The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta

I really wanted to like this hotel, but my stay at the Westin Dragonara in St. Julian’s, Malta, was deeply disappointing.

As a Marriott Gold member, I chose this hotel expecting the usual perks that come with my status. Unfortunately, we received none of them. When I inquired about a room upgrade at check-in, the staff acted as if I was out of line for even asking. I then asked for a late checkout and was met with the same dismissive attitude, as though the request itself was absurd. I understand that upgrades and late checkouts are based on availability, but it was the condescending way they treated me that was truly frustrating. I was only asking for an extra hour—hardly an unreasonable request—and they seemed unfamiliar with the concept of Marriott Gold status altogether.

One of the main reasons we booked this hotel was for the kids’ club, which was supposed to give us a bit of time to enjoy lunch or a spa treatment while our daughter played. According to their website, it should have been open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Sunday, during the season we visited. However, when we tried to use it on the first day, it was closed because they were decorating for a party—for one child in the hotel. The next day, it was closed again for that child’s party, and on Sunday, it was simply not open at all. Nowhere on their website or during the booking process was this mentioned. When we checked in, they promoted the kids’ club but conveniently left out that it would be unavailable for most of our stay. This was a huge letdown.

On the positive side, the hotel is in a great location right on the water. The property is large, clean, and welcoming, and our room in the North Wing with a garden view and balcony was spacious and appeared newly renovated. However, we encountered several issues in the room. The minibar fridge was hot and didn’t keep anything cold. We were told the pull-out couch bed would be made up for our daughter, but when we unfolded it, we found dirty sheets and trash inside. To top it off, while there was a nice welcome chocolate plate, the card that came with it had someone else’s name on it.

Individually, these might seem like small issues, but together, they added up to a disappointing experience. I cannot recommend this hotel, and I doubt I will consider staying here again.