Happy Christmas to everyone. I will try to return rates as soon as I can.
Happy Christmas to everyone. I will try to return rates as soon as I can.
Member since:03.08.2003
Reviews:237
Members who trust:195
That surprised you, didn’t it! Well, the week we went, there were storms, floods and luckily the spas, so we didn’t need to go and brave the weather unless we felt inclined! It was our sixth visit to Malta, and we had never experienced such awful weather, but it did clear up and we were able to enjoy the island.
The Hotel Fortina Spa Resort is situated at the end of a road looking over the Marsamxett Harbour in Sliema towards Valetta. A view I personally adore, as there is always something happening on the water, it’s usually busy with all types of boats but during the storms in December we enjoyed watching the huge waves breaking on the rocks and the occasional Navy boats braving the seas!
Over the last couple of years there has been a lot of building going on, the Hotel has increased in size, and is still on going, but this did not affect our holiday. The new tower block, once completed will have 150 bedrooms and be 5 Star, the older hotel is still 4 Star, and has 210 rooms.
Sliema is a busy and quite an up-market place, lots of Hotels, cafes and shops, and a great place to be in with a ferry across to Valetta running every half hour. There are lots of buses to go all over the island which are cheap and fun to use, they look like something from the 1950’s! Alternatively just walk along the Strand enjoying the harbour or, climb the hill and walk along the sea front promenade, around to St Julians.
****** The Spa Resort The Beauty Centre has always been available at the Fortina when I have stayed, but the Spa Sante had only opened its doors the previous week.
THE SPA SANTE It is a state of the art spa for relaxing, de-stressing and de-toxifying. This is included if you are staying in a Spa bedroom but for the rest of us there was an additional payment. But we were lucky, it was a BOGOF whilst we were there! At a charge of Lm.15.95 (approx. £24) It has a dress code!! Swimwear to be worn at all times until 2pm then no dress applicable so you are free
to enjoy the spa in any way you like! We went before 2pm but everyone was dressed the day I went on a tour to see the facilities available! But the option is there…. There are separate changing rooms and lockers, which could have benefited from being larger than the corridor shape it was, but the space had gone into the actual spa. There was a Sauna for ladies only, lots of “FUN” showers, with different rain, Tropic which was warm, Fresh which was revitalising and smelt of peppermint, Rain which was a cold shower, Splash was more like a mist, Head was a classic shower and Side which was stimulating jets good if you have poor circulation. These were curved like the “Snail” showers I have used at Stobo Castle, Peebles but were more varied. There was advice given on how to use all the facilities and to rest between treatments and drink plenty of water. There were 2 reflexology basins which were the best way of starting as you soaked your feet in the warm bubbly water. The Aqua meditation room was an oasis of calm with a sensation of lemons and patterns on the ceiling as the drops of water fell onto the basin below. The Whirlpool was large and very bubbly recommended no longer than 15 minutes or you become WRINKLY! (Some of us might have been classed wrinkly before we began!) The Kneipp Walk consisted of large foot baths of water alternatively hot and cold to walk through to stimulate circulation. The Cisterna steam Room is what it says a steam room, too hot for me to stay long but the menthol cleared your tubes, but it had comfortable marble curved seats and left your skin feeling moist. There was a relaxing area with marble heated or padded sun beds in a subdued lighting with soft music to relax in. The Mediterranean Sauna with 3 levels of seating and an egg timer so you don’t stay too long, was large and comfortable with some pine back rests. Next to this is the Ice Grotto to give the ideal contrast, the ice after the sauna boosts the immune system and is good for the circulation. It also helps to be with someone to rub it all over your body GREAT FUN! The other side of the Sauna was another fun shower, if you felt brave there was a rope to operate a bucket of cold water overhead…..WOW! That was a shock to the system! The Laconium was another treatment room, the very gentle heat in this room is a good place to begin after the reflexology foot bath and also to relax in after the sauna, humidity levels are low in here. You could spend as long as you liked and keep repeating places to suit yourself, it wasn’t busy when we were in, and was a very pleasant way to spend a morning relaxing whilst it poured with rain outside! Towels were provided.
Spa Mediterranee
This spa offers varied treatments using concentrated sea water and algae. There is also hydrotherapy, acupuncture, detox, Thalasso therapies, Vinotherapy to name but a few. Also there is a Physiotherapist and whilst we were there, several wheelchair bound people were receiving different treatments. Every guest is given 2 free 15 minutes treatment in the Thalassotherapy pool every day/ This consists of exercises and also moving through the water and exercising whilst the powerful jets are on.
The Belle Epoque Beauty Centre
This was also new, although a lot of the treatments happened previously in the Spa Mediterranee. From manicures and pedicures, to collagen neck treatments and seaweed wraps. Waxing and tanning, massaging be it normal, Chinese or Thai, Bach flower therapy. You name it I think they did it!
A lot of the staff are British but the Maltese people speak excellent English so language is not a problem.
