The Saint John - AX Hotels

Located right in the beating heart of Malta’s capital city, Valletta, the contemporary and urban Saint John AX Hotel stand’s juxtaposed to its world heritage listed surroundings. Built within a converted 19th century townhouse which was once a merchant’s home and shop, this boutique hotel now houses 21 rooms that offer a taste of contemporary luxury amongst Valletta’s rich history. Only a few minute’s walk to the ancient city’s famed attractions and central bus station, The Saint John is the perfect homebase for anyone looking to explore the city of Valletta and the rest of Malta.  

Top Tip

• While all 21 rooms of Saint John are equally well equipped and well designed with a contemporary retro/mock industrial look, they are divided into two grades; Comfort rooms and Superior rooms. For the budget conscious or for those looking to have a quieter stay, the Comfort rooms face into the narrow white-painted courtyard and as a result come at a cheaper price point. For those looking for space and a view, the Superior rooms offer a personal living area made even better with a traditional Maltese balcony overlooking Valletta life on the pedestrianised Merchants Street.

• For those of you travelling as a family or with a group, it is recommended that you book the Comfort Quad room that offers a comfortable space (with two bedrooms and two bathrooms) for up to 4 people to stay. For the solo travellers among us, Saint John offers single rooms with views of Valletta on the top floor of the hotel. It is worth mentioning that Saint John is not fully accessible, while there are a few amenities for travellers with mobility issues (grab rails in some bathrooms and lift service), there are no adapted rooms and many of the floors which have lift service also have stairs.

• The biggest selling point of The Saint John Hotel is definitely its location. It is only a two minutes' walk from Valletta's main square and the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St John. Other attractions within walking distance of the hotel include the former home of the Italian Knights, St John’s Cathedral, Valletta Market, Manoel Theatre, Valletta Museum and many, many more. The entire city of Valletta is a World Heritage site, so it’s worth spending an entire day just getting lost in its (mostly pedestrian) streets.

• If there was ever a time to visit Malta, more specifically Valletta, this year is it. Recently recognised on the world stage as a 2018 Capital of Culture, the World Heritage listed city is celebrating the occasion with more than 140 projects and 400 events planned throughout the year. With festivities having begun on the 20th of January this year with contemporary dance, a choral symphony, and acrobatic performances across the city’s four main squares, the rest of the year will see events like the Malta International Arts Festival and Valletta FIlm Festival.

• A visit to Malta is never complete without a trip to the island of Gozo. An easy trip to make by ferry from Valletta, Gozo offers visitors Mediterranean highlights like Ramla and Dwejra Bay, the city of Victoria and Ta’ Pinu Basilica. To make the most of your trip to Gozo, get yourself a ticket on the Hop on Hop Off sightseeing bus service.