Got a sinfully good deal for this hotel in the crazy month of August for one night and after staying at their sister hotel in St Julian. We would have switched our four day stay in St Julian for the Phoenician instead.

The front desk lady was very nice and spoke excellent english. Gave us a really nice room with a sea view. The furnishings were a little bit disappointing as there was no rug just bare floors. I loved all the fusion of North African colors and furnishings even though they looked tired. The bed was nice and I enjoyed the T.V. The bathroom was clean and very plush.

The lobby was very plush and very Arabian in the feeling and decor. I kept waiting to see if Addis Ababa woudl walk right in.

We loved the garden and the pool the most. My son spent the whole afternoon swimming and we made lots of friends.

The front desk recommended the excellent Malata restaurant for dinner and I can't wait to go back for that reason alone.

It is easy to get to this hotel as the main bus station is right in front of the hotel as well as the old city gate.

The front desk staff were kind enough to call our tour operator with their phone as the operator had changed numbers three times.

We stayed a week. Loved it. They still allocate 2 floors to smokers, so be careful when you make a booking if you want to avoid this. The restaurant is the best food we had in Malta.

This hotel is ageing (fairly) gracefully, but there are problems (especially with the lifts...). I'm told that an Irish company with loads of cash has bought it, and it's going to get an upgrade. Go now if you want to see it as it is....

Located centrally in the island capital of Valletta the hotel is perfectly placed for sightseeing and getting about by the extensive bus network - with the bus station being within a minutes walk of the hotel.

The hotel is a beautiful - and slightly faded 1930s building, the rooms are fine and very comfortable and those with balconys (on the 2nd and 3rd floor only) which overlook the harbour are definately superior to all others. We had a 2nd floor room and enjoyed the views across the harbour but also across much of the island.

The hotel has a beautiful swimming pool with great harbour views, lovely gardens and very nice lounge and eating areas.

We found all staff extremely helpful and efficient.

As other reviewers have commented Valletta can be quiet at night but the new waterfront development is superb and has a brilliant range of top notch restaurants and bars and we particuarly enjoyed evenings here. One tip to note is that to get to the waterfront either involves a walk through a multi storey car park then a lift to the entrance of a long dark and not particuarly pleasant tunnel or a taxi ride. Taxis in Malta ( white mercedes) cost a minimum of around £7 however there is a new taxi company offering open sided taxi cars - they are called CT cab service and the same journey is under £1. We used these back to the hotel from the waterfront and the bars would book them for you.

The harbour cruise from Captain Morgan based on Sliema waterfront is well worth doing and Mdina is certanily worth a visit too.

We had often thought of holidaying in Malta but had been put off over the years by mixed reviews from friends. It would seem, like Marmite, you either love it or loathe it! As my husband had a Maltese grandfather, we felt we really should go and see what it's like, so, encouraged by the reviews of the Phoenicia on Tripadvisor, we booked this hotel - we're so glad we did.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and I can only reiterate the good things said by others about this hotel - the old world charm is very evident. Do try the afternoon English tea - large scones and yummy cakes!

The Phoenicia has recently been taken over by Heuston Hospitality and on their own website they say they are intending to refurbish - I do hope they don't overdo it and remove its special 'yesteryear' feeling. Yes the lifts are old and creaky and perhaps could to with some attention - they didn't breakdown while we were there but you either wait forever for the door to close or have to jump in quickly before it has your arm off!

We expected a week to be enough to explore what Malta has to offer but found Valletta so enchanting we spent much of the time wandering around its old streets. Besides the cafes and restaurants already mentioned by others, I would thoroughly recommend King's Own on Republic Street. Don't be put off by the rather scruffy interior, the TV in the corner and the couple of fruit machines (!) - the food is home made and delicious with quite an extensive menu. It seems to be where the locals eat and is very cheap.

Another good place is Inspirations which has a daytime cafe and an evening restaurant - the entrance is up some steps to the rear of the Opera House ruins.

Do visit the little Manoela Theatre where there are short guided tours - although no actual productions in the hot summer months.

We did venture out a couple of times on the buses - Mdina, as has been mentioned by many, is lovely but do walk from there into the centre of Rabat which we found equally charming.

Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar is well worth a visit, has lovely gardens and a very good cafe.

The harbour cruise from Sliema is excellent and good value for money.

Do try the Maltese wines which are delicious and very cheap!

We wish we had come to Malta years ago - but better late than never and we will definitely be back...