General: Malta

Malta is by no means a pretty little Mediterranean island. It's incredibly built up, can be rather scruffy and is quite polluted. Vegetation is sparse on Malta - there are very few trees so it looks rather dusty and dry. But don't get me wrong, there are many spectacular looking buildings and beautiful sights scattered throughout the island. The blue of the sea set against the golden yellows of the sandstone buildings make for some picturesque settings. ...
...two were holidays as a child in the 1970's) and I was keen to revisit some old haunts and see if it lived up to my happy memories. ~ LOCATION ~ Malta is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean between Sicily (58 miles away) and Tunisia (180 miles away). Malta is the biggest of an archipelago of three islands, the others being Gozo and Comino. It's a small and sunny island - some describe it as a kind of Mediterranean melting pot, where east ...

Bollinger28 14.11.2004 (04.02.2006) · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

- Introduction - This summer (2008) I went abroad on a summer holiday with my parents to the island of Malta and I have to say, it was definitely one of the better holidays ive had. I had never been there before and so I was quite eager to see the sights. We went for two weeks from late June (24th) to early July (8th) and I left feeling that there was still plenty left to see, that we didn't manage to fit in the two weeks we were there, so I would ...
...to see in a couple of weeks. I hope to use this review to give you an insight into the island of Malta, some of the places you can visit (or more, that we visited) and some useful/interesting information about the island. I hope you find this a useful review. I thought during one of the last days there that I wanted to do a proper review on it when I got home, so I can type up everything I remember and use it in the future to remind me what its ...

IzzyS 10.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Knights! Sieges! Shipwrecks! Yes, Malta has seen all of these and you can find out more by reading this review or going on holiday to this lovely island situated between Africa and Europe, just off Sicily. *An Important Bit of History* (If History bores you feel free to skip to the next paragraph, but this does explain why Malta is the island it is, and trying to condense so much History is very difficult!) The name Malta according to one theory ...
...of its position and the many safe harbours, it has been the scene of various invasions and sieges. The Phoenicians came from what is now Lebanon, but in about 600BC, they faded out and during the Punic Empire were replaced by the Carthaginians and so Carthaginian temples were built. Later a Roman invasion changed the customs and brought different trades to Malta. The Towers which still can be seen, were built during these troubled times. St Paul ...

jo145 13.08.2005 (29.01.2008) · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Hi everyone, just back from a week's holiday in Malta. Well not exactly 'just!' By the time the review was written, three weeks gone already. We went during the February half term- all of us- our family of four. Like any other holiday destination- there is lot to see and do in Malta. I will tell you where to go and what to see if you only had a week- like us. Malta has three islands: big island is called Malta, small one is Gozo and very small - ...
...exchanges to 0.66 in pound sterling. They will change to Euro from next year. Most shops accept Euro. Flying to Malta is not expensive, you will be able to get a lot of cheap flights - outside school holidays- could be as low as £65 with British Airways, but during school holidays, these swell up to £200! We spend about £185 with Air Malta. Flight time from Heathrow is 3 hours. Time difference- UK and Malta is + 1 hour. Going around Malta: In most ...

greatmum1 16.03.2007 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

To say I am qualified to review Malta is somewhat of an understatement...Im Maltese and lived there for a long time! To see detailed aspects of Malta see my other reviews in the Malta section (to be added very soon!) I will give both good and bad points: In general Malta is a place you will love or hate...simple as that. It resembles other Med countries and Islands in terms of buildings, that they are mostly made of limestone. If you are into ...
...has over 2000 years of history and will simply astound you. If your 20 something looking for a beer holiday forget it, this place is not for you... Malta is full of charm and is one of the most romantic places you can go. It does not take long to get there and Luqa airport is a breeze to pass through...your baggage arrives in less than 15 minutes. In another 5 minutes your out in the sunshine which averages about 300 days per year. Malta is littered ...

