Hotel Bay View

Downtown, on the Strand ( seafront avenue ). The airport is 5.6 miles away. Allow 15 min or more for transfer depending on the traffic.

Although the Bay View is located on the seafront, the closest beach is 500 m away. It is a rocky area facing Manoel Island as well as Valetta on the other side of the bay. Extending on 100 m in length by 10 m in width, this rocky public beach has no specific amenities. Be sure to bring your towel but no sunshade as you can't set it up on the rocks. A ladder takes you down to the sea. Be careful, the water is quite deep.

Opened in 2005, the Bay View lays out 7 storeys topped by a two-storey panoramic terrace. It overlooks the Sliema bay on one side and the city on the other. It has a 10 m x 4 m swimming pool and a separate kids pool. A smaller ( 7 x 4 m ) indoor pool is also on the top floor. There is not much space to sunbathe on the terrace if there's a crowd. The number of deckchairs and sunshades is thus limited. The interior lay out is in an uncluttered, contemporary style. The reception and lounges extending from it are adorned with abstract paintings done by Maltese artists.

The Bay View's 137 rooms have a bay, city or building courtyard view. Too bad they are only 16 m². Their small balcony does not add any living space. If you want a larger room, ask for one with a kitchenette, that can house up to 3 persons ( 20 m² ). A basic level of comfort is ensured by the air conditioning and direct telephone. The safe is extra and television access requires a deposit. A hair dryer is available upon request at the reception. The bathroom has a shower or a bathtub. The layout and decoration are plain : contemporary furniture, white walls and tile flooring.

The hotel's main restaurant is located in a room with no terrace and a view of the surrounding buildings. To make up for this inconvenience, the walls are nicely decorated with bright-coloured abstract paintings. In the morning, guests have access to a buffet with hot and cold dishes. For the other two meals, the buffet deal alternates with the table service depending on the number of customers. For the table service, the fixed menu, that changes every week, offers soup or pasta, fish or meat, a pastry, ice cream or a fruit salad for dessert. The Maltese and Mediterranean cuisine is tasty.