Ah Mondays. They’re always hard. But this week, not only did I have the Monday blues but I also had a small case of holiday blues! Over the weekend it was Joe’s birthday so I took him for a surprise trip to Xlendi in Gozo. We stayed for 3 days in the San Antonio Guest House. We’ve stayed there before so I thought it’s time I did a detailed review for anyone considering popping to Gozo for the most relaxing time of their lives!
There are two areas in Gozo that are the most popular for visitors – Marsalforn and Xlendi. There is a lot more to do in Marsalforn (well, more restaurants) but Xlendi is so much prettier so I’d definitely recommend staying there. The San Antonio is a family run 3* guest house. It cost me €66 per night for a 2 person room (€33 per person, per night) which at this time of year is a good price, however this changes depending on the time of year.
The guest house itself is quite big- two floors each with about 8 rooms, a large dining area, a relaxing sofa area, an enormous terrace over looking the sea and a lovely pool area. Both times we stayed we had our own private bathrooms which included a bath but I’m not sure if that’s the case for all of the rooms- it may well be. There is also a communal toilet downstairs for use when swimming.
It’s a quite old building and is full of character. It could do with a lick of paint and a few upgrades- the towels are mismatched, our pillows were very lumpy and the bedding was very basic and dated. But it’s comfortable and for the location and price you wont be disappointed. The family that run it are so lovely, really friendly and happy to help. I told them it was Joe’s birthday and asked them to get a few bits and they made the room look lovely with a banner, some wine, and chocolates.
The rooms are very clean, although I did have to wipe the balcony furniture before we could sit on it- it was just a bit dusty but these islands are known for that! The bedroom and bathroom were spotless. The room was a good size, the bathroom and bath were huge! There was a TV with 1000+ channels (only about 3 in English though!) and you can have the wifi connection for just €7. Our balcony had the best view of the pool area, the sea and the imposing and stunning cliffs.
The terrace on the top floor is huge and has the most amazing view. I think they could do so much with this area- set up some tables and chairs, some fairy lights and flowers. They could even have events like BBQs and cocktail nights here if they wanted!
The pool area is worth the entire cost alone. The pool is always incredibly clean and tidy, it’s the most amazing colour, and a good size. It has a shallow section and gets gradually deeper and a childs pool for very small children. Whilst you’re swimming you can even watch the Mediterranean sea.
I’d really recommend the San Antonio Guesthouse if you’re going to Gozo for a break. It’s affordable, you have the pool to relax by and the sea nearby if you prefer. It’s a 3 minute walk to the cafes and restaurants (Xlendi does not have a supermarket or corner shop though which we found so annoying!) so the location is perfect. I definitely think they could do a lot more with the place but for the money, it’s ideal!
