Malta - is it just me that didn't really like it?

[NCTDN]

I don't get the love for Malta. Each to their own and all that, but there's so many posts saying how beautiful it is as a country. We explored the whole island of so I thought. Did I miss somewhere ? (Loved Valletta btw)

No

Years ago DM went to Malta on a business thing . Wasn't impressed.
I have never been though so cannot say.

I m here right now, with my 15 and 16 year old sons. It's a great Easter trip for mum and teenagers, plenty to do, and reasonable food options. People are friendly and the historic sights are breathtaking.

There is quite a lot of building work and roadworks, and some obvious tourist traps. Overall we are enjoying it, and I ld return.

Some of the building are 1970s concrete blocks, but you get that in Monaco too. Every place looks great on a sunny day.

Valletta and Gozo are both very impressive. It's definitely worth a trip.

I've been x3 and the only time I really enjoyed it was in 1999 the first time. Went back and it was getting very "blocky" as in building works everywhere and hotels all over what were beautiful views. Last time I went I barely recognised it in 2009 - could have been anywhere. Gozo was lovely but the charm of the mainland had gone.

You don't explain what made you not enjoy Malta, so there could be a plethora of reasons as to why you found it underwhelming. I personally really liked Malta. It's not a place you'd go to if you want a proper beach holiday, or if you expect mountains and green countrysides. But Malta is a nice place to visit if you are into history, culture, sailing and a more chilled vibe.

It's always important to do some research of a place before going there so you know what to expect.

I commented on this thread first time it was out. Since then have booked to return to Malta. Looking forward to taking DC back to some of the historical sites we found last time and discovering some more.

And drinking a load of Kinnie!

Must try kinnie 👋😆

Oh god, don’t bother - foul stuff 😂😂

Lived there for 10 years - it’s a very marmite place.

If you love it, you go every year but I know so many people who’ve been and would never go back.

Reading back through the comments and absolutely lol at the comment of people not choosing Malta by choice.
Also no sandy beaches?? Did you move around the island at all?

Oh god, don’t bother - foul stuff 😂😂
That was DH's opinion. I loved it! Will be drinking 2 cans a day for a week in October 😂

Have a cisk beer for me. 🍻

Been back in the UK for 3 years now- must get back for a visit soon.

It was recommended to me by a friend and I now discount everywhere else she recommends.

Apart from Valetta and Mdina, which are both beautiful, its like Blackpool with sun.

We enjoyed our week in Malta but it is probably not the place for a beach holiday. Loads of history though, WW2, prehistoric sites, underground dwellings , the cathedral, and a fabulous town house in the centre of Valletta with a huge water storage cavern used as an air raid shelter by the townsfolk during the war. As others have said, the buses are great. We reached all these sites by bus.

My friend wasn't keen.

She said there's 300+ churches. Beautiful but they're all exactly the same 🤣

I went in March and loved it. We went to Gozo, Valetta, Mdina and the Popeye village. We stayed in Mellieha which has a sandy beach. Swam in clear water and had good food. It's a small island and very easy to get around on the bus or inexpensive taxis. I think it's probably best off-peak.

When my DH said to a friend we had been to Malta I added - no we went to Valleta

We loved Valleta , the 3 cities but the other 2 places we went to no (didn't get to go to Gozo)

Part of our love for Valletta was probably due to the fact that our hotel was so lovely (Phonecia) and just glad to have gone away having finished radiotherapy

That would appeal to me.

Whilst it has quite a British vibe, it's great for a cultural holiday, we stayed in Valletta which I really liked and gives easy access to items on the east of the island, plus Mdina. Then had a few days on Gozo which I also really liked. We went Easter time last year, didn't go anywhere near the resorts. The hypogeum is a fabulous place, and the Easter parades are fabulous. Easter probably attracts a different crowd, it's not necessarily fly and flop weather.

My neighbour went loved it. I think it looks old and dated maybe Im wrong.

I think it depends what you're looking for. We went for the history and some water sports and were not disappointed but I can see that it wouldn't be the best place in the Med for a primarily beach/scenery type break.

Same about going for the history. So much from so many different periods. This time we've managed to get tickets for the Hypogeum which should be great.

It's not a beach holiday place but for a huge variety of historical sites and museums, nice streets and squares to wander through and sunshine it's brilliant.

@BeaLola - I suspect the Phoenicia makes a difference! Its one of my favourite hotels of all time. Can't wait to go back - who needs a beach when they've got the Bastion Pool......

We have been to Malta twice in the last 6 months and loved it, but we like history and kept away from the likes of St Julians. We stayed in Shliema and Mdina. We want to go back as we still havent managed to get to Gozo.

When I was a travel agent Malta and Tunisia were the ones most people complained that they hadn’t liked.

Just curious to know how you got on in Malta? Thinking of going there next March for 5 days.

Peter Benchley spent the rest of his life trying to undo the damage done to sharks by Jaws.

@NCTDN Malta is great depending on what you want from a holiday. History , SCUBA diving, great food, some great architecture, and if you are into such things, there are filming locations too (although I prefer the spot the Milk Tray man jumped from to the wedding in GoT).

I enjoyed it @Advocodo , although a little bit too hot for me in late September which slowed the amount of walking I did. Funnily enough I have been pondering a return visit recently too.

I was based in Valletta which was a really interesting place, felt safe and was walkable (if you don't mind some steep streets) and full of history.

I only scratched the surface but as well as Valletta I did visit Birgu, Mdina, Rabat and Marsaxlokk, using the great public bus system (ferry for Birgu). I would definitely stay in Valletta again if I return.