We're headed to Malta late<BR>July. Party of three, ages 50, 40, 20. We want to dive, enjoy the beach,<BR>get a little culture/sightseeing, and work out. Yes, work out. We are all<BR>fitness freaks. So, we are looking for a nice hotel/arartment/complex,<BR>somewhere around 3 stars or 4, preferably on the water. I just didn't<BR>notice many seaside places in my searching. We prefer a 2 bedroom condo<BR>type, not with meals included, and we just need to be relatively close to<BR>some "action" for the 20 year old. What do you think? Regards, Karen

Sliema/St Julien area has a lot of nightlife, but it's not on beach-beach. Did you do a search for Malta on this forum? There's a fellow from Malta who answers many posts, and he gives his email address, I think, in his responses. He'd be the one to ask and get the straight poop.<BR><BR>Malta's incredible, not like any part of Europe I've ever been. If you do nothing else, ride a public bus.

Yes, I sent Simon an email, awaiting response. Also read all about those crazy busses. I think we are hooked on the place, just looking for where to base out of. One of Simon's posts said best areas are Sliema/St J and Bug/St P with the latter being too touristy. So we'll see if he comes up on the net with a hotel name. I'll hit the travel agency today, but that can be hit or miss as you know!

We stayed in the Hotel Diplomat in Sliema. It was right on the water but there is no sandy beach - it's solid rock and actually quite interesting to look at and walk on but if you're looking for Cape Coddish sand, it isn't (There might be only a couple of sandy beaches on the entire coast). It was walking distance (maybe a 15 minute walk) to St. Julian's Bay and the nightlife, and it was right on a bus line that went into Valletta and in the other direction as well. It was a nice hotel, clean, not fancy, with an astounding buffet breakfast. I recall a small gym but we didn't use it so can't tell you details. They had "water view" rooms that had teensy balconies but I realized when they mailed me a brochure that those rooms are actually on the side of the hotel and you have to look sideways to see the water. I asked for and got a room on the front of the hotel which had floor to ceiling glass, with a wonderful view both of the water and the promenade along the water's edge and the evening passegiata. A ten minute or so walk in the other direction took us to the ferry that went across the harbor into Valletta, so you could connect with all the bus routes there.<BR>Sorry, don't know about any condos or apts but maybe Simon can help you.

check out these great apartments in villas with pool and situated near malta's greatest beach: http://www.insightmalta.com/accomoda...apartments.htm

Hi everyone ! Thanks for the vote of confidence ! :--)<BR><BR>Will try to figure out how I can help 2morrow though...sorry it's too late at night here. BTW, I had to remove my email address due to loads of unsolicited mails, so sorry, you'll have to do it on the website.<BR><BR>And Elvira, I keep telling you, we're getting rid of those lousy filthy boneshaker buses at last ... the spanking new ones have started to arrive. They will even be fitted with ticket machines so you won't have to disturb the driver any more !<BR><BR>So long !

Well, if I was after chilling out, I would stay in a 5-star hotel in Gozo. The nightlife is rather restricted (it's very rural) but of good quality around Victoria (the capital city) especially in summer. There's also a good place called La Grotta on the road to Xlendi. In gozo you will need transport, so don't consider it without renting a 4-wheel drive (eg. Maruti jeep). You could rent at the airport and drive up to the 24hr ferry at the north west point of Malta, well signposted and easy to find. A jeep would count as a commercial vehicle but between the three of you that will be peanuts. Approximately $12 pp return.<BR>Gozo has some good dive sites. The hotels to consider are the San Lawrenz (Kempinski) and the Ta' Cenc. Confirm that they have a gym, but they should.<BR>If you decide against Gozo, then my very strong recommendation is the SAS Radisson. Great gym, on the water edge, and very very close to the best nightlife in the mediterranean (second only to Ibiza). It has both rooms and apartments and is also available on RCA timeshare exchange.<BR>Enjoy.

Simon--<BR>What is the website that I could possibly inquire more about Malta. We are looking at using our Starwood Points at a hotel in St Julian. I would love to hear any and all of the wonderful things about Malta. I just love saying the word Malta. My husband and I are thinking it will be wonderful!!