Are we going to be bored solid in Melleiha Bay?

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

We (me and 2 x teen dds) are going for a week in the summer. We're happy to read/swim and chill out. There is wifi, the dds will be plesaed with. And although we're AI there's no way we are staying in the hotel complex the whole time. We plan to get the ferry one day and the bus to Valetta another.

Are we going to be bored rigid otherwise? The number of times Malta came up on the worst places to visit thread recently was quite concerning!

Melleiha town is quite nice to have a wander round, so you could have a walk up there (or get a bus/taxi, it's up a very steep hill).

You could do a day trip to the Blue Lagoon on Comino for a change of scene, or also get the ferry to Gozo - there's a bus to the ferry port and then you just get on as foot passengers and you can do the hop on hop off bus round Gozo.

Teen DDs are probably too old for the Popeye Village and I think its supposed to be a bit expensive for what it is, but it looks like it is on a nice cove for swimming.

You could always learn to scuba dive or do other watersports - our last holiday was in Mellieha Bay but we dived for 5 days so that kept us busy for the mornings at least and we just read, swam, ate and drank the rest of the time.

We are taking snorkels.

I never understand why people seem to hate Malta! There’s loads to see, and the bus service is amazing - you can go practically anywhere by bus. And the island is so small it doesn’t take long to get anywhere.

I know. Yes, it's not as pretty as Mallorca for example, but the history is really interesting and it's shabbiness is part of the charm. Gozo and Comino are amazing as are the watersports, especially the diving.

We've been 3 times and will go back at least twice more within the next few years because we haven't seen enough of Valetta or the historical sights, need to do more diving, spend a day wandering around Comino and maybe stay overnight there, and I also want to walk the Gozo coastal path.

We've had lots of really nice food there, the Italian food is especially good. Plus the weather is good so plenty of opportunity to relax in the sun and read, swim etc.

I think the problem for Malta with a lot of people on here, along with the Canary Islands and Mainland Spain is that people will go on a package holiday without any thought about what sort of holiday they actually like, stay in some big AI hotel in a busy resort and then write off entire islands or even countries as shit because they went to the least attractive, most touristy part of it.

Not sure how brilliant the snorkelling is round Mellieha. But there are loads of other places-Xlendi is a favourite of ours.

DS went on a post A level holiday to Malta with friends some years ago. Specifically chosen by committee as there was nightlife and also lovely historical and other things to see so all were accommodated. (All liked swimming - can't speak for snorkelling) .But he really liked it. Also he thought there was good food and a decent red wine to be had. (This is obviously vicarious ) I have never been but he liked it. The older town he liked and also the castle bits ( am I right with that ) . Also I do believe there is a lovely island nearby. I suspect you will find lots of things but then the great Tourist Guide which is Google may be your friend. - hope you have a fantastic time if you go

Well it's booked so we're still going to make our minds up for ourselves.

Some people (I'm looking at you BIL3) don't like Malta because it's not like Eye-bee-Zor.

We stayed at Ramla Bay which is really nearby and went into Mellieha for food (in one of it's tiny mini markets!). Mellieha town was ok - nothing to write home about really but not horrible either and we did the castle. Seemed to be plenty of places to eat if you want an evening out/break from stuff your face till you'r sick buffets! We went past Mellieha Bay a number of times and again, it's ok. As you'll know, it's right at the top of the Island and there isn't a great deal going on there. It is very near the ferry to Gozo and Comino - we went to Comino (not much there but nice walking around it) and swam in the blue grotto (pretty but rammed). The Popeye village (where they filmed the film many years ago) is also nearby.
Malta is a marmite place, I know a lot of people don't like it but I did & there are some great places in between the so-so/meh resorts. It's not a big island and the bus network is great, cheap and easy to use and if you're going to see the best of the Island then it's something to get familiar with! Valletta is a really interesting and attractive city with a huge amount of history. Mdina is goegeous and definetely worth going to.
Basically, if you stay in the resort and just go into Mellieha you're probably not going to count it as a particularly interesting holiday. If you don't mind hopping on a few buses or paying for day trips then you'll have a much much better time and will come away with a very different view of Malta!
On another note, we had jellyfish at Ramla Bay so something to watch out for - although they could be seasonal I guess!