a dusting of white powder on the dressing table (making it look like we had been using illegal substances in the room lol!!) Other features in the room were the mini bar, which was actually empty and the idea was that you order in things for it from a list when required. It was also made clear that you can feel free to use the fridge for your personal drinks etc. So that came in handy for our bottles of water etc. There was also a full length mirror in the room which I was really pleased about as I like to be able to have a proper look at what I'm wearing! The rooms were air-conditioned from an electronic unit. This was easy to control and quite capable of cooling off the room to our needs. Malta is a hot country and this includes night time so it was a relief to have air conditioning particularly when sleeping at night. **Cleanliness** The rooms were visited each day by the maids, who always came in when we were out so we were never aware of them. They cleaned the rooms to a high standard leaving fresh towels each day and making the bed, The bed sheets weren't changed every day but I think they were changed roughly 3-4 times in our 10 night stay. The rest of the hotel was also kept clean to a high standard and we never noticed any dirt/dust anywhere. The glass in the lobby area was also always very clean and it was clear that the maids were doing a very good job. **Hotel Pool** The hotel pool is located on the rooftop of the building. We got there easily using the lift and on a few occasions took the stairs. The pool is relatively small and has sunbeds and tables around it. There are roughly 30 sunbeds which really isnt many considering the hotel has 120 rooms. Fortunately we never had a problem finding a sunbed as we usually only went to the pool in the late afternoon after being out for the day. Also we felt the hotel was slightly quiet because we were staying in September. The sunbeds were nice and comfy and all had a little mini design cushion which was a nice touch, not to mention really comfy. The pool itself was warm and despite being small was well shaped and quite long so you could swim mini lengths. The pool had its own bar area which we were aware sold a variety of drinks as well as snacks. It also had a spacious seating area with chairs and tables. We didn't ever use this bar area so I can't comment in any detail. **Hotel Bar** The hotel bar was located in the lobby area of the hotel which was a beautiful spacious area with numerous comfy sofa style chairs all with their own cushions and tables. Despite being in the lobby area this was never busy or noisy, in fact it was quite the opposite and always peaceful and relaxing. We ordered drinks from the hotel bar on 2 occasions, both when returning from our evening meal. We decided we wanted to try cocktails and assumed the bar would have a cocktail menu - particularly because behind the bar there was every type of alcohol and mixer you could imagine!! But we were disappointed to find there was no menu, but instead the bar man read out a list of cocktails we could order. There were about 10 to choose from and were mainly traditional classics. It would be such a simple thing to have a menu for this and it was also unnerving having no idea how much they would cost!! We both ordered Caipharinia, our favourite cocktail. When the cocktails arrived they looked quite nice but we soon noticed that the barman had used lemons instead of limes...this really didn't work and the cocktail really wasn't very nice! We did mention this when the barman collected our glasses and he apologised and hotel bar doesn't order in any limes. I thought it was therefore quite odd to have Caipharinia's on the list when they consist predominantly of limes!! The cocktails cost Euro7 each which isnt a bad price for a hotel but was disappointing considering the quality. The second occasion we visited the bar we went for completely different cocktails, but again they seemed to be incorrectly made and tasted very artificial with no real fruit used etc. Again this was disappointing from a hotel of this standard and for those prices. **Restaurant** The hotel had a dining area which was located on the second floor. We never actually experienced this as we opted for room only, which meant we didn't dine in the restaurant for breakfast or dinner. However I can say that the dining room itself always looked beautifully laid out when we walked past it and had a ceiling made completely of glass making it a light and airy looking room. **Other Hotel Amenities** In the lobby area there were 6 computers all with free access to the internet without any password required. This came in very useful for checking places to go and looking at restaurants etc. I thought it was very generous that this service was free of charge as most hotels charge silly prices for internet access. As well as the rooftop pool there was also a spa area in the basement with an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. We did go downstairs to have a snoop at this area and it looked great and was very clean and not too busy. However we didn't really use the facility as it was so warm outside this was the last thing we wanted to do!! We weren't aware of any entertainment in the hotel which for us was a relief as we're not that keen on hotel entertainment. It seems the hotel is aimed more at self-sufficient families or people travelling without children as there were no children's areas/clubs etc. For this reason I wouldn't recommend the hotel to those travelling with children who need amenities to keep the children busy. The hotel had 2 lifts to get to all floors. Unfortunately one of the lifts wasn't working for the majority of our stay and it constantly had its doors open meaning we witnessed many people get in thinking it was fine and stand there for an