Let me start by telling you that Malta is an amazing holiday destination! My name is Amy and I am the travel blogger behind www.templeseeker.com. I recently went for an all inclusive holiday in Malta and today, I’m here to give you the lowdown. This holiday to Malta blog is part of my ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ series where I give my full and honest opinion on my holidays. This was not a solo trip – it was a couples holiday with my partner Simon. I went to Malta without too many expectations, just looking for some relaxing time together. But, Malta over-delivered! The amount of history and culture that there was to see on the island was impressive! It was a safe destination and an easy place to travel.
Where to stay in Malta
Depending on whether you want busy action and nightlife or a calm and relaxing holiday, that will influence where you stay in the island. Valletta is popular with solo travellers who prefer to be in the hustle and bustle of the capital. Saint Juliens and Sliema are popular with young backpackers and remote workers because they have a good community spirit, good bars and restaurants and good WiFi for remote working. Couples tend to go for Saint Juliens (if they want vibrant) or Melieha Bay (if they want calm and relaxing with a sandy beach). Gozo is also an option if you would like more remote and serene. However, remember that it is possible to visit Gozo as a day trip from Malta if you would like to visit, but not stay there. Here are some ideas for good hotels in Malta…
- The Phoenicia Malta in Valletta – This is Malta’s iconic luxury hotel just outside the city walls of Valletta, with elegant rooms, gardens, pool, and a prime location.
- AX The Palace in Sliema — a refined 5-star hotel with rooftop pool and good access to Valletta ferry.
- Malta Marriott Resort and Spa in Sliema – Located on Balluta Bay, this 5-star resort offers sea views, pools, spa and good access to the restaurants and nightlife of St Julian’s.
- Melleiha Bay hotel in Melleiha Bay (where we stayed) – A beachfront, resort-style hotel with multiple pools and direct beach access makes it ideal for relaxing by the bay. It is close to the Cirkewwa ferry port to go to Gozo.
When to go on Holiday to Malta
Malta has a nice Mediterranean climate and it’s good to visit from June through to the end of September. I would recommend avoiding the UK school holidays, as many holiday makers are from the UK. In these peak times, Malta will be expensive and packed with kids. We went in March and it was mild, but not the sunny climate that I was hoping for. I would recommend the should season such as may/June or end of September to avoid the crowds but still have the sunny weather.
What to pack for Malta
Of course, you will need to pack your travel documents, money and passports. As well as the obvious, there are also a few things that I would recommend packing for Malta….
- Water bottle – it can get hot in the summer and a refillable water bottle is a good thing to have. You may choose to buy bottled drinking water though.
- Water proof and wind-proof jacket (and hair bobbles!) as it can get wet and windy outside of the summer season.
- Hiking boots – there are a few nice little fortress hikes and coastal walks, so walking boots are a good bet for your main item of footwear.
- Add sandals or flip flops for the beach to your footwear list if you plan on having some beach days.
- Sun cream, sun-hat and sarong for beach days in the summer.
- A good camera or smartphone for your photography and videography.
- Lonely Planet Malta – there is a surprising amount of history behind Malta as it has been invaded by so many different people over the years. The lonely planet will give you some good insights into places to eat out as well.
- EUROS – The currency of Malta is EUROS and it is a good idea to take some cash with you to use on buses and in restaurants. UK Credit and Debit cards work in most hotels, shops and restaurants, so pack those as well.
- Comfortable clothing such as shorts, T-shirts, walking trousers and blouses. Maxi dresses and cardigans are ideal for evening meals (shirts and trousers for men).
- Long pants and long sleeved tops (that don’t show cleavage) for visiting the Catholic Churches.
My Holiday to Malta – The Good
Malta is a family friendly destination that is well geared up for tourists. We stayed at the Meleiha Bay hotel on the North of the island, which was calm and serene with a beautiful nearby sandy beach. Here are the things that I liked best about my holiday to Malta…
No Language barrier
The two languages of Malta are Maltese and English and so you probably won’t come across a language barrier on your holiday in Malta. People spoke English in all of the hotels/ and on the buses when we were there.
Tasty and Good Value Food and Drink
Food and drink in Malta is amazing and really good value. Expect to spend around €20-25 per person eating out in Malta, making it much better value than the UK. Here’s a list of some of the local delicacies that you should try when visiting the island…
- Pastizzi – Flaky pastries with ricotta or mushy peas (the ricotta one is gorgeous)
- Ftira – Maltese-style sandwich or pizza bread (great for lunches)
- Rabbit Stew (Fenkata) – National dish, often served in rural restaurants (I tried this and liked it!)
- Kinnie – Local bittersweet soft drink (Maltese either love it or hate it – I hated it!).
- Cisk Lager: The most famous and widely available Maltese beer, a golden lager that comes in different varieties like Cisk Strong and Cisk Strong IPA.
