115 The Strand Hotel and Suites

The 115 Strand Hotel and Suites is a small eight-floor property that’s a popular, inexpensive choice for travelers who want to be directly on The Strand, a waterfront street that’s near nightlife and ferries. Flanked by a gift shop and bookstore, the hotel’s entrance leads into a narrow, traditionally decorated reception area with red and blue sofas and a small front desk. The “Dancing Ballerinas” mural in the lobby bar -- painted by artist Anton Calleja -- adds character to the otherwise lackluster space. Occasional local performers also provide live entertainment. The hotel, which attracts students on break, couples and groups, tends to get noisy at night despite signs in the hallways that read "quiet please." Tourist kiosks and benches line the waterfront promenade, a relaxing spot to watch the boats coming in and out of harbor.

The hotel is located on The Strand, a highly trafficked waterfront street that’s directly on Marsamxett Harbour. This walkable area has a wide selection of shops, restaurants, cafe, and bars. The Bouverie bus stop is 200 meters away and the Sliema Ferry is in walking distance, and makes its way to the Valletta in 10 minutes. The Point Shopping Mall is a 15-minute bus trip. Spinola Bay, with a waterfront promenade and the Love Monument, is also 15 minutes by bus. The rowdy nightlife scene in Paceville is a 10-minute drive. The quieter side of the island with Ghadira Bay, the largest beach in Malta, is an hour by bus. It’s a 20-minute car trip to Malta International Airport.

Rooms are either modern and minimalist -- with blue accent walls, gray decor, and nice recessed lights behind headboards -- or homelier with floral textiles and traditional wooden furniture. The best rooms overlook the harbor from balconies, but many rooms have unexciting views. Cookies left on pillows are a nice perk. There’s a refundable deposit required for TV remotes and fees for Wi-Fi, safes, and kettles. Apartments -- one-bedrooms, studios, and suites -- are great for long-term vacationers as they have sitting areas and kitchenettes that feature mini-fridges, stovetops, toasters, and wet bars. Some Twin Rooms are available with kitchenettes as well. Floor-to-ceiling tiled bathrooms have showers or shower/tub combos with mounted toiletries. All rooms offer individually controlled AC, flat-screen TVs, and writing desks.

The facilities at 115 The Strand Hotel and Suites are limited, but guests who stay here usually take advantage of the central location and don’t spend much time on-site. On the eighth floor are a well-maintained hot tub and Giulio’s restaurant terrace that overlooks the harbor. The restaurant also has a large, casual dining room that offers more seating. The bar is in the lobby, where there’s free Wi-Fi. Also on the ground floor of the hotel are two stores, which are privately operated. Nice Things Gift Shop offers souvenirs at reasonable prices. Books and Bites Cafe sells books and maps on Malta with a coffee shop in the back and seating on the sidewalk.