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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Malta - what time of year ?

21 replies

BeaLola · 03/08/2019 15:37

Going to Malta next year - on DH list of places to go to.

We can only go during school holidays & we are only going to go for 5-7 days max. There will be us & DS 11.

Of options: Easter in April, May half -term & August summer holidays I favouring May as I think will be warm then but not as busy as August ! (& I think Easter unlikely to be that warm ?)

Any thoughts & any tips on good places to to go & see there & places to eat ?

TIA

OP posts:

Ellmau · 03/08/2019 15:55

Personally I would pick April. Even May is pretty hot (we went then and got heat rash). August would be unbearable unless you really like excessive heat.

Try to get in a day trip across to Gozo.

SJane48S · 03/08/2019 16:55

We also went in May half term - the year we went it wasn’t overly hot, just pretty spot on. Warm enough to lie by the pool & have a swim without burning to a crisp. My parents who were with us stayed on an extra week and had a miserable rainy time! The average temperature for April is 20 degrees compared to an average of 24 degrees in May according to a quick Google so depends on how warm you want it & how much time you think you’ll spend in the water! You know what will suit you best.

Malta is a bit of a mixed bag - we did past through some really grotty tourist towns but Valletta & Mdina were beautiful with lots of history. Valletta has plenty of good restaurants & bars & we enjoyed the harbour cruise. We stayed up in Ramla Bay - a bit remote but near the ferry to Gozo.

kiwiblue · 03/08/2019 16:58

I'd go May (I've been in July- very hot- and December).

We stayed on Gozo both times which is gorgeous. On Malta, agree Valletta and Mdina are lovely.

Beebumble2 · 04/08/2019 17:23

I’d go at Easter, the island is still green and lush. Everything is open, but being a Catholic Country be prepared for some restaurants to be closed on Easter Sunday and Monday. These tend to be family/ religious times.

beadyboo · 12/08/2019 21:05

We’ve just come back. It was very hot indeed. We stayed in Valletta though and absolutely loved it. A beautiful city, really easy to walk around, fantastic food, views to die for... I could bore you to death!
We had excellent air con and blackout curtains and slept like logs. It was very hot though and our day trip to Comino felt like an endurance exercise!

Original poster

BeaLola · 12/08/2019 21:25

Thank you all for replying. Happy to be bored to death on any recommendations for things to do , great places to eat etc. We will definitely be going and will be rooms on,y accommodation . Will have 12 year old son. Apparently bus stop oppposite accommodation

OP posts:

dreamingofsun · 13/08/2019 10:27

we went last october and the weather was awful, lots of wind and rain. i went a long time ago in may and remember weather as pleasant.

boat trip around valletta harbour good. st john's cathedral -but get there early as long queues. little ferry that goes across from sliema to valletta. buses are good. agree valletta generally interesting city, especially if you like old things.

do not hire a car as drivers are mad, and if you just jump in taxi they are expensive. weather ruined our holiday, so doubt we will ever go back. food wasnt especailly great or cheap

SJane48S · 13/08/2019 11:08

The bus network is good and doesn’t cost a fortune OP. It’s not a huge island.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/08/2019 21:51

We went on the 24th July this year and although it was shown to be 30 degrees +, we were on the north of the island and there was always a pleasant breeze that meant it wasn't too hot. And it wasn't humid or oppressive as I've found Spain to be at the same time of the year. And it noticeably cooled off in the evening and was very pleasant.

It's nearly 40 degrees (or high 30s to feel like 41) today and lots of people complaining it's too hot, so I'd avoid August.

Holycrapster · 14/08/2019 22:35

We were there in April 2018. It was very lovely weather for wandering around and feeling the sun on your face. Perfect sight seeing weather. I don't think I would have felt like swimming in the sea though.

LuckyBitches · 16/08/2019 13:16

We went in May, and it was perfect weather, warm and sunny. The sea was freezing though! Valletta and the (preposterously named, IMO) "three cities" area are really lovely. it's just one city but very beautiful, except for Sliema which is where a lot of the clubs are, that just seemed boring and tacky. Rabat is also really nice. The bus service around the island is excellent, which is just as well as it's very densely populated. We didn't go to Gozo, I wish we had. We went to the blue lagoon which was very blue and beautiful, but full of rowdy tourists which totally ruined it for us. The macarena was playing on loudspeakers. Overall, I would go back again for Valetta.

Dressingdown1 · 16/08/2019 13:22

We went a few years ago in late May/early June and stayed in Valetta.The weather was gorgeous and we loved Valetta, so beautiful and loads of good restaurants. I second using the local buses, they are cheap and efficient.

Madvixen · 16/08/2019 13:32

Easter in Malta is fantastic, all the professions and town festivals make for a real experience.

I echo the pp who said take a day in Gozo, it's like going back in time.

Alsohuman · 16/08/2019 13:36

If you ask Maltese people for the best time to go a lot say October. We’ve been several times then and love it. April is nice too. No way would I go in August, it’s hellishly hot.

Teddybear45 · 16/08/2019 13:37

July is warmer than May. Can get quite breezy along the coast.

Alsohuman · 16/08/2019 13:38

Btw, the buses aren’t what they were. Since Ariva took over there aren’t enough of them and the overcrowding is dreadful.

dreamingofsun · 16/08/2019 18:52

maybe last october was unusual, but it rained so hard the roads got flooded, they stopped access to the pool for several days as rain/wind was so bad and some of the lower bars near the sea were flooded too. we spent several days indoors watching TV which wasnt what i really wanted to do on holiday

dreamingofsun · 16/08/2019 18:55

also saw my first tornado...which whilst interesting wasnt really what i wanted on holiday

Deathraystare · 29/08/2019 09:47

I think I went in February - it was whenever their carnival is anyway. The weather I seem to remember was lovely.

Can't really give any tips on child friendly activities as I went with a friend. We did lots of walks. I got a bit fitter walking up the steps in Valetta!!!

Original poster

BeaLola · 16/09/2019 15:08

Thank you all for your replies - really appreciated.

Due to DS school trip at Easter we are now going end May - so looking forward to it.

Just wondering whether anyone has flown Air Malta & whether they are ok ?

We have costed BA flights but were waiting for Easyjet to release their flights for summer 2020. Air Malta seems really cheap & we have no experience of using them.

TIA

OP posts:

SJane48S · 17/09/2019 07:05

We flew Air Malta & they were absolutely fine. Took off when they should have, good service.

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