Gozo - unless you are an 18-30 type, you will like this place. Get a cheap flight to Malta (we paid £120 in June 2000 - expedia), get to the ferry asap and hang out on Gozo.
Accommodation
We stayed at the San Antonio Guesthouse http://www.clubgozo.com.mt - pool, breakfast, a steepish 500m ... Read review
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Advantages: relaxing, charming, good food, good to explore Disadvantages: not for 18-30 types
Gozo - unless you are an 18-30 type, you will like this place. Get a cheap flight to Malta (we paid £120 in June 2000 - expedia), get to the ferry asap and hang out on Gozo.
Accommodation
We stayed at the San Antonio Guesthouse http://www.clubgozo.com.mt - pool, breakfast, a steepish 500m walk from the centre of Xlendi harbour at £30 approx per night. I'd go back again - in fact two groups have gone (and raved) on our recommendation. ... ...well-presented place (see their website for pics and more info).
Xlendi
In June we had all the amenities without all of the tourists. I can imagine it getting a bit too busy at the height of the season. Its a small harbour, with no real beach as such, but many people sunbath on the rocks and steps are provided to enter the sea along the harbour. Good variety of eating and drinking establishments - The Stone Crab is special, ... more
Gozo - unless you are an 18-30 type, you will like this place. Get a cheap flight to Malta (we paid £120 in June 2000 - expedia), get to the ferry asap and hang out on Gozo.
Accommodation We stayed at the San Antonio Guesthouse http://www.clubgozo.com.mt - pool, breakfast, a steepish 500m walk from the centre of Xlendi harbour at £30 approx per night. I'd go back again - in fact two groups have gone (and raved) on our recommendation. George, the owner, is friendly and tireless, running a clean, well-presented place (see their website for pics and more info).
Xlendi In June we had all the amenities without all of the tourists. I can imagine it getting a bit too busy at the height of the season. Its a small harbour, with no real beach as such, but many people sunbath on the rocks and steps are provided to enter the sea along the harbour. Good variety of eating and drinking establishments - The Stone Crab is special, serving a seafood pizza taller than it is wide, with at least half a dozen king prawns jostling with an aquarium's worth of other fresh seafood. Wine is cheap and plentiful.
Victoria The island capital, easily reached by regular bus is a must. Aside from the Citadel, you can pick up the brilliant local cheese, eat at a wider variety of restaurants - The Panzier, a Sicilian place, is very good. Also, a number of eclectic, rather than themed, bars run along the main drag.
Elsewhere Either by bus or car (hire for about £12-15/day) you can get to half a dozen other beaches, visit historic churches and other buildings and see some of the craft shops (particularly glass-blowers)
Diving In Xlendi, Moby Dives are superb. The current Mrs O claimed (at least five times an hour) she would rather die than go diving. Using military grade powers of persuasion I dragged her pallid frame to Moby Dives and three hours later she was still carrying on, this time about how brilliant it was.
Festivals The sound of three brass bands converging on a tiny square is not one you forget (I think its called tinnitus). The whole island seemed to half squeezed itself into a little village for a religious procession followed by a streeet party. Every night fireworks were going off, each village trying to outdo their neighbours.
Views Obviously pretty good to get the current Mrs O to rediscover her romantic side as the sun set over the harbour.
Look out for The lone duck patrolling the harbour. The swimming dogs. Someone who can't play a brass instrument.
Conclusion Malta is the fourth most densely populated country in the world. Gozo is not. In fact its not a lot of things I've come to dread in the Med.
More info Pics, numbers, and other info all on http://www.gozo.com
Advantages: beautiful scenery, fantastic friendly people Disadvantages: driving is crazy!!!!
We travelled to malta in 1999 for my nephews wedding and what an experience!
My brother lives in a small "town" named San Gwann near Sliema and we were staying there for a week from Monday until the wedding on the Friday evening and then leaving on the Saturday.
I hadn't really tried to visualise Malta before I got there so everything was a pleasant surprise for me. The landscape is not luscious and green - far from it! There is hardly any grass ... ...with colour. They plant everything in pots and keep them well watered. Cacti are so large you have to see them to believe it. And they are everywhere in the main countryside
My brother decided that we would travel around Malta every day until Friday evening which meant 4 days of constant moving but we loved it. Many places was just a stop for an hour and others were for a few hours. You definitely need at least 2 weeks to see all of this beautiful ...
carolburns 05.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Maltese Islands
Advantages: A quiet and restful island with plenty to do and see that takes you back at least 30 years. Disadvantages: You may just go to sleep from the quiet.
...although the income to the Maltese Island comes from tourism, you could say that Gozo is unique in that the tourists are not bothered with the usual gimmicks, knick-knacks and cheap tawdry souvenirs. Rather the innate pride that the Gozitans have in their own artistic ability is passed on to the tourists without a hint of commercialism. The craft cottage industry that exists on the Island rewards you with such things as hand made pillow lace, at ... ...pay anywhere else. Hand knitted articles in designs reminiscent of FairIsle and other Scottish Islands as well as modern sweaters and pullovers selling from £5.00 to £8.00 each. I wonder how long it will be before someone comes along and spoils it? Hand drawn table linen, which is reminiscent of that other beautiful Island, Ireland. Religion on the Island is strictly Roman Catholic and the Islanders are extremely strong in their faith - every village ...
Scorpio2 23.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Maltese Islands
Advantages: Great comunity and friendly locals Disadvantages: Very quiet and the roads are easy to get lost on- trust me i know!!
...also visit the other main Maltese islands, Comino and Gozo. Though they are beautiful islands with beautiful scenery I do recommend bringing a road map if you are renting a car! On of the best times to go to these islands is during the time of Easter as their are fabulous parades held and there is a great atmosphere all around the island! There are also so fabulous restaurants and places to eat out. One of the main things I recommend is their cheese ... ...highly recommend Malta as a holiday destination! It is fun and a whole new experience. I think that you would really enjoy it I'm 14 and my younger brothers and I really enjoyed our holidays. If you wish to know any more just put your questions in the comments box and I shall be happy to answer your questions in an updated review :) ...
smudgehamster 24.02.2006 (28.02.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maltese Islands
Advantages: Easy to travel to from Malta, a very quiet way of life. Disadvantages: Power Cuts
...shop till it gets cooler.
And be prepared for the power cuts during the evening. For some reason the Maltese Government see fit to turn off segments of the island periodically, in order to save money??? So be prepared and if you rent a propery, take candles! ...
Snoozy 09.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maltese Islands
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Advantages: Location Disadvantages: Its some distance from sandy beaches, if you like your beaches....
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