THINKING OF MOVING TO MALTA - ANYONE ELSE LIVING THERE

[mummyfixit]

I am thinking of moving to Malta with my DH and our two year old DS. Is there any one else around who lives in Malta and could give me an honest opinion as to what it would be like to live there. I have visited the Country on a number of occasions.

I would need a full time job. I work in admin/clerical field at the moment and we would also like to buy a property.

Thanks

[annie27]

HI, I am maltese and have lived here all my life. Malta is a very nice place to live, good weather, friendly people, beaches, low crime rates etc but it has its disadvantages!

It can get very hot in summer if you are not used to it and nurseries are not as easy to find as in the Uk I think, so it could be an issue if you need to work full time.

[mummyfixit]

Hi Annie

I won't need a nursery as my husband will look after our DS.

I would really like to make the move. We will be visiting Malta soon and having a good look round and hopefully make a decision then.

[annie27]

Thats good, you have no problem then!

Try www.vacancycentre.com/ for job opportunities. There will be several internet gaming companies moving to Malta soon from the UK, maybe you can look into that.

For property: www.globalcapital.com.mt/realestate2/index.asp, if you need help my husband works there!

Good luck

[mummyfixit]

Thanks Annie

I will keep you posted.

[escape]

Hiya,
we are english living in Malta,
been here 2.5 years,
have a 2 yr old son also, aswell as dd 6 and ds2 10 mnths. Nurseries are plentiful, so i have to disagree with annie (sorry) but standards vary wildly
We love it here - very settled, and won't want to leave when the time comes.
HSBC have abrand new call centre here, dealing with premier customers from the UK - could do alot wotrse than that for ajob!
Don't have time now but would love to talk more and a big hi to Annie27 cooo-ee from Madliena!

[escape]

property also
www.franksalt.com.mt
www.dhalia.com
www.saragrech.com.mt

[mummyfixit]

Hi Just booked a holiday to go to Malta to have a look around with a view to making a decision about moving out there.

I would love to. Staying in SLiema which is an area we know well.

Are there any good places to buy property near to Sliema which are not quite to expensive.

Thanks

[escape]

Sliema St.Julians area is more expensive than anywhere in land
depends on your budget though. I'm more than happy to post you a copy of the sunday classifieds which has houses in, or look at the websites I posted earlier.
I love Sliema - where are you staying?
My mum lives on the seafront there, I'm jelous, but I know I couldn't live in an apartment with my brood!

[annie27]

There are lots of new apartment complexes being built in Sliema right now, but it depends on your budget because Sliema is very expensive as escape said.

The further away you are from the sea front the less expensive it gets, but still it is much more expensive than other areas on the island. It is a very nice area to live in so you have to pay for that! I live in Mosta, more towards the centre of the island.

Escape, can I ask you were you lived before Malta? I am on this forum because we are thinking of moving to the UK so I am trying to get an idea of how life is there. I think the grass is always greener on the other side eh mummyfixit!

[mummyfixit]

Hi Escape and Annie

We are going to stay in Sliema for our holiday as that is the area we know well but we want to travel more inland to try and find out where we fancy living.

ANnie - I currently live in York which is a wonderful city. Unfortunately the UK (for me) is not as it was and seems to be going downhill which is why we want to move somewhere else.

[escape]

We lived 10 miles away from leeds.
yes, the grass is always greener isn't it!
if I was looking for value for money in Malta and great location- I would be in Naxxar.

[farfaraway]

I lived in Malta for two years (2000-2002) because of DH's work and had DD1 there too. On the plus side it is a beautiful island, friendly people, great weather, most people speak english and it is very family friendly. On the other hand it was sometimes a little suffocating because it is such a small island, everybody knows everybody or is related, and can be a little traditional or dated (buses, state of roads etc) and insular. For instance when we first arrived DH and were not married but living together which was unheard of by local standards.
We lived in an area called Swieqi which was just outside St Juliens (walking distance) but a bit more residential. We had friends who lived in Mosta which is more inland too.
Did enjoy living there and look back with misty eyes sometimes to our Maltese days.

[helsbels2007]

hi there malta mums, I am just starting to think about having kids and wondered how your experience of antenatal care and childbirth had been here? I've lived in malta for a year but obviously haven't explored the options yet!

