Malta - not flown for 30 yrs, tell me what I don't know!

[ILookLikeAPinkBlancmange]

I'm going to Malta in a couple of weeks' time with my DP (we don't live together). Haven't been abroad for over 30 years and I know some rules have changed since then, but even if they hadn't, I wouldn't remember because other people organised the trip and I just went along. I'm totally naive and worried I will take or do something wrong or forget something important and get in trouble! Help!

I have a passport. I have travel insurance and a card to do with medical treatment. I've had an injection which was recommended by the Dr's surgery. Flights and hotel are already booked by my DP. I don't have any Maltese currency, but I think I can get some at the post office.

DP says the electricity sockets are the same as UK. He says liquids have to be 100ml in a clear bottle.

Please tell me what I should be aware of/careful about. TIA.

I wouldn't bother with currency and would pay on card. Do pay in local currency as it works out better than sterling if you have the option. Some cards don't have charges, your normal bank debit card probably will. Revolut or chase are good for no charges. Have fun!

Malta uses the Euro. If you tend to pay for everything with a card then you won't need any cash.

If the flight is at a time of day where you might want food I'd suggest bringing food on board. Airline food is even worse than it used to be and often isn't included.

The main change is with the volume of liquids that you can bring through security. Google that.

The medical treatment card I assume is your GHIC?

Are you flying hand luggage only? If so, all liquids have to fit into a 20cm by 20cm clear bag. Just one. I can only do this by using 30ml bottles (which don't have to be clear). I bought silicone ones off Amazon. I take a small toothpaste, half size deodorant, antihistamine cream, shampoo, conditioner, suncream, tiny perfume, tiny hand cream, usually Gaviscon, and an inhaler. Much testing has shown me no one bothers if your lipsticks are not in your liquids bag.

If you have checked luggage put liquids in there.

You can take an empty bottle through security for water and in UK airports there is generally somewhere to refill it beyond security.

Maltese driving was pretty terrifying when we were there. We found Bolt pretty reasonable for getting about, but there were 4 of us. If we had wanted to there seemed to be a pretty solid bus system.

There is a small cafe chain (3 or 4 places) called Busy Bees which did the best pistachio croissants I have had, if you happen to come across one.

The city of Mdina was a cool visit. And there were some amazing neolithic temples (not in Mdina).

Go to the website for the UK airport you are using, the rules for liquids etc will be on there. If you are going hand luggage only, you can take small bottles or buy stuff at the airport after you go through security. Or you can pre order items to collect after you go through security.

The security rules do vary, just be prepared to take your shoes off, take things out of your bag- or not, and follow the instructions.

If you're nervous most airport websites have a guide for kids or persons with autism etc- no disrespect- just might be an easy way to make things clear. Oh and there's loads of you tube videos of people going on trips. Maybe ask your DP to reassure you in these circumstances.

You can take as large a bottle as you like in checked luggage.
I usually spend on a card (Starling/Revolut don't charge you for overseas expenditure) rather than cash but I don't know if Malta is quite as cash free as most other places.
If you have medication that needs to go in hand luggage, you might want to check with the airport regulations - if it's liquid or powder e.g. inhaler. Creams count as liquids too.

What injection did you have for Malta?

Allow plenty of time at your departing airport, where are you flying from, security. Baggage, passport control, queues everywhere. Take a trolley case, don't lug any bags about. Take a phone charger cable and usb .plug. Pack toiletries and liquids in a zip food bag, plenty of handwipes and tissues in your hand luggage. Flip-flops to wear in the shower, basic first aid kit, check the expiry date on your ehic card.

Malta buses are very frequent and very cheap, and a great way to get around. Take some cash if you're going to use them.
If you're going to use taxis they use Bolt, not Uber.

Wear comfy clothes to fly in, and shoes you can easily get off in case you need to at the airport. if only hand luggage, check your case fits the restrictions for the airline, they are really strict about that and will charge you if it needs to go in the hold.. a cross body bag for passport , wallet etc can help if concealed under a coat.....

A battery pack for your phone is useful too.

We used Uber as well as Bolt in Malta last year. They were both really cheap.

Depends where you're flying from RE: liquids.
Leeds Bradford have new scanners.. so you can take your liquids any size through now.

Oh yes, my other tip is to have everything in a subsidiary bag that you will have to extract from your luggage if you go hand luggage only.

So e.g. at Stansted that is hair straighteners/curling tongs, kindles, tablets, laptops, big batteries, liquids. They all stay in a tote bag inside my rucksack instead of being spread through my hand luggage.

Then I wear clothing with as little metal as possible on it, remove watches etc in the queue into my handbag. Coat off in the queue as well. Then I get up the security desk and it's put the contents of the bag of stuff you have to get out into one tray. Coat and rucksack second tray and finally suitcase into a third tray. Done and ready to go through the scanner in about 10 seconds. Limited metal on my body means I am unlikely to get pulled aside at the body scanner. Security at Stansted has never taken more than 23 minutes even with the worst queues doing it this way.

I would suggest taking one of those cross body bags for your phone etc if you're out and about.
Make sure you have enough spf - they're v different to 30 years ago when factor 5 and 2 were available!

Where are you actually staying?

I was going to ask this! I’ve been to Malta loads of times - never had a vaccination 😳

What did the GP inject you with?!!! 😅

Thank you, I would also like to know this!

Bring mosquito spray for your legs if you are eating outside in the evening. I got destroyed by mozzies the last time I went.

Actually related to that, I found those wristbands (i also put two on my ankles) were really good, and I'm normally Christmas Dinner for the mozzies.

Also check your mobile plan covers Malta.
I thought mine covered Spain and it didn’t that was pricey.

That's good to know. We usually fly from there.

1980 and 90's. Flight tickets included seats with companions, food, drink and baggage

2020's you have to pay separately for flight, seats, food, drinks and baggage. Also be prepared for less space than you remember as seats are packed in more tightly now.

Make sure you have the right payment card, or at least not the wrong one.

Some cards (generally traditional big banks) load the exchange rate and add on a fee which means it's really expensive if you use your card for every last coffee, ice cream, bus fare etc.

Whereas others will give the full bank exchange rate and are fee free. Moneysaving Expert has a good guide and the online banks like Starling, Kroo, Monzo and Chase are really quick and easy to open an account if you don't already have a good card.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#what

There's lots of buses but they take ages to get anywhere. I don't know if they take cash or card. I'd make sure I had access to a few euros - you could get, say 50 euro from the Post Office or a supermarket before you go, in case you find anywhere that doesn't take cards - this is still quite common in some countries.

Look on the website for the airline you're using for the limits on luggage sizes and allowances and ask your DP what he's booked - Easyjet and Ryanair only include a backpack sized bag as standard so a wheelie case or hold luggage is extra and if you get it wrong you face a fee of around £50 each way at the airport. Also make sure you both have access to both boarding passes in case something happens to one of your phones.

Yes to the mosquito repellent, my kids got ravaged in March last year, parents not so much. Expect the weather to be 17-20 during the day, but you may need a jumper if it's windy.