embarrassing few minutes pressing buttons before realising. I thought a simple 'out of order' sign either inside the lift or on the wall would have saved this bother. **Eating out** We ate out every night and tried various local restaurants. All were of a very high standard and were within close walking distance of the hotel. My favourites were Blue Elephant (inside the Hilton Hotel), Gululu and Lulu (yes those are 2 different restaurants!!) I would also recommend Bar TwentyTwo which is a modern bar located on the 22nd floor of Portomaso tower, which is just a few minutes from the hotel. There are wonderful views of Malta from this bar, not to be missed! **Staff** We were so impressed with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff. Check in was so easy and we were shown to our rooms by a very friendly staff member who was very attentive. We returned to reception on a couple of other occasions to ask about buses, restaurants etc and each time despite dealing with someone different we were given more than enough information and the staff went out of their way to help us. We never felt like we were bothering anyone when asking questions etc. Also despite having a bad experience in the bar area with the drinks, the bar staff themselves were very friendly and both offered to take a photo of us in the bar which was very kind. Overall we were really happy with our stay, but felt a few things weren't quite up to scratch for example no drinks menu on the bar, running paint on balcony chairs, cracks in ceiling, flooding shower and small pool area. I know some of these are unavoidable like the size of the pool area, but the others could easily be addressed. Fortunately these factors didn't spoil our stay and we would definitely return to stay in this hotel if we were to visit St Julian's again. **Contact Details** The George Hotel Malta Paceville Avenue St.Julians STJ 3013 Malta Tel: +356 2011 1000 Email: info@thegeorgemalta.com http://www.thegeorgehotelmalta.com/ Read the complete review |
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Best Western Tuscan Inn (San Francisco, USA)
by dkm1981 The Best Western Plus Tuscan Inn in San Francisco was the first point of call on our recent trip across the USA and it proved to be a great starting point that set the example for all our other hotels to follow. It's not like the usual style of basic to mid range hotel chain that it falls under. Perhaps it's the 'plus' in the name that ... makes the difference, but unlike usual Best Western hotels, this one has a bit of character and is a little bit luxurious but is still reasonably priced and is in a good location. -Booking and Price- We booked our room through a hotel search website and paid around £110 per night, which was about ten percent less than booking directly with the hotel. If you are thinking of booking, I'd still consider having a look at the website (http://www.tuscaninn.com/) because they do often have offers on there that aren't available anywhere else. The price we paid turned out to be very good value for a number of reasons. Breakfast was included for one - our invoice said it wasn't but the hotel only offers bed and breakfast, so it is automatically included for everyone. They offer free tea and coffee in the lounge throughout the morning and the manager hosts a wine evening every night where you can join him for a glass or two between five and six. So if nothing else, the hotel saves you a fortune on drinks! -Location- The location for me was the absolute winning factor in a list of things that made this hotel pretty much perfect for our needs. Before we booked, we were certain we wanted to stay in Fisherman's Wharf despite its reputation as being a bit tacky and brash. The other area where there seems to be a high concentration of hotels is in the city centre around Union Square. Whilst rates seem to be a little cheaper here, the main attractions (such as Alcatraz, Pier 39, Golden Gate Bridge) are all a tram / bus ride away at the very least. The Tuscan Inn is a block back from the sea front, meaning that it is quiet and away from the hustle and bustle when you want to rest, but it is literally a couple of minutes walk away from the sea front when you are ready to explore. Pier 33, where the cruises to Alcatraz depart from, is a ten minute walk at most if you turn right out of the hotel and follow the road to the end. The main cable car turn around point is a block to the left. There are literally hundreds of restaurants, bars and attractions within walking distance of the hotel as well as a grocery store and bank. There is actually nothing you could want that isn't nearby, the location really is that good. We considered staying in the Argonaut, which is considered to have the best location in San Francisco, but on reflection I honestly don't think it would have beaten the Tuscan Inn. -Checking In and Staff- Checking in was very easy and quick. We were offered the choice of a king size bed of two queen size beds; unlike in many cities, space isn't at a premium in San Francisco, so hotel rooms are a little bit bigger than their counterparts in say New York for example. We were also given our breakfast cards and some useful information about the hotel and the local area. The staff were all lovely - professional yet very friendly and helpful. They have a bell boy who will help with your luggage (whether you need it or not) and the reception staff are happy to help with any queries - we asked them for help finding a cash machine in an actual bank and they gave us more than one option and even knew which one was cheapest for drawing out cash on a foreign debit card! They are knowledgeable and are happy to help out with honest restaurant recommendations. -The Rooms- As I said, space isn't at such a premium here, so the rooms are quite generously