Has anyone been to Malta? - posted for traffic

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Asking for a friend whose holiday to Cyprus is a no go due to The 'vid, it looks like one of the few places she can go to is Malta - does anyone have any pros/cons, areas to stay/avoid etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

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We've been many times. There is a Playmobil factory near the airport which is a great stop off after a long flight for kids.

If there are small children the the beaches at the North are best. Hiring a car is a great idea. melliha is a great place to stay as is st Paul's bay.

There are plenty of public playgrounds and it's all very child friendly. Diving is good on Gozo but there is less for younger children there. There is a lovely aquarium, Popeye themed park and the beach which are easy to get to with the car. Valletta is gorgeous - you'll need walking shoes!

No kids, I probably should have put that in my OP - it would be my friend and her sister - both in their 50s

But thank you @LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE

Ok well in that case, still get a car, beach as above and spend lots of time in Valletta!

Avoid south of island

Only on the way to Gozo (a little tiny lovely island off the north coast of Malta) and I'd recommend a visit there, it's so beautiful and not at all touristy/built up.

Seconded about Gozo - there's a good pizzaria by the sea looking at where the Blue window used to be

I went once, years ago. Nice place with lots of history. The downside was that I ended up in hospital with food poisoning. I've never been back

Why is Cyprus off if Malta is on? The entry requirements look the same.

I believe Cyprus is Amber but Malta is green @Etulosba - I haven't looked though

I've a friend who recently moved to Malta and she says that it's unbearably hot right now (mid 40s) and had been for weeks. The only time they're able to go out semi comfortably is in the evening, so it depends if she can handle that kind of heat - I know I couldn't!

I went about a decade ago - pre kids. We stayed in Sliema. We picked there as didn’t want to hire a car and it was easy access to Valletta via water taxi, where there was a bus terminal. It’s also a nice town for walking around/cafe culture. I remember having a lovely meal on St Julians but think it was expensive to be based there?

Oh good point @withpeaceandlove we went in early spring so the weather was perfect but it does get very hot in the summer months.

I have been twice in the autumn, but wouldn’t contemplate the summer due to the heat. My brother travels there on business at different times of year and said it is horrible in the summer.

We loved it and Gozo is beautiful too, we would definitely recommend, so much to see, lots of history, lovely bus tours and boat trips. If you are someone who likes to be adventurous it doesn’t feel very “foreign”. We found excellent English spoken everywhere, so that might be a plus or a minus depending on your friend’s viewpoint, but probably not an issue if she was looking at Cyprus as we found that quite similar in some ways.

Definitely somewhere we want to go again when travel is easier.

Thanks all, much appreciated

If you are someone who likes to be adventurous it doesn’t feel very “foreign”.

Malta was supposed to be integrated into the UK. There was a referendum in 1956. 77% in favour but the plans were never implemented.

I absolutely loved Malta! It is small.

We stayed at Valetta in the 5 star right next to the gate and bus station. It was gorgeous.

We went to Gozo and Medina and just pottered around. The Carravaggio was beautiful. Theres a great cafe in the square and lots of beautiful little restaurants.

I didn’t know that @Etulosba, it makes sense, I love it there, in some ways it feels like Britain with better weather. They even had British brands of tea at the hotel 😊

I went, but at Easter, and it was hot enough then.

Also, they drive on the left, and use the same electric plugs (so no need for adapters).

Yes, the weather's perfect there around Easter.