Bedrooms
We have always upgraded and had a Superior or De Luxe room, so I can’t speak about the standard rooms, but we prefer the Harbour view and so have paid the extra for this. These rooms are larger and may have twin or queen sized beds. There are tea/coffee making facilities, a trouser press, hairdryer television, safe deposit box AT NO EXTRA CHARGE and mini bar stocked daily with wine, beer, water and
Pictures of Fortina Spa Hotel (Malta)
View of harbour from the Fortina Hotel
soft drinks(all included). Private facilities and free toiletries change of towels daily. Free fruit is supplied to de luxe rooms on arrival. Suites have a settee and armchair and some have extras as well.***************** There are now some Therapeutic Spa bedrooms in a new 4 storey block overlooking the garden. In each bedroom there is a therapeutic bath with 7 programmes. A high pressure massage shower for 2 people. A Dermalife machine for body detoxification. A spa for 2 people with different programmes. and a stress buster machine to use on your feet or shoulders. Plus all the other usual facilities. All spa bedrooms have large balconies with sun beds, and there are some with a roof terrace which have a small swimming pool and BBQ grill, table, sunloungers and shower, reached by a metal staircase.. The new spa resort rooms are for over 18’s only, we spoke to several people who had just booked to have a complete rest and enjoy the facilities privately and it was possible to upgrade for 1 or 2 nights to try out the facilities, so it is worth asking if you want to do that whilst you are on holiday.
Dining
The hotel is “All Inclusive”. There is the main dining room overlooking the pool and harbour, with Buffet meals. Just outside the main doors is the Brasserie, serving Mediterranean style food and recently Japanese, very popular with Maltese families. Near the Reception is another restaurant serving Healthy Cuisine called Qui-si-Sana and also has Fine Dining and on the first floor overlooking the garden and another pool is the Garden Restaurant. There is a need to book at all the special restaurants, but we had no problems getting a table in December, although we couldn’t always get one last May on the days we wanted. You are only allowed to book a day in advance. Meals are all inclusive and that includes your wine which is available in carafes in Dry or Sweet White, Rose or Red. Very few people actually paid the extra for a bottle – so that shows how good the wine was. There was a great choice to suit all tastes. At Breakfast, juices, cereals, fresh fruits, cold cuts of meat, cheeses, rolls, bread croissants, toast and a wide variety of cooked products, with fried eggs or omelettes cooked in front of you. As much tea or coffee as you want and a choice of types. If you were in for Lunch, there was soup, a large buffet of salads for starters or main with fresh salmon, an assortment of meat, always two pasta or rice starters and at least six or seven main dishes, vegetarian plus vegetables. If you have a sweet tooth there were several choices of desserts and types of ice cream or fruit or cheese and biscuits. Dinner was a repeat of lunch with different main meals, vegetables and desserts. Usually one roast meat and often a local speciality. In the summer there was an outside barbecue available from late morning with rolls, beef burgers etc and chips, so if you didn’t want to miss the sun you could sunbathe and eat outside by the pool. Coffees and drinks are available all day, from 10.00 am – 01.00 am in two different bars. In the summer there are also two outside pool bars open.
The Healthy cuisine is for anyone who wants to eat healthily, but a lot of people use the Spa Resort to lose weight and diet is then more important. The portions are smaller but adequate and the food beautifully prepared, there is table service and your wine is poured for you rather than you being tempted to finish off the carafe! At the Brasserie again there is table service and the food is served on various shaped plates, mostly stacked and drizzled! and beautifully garnished, making it a treat to eat. If you wish to up grade to “a la carte” you can pay a small supplement. Which we did to have the Japanese Menu - and it was worth it wonderful sushi, and all!
The Garden restaurant menu can also be upgraded but we have always found enough to choose from the menu which changes each night, again table service and nicely presented. In all the restaurants the staff are friendly and helpful. Not all the restaurants are open every day.
Facilities
There is a sea front lido, and altogether 7 pools counting inside and out! Something for everyone, including children. There is a gymnasium, which I didn’t try out, and a Sauna within this complex. There is a Pilates centre (extra charge,) and it is overseen by Lynne Robinson the world’s No.1 Pilates Author and presenter. Depending on who you book with there are often free tickets for the Harbour cruise and Underwater safari trip and sometimes a day trip to Comino. There is an animation team who organise games and evening entertainment. Not very high tech though!
Cost Varies from£589 -£739 for a twin superior room pp and to upgrade to a De Luxe Sea view with balcony add 37.50 pppn. The Fortina is in lots of brochures but you can make a saving by booking direct, check it out on the internet and they also then organise a taxi or mini bus transfer so you don’t have to tour around several hotels before reaching your destination.
Would I return? YES. We have returned 3 times and never before have we done that on holiday. Lots of guests return over and over again and we began to see people we’d met before. An excellent hotel in my view with great facilities, if like my husband who prefers war museums and history attractions, then that is available in Valetta leaving me to have a pampering session. Roll on the next holiday.
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:( i want to be pampered more now! well done on the diamond for this great review! :) x
rachelkanga 07.03.2005 12:49
I would love to visit Malta - being in St. John Ambulance for so many years I have seen pictures and know something of the history - now I would like to go and see for myself.
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Advantages: Outstanding food, good rooms and good service Disadvantages: Lift doors can hurt, pizzas are poor, no room service and a timeshare rotwieller
Advantages: Outstanding food, good rooms and good service Disadvantages: Lift doors can hurt, pizzas are poor, no room service and a timeshare rotwieller
exceptional by (30%):
very helpful by (69%):
helpful by (1%):
