Surrounded by Bugibba resort's buzzing nightlife
Couple of minutes' walk from Bugibba Square and rocky beach
Panoramic rooftop terrace with loungers and splash pool
Some rooms open to balconies with sea views
All rooms come with flat-screen TVs and kettles
Continental buffet or Full English breakfast available
Free (if spotty) Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms are basic and in need of makeover
Some bathrooms are poorly maintained
Fee for mini-fridges and safes
Some rooms prone to noise
The 40-room Relax Inn Hotel is a budget, family-run property located in the lively Bugibba resort neighborhood on Malta's northeast coast. There's no shortage of bars and restaurants in the immediate surrounds, with the tourist center and seafront just a block away. This means some lower-level rooms are prone to noise, so light-sleepers should pay extra for the higher sea-view rooms. Interiors are dated and match the hotel's rock-bottom rates, though a rooftop pool with sea views is a bonus. While you'd be hard-pressed to find cheaper lodgings, for a little more outlay the Blue Sea San Anton Hotel offers apartments and a larger pool.
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Scene
Family-run, value-oriented hotel with laid-back atmosphere
An unattractive weather-worn facade doesn't give the best of first impressions upon arrival at the family-run Relax Inn Hotel. Inside, a spartan, simply furnished reception area also points to what is an unabashed budget-oriented tourist hotel. A lobby lounge with vending machines and black pleather armchairs leads to a small outside patio with aging paintwork and a small patch of sky. A single (sometimes erratic) elevator services the hotel's six floors and up to the rooftop terrace with a small pool and panoramic sea and town views. True to its name, the atmosphere is generally relaxed and friendly, attracting mostly value-conscious couples hailing from the British Isles.
Location
Set in the bustling center of Bugibba, surrounded by nightlife and dining
The Relax Inn Hotel is located in the popular tourist area of Bugibba, part of the St. Paul's Bay district on the north coast of Malta. It's a buzzy and bustling -- if a little rundown -- neighborhood chock full of busy restaurants, bars, and shops, all centered around the seafront Bugibba Square -- situated just a block from the hotel. The waterfront promenade and Bugibba's rocky beaches are less than five minutes away on foot, while the shingle Qawra Point Beach (and Malta National Aquarium) is a five-minute drive. A more impressive stretch of sand is a 15-minute drive away at Golden Bay, while the capital Valletta and Malta International Airport are around 30 minutes.
Rooms
Basic and cheap-looking rooms, though some with sea-view balconies
The hotel's 40 rooms are generally clean but all very basic, with a simple and dated mix of tiled floors, cheap-looking furniture, and mismatched fabrics. Decor is also shabby in parts, and there are numerous signs of wear and tear. Most rooms extend to balconies with plastic patio seating; lower-category rooms overlook an unattractive inner courtyard, while middle-level rooms overlook the street, and the priciest (though still affordable) rooms occupy the upper floors and have excellent sea views. Noise can be an issue, especially in lower-level, street-facing rooms. Rooms are all air-conditioned and amenities include flat-screen TVs, kettles (though no tea or coffee), and hairdryers, plus mini-fridges and safes are available for a reasonable fee. In-room Wi-Fi is free of charge, but it can be very temperamental. While some bathrooms have modern shower cubicles, others have old-fashioned and dingy shower/tub combos; toiletries are provided.
Features
Continental breakfast and panoramic rooftop splash pool
The highlight of this modest hotel is a rooftop terrace (open seasonally) with a small splash pool and sun loungers, plus views over the resort and out to sea. At the other end of the hotel, a windowless dining room serves a continental buffet breakfast or a Full English breakfast. There's also a small TV lounge with outdoor space and drinks served from the reception. Free, albeit spotty, Wi-Fi is provided throughout the property, and limited parking is available in front.
