For our summer getaway, Malta seemed like the best choice for a summer escape with the family. A new country on our list, we knew it would be scorching hot in the middle of July, and a busy season. When researching for accomodations, my husband wanted a seaside resort, where we could cool off from the July heat by the pool and enjoy the amenities the resort has to offer. Additionally, we wanted to be close to sightseeing and excursions. After much research, the husband decided to use our Hilton Honors point to book a relaxing four day weekend stay at the Hilton Malta.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase the items linked in this post, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer. Thank you for your support!
Hilton Malta Location
Hilton Malta is a family friendly 5-star seaside resort located in the town of St. Julian overlooking the Portomaso Marina and Mediterranean Sea. It is a short 15-minute drive to the ancient capital of Malta, the city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the Malta International Airport, it was about a 12 km Bolt ride, easily accessible.
Pin for later
About Hilton Malta
As a family friendly resort, the original Hilton Malta Hotel first opened its doors in 1968 built on this site of the Spinola Battery. In 1998, the original Hilton Malta was demolished to make way for the Portomaso Business Tower, the tallest high rise in Malta. The Hilton Malta, right next to the tower was rebuilt in 2000 and opened its doors to visitors but recently underwent a renovation in 2016. The hotel offers 413 rooms and suites ranging from standard, executive, and suites with views of the Portomaso Marina or Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, one of the reasons why we booked a stay here is for the amenities.
Looking for activities in Malta? Check out these activities below.
Hilton Malta Amenities
With the year round Mediterranean sun and warmth, the Hilton Malta offers several amenities to make your stay an unforgettable one. Here are list of amenities the hotel offers:
↠ Two seasonal outdoor pools with several sun loungers
↠ A children’s splash pool
↠ An Indoor Pool that includes a sauna and steam room; children are welcome to utilize the indoor pool but must be supervised if under 16 years of age (pool hours for children are from 8am-7pm Mondays to Sundays).
↠ Merkanti Beach Club for adults only 16+ located on the beach below the resort grounds; this beach club features a bar and food services with two outdoor pools and seasonal water sports.
↠ A Spa where you can book spa services including a Oriental Hair Massage that I really enjoyed. Find the spa services here.
↠ Tennis Court
↠ Fitness Center for 16+
↠ Group Fitness Classes
↠ Several dining and bar experiences ranging from a taste of Thailand at the Blue Elephant Restaurant, the Oceana offering Mediterranean flairs, drinks at the QuarterDeck Bar. A seasonal outdoor Mediterranean dining experience under the fairy lights and olive tree at Neba (which we enjoyed twice during our stay). The Aqua Bar for poolside service where you can enjoy lunch. Finally, the Vista Lobby Lounge for drinks, dessert, and light sandwiches. You can find more information about dining, here.
↠ Executive Lounge
↠ Childcare services
You can find more amenities here and here.
Hotel at a Glance
We arrived on a late Wednesday night from Frankfurt International Airport into Malta International Airport and took a Bolt ride to the hotel. As we drove into the Portomaso seaside marina town of St. Julian on a Wednesday night, the town was hopping and busy for a Wednesday night. In late July, Malta is full of tourists.
As we drove up to the hotel, you can’t help but feel like you are driving into a Mediterranean fortress with tall palm trees that line the front of the hotel with a high rise right next to it . I’ve read that the entrance to the hotel is actually the original entrance of the old Hilton Malta hotel.
When you enter the lobby, the first thing I noticed was the marble flooring, stone staircases, and modern furnitures. Next to the concierge desk you’ll find some high end stores and boutiques. Though it was late, the staff were extremely helpful and checked us in. Having booked during one of the busiest seasons, the hotel was fully booked for the weekend, so we weren’t able to upgrade our room.
Hotel Room Review
Checking into our Family Deluxe Room with two queen beds for our family of four, the decor was modern Mediterranean style with a balcony terrace overlooking the marina and Mediterranean Sea, although it was too dark to see the view. The room was clean and modern and we were quite happy with the room. Furthermore, I’ve never had a bad experience with Hilton beds, they’ve always been very comfortable for us and the beds at the Hilton Malta just like any other Hilton hotel we have stayed at, so no complaints there.
Breakfast at the Oceana
I’ve mentioned how much we love staying at Hilton’s before, specifically in Europe, because of their amenities and amazing breakfasts! As Hilton Diamond members, breakfast was included in our stay. Let me tell you, the breakfast buffet at the Oceania was simply amazing! So many hot breakfast item options to choose from, cold cuts, pastries, local flairs, omelet stations, and more. I’m never disappointed with Hilton Breakfasts when it comes to European Hiltons.
The Pools
One of the many reasons why we booked the Hilton Malta in the middle of July, when the weather is the hottest, was not only to be by the beach, but to also relax by the pool. As mentioned earlier, the amenities are pretty impressive at these Hilton’s, the Hilton Malta didn’t disappoint. After breakfast, we laid out by the pool, several pool loungers are available for guests, but get there early to grab a spot.
There are two main pools at the hotel including a splash pool for the kiddos. The main pool is open to all guests and is the biggest one of all the pools. This pool gets crowded in the middle of the day, I recommend getting there early to grab your loungers. The second pool, next to the main one, is a bit deeper in depth and is recommended for 14+. This pool is a bit quieter and mainly teens and adults were in this area. Directly next to the main pool area is the children’s splash pool.
Behind the children’s splash pool is an elevator that takes you to the Merkati Beach Club, the adults only beachside pool lounge. Here, you have access to the beach and seasonal water sports. If you’re looking for a sandy beach by the hotel, unfortunately, you won’t find it here. The beaches in this part of Malta are mainly rocky, but the blue hue of the waters are mesmerizing. The water during this time of the year was also refreshing.
