Malta trip Oct 5-9t and Republic. Val
Oct 11th, 2018, 11:23 PM
#21
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My one big tip is to make sure you buy the latest edition of Lonely Planet Guide to Malta and Gozo. Every page is useful, lots of maps, the general information in it is invaluable, the recommendations for hotels and place to eat less so.
Make sure you visit Mosta too...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosta
Easy to get there by public bus, but can be a nuisance returning by bus due to them inevitably being full.
And a trip to Malta wouldn't be complete without a day on Gozo, and a visit to The Citadel in Victoria. Hop on hop ofbus will take you round the small island
Gozo Channel Company Limited Malta | Gozo Channel Malta | Gozo Ferry Malta | Gozo Channel
Need a snack anytime? Make sure you try fresh pastizzi...
Pastizzi
Buy from the many hole-in-the-wall bakeries. Cost about 30 €cents each, just make sure they're fresh out of the oven.....delicious.
Make sure you visit Mosta too...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosta
Easy to get there by public bus, but can be a nuisance returning by bus due to them inevitably being full.
And a trip to Malta wouldn't be complete without a day on Gozo, and a visit to The Citadel in Victoria. Hop on hop ofbus will take you round the small island
Gozo Channel Company Limited Malta | Gozo Channel Malta | Gozo Ferry Malta | Gozo Channel
Need a snack anytime? Make sure you try fresh pastizzi...
Pastizzi
Buy from the many hole-in-the-wall bakeries. Cost about 30 €cents each, just make sure they're fresh out of the oven.....delicious.
Oct 11th, 2018, 11:56 PM
#22
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Buses aren't bad. Just don't expect a schedule. I wouldn't rent a car. Malta traffic is very crazy.
Oct 12th, 2018, 02:03 AM
#23
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Avoid peak times.
My advice about where to catch a bus is to make sure your accommodation is close to a terminus, ie. Valletta, Sliema Ferries, or Bugibba. Staying in Bugibba is quite a good option, but it can take an hour to cover about 10 miles to Sliema or Valletta.
Oct 12th, 2018, 02:56 AM
#25
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LancasterLad, what's your view on renting a car in Malta? We would use it for a day, and also need to get to the Malta Fair and Convention center one evening. This seems to be about half an hour drive from Valetta.
Oct 12th, 2018, 03:09 AM
#26
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Tulips. Thanks for asking, but I don't have any experience of hiring a car in Malta. But I can tell you that roads through the main arteries are often congested, road works are frequent, and set up with little notice, which result in frayed tempers all round, and some weird detours being put into place. Heavy construction vehicles,and their associated hazards too.
Due to the sheer number of vehicles on the road parking can also be a problems, ditto with pot-holes.
The Times of Malta Letters column often features letters about driving and public transport. Ditto with the Trip Advisor forum for Malta.
Not for the faint hearted at times.
Due to the sheer number of vehicles on the road parking can also be a problems, ditto with pot-holes.
The Times of Malta Letters column often features letters about driving and public transport. Ditto with the Trip Advisor forum for Malta.
Not for the faint hearted at times.
Oct 12th, 2018, 04:10 AM
#27
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You are joking about the buses. Lesser used routes might be alright, but the popular ones get like sardine cans very quickly, the drivers have to do all they can to keep to a schedule, and any chance they get to put their foot down it's an uncomfortable ride.
Avoid peak times.
My advice about where to catch a bus is to make sure your accommodation is close to a terminus, ie. Valletta, Sliema Ferries, or Bugibba. Staying in Bugibba is quite a good option, but it can take an hour to cover about 10 miles to Sliema or Valletta.
Avoid peak times.
My advice about where to catch a bus is to make sure your accommodation is close to a terminus, ie. Valletta, Sliema Ferries, or Bugibba. Staying in Bugibba is quite a good option, but it can take an hour to cover about 10 miles to Sliema or Valletta.
Oct 12th, 2018, 05:28 AM
#29
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Usually the X2 from the airport to where I mostly stay, at the University residences near Mater Dei and then one of the buses direction Birgu, the #2, 3 or 4, or the 204 from Mater Dei to the Lourdes roundabout (around where I usually need to be). Also stayed around Bormla a lot, in apartments, and then too it's mainly the #2 and #3 bus.
Oct 12th, 2018, 10:24 PM
#31
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Usually the X2 from the airport to where I mostly stay, at the University residences near Mater Dei and then one of the buses direction Birgu, the #2, 3 or 4, or the 204 from Mater Dei to the Lourdes roundabout (around where I usually need to be). Also stayed around Bormla a lot, in apartments, and then too it's mainly the #2 and #3 bus.
Only got one bus that went to Mater Dei [main hospital], and that was a long roundabout way of getting from Valletta to Bugiba, and it was very full.