[annie27]

Hi helsbels2007, I had a baby last year in St Luke's hospital and it was fine. I was in hospital for a month due to high blood pressure and they took very good care of me! It's not very organised but me and my son were ok and that whats matters most.

I guess you'll do even better with the new hospital opening soon. I did the ante natal appointments privately cause I can't stand the waiting times at the hospital.

Do you enjoy living in Malta? Now its getting less hot and its my favourite time of the year!

[helsbels2007]

hi annie

good to know! the new hospital should make a big difference.
Am really enjoying life here - people friendly and we're in the north so good swimming at Ghajn Tuffieha. I reckon it is a better standard of living than the UK just because of the weather and pace of life. UK always so much more frenetic....... did you say you are thinking of going back?

[Poodlehorse]

Just resurrecting an old thread as I am desperately trying to persuade DH to move to Malta. We went there at Easter and I had the sole intention of deciding if it was somewhere I could live and I loved it. DH started to talk about the places he could and couldn't live, we liked the Sliema/St Julians general area, or Naxxar which we kept entering from different angles and saying how lovely it was only to realise that it was yet again Naxxar. I had heard Mellieha was lovely and the property available looks fab but when we went there neither of us felt it was for us, felt out of the way. Property is scary money as we have a large house here and all the furniture that goes with that, I would also like a property with a flatlet so my mum could live in it if need be but not in the same house as us - I need my space.

Wondered if the above posters who were considering the move went through with it or would love to chat with Maltese MNers. We are planning to go over again at Xmas/NY as that is the only school hols where DH is going to be at home (he works overseas anyway so would keep his job and I am a SAHM so we wouldn't need work visas I don't think) and I thought it would be good to see it in the winter and see if that takes any of the shine off the place.

I would be really interested in hearing about things like schools and similar practicalities, I have been on a couple of websites like the Verdala I.S. - would love an idea of what the fees are if anyone knows. I made DH drive to there in April but of course it being an old fort you can't really see much from the carpark.

What are the downsides? Might as well know so I have the whole picture.

Cheers, Poodles

[helsbels2007]

hi Poodlehorse, I have been living in malta for 2.5 years now and I really love it. I had my baby here in April this year. The plus points are that it is really quite safe, very friendly and social and easy to get around. The health care is good (probably better than nhs at the new hospital). Downside is the heat in summer. It is INTENSE! Also, the pollution - child asthma levels are high. I don't like the poor building planning which has lead to ugly tower blocks everywhere. Lastly the cost of living vs wages is the second highest in europe. All that said, I am having a great time and enjoying having my baby here. Hope that helps!

[Poodlehorse]

Thanks helsbels. Only just seen this reply so sorry for not getting back earlier. The living vs wage thing isn't an issue for us as DH would keep his current job although I have noticed wages are poor. The summer heat is a bit of an unknown quantity as holidays for two weeks are a bit different to months of it. And I didn't realise the pollution issue, I agree about the planning, everything does seem a potential building site. We are booked to come over at Xmas now, just for a holiday but we might have a mooch around the estate agents. Great to hear your experiences of the healthcare side of things. And I am very keen on anywhere that is friendly and sociable. I certainly don't have that here. Whereabouts are you on the island? Are you there for good or just for a fixed length of time?

[seeker]

I lived in Malta as a child. That was a long time ago, but it was a wonderful place to grow up in those days. Haven't been back for years and years though. I wonder how much it's changed!

[escape]

I'd move back to Malta in a flash.
The summer heat - well, it just means 8 weeks of doing very little by a pool.. ;)

[helsbels2007]

hi poodlehorse - i am here at least until june 2010 when hubbie's contract runs out - then we'll think about staying. I live in the north of the island in xemxija, which i much much prefer to the south or centre- it is less hectic, more space. you can also try mellieha, even further north. lots of brits opt for sliema or st julians, but i find them a bit too busy.

[escape]

I agree helsbels2007, it is quieter, rents are cheaper and more space, great views - but the reason I couldn't have lived there was the journey INTO St. Julians/Sliema area for schools and social life. If your kids are of school age, I would consider it carefully

[helsbels2007]

mmm, yes good point..... might be st pauls primary school for baby then

[helsbels2007]

by the way, i'm part of a very informal mothers group which is growing by the week - we just meet up for coffee and cake, very relaxed, so if any mums in malta are looking for that sort of thing, just get in touchl

[MusterMix]

I always was led to belive malta was a bit of a shit hole