alanbishop 13.06.2007 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Malta: General information: A sunny island in the Southern Mediterranean Sea only about 200miles from the North Africa( Libya) and about 60 miles from Sicily. It is technically The Republic of Malta and the island of Malta is one of several islands making up this nation only the two largest islands Malta and Gozo are inhabited .Malta is the largest island and is the cultural and administrative centre whilst Gozo is more rural.Because of its position ...
...one of the attractions for tourists wanting beach holidays. The capital city is Valletta on the eastern coast of Malta. Getting there: We flew with Air Malta from Birmingham to Luqa which is Malta's International Airport. I know Air Malta fly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester too. They were extremely efficient and the on board food was better than some airlines and perfectly satisfactory as airline food goes. You can also get a ferry ...

catsholiday 21.08.2008 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

I went to Malta for the first time for 2 weeks in the summer of 1990. After that I went for 2 weeks every summer and 2 weeks twice at Christmas and the New Year until my last holiday there in 1996 – 8 times in all. It is the type of place that is said you either love or hate - obviously I loved it. I have considered completing and posting this before, but held back because I didn’t think my experiences were recent enough knowing how ...
...from a holiday there has assured me that little has changed. Also my type of holiday isn't the normal touristy thing. I don't go on many guided tours or have much interest in old ruins. Saying that I did pick up a fairly extensive knowledge of the brave history of Malta. What I love about there most are the people. I have never known such friendliness and helpfulness even though I live in friendly Yorkshire. Cynics say that it's because you are ...

shewhosmiles 18.05.2003 (26.10.2003) · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Well, you know, I have to admit that Malta probably wouldn't have been top of my list of "must see" holiday destinations, especially as my best friend relayed a horrible story of her holiday there - tales of dust and cockroaches!! I've also seen quite a few unfavourable reviews on Ciao, but I think people's bad experiences were mainly due to the poor standards of the hotel or tour operator, and not so much due to the Island, itself. But, I had a ...
...fitted in with my schedule quite nicely, so my boyfriend and I decided to go and see for ourselves. A three hour flight from London, Malta is on the same latitude as North Africa so this means it's still pretty damn hot there at this time of year, the first week in October. In fact, most of the time we were TOO hot!! Typical Brits - go away to get some sun and end up complaining that we are too hot. Our hotel room was OK - we weren't happy with ...

Dizz 10.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Obviously it's completely impossible to do justice to an island with the rich diversity that Malta has in a single opinion. Indeed it would be foolish to try. If you are looking for a complete guide to Malta, I can strongly recommend the Lonely Planet guide to the island since it is very up-to-date and comprehensive. Instead I will concentrate on a few highlights. Of course, if you travel with a tour operator as many many visitors to the island ...
...offered to you by your rep. in the resort. It's as well to point out that they usually have a vested interest which amounts to some considerable sum in commission for every excursion they sell, and so their advice may not be impartial about the practicalities of visiting the same places independently. I will, thus, try to indicate how possible it is to visit the places I mention without needing to resort to these more expensive options. Malta, in ...

richardashdowne 16.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Going to Malta was a great idea. Going with my brother-in-law and his wife was not. I knew it wouldn't be, but we couldn't afford to look a gift horse in the mouth, as its unlikely we'll be able to afford another foreign trip this year. Jo was given the timeshare as a wedding present by her Dad whose health won't let him travel now. The apartment in Qawra sleeps 4 so they asked us to join them with only our flight to pay for. Flight booking was easy. ...
...departure, searched the Internet, made the booking and had our confirmation within 48 hours and instructions to collect tickets at the airport. We paid half what Charlie and Jo did for their scheduled flights. No food on the way, but who wants airline food anyway, on a short-haul flight. Good coffee and croissants at Gatwick were more than enough. Charter airlines are now notorious for insufficient leg-room. Even I was suffering from swollen ankles ...

