Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Malta

Geared toward kids, the 285-room db Seabank All-Inclusive Resort & Spa is an upper-mid-range property with a long list of amenities. Guests are drawn here for the kids' club, live entertainment, bowling alley, sandy beach with shallow water, and lively lagoon pools. Quiet can be hard to come by here, though guests that are looking to escape the crowds can relax at the adult-only outdoor pool. The property is also home to an indoor pool, fitness center, and modern spa. Themed dining, three bars (including one at the theater), and six casual restaurants serve everything from Brazilian to Asian buffets. Simple, nautical-style rooms have flat-screen TVs, safes, tile floors, and sea-facing balconies, in some.

Popular with families, The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands is an all-inclusive resort that offers plenty for guests of all ages, including a kids' club, a kids' pool, and children's menus in the restaurants. It overlooks one of Malta’s best sandy beaches, and features a full slate of water sports for active types. The 337 guest rooms are clean and contemporary with enormous bathrooms and furnished balconies, many of which have stunning sea views. There's also free Wi-Fi, but the connection can be spotty.

The 340-room Westin Dragonara is a family-friendly resort -- and one of Malta's most luxurious -- known for its wealth of great on-site amenities, including three pools, a kids’ club, summertime entertainment, excellent and varied dining options, large fitness center, and one of Malta’s most famous casinos. Rooms are large and sunny, and most have wonderful sea views. But the classic decor and tan color palette make rooms feel a little dated and bland, and Wi-Fi is only available for a fee. The location on a quiet peninsula a short walk from St. Julian’s restaurants, shops, and nightlife is a big plus, and free on-site parking comes in handy.

With sleek, white, and Moorish designs, the 515-room db San Antonio Hotel & Spa stands out against Qawra’s rocky limestone shores and blue waters located across from the hotel. Outdoor pools, including a children's pool and an adult-only rooftop pool, overlook the sea, and live entertainment and a kids’ club cater to families. On-site dining is elegant, but there are often long queues for seating. Minimalist, Moroccan-themed rooms offer balconies or terraces, and many come with sea views.

The Intercontinental Malta is a large luxury hotel located near a nice beach and the bustling nightlife area of Paceville. Most rooms were renovated in 2015 and 2016, and have stylish contemporary decor in a blue and neutral palette, and modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. A few, however, are yet to be refurbished and feel dated and somewhat underwhelming for a hotel in this price range. The property has a number of great amenities, including one of the largest and best hotel gyms in Malta, an outstanding spa with a Turkish hammam, a large outdoor pool, and a kids’ club (for children between two and seven) that offers daily activities. A small private area on the beach located down the street offers loungers, parasols and an excellent restaurant.

Sitting on lively waterfront in Sliema, the 137-room Bayview Hotel & Apartments is a simple budget-friendly property with a rooftop pool and a kids' pool, both with harbor views. There’s also an indoor pool, gym, privately run spa, and multiple restaurants and bars. A 24-hour playroom in the game lounge and the rooftop kids' pool appeal to families. Comfortable (if bland) rooms and apartments have flat-screen TVs and kitchenettes, and some have waterfront balconies, but fees are required for extras and interiors are sometimes poorly maintained.

The 452-room Seashells Resort at Suncrest is a large, modern property that sits on the Qawra promenade with an outdoor pool, kids' pools, waterslide, and ship-shaped play area, all perched over the Mediterranean Sea. An adult-only pool, indoor pool, and full-service spa offer an escape from the often crowded poolside atmosphere, where there’s an amphitheater, bar, and casual dining. Simple, clean rooms feature flat-screen TVs, safes, and kettles, and many have balconies with sea views. Centrally controlled air-conditioning, however, doesn’t allow guests to adjust the sometimes muggy indoor temperatures.

Couples and families looking for value holidays flock to the competitively priced Ramla Bay Resort in droves and dates are often sold out months in advance. Located on Malta’s northernmost coast, the large resort includes a three saltwater pools, poolside and beachside dining, a private sandy beach, a water-sports center, and views of Gozo and Comino Islands. Many of the 281 homey rooms and stylish suites have sea-facing balconies, and all feature flat-screen TVs and heat or air-conditioning.

The 252-room Radisson Blu Resort, Malta St Julian’s is a luxury hotel with three excellent restaurants, a large pool and kiddy pool with striking panoramic sea views, and a full spa complete with an indoor pool and a hair salon. Rooms are spacious, clean, and elegant, with handsome wooden furniture, parquet floors or dark gray carpet, and balconies, most with sea views (kids under 12 stay free in existing beds). Standard rooms, however, have a red color palette that looks somewhat dated, especially the striped curtains. Although located in a quiet and somewhat secluded area, the hotel is just a 10-minute walk from lively St. Julian’s.

The 91-room four-pearl Pergola Club Hotel & Spa, is a low-key property that's a good value for families and travelers on a budget. On a hillside overlooking the Parish Church of Mellieha and the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel offers simple, Mediterranean-style rooms with flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges, but the air-conditioning is underwhelming and only some have sea views from balconies. The hotel also has apartments with kitchenettes that are convenient for longer stays even if they are outdated. There is a small outdoor pool with a bar and kiddy pools, as well as a clean and modern spa and fitness center.

Simple, clean and affordable, the 192-room Soreda Hotel is in walking distance to the Qawra’s waterfront. It has a summertime bar by the rooftop pool and kids' pool, all of which can have a crowded scene during the typical morning rush for lounge chairs. There’s also a ground-floor pool, indoor pool, and a well-equipped gym. Dining on-site is buffet-style and there are two bars, a TV lounge, and a game room. Comfy, spacious rooms and suites are a bit of a letdown with plain furnishings, but they do have kettles, mini-fridges, and balconies or terraces. Apartments have kitchenettes. Wi-Fi runs slow and some rooms charge for safes.

With 53 apartments, the Sunseeker Holiday Complex is a reasonably priced, family-run hotel, near the lively Bugibba Square, that overlooks the sea from the rooftop pool with kids' pool and snack bar. Stark but bright apartments have kitchenettes, living rooms, and balconies, but Wi-Fi, safes and TVs require an additional fee. Guests must also pay to use the basic gym and sauna; there's also an indoor pool. The hotel doesn’t have a full restaurant, but a breakfast room, bar, and mini market can be found on-site. For kids, a game room offers a pool table and darts.