The Westin Dragonara Resort Saint Julian's

I spend a good 60% a year of my nights in hotel rooms around the world, out of habit one hotels is much like the next and rarely do I find one that is worthy of recognition, however, stumbling on the little island of Malta for a conference I found a hotel which not only is worthy of recognition but also of remembering. Property wise I wuld have to mention that even though it is a beautyful hotel with an optimum location, if is in need of refurbishments, mind you, the experience with the staff makes you forget all of that. The staff are unbelievable staring off from the Doormen straight through to any member of staff with in the premises (i will have to say that above all are the front office staff) their manners are impecable, their proffesionality above and beyond. The all go the extra mile for their customers and seam to be ready to bend over backwords for them. I was really impressed to be greeted every time I passed through the lobby...a greeting followed by my name, to me that alone is already out standing that they should remember my name. Even more surprising was finding that the hotel had sent a cake to my room free of charge only because I had chosen to spend my birthday at the hotel. I have always chosen Hilton during my independant travels however if all Starwood hotels have such customer service I will have no doubts as whether to book my stays soley with them. Definately a hotel I would highly recommend.

We have just come back from 7 days at this hotel. Word of warning the hotel is being renovated, they don't tell you this on the website the pool is closed and worse the cement mixer and crane will wake you up at 6.45am if you have a room facing the pool. I booked a club room on the 7th floor which is being renovated as is the 8th. However, saying that I complained about the noise and we were moved away from the pool. The staff are great, really helpful and nothing too much trouble. When the hotel is finished I am sure it will be great in the meantime I don't think its worth the money. The area outside the hotel is interesting (the best word I could find to describe it) all the pavements are dug up and the roads are awful. Again, once its finished I am sure it will be lovely. If you do go don't have high expectations of the surrounding area or the hotel just yet but the people of Malta are great and I wil return in a few months when all is finished!!

The Westin was an excellent hotel, the service was very good nothing was too much trouble, any extra requirments were dealt with, even down to requesting extra tea bags and milk in our room! The food was good. The lobby bar area was particuarly nice and the staff there very pleasant and courteous. We would feel confident another time to book direct instead of going through a tour operator. our holiday was at the end of February the weather was good, no rain! If there were any problems they were dealt with immediately.

I am aninternational Private Jet Captain and thus travel all over the world. The Westin Dragonara is barely a 4 star hotel. Nice bar loby and great wait staff. Poor food, drinks and way over priced($28 Euro for a nasty breakfast buffett). The rest of the crew were Platinum Starwood Prefered guests and were not able to get any of the normal perks.

"Heavenly Beds", (a special extra comfy bed that Starwood guests are given) were only available in non ocean view rooms and at an extra $15 a night (17 Euro). Our crew rate was about $100 Euro a night wich for a beach resort is cheap, but I stayed in late January off season. The locals were smart by placing the larger hotels away from the best parts of Malta, thus isolating the turists. Try to find a smaller hotel about 2-4 miles south on the coast. Better restaruants. Also i would like to comment on the area around the Dragonara.......Berlin circa 1945! Every other street was torn up or closed and at least 60% of the buildings were either vacant or ready to be demolished. This is not a joke. It was as if they had just finished a bloody civil war. Over all the country is beautifull and the people are friendly. I would say it is a cross between Mexico and Old Europe.....But English is the primary language. Very easy to get around. 6 Days is more than enough to see some great sites and take in some history. PS, food is not cheap but the local dishes are tasty.

I stayed in the Westin Hotel from 23/12-04 til 03/01-04 with my family and I only can state thethe quality and service level of the hotel was excellend. Nice and large rooms with a great view.Staff was very friendly and always willing to help.The first day we were transfered to another roomwith a internal conecting door, because I booked a seperate room for my children. Great staff.Ate Stuiver, 17/01/04

We stayed here twice and were equally happy on both occassions. The hotel is modern but tastefully decorated whilst the rooms are beyond spacious and a pleasure to stay in. There are a number of good restaurants to eat in (particularly Palios) though be cautious of the nightlife on the hotel's doorstop - it's not so nice. The swimming pools are nice though can get a little noisy during high season but there are no beaches if that's what you're after. There is also a well-equipped gym and indoor pool. Above all else, the staff are incredibly friendly and accomodating and go out of their way to ensure your comfort. I would strongly recommend this hotel to anyone particularly during quieter spells.

Myself, husband and 3 year old daughter returned from this hotel 7/11/2003. This hotel rates itself as a 5 * - I think it would be difficult to give it a 4* rating. It was definitely 5* prices though, we spoke to some people there who had ordered a jug of milk for their child and were charged £5 - £3.50 for the milk and £1.50 to have it delivered. I asked for a cappuccino one morning and was told there would be an extra charge. The complimentary tea and coffee was never refilled in our room if you require it refilling they charge! We were constantly hassled to sign for everything we had - not really what you expect of 5 *. Our room was very spacious lovely view etc but shabby and rather stained carpet! A lot of the facilities were closing such as pool bar, terraces etc. If you are thinking of staying here I wouldnt bother !

