O/T Anyone been to Malta?

[Cadiz Seagull]

I'm thinking of 4 or 5 days in June, any suggestions much appreciated. Being an old fart I'm not looking for night clubs, just a good hotel preferably with sea view in a convenient location to get around without a car.

And any suggestions of things to do and see?

Over to you guys!

 

[essbee]

I loved it there when I went about 5 years ago. Good food....great bars
and friendly people.

One word of warning
If someone comes up to with a scratch card and lo and behold you've won - tell them
to stick their prize up their ar*e. It's a con to try to get you to buy timeshare.

 

[Lower West Stander]

Depends how far up the pay spectrum you want to go. For decent restaurants and sea location, st Julian's is my favourite and the Westin is an awesome hotel. Otherwise some decent places in Sliema but not quite as nice in my view. Go to Mdina (but not in the middle of the day - its boiling). Great Sunday market at Marxsaloxx. Only really decent beach is in the middle of nowhere on the north west coast

 

[BensGrandad]

I loved Malta but my sons father in law would have stayed on the coach and gone straight back home if they had allowed, he hated it. To me it was like England in the sun but with hundreds of timeshare sellers pestering you. I said that I owned one in Buggiba and they left us alone.

When we went they had one sandy beach which was man made I think it was at Melihah Bay.

 

[jevs]

Been twice, stayed at the Qwara palace hotel both times in Qwara, Buggiba which is towards the west of the island. Hotel was 4 star and all inclusive and absolutely superb. Food was more like 5*+ and it was 20 yards from the sea.

Bus station was about 5 min walk and busses went all over the island. Maltese people are friendly and they generally love the Brits. There are no natural beeches on the island so any "beech" tends to be concrete or man made.

I found the island a little odd....i can't recall seeing a blade of grass whilst there. You'll be driving along and spot a beautiful Mercedes show room full of top of the range cars for example and next to it will be a run down building site where people have dumped their rubbish.

 

[daveinprague]

Now the 'gut' has gone in Valetta, I can only imagine it being a bit boring... im sure its not and they have moved on, but most of my memories seem to involve that area. Its certainly an interesting mix of cultures. Oh, and dont drink Marsovin (sp) wine...its ridiculously cheap for a reason.

 

[BensGrandad]

Qwara Palce is where we went on one timeshare episode and where I always say I have a place if asked, to get them off of my back.

 

[mune ni kamome]

If you're an old fart like me there's plenty to do in Valletta sightseeing, eating out or watching the harbour from your window. I never went to any beaches or resorts but still had a great time. I was never approached by any timeshare sellers. The city is very hilly though.

 

[severnside gull]

St Julien is a good base with some decent restaurants. We hired a car and travelled all over (bearing in mind it is only an hour from one end to the other) - found 1 really good beach. Loved Valetta and Mdina and Gozo is worth the short ferry ride. Somewhere we would always go back to - a bit like being at home but with sunshine. Enjoy!

Not as bad as it was for timeshare salesmen. Last year we were accosted on Nathan Rd, Hong Kong by someone selling timeshare over there and recognised him from Malta the year before - he remembered us too. Said it was the way I told him to piss off!

 

[Chicken Runner61]

Not many if any timeshare sellers that I've seen lately.

My choice to stay is Sliema, St Julians area, and my choice of hotel would be Le Meridian St Julians, Its not cheap unless you can get a deal and if you search the Internet you normally can get it or one of the other 4/5* hotels in the area.
Le Meridien has a rooftop pool and an indoor pool and Spa. The breakfast is fantastic and you can live off that and get a cheap meal in Spinola Bay about 1.5 miles away.

This area is busy and populated but its not in a bad way and nothing really like Benidorm or Magaluf more like a cramped up Marbella. As its busy there are lots of shops and its easy to get buses to Valletta but the best way to get to Valletta from Sliema is by the ferry.

Malta cannot be classed as boring unless you only want to go clubbing. In a place the size of the IOW so much has happened and I could give you probably 28 days worth of things to do so long as you like a bit of history and if you added going to the beach half a day in that make it about 50 days. The only thing about Malta is that sandy beaches are very few and small but I prefer rocks or a sun lounger.

