Malta - Any experts?
Discussion
mastiff said:
Off to Malta on 22nd May for a week. Staying in StJuliens Bay (well, a hotel, not the bay itself).
Any well travelled PHers have any tips.
thanks.
I have a property in Mellieha and go over several times a year.....
St Julians is the "trendy" area of Malta, very busy with clubbers into the early hours, especially at weekends......
Gary Neville has a property at "Porto Masso" marina there......
Where are you staying??? St. Georges Park or La Vallette???? by any chance...
Weather will be lovely this time of year, I am going out there for most of June.....
If you can, hire a car to get around, approx £150 for the week, but a ride on the Maltese buses is an experience........
Valletta Old Town is very nice, as is Mdina. Sliema is like Blackpool with sun, but St Julians is nice. Don't expect night life in Valletta though. It shuts at 10.
Biggest laugh are the buses. If you can't see through the floor, it's not old enough, wait for the next one. The one that took us back to the airport had a speedo in it. No needle, gauge glass or half of the numbers, but the speedo was definitely there.
The local brew, Cisk, is rather pleasant, and make sure you're ready for the local drinkers, in their 'explosion at Halfords' wrecks.
Oh, and try not to drink the water. It tastes foul.
kelvin
>> Edited by popey on Friday 13th May 15:14
Biggest laugh are the buses. If you can't see through the floor, it's not old enough, wait for the next one. The one that took us back to the airport had a speedo in it. No needle, gauge glass or half of the numbers, but the speedo was definitely there.
The local brew, Cisk, is rather pleasant, and make sure you're ready for the local drinkers, in their 'explosion at Halfords' wrecks.
Oh, and try not to drink the water. It tastes foul.
kelvin
>> Edited by popey on Friday 13th May 15:14
For many years before the Red Sea opened up Malta was home from home for British SCUBA divers so there is a very well developed dive industry there. Also with many WW2 wrecks and caverns there are some good quality dives. If you already dive just go and enjoy. If you don't it could be an excellent opportunity to learn.
Malta has the highest population density of any country in Europe so it is mainly just one sprawling town with a few fields. The island is so small that you can have adventures by just getting on busses at random. Gozo is a lot quieter and just a ferry trip away.
Malta has the highest population density of any country in Europe so it is mainly just one sprawling town with a few fields. The island is so small that you can have adventures by just getting on busses at random. Gozo is a lot quieter and just a ferry trip away.
Wacky Racer said:
What kind of things do you like doing, exploring old buildings, crashing out on the beach ,snorkeling, any kids going with you?????
Difficult to advise without knowing a bit more.....
No kids, thats how we can afford to go!!
Into eating, drinking and laying about mainly, but would like a couple of days out just mooching around interesting stuff.
valettea Old Town sound nice...
I agree that wandering around Mdina is rather pleasant - as is Dingley Cliffs.
There is a place where they do all the local glass blowing and creastive stuff as well but I can't remember what it's called. I'm sure it's got a 'Q' in it somewhere and is quite unpronouncable!
And the buses -
they ARE an experience that you MUST try
There is a place where they do all the local glass blowing and creastive stuff as well but I can't remember what it's called. I'm sure it's got a 'Q' in it somewhere and is quite unpronouncable!
And the buses -
they ARE an experience that you MUST try mastiff said:
What kind of things do you like doing, exploring old buildings, crashing out on the beach ,snorkeling, any kids going with you?????
Difficult to advise without knowing a bit more.....
No kids, thats how we can afford to go!!
Into eating, drinking and laying about mainly, but would like a couple of days out just mooching around interesting stuff.
valettea Old Town sound nice...
Valletta is the capital, very busy, about 15 mins bus ride from St Julians, the main street Republic street, usually teeming with shoppers.......
Suggest you visit.......
Mdina (pronounced Imdina)....The silent city, and Malta's old capital....
Mosta church and dome,(good market on a Monday) Very impressive, the third largest dome in the world, in the war a German bomb crashed through it during a service and failed to explode........
Day trip to Gozo, (three miles away by ferry) either by hire car or on coach trip.....
The best beach by far is at Mellieha , at the Gozo end of the Island, other beaches are at Paradise Bay and Golden Bay, but these are more remote, and not as good....(imo)...be careful, a lot of buses finish around 7.30.......
If interested in history The Second World War museum in Valletta is good...
Take a boat trip around the Grand Harbour at Valletta.....(excellent)...(Capt. Morgan cruises...)
Popeye's Village (film set) at Anchor bay is good fun,
The Maltese word for rain is Shitta, but you won't see any of that...(rain that is)......
I Maltese Lira (pound) is approx £1.59.........
Basically, you will have a great time, everybody speaks English and the Maltese people are very friendly generally.........
Racylady said:
I agree that wandering around Mdina is rather pleasant - as is Dingley Cliffs.
There is a place where they do all the local glass blowing and creastive stuff as well but I can't remember what it's called. I'm sure it's got a 'Q' in it somewhere and is quite unpronouncable!