I stayed one week at the Dragonara and have to say that the service I experienced was the best I have ever come across - and I say that as someone who travels often, and almost always stays five star.

Staff were wondeful - from the bell boy taking in bags to reception to restaurant and bar staff.

Rooms are lovely - large, airy and luxuriant.

The restaurants were great - inexpensive for the quality of food, staff couldn't do enough for you.

Room service was exceptional - I had breakfast on my balcony several mornings and it was absolutely divine. What better way to start the day than eating a huge, tasty breakfast overlooking the sea.

The hotel is in two wings. As for a high floor room facing towards the pool and you'll have an altogether better experience than you might facing the side road. If you can afford it, pay the extra for a Tower Room - with a HUGE balcony/terrace. Again, ask for a pool-view.

Location is excellent - St Julian's might not suit older visitors, but for the youn or young at heart, it is very busy with an excellent nightlife, and rarely any problems - a complete contrast to other popular clubbing areas in Rhodes, Corfu and Ibiza. You can safely walk around in the small hours here.

There is a beach in St Georges, depending on the tides. But best bet is the beach club at the Dragonara which is quite lovely - lots of nice sun loungers, small snady beaches and larger terraces. And, again, excellent waiting staff.

Any faults? I had a cracked tile in my bathroom. That really was the only think I could criticise. And, when I noted that on the feedback card, I had a letter of apology from the manager within a week of returning home. Now that is good service.