Bits I would def see are in no particular order

Valletta (2-3 trips)
All the War Museums (there is a few)
Harbour Tour
St Johns Co Catherdral
Mosta Church
Gozo (2 trips req)
Comino
Tarxien
Medina
St Pauls catacombs
Old Temples ( there are at least two on Malta)
Blue Grotto
Barraca Gardens in Valletta
Tour round the Island by coach or boat

Paceville at night has some sights and is worth a trip without the missus if you can!

The shops are ok but a bit behind what we get here.

Bars, food and drink is great, Go to St Julians to eat at night fairly reasonable and good choice.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I forgot to add the north of the island is much quieter except for the really touristy places like Buggiba or St Pauls - which are more like Spain. There is less to see here and you need a car to get around.

Driving in Malta can be an experience and not for the faint hearted - it used to be a lot worse but you have to be aware. You have to watch where you park as its worse than Brighton for getting a ticket as they use cameras now (i've heard)
Do not take a car to Valletta!!!!

People are very friendly but things are changing and crime and immigration is causing problems as its a small place. But its very safe in most places and if you accept it for what it is most people love it.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

Been twice, stayed at the Qwara palace hotel both times in Qwara, Buggiba which is towards the west of the island. Hotel was 4 star and all inclusive and absolutely superb. Food was more like 5*+ and it was 20 yards from the sea.

Bus station was about 5 min walk and busses went all over the island. Maltese people are friendly and they generally love the Brits. There are no natural beeches on the island so any "beech" tends to be concrete or man made.

I found the island a little odd....i can't recall seeing a blade of grass whilst there. You'll be driving along and spot a beautiful Mercedes show room full of top of the range cars for example and next to it will be a run down building site where people have dumped their rubbish.

Jevs is mostly right here except about the beaches, they might have added a bit more sand and they do add concrete paths and jettys but they are all natural - if you want to see more natural beaches go to Ghain Tuffehia (Sp) or others round there.
The best beach / bay used to be Anchor Bay but they ruined it by building Popeye Village and its beach is covered with the set that should have been taken down

 

[TheJasperCo]

Yes, I went with my parents and younger brother a few years ago. A great holiday. We actually booked it on Ceefax a few days before departure, and stayed in a hotel in St Paul's Bay (I've forgotten the name, but there aren't that many to choose from in the area - although there are two within spitting distance of each other along that stretch of the island.) I think we stayed for 12 days, and the hotel had its own beach, where we went snorkelling (and my Dad got stung by a jellyfish). There's lots of activities for kids, including a pool-side table tennis tournament that was held most days. There's some lovely restaurants in the area, if you just keep following the coast, and the weather in June - August is brilliant.

There's a fair bit to see - some historic towns and cities (the capital - Valletta - is worth a day out on its own), and castles and museums for sightseeing, or just going for a walk when the weather's nice along the seafront. I'd definitely recommend it!

Not sure how much things might have changed since then, but hope I've helped a bit.

EDIT: Just looking on Trip Advisor to jog my memory - the hotel we stayed in was the Dolmen Resort Hotel.

 

[northstandnorth]

Malta is great as everyone here is saying,dont bother with a car the buses are much more fun.Follow the tips but if you end up down Qwara head for Bognor bay of an evening to watch the locals playing the weirdest game using a big sand pitch and blocks and cones of wood,bit like Boules but with none of the rolling.They take it very seriously and have team matches and lay on big spreads for the visiting teams so other courts must be around.

 

[Mackenzie]

Get on the ferry to Gozo.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, very helpful. Thank God for NSC!

 

[Gazwag]

I was on a boat trip around Valetta harbour when I got the text that we had been given permission (first time) to build out stadium just as we were looking at Abramovic's massive boat which was there being repaired.

 

[dannyboy]

just to counter all this on here , ive been twice and would never go back. the quiet north part with the sandy beach is quite nice but the rest is a concrete shithole . there isnt much to do of note and the people are miserable . ive travelled around a fair bit and there are much better places to go but its all about opinions isnt it?

there was a thread on malta on here a couple of years ago where most people were slagging it off.

 

[In The Rough]

All about the local beer, Cisk (Tch-isk) for about 1 euro a go.

 

[cloud]

We went to the England game there and stayed a few days (they have a few international games on in June as well http://www.maltafootball.com/?m=201206&cat=31)

The sea is great for swimming in, and the trip to Gozo is worth doing.