Holiday Inn Express Malta, St Julian’s

The Holiday Inn Express Malta is a 3-star hotel in the IHG chain. It opened in 2017 on Triq Santu Wistin, in St Julian’s. It sits in the heart of Paceville, the district of bars and nightclubs. St George’s Bay beach is about 150 metres away. An indoor passage links it to its neighbour, the InterContinental Malta.

The hotel has 118 rooms over eight floors. Standard rooms measure 21 to 24 m², with a double bed or two single beds. Some have a small balcony. The 36 m² family suites add a sofa bed. All have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities and a pillow menu. One room is adapted for guests with reduced mobility.

Reception, the breakfast room and the bar are on the top floor. A terrace there offers a fine view over the bay. The breakfast buffet is included and served from 7 am to 10.30 am. The Express Café & Bar then offers drinks and snacks until 11 pm. The hotel has no restaurant for dinner, but there is no shortage of places nearby.

The hotel has neither a pool nor a spa of its own. Its guests use the InterContinental’s facilities without stepping outside. There is a heated indoor pool and an outdoor pool in season. There is also a spa with a sauna and hammam, and the large Cynergi gym. Access is free from November to March, then charged from April to October. Children are welcome, with a free cot for under-3s.

Recent reviews praise the staff above all. Reception, the breakfast team and housekeeping feature in a large share of detailed comments. Many guests even thank a staff member by their first name. Cleanliness comes up almost as often. The rooms are modern, carefully made up each day and often seen as spacious for the category.

The location is very popular. The beach, shopping centres, restaurants and bus stops are just a few steps away. The breakfast buffet is appreciated for its quality and its top-floor terrace. Its bay view charms guests over morning coffee as well as evening drinks. Over a long stay, however, some guests find it repetitive. Access to the InterContinental’s pools and spa is a real plus, especially in winter.

The downside is well known: the hotel adjoins Paceville’s street of bars and clubs. Music can often be heard until 3 or 4 am, especially on the street side and lower floors. The windows insulate well, and many sleep soundly once they are shut. Others regret limited storage, tiny balconies or temperamental air conditioning. A few also find the beds rather firm. Finally, the summer charge for the pools surprises those who thought it was included.

The Holiday Inn Express Malta suits couples, solo travellers and families who spend their days out and about. Groups of friends here for the nightlife have front-row seats. Value for money is judged very good for St Julian’s. Several loyal guests indeed return year after year. Light sleepers should ask for a room on a high floor, away from the street. For a quiet holiday, it is best to choose another area.

The Holiday Inn Express Malta stands on Triq Santu Wistin, right in Paceville, in St Julian’s. The Bay Street shopping centre is just opposite. The sandy beach at St George’s Bay is a two-minute walk away. Several bus stops serve Valletta, around twenty minutes away by car. The international airport is 11 km away, 20 to 25 minutes by car. The hotel has no shuttle, but reception can advise on taxis.

Good to know: the hotel has no car park of its own. The Eden car park, on the same street, is public, paid and run separately.