Barceló Fortina Malta

Fabulous experience and scenery (except a delayed check-in time)

Great hotel

The Fortina remains a great hotel despite losing some of it's facilities and individuality after re-development over the last 6 years. The location remains convenient for the waterfront, Sliema and local bars, restaurants and shops. The views if you have a tower room are still wonderful. The staff are all exceptional and extremely helpful and the rooms are well furnished. Accessibility for disabled people could be improved, but that's a fairly common issue in Malta generally. Overall though, a great place and base for a break in Malta.

Went here for my birthday holiday, the staff were friendly and helpful. Location was amazing and felt safe for a solo female traveller. Amenities were provided, with nice clean spacious room.

What a fantastic stay. Firstly the hotel has been renovated beautifully our superior room was great with everything you could need for a great stay. Secondly we stayed half board and both breakfast and dinner buffets were spot on. Great selection at both with regional and international cuisine. Third and finally the service levels were exceptional throughout the best I've ever experienced at a hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for anyone whether it be the concierge, a waiter or room service all exceptional. Will 100% return to this hotel

Returned from a weeks visit to this hotel yesterday and wanted to say what a lovely time myself and my partner had. We arrived at the hotel midday after 3 hours sleep and our room was ready (despite the 3pm check in) do that was very welcome. All the staff we came across were lovely and quick to help you out if there was a queue at reception. Our first full day we booked treatments in the spa which was lovely, the treatment by maya was one of the best massages I've ever had and set us up nicely for our holiday. The only problem we had is that as we had different treatment times the outdoor pool wouldn't let me partner have a swim whilst he waited for me, was told he would have to give up our afternoon pool booking. It was 10am and he didn't want to take up a bed. Seemed a little unfair especially as we were technically paying spa guests! I used the indoor pool which was nice. Onto the outdoor pool, the live dj doesn't start until 12pm and it wasn't drum & bass which we had read on reviews, sometimes funk, house or soul. We loved it personally, it's a beach club at the end of the day. Also we booked through Jet2 and this is a vibe hotel, which is exactly what it felt like. There was alot of negativity from older people around the pool kicking off about the loungers and being rude to staff. I understand frustrations as noted above we felt this but this was just embarrassing to witness! The pool staff were really great, always came to see if you needed food and drinks and brought them to you. Location is perfect, plenty of pubs, restaurants & shops and perfect for boat/bus trips and the Valetta ferry. Malta has so much to see and do, I think if people want to lie around the pool I wouldn't recommend this hotel.

The Barcello Fortina Malta has been completely rebuilt and is now a 5 star venue. The staff across all areas of the Hotel are highly professional and really cannot do enough for you. The hotel as you would expect is modern and inviting. Cleanliness throughout the whole hotel is of the highest standard. The buffet restaurant offers a huge selection of mediterranean and asian cuisine and buffet breakfast with something for everyone. The restaurant staff and chefs are outstanding. The pool and spa are fantastic The additional restaurant's of Tora and Manta are fantastic Two weeks of enjoyable luxury Already booked and visiting May 2025

This review will repeat the main critical comment about the swimming pool arrangements and the status of hotel guests in that area. The swimming pool features prominently in the hotel advertisements. Indeed most 5* hotels have an impressive pool. However I have never ever been to a 5* hotel where hotel guests have to book a day in advance to use the pool facility. To add insult to injury the pool reception is manned by a very grumpy woman who insists that you wear a particular type of wristband. This wristband is to indicate to staff which area of the pool you are allowed as a mere hotel guest to be in apparently. Hotel guests are allowed in a low level far corner with no sea view. Well just ignore that and go where you please. You as a hotel guest will be in an absolute minority. The pool is part of a beach club under separate management populated by hip day visitor youngsters listening to loud tedious music played by a DJ at the pool side. At the weekend the place is so crowded it is doubtful that you will enjoy the area. The hotel itself is new. It is built with quality fittings. Our room was beautiful. We booked a premium sea view and that is what we had. The views of Valletta were stunning. The room and balcony were spacious. The air conditioning controls however are very complicated, unnecessarily. One evening we were without air conditioning as the controls malfunctioned. Not even the customer service member of staff could operate the control and brought us a fan! 325 euros a night for a fan ! We could not open the window as we would have been bitten by mosquitos and so we endured an uncomfortable night. When we complained the next day the employee wasn’t interested and was looking elsewhere as I spoke to him. He advised that the maintenance man had left and we were given a fan!. This has already been mentioned elsewhere but the fall (slope) in the beautiful shower area slopes the wrong way with the result that the shower water does not drain. This can be quite dangerous as if you have a second shower later in the day the tray is very slippery. There was also a bad drain smell in the otherwise beautiful bathroom. As a general comment I do not believe the hotel functions as a proper 5* hotel. Reception staff generally not interested in customer complaints and were dismissive eg the air conditioning problem was after the maintenance man had gone home, so too bad. Checking in took far too long and ordering a taxi involved far too much administration, as did paying a 20 euro deposit for the pool towel. I might return but only far the view but then again probably not.