Paradise Bay Hotel: Hard-working staff, but best view of ferry boats

The Paradise Bay Hotel, located at the northern end of Malta, raises high expectations. Nestled in the Maltese coastal landscape, the hotel sits on a headland between the Paradise Bay of the same name and the Cirkewwa ferry, which regularly travels to the sister island of Gozo.

From the hotel balcony you can look out over the deep blue water and the rugged coastline and you almost get the impression that you have landed in a peaceful and secluded oasis. However, this first impression only partially stands up to the everyday life of the hotel and the surrounding area.

location with advantages and disadvantages

The Paradise Bay Hotel cannot deny that its location is one of its biggest attractions. With the ferry to Gozo right outside the door and some of Malta's most famous sights relatively close, it seems to be an ideal starting point for exploring. It is also possible to take the scheduled boats to the island of Comino and explore the Blue Lagoon or Santa Maria Bay, for example.

However, the tourist buses and ferries that are constantly arriving and departing create a permanent background noise. The traffic on the adjacent main road, which is essential for accessibility, often creates an unwanted background noise. Anyone looking for peace and quiet will be disappointed here. Particularly in the early morning hours and in the afternoon and evening, when commuters are travelling to/from Gozo, there can even be long traffic jams right in front of the hotel. The ferries, on the other hand, with the exception of the Nikolaos, are hardly noticeable, as they are rather quiet in direct comparison to the traffic.

While the hotel itself has the potential to be a retreat, the immediate surroundings make this difficult. Especially in the summer months, when the tourist crowds swell, the landscape around the hotel seems crowded and occasionally hectic. Anyone who was looking forward to the island idyll of a secluded resort will be surprised by the noise and hustle and bustle of the area.

Small beach with restaurants

A major advertising factor for the Paradise Bay Hotel is its own sandy beach. Malta is an island known for its rocky coasts, and sandy beaches are rare. Accordingly, the hotel has a unique selling point with its small, artificially created strip of sand on the bay - at least at first glance. The view of the beach is seductive in the advertising photos, and the promise of private access to the Mediterranean sounds tempting. In reality, however, this "beach" turns out to be soberingly small, uncomfortable and often overcrowded.

The artificial sandy beach suffers from several shortcomings. The area is so limited that guests often have to lie close together, and during the high season, sunbathing areas in the shaded areas are rare and quickly taken. Since the beach is so small that there is hardly any space for relaxation and rest, guests are forced to sit close to one another, which further reduces the already limited privacy.

Another problem is the water. While the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean tempts you to take a refreshing dip, the area around the beach is frequented by boats and other water sports activities that cloud the water and occasionally leave behind rubbish. The illusion of an unspoilt coastal paradise is thus not fulfilled. Even swimming can prove strenuous and risky due to the strong currents and boat traffic.

To put it simply, the sandy beach at the Paradise Hotel has the best view you can get of the Gozo Channel Line ferries. The ships are close by but not intrusive. However, there are many guests who find the 24 hour ferry service unappealing.

There are several pools on the other side of the hotel. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available to guests free of charge. There is also a staircase and a walkway that can be used to reach the sea from this side. It is very deep here, so this access to the sea is not suitable for swimming with small children. However, large signs indicate this. There are separate pools for small children.

If you would rather swim in the sea with your small children, you can reach a very large sandy beach in the municipality of Mellieħa in less than five minutes by bus. The buses run every few minutes and it doesn't really matter which one you get on, because they all stop at Għadira Bay, although not at every stop.

Service and facilities – well-intentioned, but poorly thought out

Guests are promised a wide range of options within the hotel. Several pools, various restaurants and bars as well as leisure activities are intended to fulfill guests' every wish. The staff makes a noticeable effort to make guests' stay as pleasant as possible.

However, the service also suffers from the high number of guests: at peak times - such as in the evening or during breakfast - the restaurants are overcrowded and the staff are overwhelmed. The result is inconsistent cleanliness and long waiting times for food and drinks, which reinforces the impression of a mass tourism resort.

The rooms are furnished very differently. Some rooms are subjectively oversized and others are small. It is a real lottery whether you get a large or a small room. The furnishings are rudimentary and correspond to those of a typical holiday hotel.

There is an indoor pool and a sauna inside. The indoor pool is relatively large and, because it is glazed, you can get a lot of sunlight in the winter months. However, this area of ​​the hotel looks old and a renovation would really be appropriate.

breakfast and gastronomy

When booking, guests can choose whether they want to stay overnight, have breakfast, half board or full board. The price per night will be higher or lower accordingly. It is also possible to spontaneously have meals on individual days for a fee. The special feature of this hotel: non-alcoholic drinks as well as wine and beer are included in the self-service all-you-can-drink lunch and dinner. This is a factor that is an advantage for guests, because it is well known that drinks in restaurants are not exactly cheap.

All meals are offered as an all-you-can-eat buffet. The food is good, but not outstanding. Both local and international dishes are offered. Vegetarians are considered, but meals with meat or fish dominate. The selection varies from day to day, so it never gets boring because there are always different dishes on the menu.

There are also two restaurants where you can order from a menu. One of them is opposite the main building on the hotel's sandy beach. There is also a bar here in the evenings. Another is in the main building. The prices for food and drinks are high, however. A Greens supermarket can be reached in around ten minutes by bus, where you can stock up more cheaply, as the hotel's own shop boasts prices that are significantly higher than those of a supermarket.

Conclusion: Good approach, but many shortcomings

At first glance, the Paradise Bay Hotel in Malta offers a lot that promises a perfect holiday: an attractive location with a fantastic sea view, a supposedly exclusive sandy beach and a variety of leisure activities.

But on closer inspection, the weaknesses become clear. The noisy surroundings and the busy traffic significantly reduce the relaxing effect, the beach is nowhere near as inviting as the advertising suggests, and the hotel's infrastructure is barely able to cope with the large number of visitors.

For travellers who value good transport links and active leisure activities, the Paradise Bay Hotel can be an interesting option. However, anyone looking for peace and relaxation and hoping for a real retreat will be disappointed here. The "Paradise Bay" - the promised paradise - unfortunately often remains an unfulfilled promise here. It should be noted that the hotel is not responsible for many of its "shortcomings". For example, the location is extremely vulnerable to storms, and the waves can be so strong that they can crash over the cliffs against the hotel windows. One can only philosophise about whether the location where the houses were built is optimal...