This is the letter I have written to the General Manager regarding my stay at this hotel in August 2003.Mr Renzo Correzzola General Manager Westin Dragonara ResortDear Mr CorrezzolaRe: My stay at the Westin Dragonara 8 15 August, 2003.Recently, I had the misfortune to choose the Westin Dragonara for my recent holiday in Malta. Without a doubt, it is the worst Westin and guest experience I have suffered in a Starwood property. As a Platinum member of the SPG program, I have a good basis for comparison as I have stayed in many Starwood properties, and indeed many Westins, around the world. In fact, your hotel came very close to being the absolute worst hotel I have ever stayed in but the Sheraton in Reston, Virginia USA still retains that dubious honour but only by a whisker!Firstly, I was not accorded any of the privileges associated with Platinum membership. Whilst I had booked a Royal Beach Club floor Junior suite and therefore didnt care if I was upgraded or not, it would have been nice if the staff member who checked me in made some acknowledgement of that. However, I was extremely upset that not only was I refused the standard 4 pm checkout, but I was harassed by your staff prior to the agreed checkout time to leave the room. Because my flight was not until 8 pm, I requested a 4 pm checkout a few days prior to my departure date and was told by the front desk that I could not have this. . I have NEVER been refused a 4 pm checkout in all the years I have been a member of the Starwood program which is since 1988, even in hotels that like yours, were very busy). When I protested politely, I was told they would look into it and get back to me. Almost 24 hours later I enquired again and was told that the best they could do was 3 pm which having no alternative, I reluctantly accepted. On the day of my departure, I returned to my room having around 1.30 pm to prepare to leave. At approximately 2.20 pm, the phone rang very briefly and as I was under the shower, I did not get to it in time. At 2.40 pm., my room door was opened (without knocking) and a male employee barged in at great speed. I asked him what he was doing and he demanded to know when I was checking out. I told him it would be at 3 pm as arranged and asked why he was barging into my room. He said he phoned but I didnt answer. I said that was no excuse for coming into my room without knocking. He said he knocked but I assure you he did not. I was standing just inside the door near the wardrobe and was almost bowled over by him. Had it been 2 minutes earlier, I would have been completely naked as I had just finished showering/dressing. I checked out promptly at 3 pm as previously agreed and this employee, whose name was Joseph, was at the front desk. I asked him why I had been harassed (I was so upset by it, I was in tears) in such a manner and he said they had a guest waiting to use the room. Presumably this guest must have been way more important to you than myself. I would like to ask you, as General Manager, why a Platinum guest does not get a 4 checkout and then your staff think it is acceptable to harass ANY guest in such a manner well prior to the agreed checkout time?? Furthermore, A completely sold out hotel is no excuse to treat a guest, whether premium or not, in this manner so I will not accept that as a reason.Another undesirable aspect of your hotel is extremely poor quality food. I soon tired of everything served with a mound of soggy chips, limp salad and no variety between the restaurants open at lunch time. Having eaten in the lobby bar, and disgusted with the food there, I decided to try the terrace restaurant for lunch as I felt like something more substantial as my preference is to eat my largest meal at lunch time. I also thought it may be better quality food, but no, it was the SAME menu as the Bar and clearly the same kitchen - more soggy chips and limp salads. The breakfast served in the Royal Beach Club lounge was extremely poor watery scrambled eggs and fruit such as melon was bruised, old, slimy and therefore inedible. Fruit that was served in a room service dinner was in similar condition and I could not eat it. The dinner buffet in the Terrace restaurant was also frightful with barely a salad that didnt look like it was composed of left-overs. They were all very unappetizing, disgusting looking messes. There was little or no truly fresh vegetable, salad items or fruit. After those experiences, I did not bother trying your other restaurants as clearly, your Executive Chef has such so low standards, I could not imagine they would be any better, just more expensiveWith regard to the breakfast at the Royal Beach Club, I was amazed to be given a bill at the end of it. In the 15 years that I have been a member of the SPG program, I have NEVER been charged for breakfast in the club lounge. Whilst most offer a delightful continental breakfast, some have a hot breakfast which is complimentary to Club members. Only the week before I had stayed the Sheraton Denver Tech Center in the USA and had an extremely good hot breakfast which was included as I was staying on a Club Floor. As described previously, your Club lounge breakfast was also not edible so to be charged MTL 7.50 for it was even more insulting this is the price one normally pays for a high quality breakfast buffet not one that is small, has little choice and is of appalling quality. Additionally, one doesnt normally dine at that price in a cramped lounge with dirty table cloths that need changing and eat breakfast surrounded by screaming children and a blaring television. Needless to say, I didnt return to the Lounge.I also did not attend the Lounge for your cocktail party as the invitation was addressed to Mr and Mrs xxx and by that time, I was totally exasperated by the poor standards of everything in the hotel. As my reservation was in the name of Ms xxx for one person, this is offensive. Therefore, there was no Mr xxx and I am NOT Mrs xxx so I did not attend. Your staff should be taught to pay more attention to details like this as befitting the five star hotel you claim to be.Furthermore, your staff should be trained that there is NOT something wrong with a woman travelling alone. Everywhere I went in the hotel, this was remarked upon and/or I was quizzed as to why I was alone one waiter even said there must be something wrong . Your staff need to learn that such comments are rude, offensive (would they ask a man the same thing? I dont think so!) and totally unwelcome. Regardless of circumstances, its actually quite common for women to travel alone I do it most weeks for business and I dont want to be treated like I have two heads for doing so nor feel pressured to explain why I am travelling alone. I have never experienced this rudeness in any other hotel anywhere in the world.General standards of service are poor. Not only did I encounter the problems outlined above but other examples of service where a one star hotel would probably do better! After my terrible checkout experience, I had no option other than to sit around the lobby for a few hours before taking my car to the airport. As I hadnt had lunch, I decided I would eat in the lobby bar as it was the only place open serving food at that hour. Despite the fact that there were only a few groups of people in the bar, I was studiously ignored by your staff for 25 minutes, despite the fact that they were not busy. After 25 minutes, I went to the bar and asked to be served. The only reponse was to give me a look that made me feel bad for even asking. At the conclusion of my meal, no one came to clear anything away and I eventually had to once again go to the bar to pay the bill where once again I was made to feel like a nuisance.Last and least, the room décor is dated and very tired. You badly need a refurbishment to bring your hotel in line with standards of other Westins. A sign on the bed proclaimed it be a Westin Heavenly bed. I have slept in very many of them and seriously doubt this was a heavenly bed as I had a back ache every morning and I am not prone to back problems. On checking the mattress, it didnt have the usual pillowtop of the Westin Heavenly Bed. A few extra pillows and a duvet do not make a Heavenly Bed.The only employee worthy of commendation was Christine, the room maid, who was unfailingly cheerful, polite and very helpful. Please ensure she is recognized for giving excellent service in an establishment where clearly, no-one else cares about the guests.The Westin Dragonara is NOT a place for discerning travelers or even those who require just the minimum standards of courtesy, service or quality.

The rooms at the hotel are very large. However I did request a room with a nice view and I was told that the view was very nice. Well that was a "fib." We overlooked a fountain. However, the room was still very nice. There is a main pool which is really full of folks.But what is nice is the access to a the Beach Club. A very nice large pool and access to ocean swimming off a pier and gorgeous views of St. Gulians.The hotel has a nice outdoor terrace from where you can have meals. It is well located within walking distance from St. Julian's and the restaurants.In comparison with the Hilton, nearby though the Hilton is newer and nicer. The pools at the Hilton are gorgeous. But it is more expensive than the Westin. Also no access to ocean swimming from the Hilton, unlike the Westin.We enjoyed our stay here very much.