A completed tiki hut.A completed tiki hut.

A Floriana hotel has brought a little bit of the Philippines to Malta by creating its own ‘tiki village’ for the summer.

The Grand Hotel Excelsior has set up 10 ‘villas’ close to the marina, which guests can rent to enjoy harbour views while relaxing.

Each villa seats six people. The temporary Blue Ocean Bar will serve light snacks at lunchtime and sharing platters in the evening, as well as drinks.

The five-star hotel’s owners got the idea for the tiki village after visiting the Philippines, and when they met carpenters who earned a living producing indigenous products.

Bamboo is used to create a villa’s base, while the roof is made from nipa, a species of palm native to the coastlines of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Tiki sculptures are hand-carved.Tiki sculptures are hand-carved.

The hotel bought the villas directly from the carpenters, rather than the mass-produced versions, to offer its guests a more authentic experience and promote fair trade values.

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