Hotel Valentina, St Julian’s

Hotel Valentina is an independent 3-star hotel run by its owners. It stands on Dobbie Street, in the Paceville district of St Julian’s. The contemporary building rises over eight floors. Its large glazed lobby houses a lounge bar and a library corner.

The hotel has 128 rooms and suites, all non-smoking. Economy rooms are compact, with a 150 cm bed and a walk-in shower. Superior rooms offer 24 m² and a large double or two single beds. The 28 m² family rooms sleep three. Junior suites add a seating area, a bathtub and two balconies. The Penthouse Suite has a 30 m² private terrace.

The breakfast buffet is served from 7 am to 10.30 am, in a bright room on the first floor. The hotel has no restaurant. The Avenue, the same family’s Mediterranean restaurant, is a few minutes’ walk away. On the roof, on the eighth floor, a pool with a bar is reserved for guests. It opens from April to October, weather permitting. There is neither a spa nor a gym.

The Valentina welcomes all ages, with a free cot on request. However, it has neither a kids’ club nor a dedicated children’s pool. Its guests are mainly couples and groups of friends. Business travellers have a meeting room for 30 people and two computers for free use.

Recent reviews praise the staff above all. Reception, the rooftop bar, breakfast and housekeeping receive regular praise. Guests readily mention staff members by their first name. Cleanliness is the other strong point: rooms and shared areas are judged spotless. The contemporary design of the lobby and rooms is also a pleasant surprise. Many feel the hotel punches above its category. The bright lobby is often used as a place to work or meet.

The location wins unanimous approval from those who want to go out. Bars, restaurants, convenience stores and bus stops are a stone’s throw away. The rooftop pool is liked for its open view out to the sea and for its bar. It remains small and very busy in summer. Its water is not heated and it closes in the early evening. The breakfast buffet is seen as varied, but a little repetitive over a week.

The downside is well known: the hotel is in the heart of Paceville’s party district. Noise from the bars and from guests returning late comes up very often. The lower floors on the street side are the most exposed. Nearby building works add noise from 7 am on weekdays, and the hotel flags this on its website. Finally, the economy and triple rooms are small. Some overlook a dark courtyard. A few reviews also mention drain smells or temperamental air conditioning.

The Valentina is best suited to couples and groups of friends who want to enjoy the nightlife. It also appeals to solo travellers, for its welcome and its location. For better sleep, ask for a room on a high floor, on the courtyard side. Families and travellers seeking peace and quiet will be better off elsewhere, especially in summer. Outside July and August, the area is a little less lively at night.

Hotel Valentina stands on Dobbie Street, in the Paceville district of St Julian’s. This is the heart of Maltese nightlife. Portomaso Marina is 300 m away and Spinola Bay 500 m. The sandy beach at St George’s Bay is about 7 minutes’ walk away. The nearby bus stops serve the whole island, including Valletta, 8 km away. The international airport is about 25 minutes away by car.

Good to know: building works are under way around the hotel. For a quieter stay, ask for a room on a high floor, on the courtyard side. The underground car park is free for guests.