Malta - Westin Dragonara
Spring 2008
Frank's view 
'don't believe the glossy brochure spin'
On a previous visit to Malta I had stayed at the Hilton, which I’d found disappointing, and taken the opportunity to check out the nearby Westin as an alternative for a subsequent visit to the island.
The Westin Resort sits on its own private peninsula and is certainly not modestly rated on its one web site;
“The Westin Dragonara Resort rates as one of the most appealing and 5 star luxury hotels in the Mediterranean”
Blimey – that’s quite a claim!
On first impressions, looking around the common areas of the hotel, it does seem quite appealing, but once you venture upstairs to the rooms, the appeal diminishes.
My junior suite, on the 7th floor, had a small private balcony with two chairs and a table, and looked out over the pool towards rooms on the other side of the hotel. The suite was really just a large, fairly basically furnished room, lined with orange and yellow strips of wallpaper, presumably depicting sun and sand.
The ‘Travelodge’ bathroom was very small relative to the size of the bedroom, tiled in white, and had one washbasin and a small bath with overhead shower.
5 star luxury, this was not!
Among the best in the Mediterranean? Absolutely not a chance.
Wireless Internet is available in the hotel lobby, whilst only ethernet access is available in rooms, at €18 per 24 hours. Investment in hotel-wide wireless wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Royal Beach Club lounge is on the 8th floor and has a terrace which enjoys the full impact of the sun at breakfast time.
I do find it amusing that Starwood, who operate the Westin, have their ‘Preferred Guest’ program. It’s a novel way of making the rest of your guests feel second rate?
Whilst staying with the Westin, they were running a ‘Go Fresh’ promotion where guests were invited to take advantage of a once per visit opportunity. On the penultimate day of your stay you could receive a 15% discount on all your laundry. This willingness to pollute the environment, if you paid for it, sat interestingly alongside the notice asking guests to help protect the environment by not changing their towels or bedding unless they felt it was really necessary.
If you are expecting REAL 5 star Mediterranean luxury, you will be very disappointed, but if you balance the room rate against what you receive, I’d say you just about get what you pay for.
Westin Dragonara Resort
Malta
+356 21 381000
http://www.westinmalta.com/
The Westin Resort sits on its own private peninsula and is certainly not modestly rated on its one web site;
“The Westin Dragonara Resort rates as one of the most appealing and 5 star luxury hotels in the Mediterranean”
Blimey – that’s quite a claim!
On first impressions, looking around the common areas of the hotel, it does seem quite appealing, but once you venture upstairs to the rooms, the appeal diminishes.
My junior suite, on the 7th floor, had a small private balcony with two chairs and a table, and looked out over the pool towards rooms on the other side of the hotel. The suite was really just a large, fairly basically furnished room, lined with orange and yellow strips of wallpaper, presumably depicting sun and sand.
The ‘Travelodge’ bathroom was very small relative to the size of the bedroom, tiled in white, and had one washbasin and a small bath with overhead shower.
5 star luxury, this was not!
Among the best in the Mediterranean? Absolutely not a chance.
Wireless Internet is available in the hotel lobby, whilst only ethernet access is available in rooms, at €18 per 24 hours. Investment in hotel-wide wireless wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Royal Beach Club lounge is on the 8th floor and has a terrace which enjoys the full impact of the sun at breakfast time.
I do find it amusing that Starwood, who operate the Westin, have their ‘Preferred Guest’ program. It’s a novel way of making the rest of your guests feel second rate?
Whilst staying with the Westin, they were running a ‘Go Fresh’ promotion where guests were invited to take advantage of a once per visit opportunity. On the penultimate day of your stay you could receive a 15% discount on all your laundry. This willingness to pollute the environment, if you paid for it, sat interestingly alongside the notice asking guests to help protect the environment by not changing their towels or bedding unless they felt it was really necessary.
If you are expecting REAL 5 star Mediterranean luxury, you will be very disappointed, but if you balance the room rate against what you receive, I’d say you just about get what you pay for.
Westin Dragonara Resort
Malta
+356 21 381000
http://www.westinmalta.com/
Be Frank: agree or disagree? What do you think?
