Overview

The reason we chose the Bayview was the fact that it had an accessible room with an adapted bathroom as well as it being in a good location for getting about. On making the booking early on in the year we had the room confirmed as well as a plastic seat to be used in the shower. After checking in, my wife took the luggage up to the room before taking me up in the wheelchair. However, she soon came back down to inform me that the room did not have a wet room. At around 10 at night, we had to take the room, with a promise it would be sorted in the morning. Not the best of starts. The next day whilst we were out, our luggage transferred to the accessible room and a 20 euro allowance against our drinks bill as compensation for the inconvenience. Once in the accessible room, we found that the promised chair for the wet room was missing. After a few phone calls a maintenance man came and attached a seat to a grab rail that was already on the wall. I did voice my concern that this would not hold me (I weigh around 82 kilos) but he indicated it was fine. WRONG! The first time I used the seat, it pulled the rail down and I landed on the tiled floor below, requiring assistance from my wife and a hotel worker to get me up. After that, I used a plastic chair from the balcony for the rest of the holiday which was what was supposed to been in place in the first place. I would add that both my wife and I found the floor in the bathroom very slippery and suggest that something is done with it. This has been highlighted in other reviews that /I have read on the hotel. The manager did come to see me the following morning, offering to get a doctor (which I didn’t need) and apologising for this happening. She also sent up a bottle of Sicilian wine to me. (What was wrong with Maltese wine, I wondered?) One other annoying issue we had was that key card seemed to deactivate itself on a number of occasions, meaning a long trail down to reception to rectify the issue! My only other gripe against the hotel was the charge to access the internet. I felt having to pay 20 euros per week for a very slow Internet connection that was for only one device, was rather steep. The hotel had a rooftop indoor and outdoor pools and Jacuzzi . I knew before we went that I would not be able to access these so that was not an issue. It is a pity a ramp could not be put between the indoor and outdoor areas to make wheelchair access easier. There are adequate sun loungers and chairs for sun bathers.

Transport & Parking

Access

We found the accessible room (762) to be very spacious indeed. From the hotel’s website, we couldn’t find the description of it but it had a two ring hob, sink and full size fridge, although there was signage indicating to contact reception before using any on these. In another corner of the room, there was a table with chairs, a large desk with drawers, mirror and power points. A large wardrobe was in another corner of this large room. Two beds were together with easy wheelchair access. To use the TV, one had to get a remote for a 10 euro refundable deposit. The bathroom was easily accessed using a wheelchair with a number of handrails for support. The mirror was a bit high to be used from a chair but that is a minor issue. As mentioned earlier in this review, the floor can get very slippery for anyone. Please beware. This room is accessed by the same lift that is used for the The Sea Star Restaurant and therefore it can get busy. The hotel had three lifts which worked well although rather busy. There was a ramp to access the hotel which was fine, although the angle getting through the door with a wheelchair was a bit awkward. The view of Sliema Bay from the rooftop was superb and one could spend a lot of time there watching the boats of the streets below. Should we visit Malta again, we would certainly consider using this hotel again.

Toilets

In room

Staff

Staff in the hotel on the whole were excellent although I did feel those on reception were not that interested in what my wife was asking (I couldn’t as the desk was much higher than my wheelchair) nor on the occasions I had to phone them. On to the The Sea Star Restaurant and we have to say that we were impressed with both the food and the staff. We were slightly apprehensive having read other reviews but we found this to be unfounded. During the two weeks were stayed here, we found the hotel to be well occupied and this was certainly the case at mealtimes. Most morning and evenings it was really busy. That said, the staff were always very helpful in finding us a table to either accommodate the wheelchair or ‘park’ it when I transferred. As this was a self service restaurant, my wife had to do the carrying, although staff did assist on the odd occasion. Unlike some reviews, we found the choice and quality of food during the two weeks to be good. Yes, the menu did repeat on the second week but that was to be expected. With choices of starter, main and desert, even myself (a fussy eater) and my vegetarian wife found something we liked and, more importantly, enjoyed. It was in the restaurant that we found the staff excelled and would like to thank them all for making it a pleasure to eat there. Special thanks has to go to Valentina, Edwin, Felipe and John. No matter how busy they were, they were always friendly and very helpful at the same time very efficient and kept things running smoothly. Thank you - you were all so nice to us.

Photos