Iniala Harbour House

We had been looking forward to staying at Iniala Valletta for months, especially after reading about its recent Forbes recognition as one of the finest five-star hotels in the world. Thankfully, for almost our entire stay, it absolutely lived up to the hype.

We arrived around midday and were lucky enough to find parking right outside the hotel. From the moment we walked through the doors we received a genuinely warm welcome. The reception area immediately sets the tone – cosy, elegant and full of character. This hotel is simply breathtaking. The way this 400-year-old building has been restored and decorated is incredible, with luxury everywhere you look while still retaining its history and charm.

We booked through Chase The Edit and my husband also holds I Prefer Rewards Titanium status. Amy on reception was absolutely wonderful. As our room wasn’t quite ready, she invited us to relax with a glass of champagne served in crystal glasses, which immediately made us feel special. She carefully explained all of our Chase The Edit benefits, including a room upgrade if available, hotel credit and late checkout. She even asked what time we’d like to check out, and we agreed that 1pm would be perfect. It was such a lovely start and we genuinely felt looked after.

Once our room was ready, a member of the team gave us a tour of the hotel before showing us upstairs. We loved seeing the spa first – the indoor heated pool and sauna are beautiful, and the spa staff were some of the friendliest people we met during our stay.

We had originally booked an Annex Room but were delighted to be upgraded to a room in the main building on the first floor. It was absolutely stunning. The bathroom had heated floors, a huge double shower, luxurious toiletries and the softest towels imaginable. The bed was enormous and incredibly comfortable. There was a large TV, an iPad for contacting reception and browsing hotel information, complimentary tea, coffee and water, as well as a minibar and snacks available to purchase. We were also welcomed with a chilled bottle of wine and some delicious local sweets.

One of our favourite little touches was the balcony overlooking one of Valletta’s beautiful streets. Sitting there watching the world go by felt like being on a film set.

As the weather was so warm, we headed straight to the spa for a swim. We had the entire pool to ourselves and it was wonderfully peaceful. Once again, the spa team couldn’t have been more attentive, regularly offering us water and making sure we had everything we needed.

The hotel’s location is exceptional. Everything Valletta has to offer is on your doorstep. We spent the afternoon wandering around the harbour and exploring the city before returning to discover our room had been beautifully prepared for turndown service. It took our relaxation levels up another notch.

The first issue during our stay was that the curtains had been closed over the air conditioning during turndown, meaning the room got quite warm as the night went on. We were confused because we could hear the air running. We eventually figured out the air was being blocked from flowing into the room and finally got to bed once the room cooled back off, after midnight. We mentioned this to the staff, who happily noted it, although we were surprised they weren't aware this would happen. The following evening they left that curtain alone and everything was fine.

Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Grand Harbour was outstanding. The views are unforgettable, and the food was every bit as impressive. I ordered the brioche French toast and it was one of the nicest breakfasts I’ve ever had.

We also treated ourselves to lunch at ION Harbour and enjoyed the tasting menu as we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. It was an exceptional dining experience and one we’ll remember for a very long time.

On our final morning we chose to have breakfast in our room. It arrived beautifully presented and there was so much food. It felt like the perfect, relaxed end to what had been a wonderful stay. Because Amy had kindly arranged our 1pm late checkout when we checked in, our plan was to enjoy breakfast, pack at a leisurely pace and maybe have one final visit to the spa before leaving.

Unfortunately, this is where our experience changed.

At around 11am we received a call from reception asking if we needed help with our luggage. We explained our car was parked directly outside and thanked them before continuing with our morning. Around an hour later we received another call asking when we would be vacating the room. My husband explained that we had been offered a 1pm late checkout when we had arrived The response was a patronising "We didn't agree to that, Mr. [last name]", to which my husband matter-of-factly responded, "I didn't speak to you about it". He explained that Amy had arranged it with us during check-in, but we were told they needed to call us back. A short while later they rang again to say they needed the room for arriving guests.

We completely understand that hotels can be busy and that mistakes happen. What disappointed us wasn’t that there had been a communication error, but how it was handled. There was no apology, no acknowledgement that the mistake may have been internal, and no attempt to find a solution. Instead, we felt we had little option but to hurriedly pack and leave, turning a relaxing morning into a stressful rush.

When we arrived at the desk, we were asked about our stay by the same staff member checking us out as had rang us to vacate. We responded that it had been wonderful up until the last few minutes. Again, there was simply silence. We also informed her about a broken glass in the room and didn't want anyone to be injured. Once more, there was no acknowledgement. Instead, the staff member asked my husband if he would like a copy of the receipt. He replied "no thank you". The card machine then had a problem with printing. Rather than acknowledging my husband's "no" and sending us on our way, she silently stood there, attempting to fix the paper in the machine. After two tries, she got it right. She again asked if he would like a copy of the receipt. Again, he replied “no”. A few seconds later, she printed the hotel's copy, printed another copy, and handed it to my dumbfounded husband.

Once outside, he said to me that he had never encountered a more rude and inattentive staff member. He was absolutely shocked at the way he had been treated for the last hour and told me that it really marred the experience for him, ending on a note like that. It's such a shame because almost every member of staff we encountered over the previous two days had been warm, helpful and genuinely excellent. The hotel itself is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever stayed in, the spa is wonderful, the rooms are luxurious and the location is unbeatable.

Sadly, hospitality is often remembered most in the final moments, and a simple apology or acknowledgement would have completely changed how we left feeling. Instead, what should have been a flawless anniversary stay ended on a slightly deflating note because, for a hotel operating at this level (and at this nightly rate!) it's details like this that can turn what would have otherwise been a wonderful stay rather sour.

Would we recommend Iniala Harbour House? Absolutely. It is a spectacular hotel and we genuinely loved almost every minute we spent there. We only hope that communication between departments improves because it’s the small details that can turn just another stay into a truly unforgettable one.

From the moment you arrive at Iniala, you know you're somewhere special. The attention to detail from every member of staff is exceptional, and nothing is ever too much trouble.

Within minutes of unpacking, I accidentally dropped and smashed my perfume bottle. Before I had even thought about asking for help, a member of the team was there to clear everything away. It was handled so effortlessly that I genuinely wouldn't have been surprised if they'd replaced it!

The food was outstanding. We chose the 12-course tasting menu with the wine pairing, and every course was beautifully presented and full of flavour. The service throughout the meal was impeccable—knowledgeable, attentive and perfectly paced.

The spa was another highlight: calm, relaxing and immaculately clean. Breakfasts were also delicious with fantastic service.

Every member of the team made us feel genuinely welcome, and their attention to detail really sets this hotel apart. A truly memorable stay, and somewhere I would return without hesitation.