jennysue 14.05.2002 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Where do I start? I have visited Malta about 8 times and I could never tire of it. I wouldn't say its a typical place to visit for a group of lads or ladies - it is more your family or couples holiday. Travelling There and Getting Around The flight from London to Luqa Airport (Malta) is around 3 and a half hours. Once you are there, it is very easy to get around because the Island is so small. We usually hire a car but public transport is very good. ...
...used to have old fashioned buses but they are being replaced by modern ones now. Although the Maltese supposedly drive on the left (more like they drive in the shade), it's like the Maltese change personality when they get behind the wheel. When I first went to Malta there were no traffic lights on the island. On my last visit, it seemed they had popped up all over the place and the Maltese were unsure of what to do. Red doesn't necessarily mean ...

leighh 19.08.2007 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

As can be seen from the number and frequency of our visits, we are Maltaphiles. We love to get some sun in the worst part of the winter and Malta hits the spot every time. We stay at the Phoenicia just outside Valetta's city walls and love its 1930s faded luxury and impeccable service - another world. It's worth having a harbour view room as you can see half the island from the balcony. The island has a fleet of vintage buses - all beautifully ...
...parts of the island. Having said this, we always rent a car and take a taxi from the airport (6LM). M'dina, the silent city, is one of my favourite places with breathtaking view of almost the whole of the island from its bastions. It also has the Fontanella tea rooms which have the most mindblowing selection of homemade cakes you can possibly imagine. Valetta is gorgeous from the Sliema seafront and we love the walk from Les Lapins Hotel in Taxbiex ...

JaneMcd 23.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

We went to Malta as this was the only Timeshare place available when we booked. We spent 2 weeks there about a month ago. The first problem encountered at Gatwick was being told I was not allowed to take a bottle of babies milk on board the aircraft. No dairy products allowed. I argued but it was confiscated. On arrival we were left standing on the tarmac for about 10 minutes until buses came to transport us from the runway. It was dark and cold ...
...who had been on the flight. We found hiring a car too expensive at the airport- we took a taxi to our resort, near St. Paul's Bay. This cost about £7.50. We arrived at our self-catering apartment on Sunday at about 8pm- when all the shops were closed... No milk, coffee, nothing to eat... no baby milk!!! G'rrr. We were told the ideal time to visit Malta is 2 weeks from October 7- then the temperature is about 75. In summer, we were told, the temp. ...

No1Tester 22.12.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

I've been to Malta many times now, first just with my wife, then with our children too. Some people go back time after time, others go once and hate it. I think if you do Malta the right way, you'll love it. Malta isnt a big island, and there is a lot of new building going on. The capital, Valetta, is in the South, the North of the island is much more relaxing. You really need to hire a car if you want to get the most out of Malta. Hire cars are ...
...The roads are in poor condition, but very wide, and driving is a leisurely experience, even though the island is only 15 miles from one end to the other, allow at least 45 minutes to do the journey. Sandy beaches are on the northern end, there are a few big hotels here, and I would strongly recommend this area, particularly if you're a family, or not particularly wanting the night life which you'll find further down the east coast. Malta is very ...

maddad1 23.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta

Malta is a most fascinating place to visit. I, personally, have been there twice with my Father and his partner. Both times we stayed in hotels (once self-catering and once half board) and both times I absolutely loved it. The first time we went we stayed in the Europa Hotel on a half board basis in Sliema. The hotel itself was very nice but the food left something to be desired. There was a self service continental breakfast and an evening meal. ...
...was very basic. But even then the feel of the hotel was ruined when at the begining of the second week we were joined by a school full of rowdy Sicilians. Sadly at this hotel there was no pool. The second time we went we stayed in the St. Georges complex in Paceville. This was self catering which suited us to the ground. The apartments were OK furnished with a small kitchenette. The hotel also had a restaurant which we never dined in and a games ...

moorh_a 02.12.2002 · Read full review
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Review of General: Malta