sized. The king sized bed we went for was lovely and comfy and furnished with dark leather cushions that gave it that extra feel of luxury. We had three really good nights' sleep. Everything about the room was good - it was clean, well designed and had a touch of class, although I do have to say that, whilst everything was in good condition, it was a little bit dated. There was a huge television that had an unnecessary amount of channels available as well as new release movies on pay per view. There was also a fridge and a coffee machine as well as the usual arm chair and desk. The bathrooms were nice and clean. There was only a toilet and bathtub in the actual bathroom, with the sink being located outside. I thought this was a very good idea and was much more convenient and it turns out that it is the common way of laying out rooms in this area of the US. There were lots of little potions and lotions provided, which I absolutely loved as well as a hair dryer and an iron (which I didn't use, of course). My husband was quite so excited by these things although he was impressed with the free in-room safe and the free WIFI which was fast and easy to get onto (you just ask for a password at reception). -Other Things- Breakfast is lovely. Unlike the usual buffet affair where everyone queues endlessly and sneezes at the hot food counter, breakfast at the Tuscan Inn is taken in the adjoining restaurant, where the service and food is excellent. As a hotel guest, you are entitled to either a free continental breakfast or $5 off one of their hot breakfast items, which include huge portions of bacon and eggs for around $15 or even huger omelettes for slightly less. My husband doesn't like eggs, so we opted for the free continental breakfast which turned out to be more than enough. You get a fresh fruit salad full of strawberries, melon and pineapple with your choice of toast, muffin or croissant, fresh juice and coffee as well as a selection of jams. Everything is brought to you table and the ambience is lovely and relaxing. It proved to be a very nice way to start our day. The hotel is pet friendly, with dog treats laid out in reception and certain rooms available for those travelling with their pets. I actually found that the corridors smelt of wet dogs in places. Not a problem as long as it is only in the corridors and not in the rooms! There are two huge lifts that service all floors and unlike some places, they seemed to be always in working order and they operated quite quickly. If there is anything I have missed you can find more information at the website I gave earlier. -Overall- I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending the Tuscan Inn as it offers a very comfortable place to stay in an absolutely brilliant location for a good price. Factor in the breakfast and free drinks and it turns it into a bargain! Read the complete review |
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Gartenhotel Glanzing (Vienna, Austria)
by Praskipark It's very rare to see a hotel that caters for families and businessman situated in suburbia, outside the centre of Vienna. The hotel I am reviewing, Gartenhotel Glanzing, is actually situated in the 'green belt' and it can be found in a peaceful, villa-lined avenue high above the castle and adjoining park of Potzleinsdorf. To reach the ... hotel it is easier to come by car especially if coming from the centre of Vienna and takes about 15 minutes. Public transport is accessible and buses can be caught from the centre to the hotel. Travelling time takes about 30 minutes. There is a private garage available belonging to the hotel. Parking shouldn't be a problem. The exterior of the building is cube-shaped, decorated with trailing plants and has a flat roof. My guess is that it was built in the 1920s. The proprietors inherited the house and turned it into a popular hotel. My favourite room of all is the drawing room which has a grand piano and is equipped with Biedermeier furniture, adding beauty, style and character to the room. The garden is a wonderful environment for families with children and is an informal play area. The owners have children themselves so they are very geared up for families staying one or two nights. Only breakfast and small snacks are served. Breakfast consists of a buffet with a vast selection of freshly baked rolls and various types of bread. Home made jams and marmalade are available with freshly squeezed juices and copious amounts of coffee. Tea and herbal brews are also available. If visitors wish to eat out there are many restaurants dotted around the wine villages which are close by. Another alternative if you are lucky to stay in one of the two suites is the use of a kitchen. Some of the 14 rooms and 3 suites have private terraces that look out towards Vienna. All visitors have free use of the solarium, small gym, sauna and there is a private TV room for all to use. Room facilities consist of TV, telephone, radio,mini-bar, hair-drier. There is a lift and there is access from the garage. The hotel is open all year round and pets are accepted free of charge. Languages spoken are English, French and Italian. Potzleinsdorf Park and the Heurigen villages are nearby and worthy of a day visit. Our double room cost 110 euros in February of last year. There are special offers on throughout the year and discounts for longer stays. Children under the age of fifteen go free if they share the room with a parent. If you run out of cash you can use a selection of credit cards to pay the bill. Visa, American Express, Diners and MasterCard are all accepted. Gartenhotel Glanzing is a very pleasant hotel in a suburban area of Vienna and makes a nice change from staying in the city centre. Read the complete review |
4 Stars Hotel International |
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