You mean Mdina glass at T'Quali craft village....(T'Quali was the main British RAF base in WW2)
Also Bristow's pottery is worth a visit there......
Ahhh Malta… my favourite subject… draw up a chair…
Where is the Radisson? Not sure I recall seeing one there. You sure they built it yet
St Julians is the main commercial centre. It’s very lively at night but there’s not much there from an architectural or sight seeing point of view.
Paceville (pronounced patch-a-ville) is the night life centre. Very tacky but during the summer it’s busy until 5 am and the women… oh the women. It’s like wandering onto the set of a soft porn film
A car is essential. The buses are a novel experience but a nightmare after two or three trips. For cheap car hire phone Manuel or Mark at EMM car hire on +356 21 572122. They do cars for a tenner a day! You don’t want anything flash as it WILL get knocked.
Essential visits are:
Mdina – the ancient capital
Valletta – the current capital
The Three Cities (try to include the Hypogeneum)
Gozo - including the Citadel and Xlendi
A drive round the south side of the island including various Neolithic temples and the Blue Grotto
Dunno what wine you’ve been drinking but in Europe Maltese wine is second only to Sicilian IMHO. Be careful of the cheap stuff. You’ll see two distinct price bands. The cheaper stuff is produced in Malta from imported grapes (usually from Sicily) whereas the better stuff is made from grapes grown in Malta. Bel, Nexus and Melquart are locally grown and produced reds well worth trying and the Isis Chardonnay is one of the better whites. Also most good restaurants have an excellent selection of Italian wines.
Valletta is one of the most up and coming night life areas of Malta now. Very chic and the best thing is none of the package tourists know about it. I hardly ever drink in Sliema or Paceville now. It’s a sort of a backlash against the touristification of the rest of the island. Maestro e Mezzo, the Castille Wine Vaults, Baku and Labyrinth are all worth checking out. Email me if you need details of how to find them or just ask.
I’m in town on the 21/22 and 28/29 May and can usually be found propping up the bar in one of the above mentioned establishments
Restaurants are another story. I could write a book on the restaurants in Malta and one day probably will. Let me know if you want me to email you a list of my top 10, 20… 30
Where is the Radisson? Not sure I recall seeing one there. You sure they built it yet
St Julians is the main commercial centre. It’s very lively at night but there’s not much there from an architectural or sight seeing point of view.
Paceville (pronounced patch-a-ville) is the night life centre. Very tacky but during the summer it’s busy until 5 am and the women… oh the women. It’s like wandering onto the set of a soft porn film
A car is essential. The buses are a novel experience but a nightmare after two or three trips. For cheap car hire phone Manuel or Mark at EMM car hire on +356 21 572122. They do cars for a tenner a day! You don’t want anything flash as it WILL get knocked.
Essential visits are:
Mdina – the ancient capital
Valletta – the current capital
The Three Cities (try to include the Hypogeneum)
Gozo - including the Citadel and Xlendi
A drive round the south side of the island including various Neolithic temples and the Blue Grotto
jacobyte said:
Also, steer clear of the local wine, it's crap.
Dunno what wine you’ve been drinking but in Europe Maltese wine is second only to Sicilian IMHO. Be careful of the cheap stuff. You’ll see two distinct price bands. The cheaper stuff is produced in Malta from imported grapes (usually from Sicily) whereas the better stuff is made from grapes grown in Malta. Bel, Nexus and Melquart are locally grown and produced reds well worth trying and the Isis Chardonnay is one of the better whites. Also most good restaurants have an excellent selection of Italian wines.
popey said:
Don't expect night life in Valletta though. It shuts at 10.
Valletta is one of the most up and coming night life areas of Malta now. Very chic and the best thing is none of the package tourists know about it. I hardly ever drink in Sliema or Paceville now. It’s a sort of a backlash against the touristification of the rest of the island. Maestro e Mezzo, the Castille Wine Vaults, Baku and Labyrinth are all worth checking out. Email me if you need details of how to find them or just ask. I’m in town on the 21/22 and 28/29 May and can usually be found propping up the bar in one of the above mentioned establishments
Restaurants are another story. I could write a book on the restaurants in Malta and one day probably will. Let me know if you want me to email you a list of my top 10, 20… 30
kenny chim 4 said:
Popeye's Village (film set) at Anchor bay is good fun,
God, is that still standing?!
I was there not too many years after they shot the Robin Williams movie and it was falling apart then!
I was there only last month, been renovated, repainted and generally tided up last year......
Top posts people - many thanks.
t1grm - many thanks. Yes the Raddisson is definately up! It's at the top of the hill next to the Corinthian.
I may take you up on recommending some of the better restaurants - eating is one of my top three favourite things!
many thanks for all posters advice. Top website for this sort of thing.
Looking forward to it now!
M.
t1grm - many thanks. Yes the Raddisson is definately up! It's at the top of the hill next to the Corinthian.
I may take you up on recommending some of the better restaurants - eating is one of my top three favourite things!
many thanks for all posters advice. Top website for this sort of thing.
Looking forward to it now!
M.
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