Santana Hotel & Spa, Qawra

The Santana Hotel & Spa is a 4-star hotel in the Sunroute Hotels group. It is in the heart of Qawra, in the town of St Paul’s Bay. The hotel closed in winter 2025-2026 for a complete refurbishment. Two floors were added, with a new roof, a new reception and a new café. The seafront promenade is five minutes’ walk away. The Malta National Aquarium is about twelve minutes away.

The hotel has just over 260 rooms, across six categories. The 15 m² economy rooms only have a window and sleep one person. The 20 m² standard rooms have twin beds and a balcony. Family rooms and suites reach 48 m². Two executive suites on the 7th floor and three deluxe rooms on the 9th have a large terrace. The air conditioning is centrally controlled, with limited adjustment in the room.

Dining comes down to three venues. La Canoa serves the breakfast buffet from 7.30 am to 10 am, then a buffet dinner. On half board, wine and drinks are included at dinner. Near the lobby, the Castagna Bistro & Café hosts live music in the evening. In summer, The Deck Bar opens on the roof.

The 8th-floor roof houses three small pools, one of them for adults only. They open from May to October, with terraces facing the sea and the countryside. In the basement, the spa has an indoor pool heated in winter, a hot tub and a sauna. It is off limits to under-12s. The gym and meeting rooms have not yet reopened. The hotel has no kids’ club.

Recent reviews praise the staff above all. Waiters, bar staff and the housekeeping team are mentioned in the vast majority of detailed comments. Many guests are returning for the fifth or even tenth time. The location is the other big plus. The Buġibba bus terminus is two minutes away, and the whole island is easy to reach. Shops, supermarkets and restaurants surround the hotel.

The breakfast buffet is seen as generous and well replenished. Several guests, however, find it the same from one day to the next. The half-board dinner also goes down well, drinks included, despite a slightly canteen-like feel. Since the 2026 reopening, the new roof has won over almost every guest. Its three pools, plentiful sunbeds and bar offer a real sea view. The renovated rooms are described as clean, modern and spacious.

The air conditioning remains the number one complaint. Centrally controlled, it is hard to adjust and was often switched off around midday in summer. The reopening from May to July 2026 was also difficult. Works on the floors, hot water cuts and a closed spa spoilt many stays. The rooftop pools are small and mainly good for cooling off. The welcome at reception is judged less warm than the rest of the team. Finally, the tiny economy rooms, with no balcony, often disappoint.

The Santana suits couples and families who want to explore Malta by bus from an affordable 4-star hotel. Its 48 m² family rooms are a real asset. Avoid the economy room for a long stay, and ask for a high floor away from the street. Travellers seeking seaside calm or a large pool should look elsewhere.

The Santana Hotel & Spa stands on Triq il-Maskli, in the heart of Qawra, in St Paul’s Bay. This area in north-east Malta is lively, with many bars and restaurants. The seafront promenade is five minutes’ walk away. The nearest beach is Buġibba Perched Beach, a man-made sandy beach 450 m away. The Buġibba bus terminus, two minutes away, serves the whole island. Valletta is around 20 minutes by car. The international airport is 20 km away, around 35 minutes.

Good to know: a large free public car park faces the hotel. The Buġibba ferry to Gozo and Sliema leaves a quarter of an hour’s walk away.