An elegant oasis of opulent charm

Advantages: Great courtesy, large, comfortable room, peaceful, well-located
Disadvantages: Some rooms could usefully be modernised

...Le Méridian Phoenicia has for a long time styled itself as the premier hotel in Valetta, and there are certainly grounds for agreeing with that verdict. It boasts many famous vistiors, and when there were all the documentaries about the 80th birthday of the Queen, they showed some footage of a ball hosted by (the then) Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh in this hotel. Prince Phillip was stationed in Malta in the Navy after they were married, and Princess Elizabeth was a frequent visitor to Malta and regularly had afternoon at the Phoenicia Hotel. The hotel is situated just behind the massive city walls of Valletta, not far from the main bus station at Floriana. From the hotel, the heart of Valletta is just a leisurely stroll away, taking you past the prime minister's residence, the Barrakka Gardens and into the bustle...

lobourse 12.06.2007 (07.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Le Meridien Phoenicia, Valletta

The treasures lie within and are rich

Advantages: Unique Caravaggio, amazing artwork, interesting tombs, tapestries
Disadvantages: Can get crowded

...St John?s co-cathedral in Valletta is found in the heart of the city, on Republic Street and Merchant Street. Work started on the church following the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when the Knights of St John of Jerusalem held out and defeated the Ottoman Turks. The building was completed in 1577, and dedicated to St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the knights? order. It is called a co-cathedral, since there was already a cathedral on the island at Mdina (I have reviewed this as well), but because the Knights were determined to construct a capital worthy of the name, which would have to include a cathedral, they arranged for this co-cathedral to have a throne (cathedra) for the Grand Master of the order. From the outside, there is no indication of the artistic treasures waiting on the inside. The church is still very strong...

lobourse 07.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Island of Malta

Plaza Regency Hotel in Sliema in central position

Advantages: Easy access to public transport and sea front promenade
Disadvantages: cramped and slow lifts

...and I had (in the Plaza Regency) was of a decent size and was clean and tidy. Our room had a balcony overlooking Tower Road, on the other side of which is a cafe and then the sea, with a good view of St Julians Bay.. Not all rooms have a balcony however, and I heard one guest , who was in a single room, saying that he had no windows in his room. The food in the dining room in the dining room was varied, there being three main meat choices, different every day. There is also the choice of salad if you prefer. On the ground floor, the Plaza has a cafe, and you can either sit inside or outside. The Regency Plaza has a pizzeria in the basement, but you can also sit outside in good weather. The main advantage to this hotel is that there is a bus stop just outside, with buses to Valletta every few minutes and in the other direction. to St...

nedstephens 26.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Plaza Regency Hotel, Sliema

  Siege Mentality

Advantages: Dramatically situated, historic, atmospheric
Disadvantages: Few places to stay within the city; not cheap

...As the capital cities of Europe go, Valletta is a rather recent invention. It was founded in 1566, and built in a hurry, as if to make up for lost time. For perhaps the oddest thing about Valletta is that there wasn't a city on its site before. A glance at a map shows the strategic importance of the island of Malta. It sits amid the narrows between the eastern and western Mediterranean, so that any shipping going from one to the other must pass close to its shores, as must any traffic plying the shortest route between northern Africa and southern Italy. Malta is a natural location for a naval base, and has a natural harbour to serve just that purpose. Or rather it has two in close proximity, known respectively as Marsamxett Harbour and the Grand Harbour. Viewed on the map, as if in cross-section, they resemble nothing...

torr 22.11.2008 (03.12.2008) · Read review
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Review of Valetta (Malta)

The Cultural Centre of the Mediterranean

Advantages: Rich cultural heritage, places to shop, many sites
Disadvantages: Not much of a nightlife

...Valletta is the capital city of Malta, a small island in the centre of the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage City and with good reason too, because it is probably one of the places with the highest concentration of buildings of historical value. Why am I reviewing Valletta? Well, as a Maltese I feel that I can show what Valletta has to offer better than anyone else, although I understand that I can do it only from a local's perspective. Fair enough. What also encouraged me to write this review was the fact that there aren't many reviews on the city (just 5 counting this one) and all of them are out-dated. From beforehand, I wish to say that I have not included everything that Valletta offers in order not to spoil it for the visiting tourist and in order to keep the review as concise as possible A Short...

jeffe 27.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of Valetta (Malta)

Excellent Hotel.

Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: Its some distance from sandy beaches, if you like your beaches....

...Being Maltese and therefore a regular visitor to the Islands, out of all the hotels of experienced, my stay was most pleasant at the Fortina. The Fortina is an excellent hotel, in an excellent location. Situated in Sliema, its close in proximity to both the capital Valletta (a few minutes by ferry, or a short bus ride), and the popular nightlife orientated St.Julians area. Sliema itself is bustling with countless bars, restaurants and shops. The location makes everything you could possibly want to do easily accessible. The hotel itself is clean, the rooms are spacious and the views from sea-view rooms are fantastic (the extra expense is worth it!). The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food was of a good standard. The hotel has pools both at the back and front, the front one being salty and the back not, catering...

Miskin 25.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Fortina Spa Hotel (Malta)

Hitch

Advantages: Hmmm... i'll plead the fifth on this thanks
Disadvantages: boring, slow, non-entertaining, slow, boring and dull.

...Director: Andy Tennent Producers: James Lassiter, Will Smith and Teddy Zee. Writer: Kevin Bisch Stars: Will Smith, Eva Mendas and Kevin James Released in early 2005 this comical romantic movie tried to show the life of a man who helped other in there flirtation techniques but failed in his own lovelife. **BRIEF PLOT** Alex Hitchens, or Hitch for short, (played by Will Smith) is a professional matchmaker, who uses his skill as a smooth-talker to boost the egos of men, allowing them to gain enough confidence to ask out the objects of their desires, teaching them how to treat their date for the perfect evening. His own skills are put to the test whilst teaching his new client Albert Brennaman, (played by Kevin James) who is trying to woe Allegra Cole, (played by Amber Valletta), when Hitch begins to fall for the beautiful...

blissman70 21.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hitch (DVD)

A comedy that made me cry with laughter

Advantages: Will Smith is very easy on the eye
Disadvantages: None

...I had seen this film advertised on DVD loads of times so I decided to treat myself and purchase it, not bad as I got it for £4.25 on ebay! Will Smith is the main character in this film plaing the greatest matchmaker in New York. The film co-starts Kevin James who plays Albert Brennaman who enlists Hitches help to win over the girl of his dreams, a society heiress, Allegra, played by Amber Valletta. The film also stars Eva Mendes who plays Sara, a gossip reporter who decided to find out the truth behind the legendary Hitch. She later learns that the man who she met in a bar who won her over is the man himself. During the film we see how Hitch trys to get Albert to change his bumbling ways to win over Allegra, we are treated to some very funny scence during this. My personal favourite has to be the dancing lessons which had me crying...

sewbizzie 29.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Hitch (DVD)

Ollie Reed ......R.I.P

Advantages: You would want to go back.....
Disadvantages: so far away

...Malta is a jewel in the med its a fantastic place to visit. it is so good Ollie reed used to go here quite regularly on drinking sessions, i saw him once in Valletta doing what he was good at in the local bars "god bless him". Malta has a amazing history and well worth the visit to see everything it would keep you occupied for your whole holiday. you can visit Mosta church and see where it had been bombed in the war and did not get damaged or you could go to Valletta and see the three harbours and st. Elmo's fort. there is so much to see here i would reccomend it to anyone...........

fireman 08.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of General: Malta

The ancient heart of Christianity in Malta

Advantages: Beautiful architecture, interesting paintings, fascinating tombs
Disadvantages: None really

...Mdina in the middle of the island of Malta was long the capital of the island until the Knights of St John of Jerusalem established Valletta as its headquarters on the island. However, the rules of the catholic church said there could only be one cathedral on the island, a cathedral being distinguished by having a throne (Latin ?cathedra?), and Mdina already had the cathedral. The result is that in Valletta there is a co-cathedral, ie a cathedral alongside that in Mdina, with Valletta?s throne being that of the Grand Master of the Knights of St John, the throne in Mdina being at the time for the archbishop of Malta. Mdina sits atop a hill in the centre of the island, far enough away from the coast to give a degree of protection from marauding pirates. When the island was liberated from the Saracens in 1090, a church was raised...

lobourse 05.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Mdina Cathedral, Mdina, Island of Malta