Barceló Fortina Malta

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

Great hotel

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.

What a fantastic stay. Firstly the hotel has been renovated beautifully our superior room was great with everything you could need for a great stay. Secondly we stayed half board and both breakfast and dinner buffets were spot on. Great selection at both with regional and international cuisine. Third and finally the service levels were exceptional throughout the best I've ever experienced at a hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for anyone whether it be the concierge, a waiter or room service all exceptional. Will 100% return to this hotel

The hotel is very nice, and in great location for exploring Malta. Majority of boat trips leaving from the harbour outside and very short boat trip to Valletta. Hotel food and choice at breakfast are exceptional. The staff in the hotel are faultless, very nice and always happy to help. The only reason Ive given the hotel a 4 star is purely because of the pool. Hotel is advertise me as having a pool, however when we got there the pool appeared to owned by a bar and it’s described as a beach club. We used the pool about 3 times in the week, the staff at the beach club told us where we could sit, which was over to the side, the other loungers they appeared to be saving for paying beach club guests. So felt like a second class citizen not the 5 star trea**ent which you experience in the hotel. Also the music is very loud, lots of hotel guests complained about it to the staff at the pool however they did nothing as it’s a beach club. So if you’re thinking you can have a chill by the pool you won’t be able to, just be aware of that. But that’s my only gripe with the hotel.

If you have a hot tub in your room beware. As I have spent most of my life in water management I aways take a test kit with me on holiday s . First day in our room I test the hot tub water and found no trace of any trea**ent. I reported it and was told all hot tubs are checked on a daily basic. A number of days in we found Slime in the hot tub so we reported it and Maintenance staff were outside our room before we got up to it. The tub was emptied out and cleaned and refilled . It was also explained that they should be checked every day but clearly this is not happening. No apology from Management.

This hotel proclaims to be 5 star. It’s not. Please read this before considering booking it. 1. Zero interest in guests - even when we checked out 2 nights early. We arrived early as we had an early flight - no interest in trying to get a room ready for us, and we saw other people experiencing this, even a woman in a wheelchair. 2. It does NOT have a pool or any outside space. The pool referred to in the detail is a beach club catering for young drinkers who like loud bass music, there is even a DJ. Hotel guests can use it free of charge but have to book a day in advance and are pushed to the edges of the facility. 3. The hotel between it and the sea is being refurbished and so this creates accompanying noise and views of contractors. Sitting peacefully on the balcony is impossible, even assuming you like the plastic furniture. 4. The sea view is minor and obstructed by another hotel, we asked 4 times to move rooms - zero interest or calls back. 5. The rooms have many oddities that you would not expect of any hotel let alone a 5 star. The hairdryer is in a cupboard with a short lead - obviously guests cannot be trusted! No luxury branded toiletries but pumps of hand / shower wash fixed to the walls - again guests cannot be trusted. The bathroom makes gurgling noises when people in other rooms have a shower etc. 6. The breakfast is not up to 5 star standard, with very slow table service. 7. We had to pay a €250 deposit in case we stole to towels! 8. It’s on a very busy road. The beach club is in the other side so you either take your life in your hands and try to cross or use the labyrinthine tunnels under the road direct from the hotel. We’ve been to many hotels 5 and 0 stars and have NEVER been so annoyed.

We had a wonderful experience at the Barceló. The rooms were clean, comfortable, luxurious and finished to a modern high standard. We greatly appreciated the finer personal touches implemented by all the staff, from welcoming drinks, house keeping, the facilities to the final check out. On a more delicate note, the hotel might consider some form of sound proofing around the connecting door area to room 643. As open minded people we found the intimate notices somewhat amusing, but not all guests think as we do. Over all we had a ten out of ten experience. Kind regards Guests of 644