Family holidays to Malta/Gozo - any recomendations?

[Ray Singh]

Looking to go on our first holiday after several years of saving hard for a house purchase.
We have identified Malta/Gozo as nice places to go.

Can anyone recomend accomodation or places in particular to see/avoid?

We would be looking to go next year during the shcool holidays and Malta/Gozo looks like good value.

[Mark.]

Love both places, and been several times.
Depending on what you enjoy would depend on which Island to choose, when on Malta we stayed at The Corinthia Palace which was quite nice, and on Gozo at a place called Ta Cenc.
Gozo is much quieter but still lots to see and do, Malta lively with lots of history if that's your thing.
People are very friendly, just be aware - they don't drive on the left or the right - just usually in the shade

[terry mardy]

If its the summer holidays, it will be hot, hot, hot!

But a great place to see, and they drive on the proper side of the road (that's where any drving similarity ends though)

We went a few years ago, and stayed in Sliema, not far from Valletta.

Pretty cool stuff like the azure window on Gozo to see, Paradise beach, and some really old churches as well.

We found a week was enough to see and relax

[1878]

Toy museum on Gozo http://www.themuseumoftoys.com/

[madala]

I used to go to Gozo every year, sometimes twice a year to dive. It was a quiet island back then, early 90's but still have fond memories of it and I hope to return again for a week perhaps in the Spring of 2013.

The Maltese like the Brits......

[CampDavid]

It's a superb place, my parents spend about 12 weeks a year there now and love it to bits.

[oldbanger]

Gozo is lovely, especially Xlendi Bay.

However avoid the Serena Beach Club on the hillside in Xlendi at all costs - now called Hotel Xlendi Resort & Spa.

[Wacky Racer]

I have recently sold a villa in Mellieha, and holidayed there three or four times a year for the last twenty odd years so know the Island well. Malta seems to divide people, they either love it or hate it....naturally we think it is lovely.

Best time to go..(in my opinion) is April/May....September/October....UNLESS you like it very hot..then go(June/July/August).

Personally, I would not go to Gozo, it is fairly quiet, very small, and not enough to do there for a week...take a day trip though on the ferry..(30mins) and see Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn, Ramla Bay and the capital Victoria.

Best beaches on Malta?

Mellieha and Golden Bay.....Google them.


Also Google these places:-

Mdina...(Pronounced Imdina)
Armstrong Gun, Fort Rinella...(Saturdays)
Malta Drag Racing
Malta Car Museum
Mosta Dome
Valletta Grand Harbour
Paceville/St Julians
Sliema
Bugibba
Captain Morgan Cruises.
Sunday Market at Marsaxlokk...(Excellent..get there early)
T'Quali craft village
Comino
Malta war museum
Blue Grotto


The Maltese are extremely friendly, all speak English, prices are generally similar to the UK, AND they drive on our side of the road. Car hire is reasonably priced...hire a very cheap car, you do not need a big fancy one, the island is too small.

If you like nightlife, Paceville is where the action is.

PM me, if you need any more help....

[CampDavid]

Wacky Racer said:

I have recently sold a villa in Mellieha, and holidayed there three or four times a year for the last twenty odd years so know the Island well. Malta seems to divide people, they either love it or hate it....naturally we think it is lovely.

Best time to go..(in my opinion) is April/May....September/October....UNLESS you like it very hot..then go(June/July/August).

Personally, I would not go to Gozo, it is fairly quiet, very small, and not enough to do there for a week...take a day trip though on the ferry..(30mins) and see Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn, Ramla Bay and the capital Victoria.

Best beaches on Malta?

Mellieha and Golden Bay.....Google them.


Also Google these places:-

Mdina...(Pronounced Imdina)
Armstrong Gun, Fort Rinella...(Saturdays)
Malta Drag Racing
Malta Car Museum
Mosta Dome
Valletta Grand Harbour
Paceville/St Julians
Sliema
Bugibba
Captain Morgan Cruises.
Sunday Market at Marsaxlokk...(Excellent..get there early)
T'Quali craft village
Comino
Malta war museum
Blue Grotto


The Maltese are extremely friendly, all speak English, prices are generally similar to the UK, AND they drive on our side of the road. Car hire is reasonably priced...hire a very cheap car, you do not need a big fancy one, the island is too small.

