Porto Azzurro Aparthotel Reviews

july 22 08 to august 5 08 the worst two week holiday ever. we arrived at porto azzuro to find the cleaner still cleaning at last got into our room below ground level looking at a brick wall with a comunal dust bin. we asked for a change of room but to no avail. the hotle was in general dirty. we stayed half board and to say internatinal menu was fine if you came from germany to russia the only thing that resembled anything was boild potatoes. the reseption staff were unhelpful the catering staff hardley spoke english. i am sure if the health and safty lot went in there they would close the place down just can not begin to tell you how bad this place is. please dont go.

we stayed at the porto azzuro in july 06,we found the accomodation unclean and we booked half board but ate out instead after trying the food, the pool area was good and the people nice but if you are taking children there isnt much for them (teenages)we wont be returning to the porto azzuro and have complained.

Our first time in malta. the hotel having a refit working from the top down although the refurbished rooms are mainly for timeshare but you can get a free upgrade if the hotel is full. package holiday rooms are pretty basic no air con and furnishings are dated. we were half board food was below average but manager was helpful and willing to listen and did make some changes and even offered to have what meals we wanted fresh even though it was self serve buffet. full marks to manager.

hotel did lack entertainment but we was the begining of June and so we expected it. the hotel is changing into a timeshare complex so be prepared to listen to the patter. we did purchase a timeshare but he timeshare failed to send the documents on to us after many requests so our credit card company refunded the payment

Having been to Malta on many occasions before I was well prepared for the lower standard of accomodation on offer, but as we go for the wonderful weather, people range of food and swimming that doesnt bother us.

This was the first time we had taken our children though and we were unsure about how they would take it . I had no need to worry they loved it so much we have booked to go back this year.It hadnt changed much even though it had been a good ten years since we went last

The Porto azzurro is in a quiet residential area and you must think that to go anywhere you need a car although buses are very close by and run into Buggibba quite late in the day so you can go there. The accomodation was basic but clean and when we asked for a bigger mattress for our pull down bed one was brought immediately. Staff were always pleasant but watch outfor the time share people. We didnt use the facilities at the hotel a lot as we prefer to go out and about but we came back in the evenings to use the bar and pool able which was pleasant enough. There is no childrens entertainment but Amanda ( as mentioned before) is lovely and will help out if you ask. Shop is well stocked and there is enough there to be able to self cater without problems.

The pool was great . My kids loved it and virtually had it to themselves most of the time . ( we were still there when the kids went back to school) We had a jeep for about 5 days and they thought it was hysterical ( beware they can be a bit bashed). They loved all the beaches and enjoyed visiting Mdina as I had enthused about it so much ( especially the cakes in the one resturant )

We went to the dolphin show .. not the best but Idid get to swim with them which was one of my dreams and the instructors were very good and made sure you understood all about conservation before you swam.

The pirate ship was one of our highlights especially my 7 year old on a rope swing if you a good swimmers you will love this trip go on the saturday when the resorts are full with Malteses and the trip is for Thomson only.plentyof good food and beer ALL DAY

Do vist Goxo and Ramla bay .. fabulous

Malta is quiet and not Spain or Greece .. go with an open mind and enjoy the delights . We have enjoyed every single holiday we have had there and now our children love it will enjoy many more, The Porto Azzurro is a good base if you want to explore BUT if you want nightlife or childrens clubs etc stay somewhere else

Porto Azzurro was a very friendly, clean and quiet place to stay. We had a room right at the top of the hotel with views over the pool and a lovely long balcony. As one of the previous posters has said we didn't have air-conditioning but we did have the ceiling fan which did the trick (even though it got up to 41 degrees) especially when we kept the balcony door open at night. There was a 24 hour reception and the people on it were very friendly, spoke good English and gave us good advice about beaches and buses when we asked for it.

We went self-catering and got most of our shopping in the mini-market in the hotel. It wasn't much more expensive than elsewhere and to be honest there wasn't anywhere else nearby anyway. It had most things and they were very friendly.

Although it was July it was very very quiet, both in St Paul's Bay and in Buggiba. A British guy we spoke to who's been out there a few years thought it was because of the football in Portugal (i.e. there were cheap flights out there this year). It was odd though as Buggiba was half empty, I hope it picks up for their sake but in the meantime holiday goers looking for some peace and quiet take note!

The only drawback that we found with Porto Azzurro was that it was in the middle of a residential area and there was really not much to do other than to swim in the hotel's own pool without getting on a bus and going somewhere else. That would be fine if that's what you want and the Thomson rep was really lovely (and a local) and organised all sorts of things for people who wanted to stay in the hotel in the evenings. We ended up waiting until it was cool in the evening and walking the 30-40 minute walk into Buggiba in the evenings as we didn't have a car. It was a pretty walk but perhaps next time we'd stay somewhere less isolated.

It's a short bus ride to Meillieha Bay, and you're on a direct route to Paradise Bay too. My top tip would be to get to the beaches early in the morning before it fills up and it gets to hot, then leave at about 1pm like the Maltese families do, sleep for a bit and then enjoy the cool evenings and late nights.

We went on a Romantika tour to the Blue Lagoon, as recommended by the lady above and we had a great time. It wasn't as slick an operation as the trips operated by Thomson but it was about a third of the price and was much more ";real"; in a sense as the guys running the trip were typical Maltese guys and it was very laid back and haphazard. You can book it in the little shop by the bus stop next to the Hotel and get picked up by a guy in a car the morning of your trip or book in a bar on the quay in St Paul's near where the Romantika is moored and save yourself a Maltese pound per ticket. There are signs out about this during the day.

The food when we ate out was generally cheap and nice but the best meal we had was in a restaurant in St Paul's Bay that was actually looking over the harbour next to some steps. If you walk around the docks from Porto Azzurro you'll see it, it specialises in Maltese food and my husband had really lush rabbit stew there and I had some good gnocchi (the only veggie thing they had but well worth it). It's a bit dearer than elsewhere but it's worth it for some really good local cooking.