Bougainvillea Breeze & Marina View - Happy Rentals

Beautiful Location, Severely Neglected PropertyWe stayed at Bougainvillea Breeze & Marina View House in Cospicua, Malta for five nights. The location is ideal — directly across from the ferry terminal to Valletta with easy access to Gozo — and the home itself has the potential to be a lovely traditional Maltese property. Unfortunately, it is in serious disrepair and very poorly maintained.Inside, the home was uncomfortable and unclean. Many lightbulbs were burnt out, there was mold on the shower curtain, the toilet handle and towel rack on the second floor were broken, and the furniture was dirty. The bed on the second floor had a strong odor, and after washing the sheets ourselves, the washing machine left them smelling worse due to poor maintenance. The mattress itself also smelled bad.The dishwasher racks were rusted and collapsed when loaded, and spare bedding stored in the stairwell was deeply stained and soiled. A kitchen chair broke when someone sat on it. The sitting room furniture was worn and uninviting, leaving no comfortable place to relax.The outdoor areas, which look beautiful in the listing photos, were covered in bird droppings and debris. The bougainvillea patio was completely unusable, and the secondary patio was filthy as well. The broom and cleaning tools were broken and useless.It’s clear that this property hasn’t been properly cared for or cleaned in a long time. With maintenance, new furniture, & attention to cleanliness, it could have been great.

We arrived at the property in the afternoon and used the lock box to enter, which was smooth. We were immediately greeted by a lot of stairs, and with heavy luggage, it was not easy, but we managed. Up to the main floor, there was a dining room with balcony, kitchen, powder room, and courtyard. The kitchen was somewhat supplied, enough plates (almost none matching) and cutlery. But very few pots and pans for cooking. Not many mugs for coffee either. Glassware was small. Water is not potable, and a small bottle was supplied. Store down the road where you can buy more. Up one floor to a bedroom and living room, and bathroom with shower. The switch for this bathroom needs to be turned on to get hot water, which we did not know at first. The room was hot the entire time, and a door opened to the second courtyard, which was not at all maintained or clean, and had bird poop all over it. Could not use it at all. Another floor up and there are the other 2 bedrooms. The bed in the room with the shower and toilet was broken, the slats were bowed and the guests rolled to the middle. Had to move the mattress to the floor to get a decent sleep. There was no hand soap provided in any bathroom, so we had to buy some. The dining table collapsed at the first touch, but management was quick to fix it. The neighbour's water tank sprung a leak and made a horrible noise. The area is good for transit, but not for noise. Busy street, parties all night at nearby venues.

The location of the house could not be better, close to the ferry to Valletta and with the Three Cities right out the front door. It’s an oldMaltese house with balconies, a courtyard and a garden. Having laundry was ideal, and the kitchen had appropriate appliances/utensils. That said, this is the first place that we have rented in which the kitchen was bare - you’ll have to buy anything that you need from oil, salt and pepper to soaps and disposables.There are a few things that the property badly needs, which, for a limited investment, would turn the inside of the property from a 4-5 to an 8-9. The mattresses and pillows were quite uncomfortable and the bedding, clearly inexpensive when purchased, has seen better days and need replacing. Same with the bath towels, which were exhausted/ineffective. There is paint peeling off the interior walls in numerous places; this may be a concern for those with small children. Bathrooms are obsolete, functional but only just that.The ad should include pictures of the stair configuration on the top floor, or you should ask for a pic. This property may not be appropriate for people with mobility issues or small children if they need to access the top floor.The layout is odd. The most interesting room in the house is the first floor room with a Maltese balcony overlooking the marina, but this is fitted with uncomfortable, formal dining room furniture and could instead be a very welcoming living room with a couch and chairs.

The area is fantastic, right in the heart of one of the most historic and beautiful parts of Malta. The house has not been well maintained and could do with a bit of tender loving care. The bedlinen was cheap and stained. The mattresses were stained and uncomfortable. The shower and toilets had mould and bad odours, with rust and rot on the vanity unit. There were multiple other issues but I was surprised by how neglected the house was in relation to how much one pays for a property like this.

This house is lovely, lots of space and lots of room to relax in. It's really well located close to the ferry into Valetta as well as having all the restaurants and cafe's of the three cities on your doorstep. The garden is beautiful and really made our stay extra special. A couple of small negatives - there are a few things that could be added to make the stay even better for guests (Hairdryer, bottle opener, more dishwasher tables, coffee pods, spare key to name a few)