Preluna Hotel and Spa

Booked a week here with Tui, a family of four taking two "cheap and cheerful" rooms. First impressions were mixed, the check-in was quick but we were given rooms on separate floors and were told "the hotel is at maximum capacity" so we couldn't change anything. One of the rooms had a door that refused to close properly. We asked reception about both issues and hey presto a room opened up next to the functional room. Not sure what happened here.

During the stay, both rooms ran out of toilet paper despite being serviced. Also one room ran out of shower gel towards the end, and the other room had a power cut one night. The cheap and cheerful rooms had functional aircon (which absolutely was needed) as well as ceiling fans. TV showing mostly non-English channels. Very good showers in each room. The pillows are generously thick so bear this in mind if you want something thinner.

We were warned about nearby construction and sure enough there's a lot across Sliema and Malta as a whole. Outside the hotel and close to the room windows, they were plastering during a couple of days (standing on planks lowered by ropes!). There were occasionally stepladders in the corridors as well with open access panels nearby.

The hotel itself is in a very handy Sliema location, close by food places and a 10 min walk to the ferries. Inside the hotel, there's a spa with a pool, this surprisingly closed towards the end of our stay for a week or two, again, not sure what happened. I feel sorry for the people arriving to discover this. The breakfast is excellent with decent coffee and always a lot of choice. We didn't eat any meals in the hotel otherwise, apart from the attached Japanese restaurant (pretty good) and the Japanese Burgers (which was excellent).

Over the road is the connected beach club. The pool there is nice but not in any shade. Down the steps and you're in the public area with ladders down into the sea which was pretty good. We went snorkelling and there were some fish and urchins.

At reception, there's always a bowl of apples if you're peckish. The staff were friendly and helpful. Easy enough to walk to the local Lidl for bottled water and snacks which is close by and cheap. Bus stops just outside and you can buy multi-use card tickets from the vending machine or the booth by the ferries.

Overall, we had a great stay at this hotel. Here's our experience:

Reception & Bar

The air conditioning in reception is fairly mild. If you're sitting towards the back, it's even less noticeable, which does create a pleasant atmosphere. However, after coming in from outside where temperatures were between 30–40°C, we found it could have been a little cooler.

One thing we found disappointing was that the bar doesn't accept cash. We had brought cash because we'd been advised by our travel operator that we would be able to use it. The alternative was to charge purchases to our room, but we preferred not to do that.

Room

Our room was modern, comfortable, and well-equipped with wireless charging, USB and USB-C charging points. The beds were very comfortable, and while the air conditioning wasn't ice cold, it kept the room comfortably cool even when it was 38°C outside.

Our room overlooked the side of the hotel where there were ongoing building works, so the view wasn't particularly appealing. However, we had been informed about this before booking and as we spent most of our time out exploring, it wasn't an issue. We also weren't disturbed by any construction noise.

The room was cleaned daily to a high standard. A special mention goes to Syog, who was incredibly helpful, accommodating, and provided excellent service throughout our stay.

Gym and spa

Great swimming pool (interesting shape). Jacuzzi and sauna services also very good. The gym has a lot of equipment so it will have something for everyone although the machines do look like they've been through plenty as you can see torn areas and the bars look to have some rust/discolouring.

Restaurants

There is a cocktail bar, although it operates by appointment only. We were staying on a half-board basis, so we're not sure if this influenced access.

Sakura

The food at Sakura was very good. The only downside was the number of flies around the restaurant. Unfortunately, some landed on our food, which meant we had to eat quickly and leave food that was touched by the fly. We mentioned this to the staff, so hopefully it's something they can improve.

Breakfast

Breakfast offered a wide variety of options, including freshly made omelettes, pastries, Greek yoghurt, fruit, and plenty of other choices. We had no complaints.

Dinner

Dinner also offered plenty of variety, with a different cuisine theme each evening. The themed dinner rotation meant there was always something different to try. Of course, themed menus are a matter of personal taste, but we really enjoyed the food throughout our stay.

Local Area

The hotel is in a convenient location. Nearby you'll find Sports Direct and Starbucks, and around a five-minute walk away are additional shops, including Next, along with other local stores as you head towards the seafront.

There's also a small shopping plaza nearby, although the toilet facilities require payment. About a ten-minute walk away is The Point shopping centre, which has a better selection of shops and free toilet facilities.

There's an excursions shop within the hotel where you can book trips and get advice on visiting other parts of Malta, including Valletta and Mdina. The staff there were very helpful.

We also visited the oud/perfume shop easily accessible from the hotel, which had plenty of local fragrances and inspired versions of popular designer scents. Personally, I found the prices quite high for non-branded products, so it's worth comparing with the airport duty-free before buying.

Overall

Overall, we had a very enjoyable stay. The comfortable rooms, friendly staff, good food, and convenient location made for a great holiday. Aside from a few minor issues, such as the reception air conditioning, flies in reception, around the bar, the cashless bar, we would happily recommend the hotel as a base for exploring Sliema and the rest of Malta.