This is a very good link for anyone considering Malta, and is going to rely on public buses...
Malta By Bus
Last time we visited we were staying in Bugibba, and caught the X3 from and back to the Airport. Despite the very short distance both buses took well over an hour. The return bus from Bugibba was at 0500, and what should have been a journey at the quietest time of the day, was anything but, the roads were already very busy.
Another very useful link with timetables and all sorts of other useful stuff...
https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/routes-timetables
It's a shame that Malta is so congested because it does have a heck of a lot of history, but there are some very greedy people of the Island, who only care about themselves.
Oct 13th, 2018, 10:41 PM
#32
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Thanks. Most tourists want to get between Valletta and Sliema, V and St Julians, V and Mosta, V and Mdina, V and Bugibba, V and Mellieha/Gozo Ferry. These are the routes that get full very quickly, plus any route that goes past a college of which there are many. Going south from Valletta isn't too bad except on a Sunday.
Only got one bus that went to Mater Dei [main hospital], and that was a long roundabout way of getting from Valletta to Bugiba, and it was very full.
This is a very good link for anyone considering Malta, and is going to rely on public buses...
Malta By Bus
Last time we visited we were staying in Bugibba, and caught the X3 from and back to the Airport. Despite the very short distance both buses took well over an hour. The return bus from Bugibba was at 0500, and what should have been a journey at the quietest time of the day, was anything but, the roads were already very busy.
Another very useful link with timetables and all sorts of other useful stuff...
https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/routes-timetables
It's a shame that Malta is so congested because it does have a heck of a lot of history, but there are some very greedy people of the Island, who only care about themselves.
Only got one bus that went to Mater Dei [main hospital], and that was a long roundabout way of getting from Valletta to Bugiba, and it was very full.
This is a very good link for anyone considering Malta, and is going to rely on public buses...
Malta By Bus
Last time we visited we were staying in Bugibba, and caught the X3 from and back to the Airport. Despite the very short distance both buses took well over an hour. The return bus from Bugibba was at 0500, and what should have been a journey at the quietest time of the day, was anything but, the roads were already very busy.
Another very useful link with timetables and all sorts of other useful stuff...
https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/routes-timetables
It's a shame that Malta is so congested because it does have a heck of a lot of history, but there are some very greedy people of the Island, who only care about themselves.
Oct 13th, 2018, 11:31 PM
#33
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Menachem......Agree 100%. Short-cuts are great, and part of the locals mentality. But that only takes congestion from one place to another. Also, with road works cropping up out of the blue, short-cuts soon cease to be short-cuts.
I've honestly never seen a place like it. Malta used to be such a great destination, all the history is still there, but the logistics can be a nightmare.
All those Car Showrooms make me laugh too. Full of powerful sports cars, but there's very few opportunities to put your foot on the gas.....Money Laundering don't you think?
Sundays are great.....most of the Island turns into the Isle of Man TT course. Motor bikes everywhere, normal people who for one day a week turn into potential Organ Donors, a fate that happens all too frequently!
I've honestly never seen a place like it. Malta used to be such a great destination, all the history is still there, but the logistics can be a nightmare.
All those Car Showrooms make me laugh too. Full of powerful sports cars, but there's very few opportunities to put your foot on the gas.....Money Laundering don't you think?
Sundays are great.....most of the Island turns into the Isle of Man TT course. Motor bikes everywhere, normal people who for one day a week turn into potential Organ Donors, a fate that happens all too frequently!
Oct 14th, 2018, 01:55 AM
#34
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Menachem......Agree 100%. Short-cuts are great, and part of the locals mentality. But that only takes congestion from one place to another. Also, with road works cropping up out of the blue, short-cuts soon cease to be short-cuts.
I've honestly never seen a place like it. Malta used to be such a great destination, all the history is still there, but the logistics can be a nightmare.
All those Car Showrooms make me laugh too. Full of powerful sports cars, but there's very few opportunities to put your foot on the gas.....Money Laundering don't you think?
Sundays are great.....most of the Island turns into the Isle of Man TT course. Motor bikes everywhere, normal people who for one day a week turn into potential Organ Donors, a fate that happens all too frequently!
I've honestly never seen a place like it. Malta used to be such a great destination, all the history is still there, but the logistics can be a nightmare.
All those Car Showrooms make me laugh too. Full of powerful sports cars, but there's very few opportunities to put your foot on the gas.....Money Laundering don't you think?
Sundays are great.....most of the Island turns into the Isle of Man TT course. Motor bikes everywhere, normal people who for one day a week turn into potential Organ Donors, a fate that happens all too frequently!
This fairly typical for "traffic management" in Malta https://www.timesofmalta.com/article...its-not.580546
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