My wife and I recently completed our second stay at the Solana Hotel & Spa, having previously spent a full month here in May 2022. This time we stayed for 18 nights beginning May 28 and booked two rooms, as another family member joined us.
We requested the same studio room we had previously, along with a standard room next door. The studio had been nicely updated with a new TV, mattress, wardrobe, and kitchenette. The bathroom was modern and well designed, with an excellent walk-in rain shower, handheld wand, consistent water pressure, and reliable hot water.
We did, however, encounter two housekeeping issues. One nightstand drawer clearly needed cleaning, having apparently been overlooked when the room was prepared. More concerning was a persistent foul odor coming from the kitchenette cupboard area. Although the odor could mostly be contained by keeping the cupboard doors closed, it was never fully resolved despite multiple requests to management. This should be investigated, as other guests might reasonably find it unacceptable.
Our balcony overlooked the main street with views of the church and the sea beyond. Despite being above the street, noise was rarely an issue, and we enjoy this location because it lets us experience the atmosphere of Mellieħa while being directly across from our favorite restaurant, Ta' Peter.
The hotel has expanded dramatically since our last visit. The enlarged lobby and Bellini's restaurant are attractive additions, while the adults-only rooftop infinity pool provides a quieter alternative to the family pool and bar. A new sixth-floor social area with games and reading spaces is also a welcome addition.
Overall, we had another enjoyable stay, but there were several issues management should address.
One involved breakfast. One of our rooms was booked and prepaid with breakfast for two adults, but because only one person occupied the room, the hotel provided breakfast for only one guest. In effect, 18 prepaid breakfasts were forfeited without any credit or alternative, which was disappointing.
The second issue involved parking. On three occasions, roadworks blocked access to the underground garage, requiring us to park on the street overnight. Since we had prepaid for parking, I expected those nights to be refunded automatically. Instead, I had to request a credit, which seemed to require unnecessary management discussion. A €10 credit should simply be issued whenever prepaid parking cannot be provided.
Bellini's restaurant now easily accommodates the hotel's larger capacity, and the breakfast buffet was excellent with a wide variety of fresh, well-prepared food. The only frustration was the coffee service. There was always a long queue at the machine near the buffet. After asking a manager, I learned there were three additional machines elsewhere in the restaurant, but there was no signage directing guests to them. A few simple signs would eliminate much of the waiting.
The underground parking garage also needs improvement. During our 18-night stay, we encountered four occasions when no security guard was present to open the entrance, leaving us waiting outside for up to 30 minutes. The posted security number often went unanswered, and the front desk was unable to help. For a paid service, guests should not have to wait outside late at night or make repeated phone calls just to access the garage.
Despite these criticisms, I would gladly stay here again and continue recommending the Solana Hotel & Spa. Its location is outstanding, the accommodations are comfortable, the facilities have improved considerably, and it offers excellent value. I hope management views these comments as constructive feedback from a returning guest who has spent more than six weeks at the hotel over two visits. Addressing these issues would make an already very good hotel even better.
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