If you like nightlife, Paceville is where the action is.

PM me, if you need any more help....

Excellent post. Can't add a fat lot more other than it's best to try and get one of the small speed boats over to Comino, the tour boats are pap and that SCUBA diving in Malta is some of the best in the world.

As said, some hate it, more love it. Valetta is a superb town to get lost in for a day or two.

I'd not dismiss Gozo quite so quickly but I'd certainly not spend two weeks there. Last time I just booked a couple of hotels for a night each, one in Marsalforn for a night (Maria Giovanna Guest House, it was superb) and one in Victoria (forget it's name, it was ok) to get to see a bit more of the island.

Car hire wise, contact places before you go, a lot of the local ones like Pettys are much cheaper and offer a better service than the big boys. Don't be conned into the whole fuel tank scam. A lot of places now charge you for a tank and tell you to bring it back empty, this always works out with you buying over priced fuel and giving it back to them, Malta is tiny and doing a tank in a Clio will take some effort!

[stuttgartmetal]

Mellieha Bay Hotel
Thompsons.

Hire car £200 per week.
Off you go.

[Wacky Racer]

CampDavid said:

Excellent post. Can't add a fat lot more other than it's best to try and get one of the small speed boats over to Comino, the tour boats are pap and that SCUBA diving in Malta is some of the best in the world.

As said, some hate it, more love it. Valetta is a superb town to get lost in for a day or two.

I'd not dismiss Gozo quite so quickly but I'd certainly not spend two weeks there. Last time I just booked a couple of hotels for a night each, one in Marsalforn for a night (Maria Giovanna Guest House, it was superb) and one in Victoria (forget it's name, it was ok) to get to see a bit more of the island.

Car hire wise, contact places before you go, a lot of the local ones like Pettys are much cheaper and offer a better service than the big boys. Don't be conned into the whole fuel tank scam. A lot of places now charge you for a tank and tell you to bring it back empty, this always works out with you buying over priced fuel and giving it back to them, Malta is tiny and doing a tank in a Clio will take some effort!

Cheers...

What I meant was, (imo) I would not spend a week/two weeks on Gozo...maybe two or three days, unless you want a very quiet holiday.

Regarding Comino, there is a great guy called Charlie who runs his speedboat from Golden Bay to Comino, drops you off and leaves you a couple of hours to look round.....not that expensive either.

[CampDavid]

Wacky Racer said:

Cheers...

What I meant was, (imo) I would not spend a week/two weeks on Gozo...maybe two or three days, unless you want a very quiet holiday.

Regarding Comino, there is a great guy called Charlie who runs his speedboat from Golden Bay to Comino, drops you off and leaves you a couple of hours to look round.....not that expensive either.

Charlie sounds familier, I think we may have used him, though my folks now have there own boat, which is actually more use than a car most of the time in Malta.

As I said, we did 3 days/2 nights in Gozo. It was enough but I certainly enjoyed it. The guest house was cheap enough so even if you were paying for an unused hotel on Malta for the time in Gozo it wouldn't be that much of a problem

[Art0ir]

I'm sitting in Sliema currently, arrived two hours ago. Bit of a last minute thing...

Here for a week anyway. I presume the recommendations from last year are still much the same? Going to hang about the pool tomorrow and maybe look into a boat trip to Sicily for some stage during the week?

Trip to the "Blue Lagoon" also looking good. Is it worth making our way into St Julian's in the evening for a few drinks?

[CampDavid]

Art0ir said:

I'm sitting in Sliema currently, arrived two hours ago. Bit of a last minute thing...

Here for a week anyway. I presume the recommendations from last year are still much the same? Going to hang about the pool tomorrow and maybe look into a boat trip to Sicily for some stage during the week?

Trip to the "Blue Lagoon" also looking good. Is it worth making our way into St Julian's in the evening for a few drinks?

Do the Blue Lagoon on a weekday, it's packed at the weekend.

Valetta is just across the creak, my favourite restaurant on the island, Michael's is there, the food is stunning.

St Julian's is worth a trip for the evening, though Paceville is mainly for the under 30s, some good places there. Not sure I'd do Sicily as a day trip. Gozo very much worth seeing