Excelsior Grand Hotel

The Excelsior Grand Hotel is a vast hotel with more of an urban ambience than a seaside-resort vibe. The large buildings are all concrete, without much character to the architecture or effort to blend in with the natural and historic surroundings. The interiors, however, feel grand, with a great deal of open space. The crown jewel of the lobby is a sweeping double staircase with a red carpet that sits under an enormous crystal chandelier. The lobby’s Harbor View Bar -- open 24 hours a day -- offers spectacular sea views in a handsome atmosphere, with mosaic marble floors, plenty of rich, dark wood, and classic, high-end upholstered chairs and couches with enough space that guests can be as sociable or private as they like. The grounds feature a number of spacious terraces with lounge chairs from which guests can watch the yachts sail in and out of the picturesque harbor. 

The Excelsior is one of Malta’s two five-pearl luxury resorts, and it offers excellent service, good quality food and liquor, and comfort befitting its rating. The general vibe is more upscale and refined as opposed to typically resort-like -- don't expect karaoke or pool games -- but the spa, fitness room, and full variety of services add up to a luxury resort experience. 

The Excelsior sits on a private beach, with panoramic views of Fort Manoel and Marsamxett Harbor, restricted to yachts and sailboats. The quiet area is just outside Valletta’s historic city walls, and while guests have easy access to all of Malta’s major tourist sights, the immediate area offers little in the way of dining, shopping, and nightlife. Parking is free, and the resort runs a free, twice-daily shuttle to the city center. In addition, Valletta’s main bus station is a short walk from the entrance. The Marsa Golf Course is a 10-minute drive from the resort, and there are water taxis to various tourist hotspots. Malta International Airport is 15 minutes by car.

Rooms at the Excelsior Grand Hotel are clean and spacious, with classic but subdued decor that includes wall-to-wall carpets, huge beds with oversized headboards, luxe fabrics, and modern bathrooms with walk-in showers and separate tubs. Although the decor is upscale, the overall aesthetic lacks design touches that reflect the Malta outside, and it can border on old-fashioned, with fussy bedspreads and brass lamps. Amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free toiletries, customizable minibars, and little extras such as umbrellas and shoe shine brushes in the closet. Most rooms have balconies or terraces.

There's a wide variety of options in terms of room size and layout; Classic Rooms lack balconies but are the most budget-friendly. Light sleepers may want to avoid poolside rooms, where frequent special events take place. Some of the Superior Seafront Rooms have huge terraces with both lounge chairs and table and chairs as well as full harbor views, unlike some of the Sea View Rooms, which only have partial views of the water. 

Along with having the only private beach in Valletta, the Excelsior Grand Hotel has two large pools, one indoor and one outdoor. The freeform outdoor pool sits on a terrace overlooking the harbor, and there are plenty of lounge chairs and a poolside bar for guests who don’t want to sacrifice sun time. The spa offers a wide variety of beauty and wellness treatments -- including massages and facials -- as well as a sauna, a hot tub, and a large indoor pool. The fitness center is adequate -- with enough space for a good workout -- and houses several cardio machines, and free weights. The resort also offers free yoga classes every week.

The food gets good reviews, and there are three restaurants,  including an international buffet with live cooking stations and two a la carte restaurants with beautiful views. Breakfast gets universal high marks. The Excelsior has five bars, including a handsome lobby bar -- Harbour View -- that's open 24 hours a day, a fun seaside tiki bar, and a sophisticated yacht club; outdoor dining is available in spring and summer months only. 

A free shuttle runs to the center of Valletta twice daily, and free parking is available for guests who want to explore the area via car or yacht, and there's an on-site marina with 30 berths. Water activities include paragliding, jet skis, banana-boat rides, scuba and snorkeling, and boat excursions to nearby attractions, but are only available in summer months. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.