White Dolphin Apartments Reviews

The hotel rooms are very basic but reasonably clean,apart from the food cupboard that was not emptied after the previous guests.We lso had a cochroach in the bthroom and an ant infestation at the sink area.The meals we had in their restaurant we very good.Please be made aware,anyone who gets a room with a back window facing a half built apartment block that on our second night, I was changing to go out and looked out to find a man watching from some strategically placed breezeblocks on the windowsills!My partner went straight down and told our rep Nicky.She came up and had a look,obviously he was gone,but she agreed the blocks looked suspicious.She said she knew who owned the building and would phone them about the incident.my curtains were shut all the time after this but the next night I looked out and there he was on the top floor ogling some other poor guest.I fetched my partner and he and my son both saw him in action.Again down to the rep.Her answer this time was "try and get a photo of him" IMPOSSIBLE!I am writing this to warn other guests about this man as I think it is very unfair that he is getting away with watching people.The rep was no help and the blocks remain so heres a big thanks to Nicky NOT!

We arrived late at night to a very basic but spacious studio apartment. It would have been fine for us as a couple to use as a base to sleep and wash if it had not been disgustingly dirty and totally vile. The bathroom was unfit for human use, it was as if it hadn't been cleaned. The toilet was enough to make you vomit and under the seat was like it hadn't been cleaned since the seat was fitted. The sink was stained and had hair in it and there were traces of blood on the tiles. The entire wall above the shower was covered in black mould which had spread onto the shower curtain. The crockery in the kitchen area was like it had been put back in the cupboards without being washed and the plates were sticking together. The cups were stained and the oven still had baked on food in it. The back of one of the cupboards was missing and the floors at the side and front of the fridge were so dirty it was disgusting to look at. The bed linen and towels were at least clean but very tired and could do with replacing.

We paid for air conditioning which was excellent but i needed a blanket at night. The blankets in the wardrobe were filthy and the spare pillow i was going to use had a red mark that looked like blood on it. We had a lovely balcony over looking the pool and with a view of the harbour but it was just above the bar so was very noisy at night.

We asked to be moved the next morning when reception was open but were told there were no spare rooms, when i complained about the cleanliness the maid was sent up to wash the crockery but we were never given an apology for a thing. It was more like we were causing too much hassle for them and when we spoke to the rep she was kind but stuck up for the managment way too much. I had to go out and buy my own cleaning products and bleach to clean the apartment to my standard of living. Believe me i am no clean freak at all but i have a basic standard of hygeine that i expect to be provided.

The apartment complex was full of football shirt wearing, chain smokers that just seemed to sit around the pool all day and drank till late in the bar even though there was supposed to be a no noise after 11pm rule. This was not enforced at all. The resort was also a bit of a tourist hell hole but if you just walk into Buggiba and follow the locals on their evening strolls along the promenade there are some very nice fish restaurants and places were you can avoid the English/Irish pubs full of lager drinking English watching the football.

Hiring a car is a must as it is easy and safe to drive there, although there is also an excellent bus system. We explored the entire island and loved Mdina and a trip to the blue lagoon on Comino is a must. However you can easily avoid the tours and trips offered in the resort and by the rep as everything is simple, easy and cheap to organise yourself. Be in charge of your own time and don't get tied down to having to be back at the coach by a certain time.

All in all Malta is lovely, hot and has loads to visit and see. I would never go back to the White Dolphin and it should no way be a 3 star place, it is more like 1.5 to 2 stars. If you do book here take your own cleaning products, toilet roll and towels as our room only had a linen and towel change once in the week and it was never cleaned the entire time. Plus a pair of ear plugs are needed if you like to have quiet when you are going to sleep.

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Having read the other reviews once we had already booked our holiday, we were a little unsure what to expect, but both my wife and I were pleasantly surprised.
The studio apartment we were allocated was basic, but spotlessly clean and was equiped with everything we required for our stay.
The White Dolphin apartments staff were very polite and helpful and the staff of the bar/restaurant were excellent. The food in the restaurant was very good and value for money. Small bar directly across from the bus station called the ";Red Lion"; was friendly, very pleasant and also did very good food.
We were that pleased with our stay that we have booked again for October.

for the price we had more then enough. it was a brilliant hotel, cannot judge on food never tried it. the pool gets shade on it after 2 in the afternoon.beds were comfy perfect facilities

We were allocated an apt on the 3rd floor rear. The 'view' was of a breezeblock wall approx 5m away. The 'balcony' was so narrow that it wasn't wide enough to walk past someone sitting in a plastic chair.

On the second day we paid a substantial amount to upgrade to the penthouse apt. This was excellent. It had a sun terrace overlooking the bay, and a small balcony to the rear with a more restricted view. The washing machine proved invaluable and we were able to keep our beach towels nice and fresh, and avoid the usual slimy build up of sun tan lotion.

Overall the complex was kept very clean. However the ambience did not suit us at all. The pool was very small and hemmed in by buildings. It did not open early enough for an early morning swim and closed at 6pm. We did not use it, as we did not fancy sharing water with the clientele at the apartment.

The belligerent clientele chain smoked constantly, drank to excess, and swore and shouted at their children. They were multiply pierced and tattoed, and many wore football strips and impossibly white designer trainers.

The TV seemed to be on in the external bar area 24 hours per day and was constant football.

We were glad we had hired a car and escaped from the White Dolphin Apts, and the downmaket clientele at the earliest oppurtunity every day. A day trip to Gozo is a must, especially Xlendi which is a pretty fishing village with lovely swimming in the clear waters of the bay. There is a small beach for those with younger children, and pedaloes and kayaks can be hired. The restaurant El Cima is superb.

Valletta is very interesting, especially the Vittoriosa area. We took a djaisa trip round the Grand Harbour which cost just 6 Maltese lira, and proved an excellent way to see it. The area round the yacht club is interesting too. The Regatta Club looks uninspiring, but I had the most wonderful spaghetti with walnuts for next to nothing and would definitely go there again.

Gnedja Bay is the best beach we went to on Malta itself. It is very Maltese. The snack bar does excellent pizzas. There is a raft which we all enjoyed swimming out to, and diving from. Avoid the tourist beaches. They are too overcrowded, and what people do in the sea is unspeakable - suffice to say something brown floated past me!

The market at Marsasloxx is best body swerved. Lots of tat, and not much local stuff.

We did not have a bad meal in 7 days. The breakfast at the apartments was British unfortunately, but good value for money. Did not go to Malta to eat full Sunday Roast, but this was available for the plebs that do. The evening meals in the White Dolphin were nice, and value for money. We went to the barbecue evening and enjoyed the food, but were driven indoors by the chain smokers. Eating out was cheap and there was a variety of food to choose from, both local and more 'international'.

If you are unfortunate enough to be allocated to the White Dolphin Apts, my advice would be to spend the extra to upgrade to the penthouse apt, and use it as a base to see the island. The buses are really cheap, although we were satisfied with the car hire deal we pre-booked thru' Thomsons. If you are a chain smoker with tattoos, and like football, the white Dolphin Apts are for you.