“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
A Tale of Three Hotels
In just under four weeks, I stayed in three hotels from three different hotel groups: The Hyatt Centric in Malta, an IHG property in Edinburgh, and a Marriott in Inverness. Two were modern and sleek, one was traditional and historic.
I thought I’d share a few personal observations that might help anyone planning a trip to Malta or Scotland.
The service in all three was exemplary. I was addressed by name, my preferences were remembered, and everyone I encountered was professional and kind.
The differences were in the accommodations.
Hyatt Centric Malta
Modern, sleek, and compact, with one outstanding feature: an incredibly comfortable bed. There was a pillow menu, and the feather pillows were wonderful. The towels were soft and absorbent, too, and plentiful. The staff was amazing. The gentleman at the hotel coffee shop and bar remembered my preferred morning croissant by the second day, and was so accommodating. A bottle of champagne was waiting for me when I got to my room that first day, a nice welcoming touch. And bonus: there is a rooftop pool. But the view from the room is a sliver of sunlight between buildings.
The biggest downside, though? Not a single drawer. I was staying for two weeks and had to live out of my suitcase for the entire time. Not my favorite way to travel. Apparently this is a trend, as I would later discover.
Who is this hotel for? St. Julian’s hotels are less expensive than those in Valletta. However, to see and do most of the things you will want to see and do, you will need to take a ferry from Sliema. So you need to be prepared to walk or take a taxi to the ferry. St. Julian’s is a party town, though the Hyatt Centric is up the hill away from most of the action, and it never bothered me. But if you are looking for convenience and less transportation time, I would recommend staying in Valletta. Just be prepared to pay more.
Hotel Indigo, Princes Street, Edinburgh
This IHG property was gorgeous, with beautiful woodwork, winding staircases, lush fabrics, and artwork everywhere. My room was huge, with an incredible view of Old Town, and there was plenty of drawer and storage space. The pillows were soft, and there was a pillow menu here, too. The location is perfect, just across the street from the Edinburgh Waverly train station and a walk up the hill to the Royal Mile.
Full disclosure: my opinion may be somewhat influenced by the fact that because of my IHG Platinum status, I was upgraded to a suite. But I’ve seen photos of the standard rooms, and they look just as lovely, if a bit smaller.
My one complaint? The mattress was horribly uncomfortable and obviously well past its prime. It slanted so dramatically to the right that I was always in danger of rolling off the bed. A beautiful room can only make up for so much when you’re trying to sleep!
Who is this hotel for? In spite of the mattress, I would absolutely stay here again. This hotel is for anyone who loves history, architecture, and charm in a hotel. I would highly recommend it, but ask to be moved if you get a wonky mattress.
AC Marriott, Inverness
Another modern, sleek room, and – surprise! – no drawers. Fortunately, I was only there for four nights, so I could manage out of my suitcase. Still, it was annoying.
The mattress was comfortable, the view of the River Ness spectacular, and the room looked a lot like the one in Malta. Are they all using the same designers?
The towels did feel a bit like sandpaper. But in spite of that and the lack of storage, the view and the location made up for it all.
Who is this hotel for? I’d say this hotel is for anyone who wants a lovely and safe area. The walk along the river is heavenly, and there are pubs and restaurants a stone’s throw from the hotel. I would highly recommend it for that alone.
Despite their differences, all three hotels provided wonderful service, and I’d happily stay at any of them again. All were in excellent locations, with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby, and all three neighborhoods felt completely safe for me to walk alone, even after dark.
Have questions about the hotels, the areas, or how I booked all three with credit card points? Leave your questions in a comment below.
I ♥️ Scotland
When I flew from Malta to Scotland, I went from shorts to a puffer jacket in 12 hours. It was sunny and warm when i left Malta at 8:00am and rainy and 50 degrees when I finally arrived in Edinburgh at 8:00pm, after delayed and rescheduled flights.
In spite of the difference in climate, Malta and Scotland are similar in many ways. Both are small countries with mountainous landscapes, long histories, interesting architecture, and warm people. Both are easy to navigate without a car, and both are incredibly safe for solo female travelers.
But while each is magical in its own way, only one spoke to my heart.
I found Malta fascinating. I fell in love with Scotland. Its glorious rivers and lochs, its mountains, its green hills strewn with sheep. Its bloody and courageous history. The Scottish wry sense of humor.
I surprised myself by thinking “I could live here.”
My daughters will tell you that I say that almost everywhere I go. I find something to love in every country. (Although I loved Iceland, I didn’t say I could live there, by the way.)
But there was something that spoke to me in the Highlands. Something that made me feel like I had come home.
What makes one place fascinating intellectually, but another elicit an emotional response? Why is it there are some places we visit, and some we carry with us long after we leave? I’m not sure I know the answer to that. Maybe I’ll figure it out one day.
Until then, I’ll just enjoy the journey.
There are No Free Rides
I preach about points and miles to anyone who will listen. As a matter of fact, I am funding most of my hotel stays and flights this trip with points and miles.
My flight to Malta was on Condor Air in business class, which I paid for with JetBlue miles. My hotel stay for two weeks in Malta at the 5 star Hyatt Centric was covered by Chase points – yep, the entire two weeks. My next stop, Scotland, is also covered with points, with both Edinburgh and Inverness stays paid for with IHG points and Chase points.
These stays and the airfare would have cost me almost $10,000 if I had paid cash.
But what most people do not tell you when they tell you about the fabulous trips they have taken “for free” is that there are no free rides.
Literally.
I have spent probably $200 on rideshares since arriving in Malta two weeks ago. Yes, I could have taken buses, but Malta’s bus system is confusing, and frankly, I wanted easy this trip. I have walked miles and miles, but some places are just not accessible without wheels – or a ferry.
Food, of course, isn’t covered by points, nor are most of the historic sites you want to visit. You can sometimes use points to purchase excursions through a credit card travel portal, but that 25 euro boat ride is really not the best use of your hard-earned points.
The trick is learning when to use your points and when to use a credit card to earn more. That’s a subject far too extensive to cover in this short post.
But just remember – there are no free rides.
And really, what’s $200 in rideshare charges when your points have already funded $10,000 in travel?