Don’t forget the indoor pool. near the Spa. We didn’t spend our time at the indoor pool as we spent most of our time cooling off at the outdoor pools. I did utilize the saunas and steam room that is located in the indoor pool which both were very small; however nice that these amenities are included.
The Spa
Booking a spa treatment is recommended. I usually don’t book massages at the Hilton, however, the hotel was offering a special, so I went ahead and booked a massage and head treatment. The service was impeccable and I did feel very relaxed and refreshed after my treatments. The Oriental Hair Massage was the first hair massage treatment I have ever done and it did not disappoint. In essence, if you’re looking to relax at the hotel, I recommend booking a spa treatment during your stay.
Restaurant and Dining
Hilton Malta offers several dining options on site. There are six dining locations at the hotel each with different flairs. Discover Thai food options, Mediterranean, as well as your basic hamburgers, pizza, a cafe with desserts and drinks and more. Here are a lists of their restaurants.
↠ Blue Thai Restaurant: award winning restaurant offering Thai dishes.
↠ Oceana: Offers the best breakfast buffets, easily one of the most impressive Hilton breakfast buffets we’ve seen. They also offer lunch and dinner buffets with Mediterranean flairs which we did not get to experience, however, if breakfast was great, I’m certain lunch and breakfast is just as good.
↠ Quarterdeck Bar: perfect bar for drinks and watching soccer games.
↠ Vista Lobby Lounge: a Mediterranean cafe offering pastries, coffees, and light sandwiches and tea during the day.
↠ Neba: set on the backdrop of Olive trees and by the poolside, the ambience can’t be beat with Mediterranean dishes.
↠ Aqua Bar: great bar for grabbing snacks, meals, drinks while lounging in the sun by the pools.
↠ Executive Lounge: Located on the top floor, this is a very nice Executive Lounge for those that have Executive status. The food options were plentiful for appetizer style foods in the evening and for afternoon tea time. One of the best Executive Lounges we have had. The view of the Mediterranean and the pool is added bonus.
Find more information about Hilton Malta’s restaurants, bars, and cafes here.
Hilton Malta Information
Address: Vjal Portomaso, San Ġiljan STJ 4012, Malta
Getting There from the Malta International Airport: Located about 9km from the airport, the best way to get to the hotel is via a taxi booking (i.e. Welcome Pickups, BOLT, or UBER). I recommend booking this in advance. The drive is typically about 25 minutes. If you rent a car, you can also pay to park at the hotel underground parking.
How to book the Hilton Malta: You can book either through Booking.com, Expedia, or via their website.
Things to do in Malta
Of course a trip to Malta isn’t complete without exploring the islands. The Hilton Malta is located strategically within many places within reach via either a rental car or through local taxis (BOLT, UBER). Here are a few ideas of things to do in Malta. I will be writing a separate piece on this topic and update this blog post once it’s complete.
↠ Malta National Aquarium
↠ Visit the old town of Mdina
↠ Wander through Valetta
↠ Take a boat or rent a boat to the Blue Lagoon
↠ Explore Malta’s sister island Gozo
Final Thoughts
A stay at Hilton Malta is a wonderful way to enjoy a relaxing getaway on the island. If you’re looking to have a down time and escaping the heat, Hilton Malta has much to offer from their pools to choose from, relaxing spa services, fine dining and more, and it is located on the Mediterranean Ocean. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly, couples, or solo travel resort on the Mediterranean with amenities, this is the place to stay. I recommend booking far in advance in the summertime, as the summertime is very crowded and much more expensive.
I hope this review has been helpful. This isn’t a sponsored stay, I just love sharing our experiences with others. Thanks for taking the time to read this! Until next time friends! Sad-darba li jmiss ħbieb!
My Favorite Travel Sites
FYI: Find My Favorite Travel Sites Below for Your Trip Planning
I’m attaching some of my favorite travel sites I use to book my trips below! If you use the links below, you’ll be supporting Hello Graciemo’s travel blog at no extra cost to you. I hope you find these helpful for your trip planning! Thank you for your support and Happy Planning!
Flights
I use both SkyScanner and Google Flights to track the best rates for flights. It searches for the best rates from hundreds of airlines to ensure you don’t miss the best deals. You can have SkyScanner and Google Flights send you notifications when flight prices have changed for the specific dates you want to fly.
Accommodations
I love using Booking.com to find our accommodations. You can filter out to your needs
and narrow down the best rates. Plus reviews are helpful when deciding which
accommodations are right for you and your family. Additionally, once you become a
Genius Level Member (based on the level and amount of times you book with
Booking.com), you can receive special discounts.
Airbnb is another favorite for booking our AccommodationS! I stick to places that have
good reviews.
Experiences and Tours
My favorite site to book tours and experiences are with GetYourGuide or Viator. They both have a range of tours and experiences on their website. However, check both sites as one may be sold out and the other may not be.
Rental Cars
I book directly towards the company’s sites to ensure I have the best deals. I compare between Booking.com’s rates and the company’s main sites.
Another option is to also check the rates from your credit card company if they offer travel rewards specials. We like to look at our Chase Sapphire and American Express travel offers as they may offer the best deals and even include insurance as part of the incentive, just double check with them and also the rental car agency if they honor this.
Transfers | Airport Pickups
For Airport Pickups, we have relied on Welcome Pickups for transfers. The drivers are reliable and it’s easy to use the Welcome Pickup Apps to reserve your transfers. Book and find more information here!
Priority Pass
Take advantage of your credit card incentives for travel. Our American Express and
Chase Sapphire offer Priority Pass. From research Platinum Card® from American
Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit
Card allow cardholders to register for Priority Pass Select membership and enjoy access
to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide that participate in Priority Pass.
Hopefully this will help alleviate some of your travel planning! Thanks for reading this! Happy Travels!
– Mo