The St. George's Park Hotel

Blue Sea St George’s Park and La Valetta are two resorts operating as one in central Paceville. Both hotels are housed in boxy buildings with chipped paint, plain facades in blue and pale yellow, and worn interiors. The main lobby has high ceilings and large windows, but huge black pillars, pink accents and mirrored surfaces make it look like straight out of the '70s. Despite the claims by the management that upkeep works are constantly being carried out, cracked tiles, rusty pipes, and shoddy repairs make it feel like the property has long been neglected. Of all the common spaces, La Vallette's outdoor pool is the nicest, with a small gazebo, ocean views, and a kiddy pool with a bridge. The restaurant and the bars are basic but average for a budget property, with tan and gray tile floors, simple wooden furniture, and an overall canteen feel. The property caters to families and couples on a budget, but draws mostly loud groups of young partiers.

The hotel is located in the heart of Paceville, the most famous nightlife area in Malta. There are plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants nearby, and the area is loud and busy not only on weekends but during the week as well, as most international language schools have popular weekly parties here. St George’s, one of the few sandy beaches in this part of Malta, is a five-minute walk away. There are three bus stops within a two-minute walk of the hotel, and St Julian’s Terminus can be reached in about three minutes. Valletta and the airport are each a 20-minute drive away. 

The hotel has 425 rooms, all equipped with sofa beds, tiny tube TVs (a few have flat-screen TVs), and ceiling fans. In-room Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and safes are available for an extra fee. Decor is basic and feels stuck in the '80s, with thin blue-and-yellow bedspreads, simple wooden furniture painted in primary colors, generic artwork on walls, and terrazzo floors. Although some rooms have received fresh coats of paint, cleanliness and maintenance issues have been widely reported, including bugs in rooms, stained sheets, broken tech amenities, exposed wires, and water damages on walls. Studios feature small dining areas, as well as kitchens equipped with hot plates, an oven, and a sink. Bathrooms are average for a budget property, and have shower/tub combos with plastic shower curtains, and a couple of soap bars. Walls are thin and noise carries from other rooms and the hallways. 

The hotel has three outdoor pools, all big enough for a swim and with plenty of plastic loungers and umbrellas around them. Additionally, there is an unheated indoor pool and two outdoor shallow ones for children. Entertainment and fitness activities are available around the pools during peak season. Poolside bars offer drinks, snacks, and ice cream, and have pool tables and TVs. The buffet restaurant is open for all three main meals, but food gets poor reviews. The fitness center is run by a partner company, and even all-inclusive guests have to pay a fee for use of the facilities. Free Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby area.