You will have a Comfortable and relaxing Holiday in Malta
Our hotel in Mellieha Bay was very comfortable and relaxing, with a pool and good facilities. The standards of hotels are quite high in Malta and there is little ongoing construction work (like I have experienced in parts of Greece!). We had no problems with noise or being disturbed at night, but I can’t comment if that would be any different in Valletta or Saint Juliens as we didn’t stay there.
Easy to travel around the island on public transport and private tours
Malta was very easy to travel in my opinion. We used the local buses with ease to visit Bugibba, paying with cash, but I believe that you can also now pay by card on the public transport as well. There were some excellent tours that you could book. Two of my favourites were the Hagar Qim prehistoric temple complex and the trip to Mdina and Mosta.
Fantastic Prehistoric Temples!
Now, I’ve already mentioned the prehistoric temple complex of Hagar Qim, but would you believe that there are numerous prehistoric temples across Malta and Gozo?
Churches in Malta are amazing
Now, as you might expect, being Templeseeker, I love a good Church! Malta really surprised me in terms of Church architecture and history (including the history of the Nights Templar in Valletta). I was really blown away by the Cocathedral of Valletta. From the outside, it doesn’t seem to amount to much, but inside you will be amazed by the blue and gold leaf interior, with frescoes, tapestries and a floor covered in marble tombstones. The treat for any art lover is that the Co-Cathedral houses not one, but two Caravaggio’s in the Oratory – don’t miss this.
Beyond Valletta, there are also some other fine examples of Church architecture including Mosta Rotunda, St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina and the Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria, Gozo.
My Holiday to Malta – The Bad
Scams are rare in Malta and the tourist support is extensive. There are a couple of things I really was annoyed about, but they are more minor annoyances or regrets than real bad holiday problems!
Avoid Tourist Traps!
One thing to avoid is Popeye village! This, in my opinion is the epitome of tourist tat! There are also some over-priced restaurants and souvenir shops. If in doubt, ask the locals in your hotel for their recommendations, which will probably be cheaper and better.
Gutted I missed the ferry to Gozo!
Secondly, check the timings of the Ferry to Gozo if you wanted to visit. We missed one and never actually made it to Malta’s sister island, a big regret of mine.
Meleiha Bay was a bit too Quiet for my liking!
I’m really not sure if I would go back to Mellieha Bay. Although it was lovely and relaxing, I usually prefer more bars and restaurants locally, and more opportunities to meet other tourists and travellers to socialise. Next time, I would probably go for staying in Saint Juliens or Valletta.
Mild and sometimes windy weather
I was a bit silly to expect hot and sunny weather in March, but that’s the risk you take going in low season. Most days we had mild weather, but one particular day when we visited Mdina was EXTREMELY windy! Thankfully I had a shower proof and wind proof jacket.
Malta is almost too touristy for me!
If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am a bit of a culture vulture. I like to find historical and religious sites and explore off the beaten path. Our holiday started with one of those annoying ‘orientation mornings’, where they try to sell you overpriced tours and get you to book through the hotel. In my opinion, there’s no need to attend those. Unless you are interested in having the support of a holiday rep and meeting other people in your hotel perhaps.
My Holiday to Malta – The Ugly!
Let me be totally honest…there weren’t really any ugly parts to our trip to Malta! We didn’t have any illnesses, problems or bad experiences. My main fear in Malta, though, is very valid…JELLYFISH! There can be swarms of them, and so it is important to check with the locals and check the water before you jump in.
My Holiday to Malta – If I had a Malta do-over…
So, if I was to go back to Malta, there are a few things that I would do differently next time:
- Pre-plan my itinerary and include a day trip to Gozo on the Ferry.
- Book the Hypogeum in advance online – this is another thing that I was gutted to miss out on, because I didn’t plan it in advance. You can book tickets online.
- Not go full board or all-inclusive – this was a nice luxury, but there was so much to do on the island that we skipped meals at the hotel quite a few times and opted to go out.
- Stay somewhere like Saint Julians or Sliema so that I am closer to more of the bars and nightlife – Melleiha Bay was gorgeous, but a bit too quiet for me!
Oh well, I guess we will just have to go back!
Further Reading – Malta and Beyond
If you enjoyed this article on Malta and would like to read more about this fabulous destination, check out my blog on 4 amazing Cathedrals you should visit in Malta and the silent city of Mdina, Malta. I have also recently blogged on the question ‘is Malta worth visiting?‘
If you would like to read more of my ‘The Good, the Bad and Ugly’ holiday reviews, these articles are available to read on my blog…
- My Holiday to the Algarve – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
- My Cambodia Vacation – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
- My Holiday to Tunisia – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
- My Holiday to Morocco – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
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