be.HOTEL, St Julian’s

The be.HOTEL is a 4-star hotel with an urban, designer style. It occupies the Bay Street shopping complex, a stone’s throw from St George’s Bay, in St Julian’s. The Paceville nightlife district begins across the street. The hotel has 293 rooms, including 20 suites and 19 family rooms. They are spread over two wings, either side of a shopping arcade open from 10 am to 10 pm.

Nine room categories are available, from 28 to 45 m². All have air conditioning, a safe, a small fridge and a smart TV. Standard rooms look onto the inside of the complex. Superior rooms have a terrace, and some offer a view of the bay. Family rooms add a seating area with a kitchenette. Family suites have two separate bedrooms, for four people.

Fornelli restaurant serves the breakfast buffet from 7 am to 10.30 am. On the 11th floor, be.KINI combines the rooftop pool, a bar and a lounge. The lounge serves lunch and dinner from April to October, facing the bay. The Rainforest Cafe in the arcade is also one of the hotel’s partner venues. The restaurants of Bay Street and Paceville round off the options.

For relaxation, the rooftop pool opens from March to November, weather permitting. An indoor pool with a jacuzzi takes over all year round. The gym is open 24 hours a day. The hotel has no spa, sauna or kids’ club. Families get practical rooms, but there is no children’s pool. The clientele is young and lively, especially in summer.

Recent reviews praise the welcome above all. The staff are mentioned in nearly half of the detailed comments. Reception, housekeeping and the pool team receive the same praise. Reception is happy to help book excursions. Guests also appreciate the little touches, such as chocolates left in the room. The cleanliness of the rooms, serviced daily, comes up often. The rooms are seen as spacious, modern and well equipped.

The location is the other big plus. St George’s Bay beach is a few minutes’ walk away. Buses, shops and dozens of restaurants are right on the doorstep. The rooftop pool and its view of the bay win over most guests. Its bar is also liked for its cocktails facing the sea. The breakfast buffet scores well for choice. Several guests, however, find it repetitive from one day to the next.

The downside comes down to one word: noise. The hotel faces the bars and clubs of Paceville, lively until 4 or 5 am. Noise comes up in a quarter of the detailed reviews, especially on the street side. The corridors can also be rowdy, as the clientele is young. The two-wing layout is also confusing. The pools, restaurant and gym are all in one wing. Guests sometimes have to cross the shopping arcade and wait for the lifts. Finally, the rooftop pool is small and fills up quickly in summer.

The be.HOTEL is best suited to couples and groups of friends who want to go out at night. It offers good value for money for such a central 4-star hotel. Light sleepers should ask for a quiet room, on a high floor or on the sea side. Families with young children will find practical rooms, but hardly restful surroundings.

The be.HOTEL is in the Bay Street complex, a stone’s throw from St George’s Bay, in St Julian’s. The sandy beach at St George’s Bay is around 200 metres away, 3 minutes on foot. The bars and clubs of Paceville are just opposite. The nearby bus stops serve the whole island. Valletta is around 15 minutes by car. The international airport is 12 km away, 20 minutes outside rush hour.

Good to know: the Bay Street car park connects to the hotel, but it is paid. For a quiet night, ask for a room on a high floor, on the sea side.