Bugibba Holiday Complex Reviews

Unfortunatley for us, we couldn't find a review for the 'St Pauls Bay Hotel' we were planning to visit so we chanced it and booked anyway. When we arrived we discovered that the complex also had the alternative name of Bugibba Holiday Complex. Reading the reviews after my holiday I really wish I'd known that!

We would not recommend this hotel if-

1. You don't like cockroaches - On average we had 2 a day in our room. Pif Paf is an excellent product for dealing with these!

2. You want quiet during the summer months to relax by the pool - this hotel is a host to an education program. Teenagers from other parts of Europe make up about half of the guests in the large complex. We spent virtually no time at the hotel because of these rowdy kids who were rarely monitored by the education staff. We had to call security more than once to deal with them (eg a fight broke out in the room next door at 5am after an all night party), but security's abilities were limited (security were very pleasent might I add.)There was use of megaphones, football hooters, hemp, booze, kids in pool late into night etc. These kids really spolit our holiday.

We were also flooded on the first night when the air con broke down. Judging by the tide marks in our room we suspect it wasn't the first time. We were warned by staff after we had been mopping up our room for 10mins- we were not impressed. There was a bottle of wine given for this hitch though. On a plus, air con in rooms was no extra charge and a wall mounted fan was also available. Both very welcome on the 40oC days!

We were also concerned with the security of our room, as on 1 occasion we returned to find our room door wide open and twice the balcony doors left open by the cleaning staff.

However, overall the cleaning was good. Soft, fluffy towels were given every day whether we needed or not.

Hotel itself is dated but pleasant enough. Staff are mostly very pleasant too but they do start work very early and most mornings we were woken about 7 by the towels trollies or staff shouting in the corridors.

Overall, the hotel is what we paid for. We can cope with cockroaches and floods but we would not go back because of the students.

Returned yesterday from Malta having stayed at the BHC which was diabolical to say the least!! Having been to Malta several times this was such a disappointment as we absolutely love the island. Where to start - we were put in a ground level room.

The bathroom: The bath had a large "rusty" patch on the bottom, the shower was a dated affair which bascially ran from the taps, the toilet had a "wobble", on arrival we had only half a toilet rool which was not replaced until it ran out entirely (we had bought some ourselves by then) and the towels were disgusting - they were a multitude of shades of pink and not one towel all week at all four sides unfrayed! (I actually bought four towels during the holiday).

The bedroom: The wardrobe had a fusty smell, the drawers did not close properly, the TV was so high that the wiring dangled down and if you went to the bathroom during the night you had to leave a light on or there was a danger of hanging yourself! The air con was a vent which made a lot of noise but did not blow any air. There was a cigarette end on the floor by the side of one of the beds which stayed there ALL WEEK.

The "patio": Being on ground level we had a patio as opposed to a balcony. When we eventually got the shutters to open (God help anyone if a fire broke out), we were greeted with a small square "patio", no chairs or tables, a tampon, an empty pouch of Kitekat and, if we climbed over the one foot high wall surrounding the area, we were on the main road! (Great for anyone with kids)!.

The pool area: The water was "thick" and "slimy" looking. I would not even think of putting my toes into it. There were scumy patches floating on the kids pool. The sunbeds were a horrible grey (should have been white) colour and most of them had holes in them.

The safety deposit box would open but we had trouble everything locking it again. The lift broke down four days out of the seven we were there.

The food was inedible. Breakfast consisted of soggy cereals, chipolata sausages and beans. Hash browns were there but no for long. The poached eggs were like golf balls and the scrambled egg sat in hot water!! The only fruit we ever saw was water melon. Needless to say we only had two breakfasts. The evening meals were also really bad. Three choices were available but not very inviting and never more than luke warm. The veg was peas and carrots every night. One te choice of potatoes ran out, it was chipsor chips. Again, we only went in to dinner twice.

Having said all that, we loved the island (having been several times) and te location of the BHC was spot on. The bars and restaurants around were all fine and we did not let our many bad experiences at the hotel spoil our holiday. We hired a car and travelled around visiting different places and a different beach every day. Gozo is a must especially if you take a car over with you. Xlendi Bay is beautiful - have lunch at Churchills - the tuna salad is superb.

We will certainly visit Malta again (probably next year) but we will certainly NEVER EVER return to the BHC - we would not stay there again even if it were free!!!

This is the place where they shoot poor little creatures flying over malta to their normal habitants.. in other words rare birds are shot off the sky or over the sea a soon as they try to land for food..Barbaric customs.. No!!!!! but no thankyou!!!! , we shall never return to malta. Hotel rubbish full of loud mouth foreign students with no consideration or repect to us Brits. A waste of a 2 week holiday, would have been alot better spent money at Butlins.

Stayed at Complex twice before and recommended to family and friends. Never again. Students spoilt holiday by keeping us up most nights kicking, banging, knocking on doors, climbing over balconies and through windows (did not use or have keys), took over pool so dangerous for young children. Reception/lounge overflowing with students, no place to sit. Had to wait half an hour sometimes for keys whilst overworked receptionist dealt with students who always had priority. Would only stay there again if better MANAGMENT and leaders for students guaranteed our safety and comfort and they accomodated students in one area so we could get some sleep at nights.

Malta is a WONDERFUL island which I and all my family love and pray we can keep visiting. Do your own trips as reps have their own agenda and not to YOUR benefit. Trips quite easy to arrange locally, Maltese are friendly and helpful. Just beware of hotels with 100's of students in July/August!!!!!!

FIRST IMPRESSION
I was very shocked by some of the bad reviews i had read but was pleasantly suprissed! If you dont red any further i am sure you will enjoy malta as we loved it!

Bugibba was very sunny on arrival and looked very busy. The hotel was absolutely gorgeouse and the reception staff couldn't do enough for you. We where helped to our room by a hotel employee so didnt even lug our own cases to the room. On arriving in the room i was impressed, there was guest soap at the basin and the room was very clean and tidy. There was a large fan facing the bed which was circulating lovely cool air, this was in addition to the fully working air conditioning. The balcony was not the biggest ive had but for the amount of time i would spend on it it was fine. I had a kitchen area with a fridge and everything you may need if you where self catering, which i wasnt as i was bed and breakfast, so i was suprised to see this. Lyndseys room was a lot bigger than mine which may be due to her not having the kitchen area, her balcony was large enough and she had a lovely view of the three pools. We both had TVs with satelite and many free channels such as cartoon network which kept the children quite for a while when we where getting ready.

BREAKFAST

There was limited choice consisting of the same thing more or less each day but for me how much choice do you need! there was eggs, sausages, bacon, hash browns, beans, various cereal, toast, cheese, bread, meat and melon. There was plent to drink water, milk, orange, pineapple juice, tea and coffee. It was always hot and enjoyable you could have it between 8.00 and 10.00 which i thought was ideal when you have children with you.

PLACES TO SEE

There isnt a beach as such at bugibba but you can easily get the bus to melliah bay which is 10mins away and has gorgeouse white sand and crystal clear water which is shallow for quite far out. We went to popeye village which the children loved. We went to the medeterraina park to see the dolphins which was good but dont expect to spend the day there as once you have seen the shows there isnt that much more to do.

NIGHTLIFE

I am 25 so you can imagine some of the nights out i am used to. O.k its no bennidorm but there is more than enough bars to keep you going till very late as well as some night clubs. We had our kids with us so where going in around 12ish but could have easily have stayed out a lot later.

PLACES TO EAT

There are pleny of lovely places to eat one place i will recommend is a little chinese just of the main square you cant miss it if you get to the middle of the square, they have mcdonalds and kfc if you get really stuck but i can't see it!