Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels, Malta

When we visited Malta, we stayed at Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels in Il-Gżira, just across the harbour from Valletta.

We chose it because we wanted somewhere affordable, comfortable and well located for exploring Malta without a car – and Alavits turned out to be a great fit.

In this review, I’ll share why we chose Alavits Hotel, what our room was like, the facilities and breakfast, its location and transport connections, and the few things that weren’t quite perfect.

Most importantly, I’ll tell you whether I’d stay there again.

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Just starting to plan your trip to Malta? Take a look at this guide to cover the basics.

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Take a look at the prices and availability of The Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels here.

Deciding Where to Stay in Malta

Finding the right accommodation is always a balancing act. There are plenty of boxes to tick, and rarely does one property tick every single one.

For our Malta accommodation, I was looking for somewhere that:

• Was centrally located for exploring places such as St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta and Gozo
• Had good public transport connections because we would be getting around Malta without a car
• Was around 3-star standard
• Included breakfast
• Offered good value for money
• Had restaurants, grocery stores and a laundromat nearby

Initially, I looked at places to stay in Valletta and Sliema, and there were some lovely options. But they were a little more expensive than I had hoped to pay.

So I widened my search to the surrounding areas, and Il-Gżira quickly stood out as a good location for us.

We visited Malta in March, which was too cold for swimming for me – although there were certainly other people braving the water! But I always enjoy being near the water, and Il-Gżira sits on Marsamxett Harbour.

There’s a long waterfront promenade with views across Manoel Island towards Valletta, and we found it a convenient base for exploring.

Alavits Hotel was only around 50 metres from the main road along the waterfront, with a bus stop near the junction. This made it easy for us to use public transport to reach many of Malta’s main attractions.

It was also around a 10-minute walk along the waterfront to the Sliema ferry terminal for the ferry across to Valletta.

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Not sure if Il-Gżira is right for you? Take a look at my guide to the best areas to stay in Malta for some other options.

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Why We Chose Alavits Hotel

When I was looking for hotels in Malta, Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels first caught my attention because of the price.

We were travelling in March, so it was off-season, but I was still surprised to find a hotel that looked this good for around €50 per night.

Even better, breakfast was included, our booking had free cancellation, and the reviews were good.

Of course, hotel prices can vary considerably depending on when you visit, so I wouldn’t expect to find exactly the same rate. But if you’re looking for good-value accommodation in a convenient location, I think Alavits is well worth comparing with other options for your dates.

Check the latest prices and availability for Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels here.

Our Room at Alavits Hotel

We booked a standard double room, and as far as I’m aware, that’s exactly what we got. No upgrade for us this time!

The room was modern, spacious and clean, with everything in good repair. Overall, it was a really comfortable place to come back to after a day exploring Malta.

It had everything I’d expect from a good 3-star hotel, including a decent-sized TV, mini-fridge and safe. The hotel also advertises cable TV, although we never actually turned the TV on to check.

There were tea and coffee-making facilities too, although we did have to restock the milk ourselves. Luckily, there was a little convenience store right across the street, so that wasn’t exactly a hardship.

Our room also had a small balcony. It was only big enough for one chair and looked into an internal courtyard, so don’t book expecting sweeping Malta views!

It was useful for getting some fresh air, though, and came in particularly handy when I washed some clothes in the sink and needed somewhere to hang them to dry.

The bathroom was much like the room – modern, clean and with everything we needed.

Rooftop Pool and Bar

One of the highlights of Alavits Hotel is its rooftop pool and terrace.

Sadly, March was a little too cold for us to use the pool, but I can imagine it would be a very welcome place to cool off after a long day of sightseeing during the warmer months.

We still went up to the rooftop a couple of times, particularly around sunset, when we could watch the colours changing over the harbour.

There’s also a small rooftop bar. It wasn’t open during our stay, so it appears to operate seasonally.

Breakfast at Alavits Hotel

Breakfast was included in our room rate and was served buffet-style, with plenty of choice.

There were hot options such as bacon and eggs, along with cold meats and cheese, cereals, yoghurt, pastries, fruit and a range of hot and cold drinks.

Love trying local food when you travel? Take a look at these foods you should try while you are in Malta.

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Reception and Other Facilities

The reception area has plenty of seating, which was useful when we were waiting for tour pick-ups or simply needed somewhere to sit for a while.

I even had a late Zoom call one evening and was able to do it from the reception area without any problems.

Reception was staffed 24 hours a day during our stay, and the staff could also help arrange tours and airport transfers.

Other ST Hotels Facilities

As you walk around Il-Gżira and Sliema, you’ll notice quite a few properties belonging to the ST Hotels group.

When we stayed at Alavits, we also had access to the indoor pool, wellness centre and gym at the nearby Bayview Hotel by ST Hotels.

There were several restaurants at Bayview too, although with so many places to eat along the waterfront, we didn’t try them.

Facilities and access arrangements between ST Hotels properties can change, so check what’s currently included with your Alavits booking if these facilities are important to you.

Alavits guests can also currently access special ST Hotels guest rates at Aqualuna Lido, another option if you’re visiting during Malta’s warmer months.

Check what’s included or available with your booking before your stay, as hotel arrangements can change.

Would I Stay at Alavits Hotel Again?

Yes, I would happily stay at Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels again.

For us, it offered excellent value for money in a really convenient location. The room was modern, clean and comfortable, breakfast was included, public transport was close by and we could easily walk along the waterfront to the ferry to Valletta.

Of course, no hotel stay is completely perfect.

We had a power cut one day while we were sitting in the foyer waiting for our washing to finish at the laundromat across the street.

The power cut itself wasn’t the hotel’s fault, but there seemed to be an issue with the backup generator and the staff were busy trying to sort everything out.

Thankfully, it didn’t affect us much. We collected our washing, dropped it back in our room and headed out for the day. Everything was back to normal by the time we returned.

Throughout our stay, the staff were cheerful and helpful whenever we had a question. We were able to check in a little before the official check-in time, and they stored our bags after checkout until we were ready to leave for the airport.

Overall, Alavits Hotel was a great fit for the way we travel – comfortable, affordable and well located without paying Valletta prices.

If you’re looking for similar things from your accommodation in Malta, I’d certainly consider it.

Check the latest prices, availability and guest reviews for Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels here.

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