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Malta Journals

Malta Honeymoon

A November 2001 trip to Malta by jabela

Naxxar Church at night Photo - Malta, Europe More Photos
Quote: About Malta, where my dad comes from... Places to stay, what to see, etc.
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Malta Honeymoon Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Naxxar Church at night Photo - Malta, Europe
Quote:
I've been to Malta many times over the years, since I was a child, and sometimes I think I've explored every inch of the island at one time or another. So naturally, in 2001, I took my honeymoon in Malta and gave my wife the royal tour. My favourite things to do in Malta are:Go to the silent city of Mdina, which doubled for Rome in Gladiator. It's a fantastic place, and if you can get there without a tour bus, it's even better, because it's best when the hordes aren't around.Also have a look around the ancient city of Valletta, and if you are on a longer holiday, take a trip across to Gozo. If time is short, take a boat tour of the island, reall...Read More

Fortina Spa Resort Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Fortina"

Game of Chequers in the garden Photo - Fortina Spa Resort, Malta, Europe
Quote:
We absolutely loved it. The view from our room was wonderful - you can see the Valletta fortifications from your room. The rate was all inclusive and there was a choice of restaurants. You could go to the buffet, have a romantic meal in the restaurant, or choose a healthy meal. Drinks were included in the price, and you could spend all day in the bar if you wished. There was a pool, and our deal included a half-day cruise and a harbour cruise, both of which were a great way to see the island. The gym was good - it used to be the best gym on the island, but there are now some better gyms around. The spa, however, is fantastic, and a number of famous sport...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Fortina Spa Resort
Tigne Seafront
Sherbrooke, Quebec SLM 15
+356 2346 0000

Quote:
The rooms are spotless and the hotel was a very good value for the money.

The cocktail bar is nice and the food is okay but nothing special. The rooftop garden is a concrete roof with some deck chairs and VERY SMALL pool!

Essentially, if you want a clean bed for the night and nothing more, this is the hotel for you!

P.S. It's miles away from the nightlife, so a quiet night's sleep is practically guaranteed.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 7, 2005

Waterfront Hotel
The Strand
Sliema , Malta
+356 21 333 434

Quote:
My brother and I visited the Intercontinental when it first opened in 2003. I am afraid it was to attend my grandmother's funeral, and we were both in a sombre mood. We booked the hotel at the very last minute, using, appropriately enough, lastminute.com. I really had no idea what I'd booked, and we paid rock-bottom prices, less than 40UKP a night. However, I did have the foresight to phone the hotel and book a taxi. I'd already messed up the ticketing of our flights and sent us back to England a day early. So I was really wondering what kind of a dive I'd booked and if the taxi guy would meet us. I was grateful to see our n...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 8, 2005

Cafe Cordina Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
There is an outside section to this restaurant, but on a hot day I'd recommend going inside. The decor seems to go back to the 1930s and is full of atmosphere. The drinks are the usual selection, but the local cheesecake, known as pastizzi, are out of this world, and the cakes are great too... The rest of the food is great for lunch, and I love the pasta and pizza. (The other restaurants in the square are very good too.)

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Cafe Cordina
244 Republic Street
Valletta, Malta
+356 2123 4385

Eddie's Cafe Regina Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
The pizza and pasta are great here, and the location is wonderful. I personally find the pastizzi are better at Cafe Cordina, just next door. If you're in a hurry, I'd go elsewhere, service is slow...

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Eddie's Cafe Regina
Republic Square
Newport News, Virginia
23628

Fontanella Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Fontanella Tea Gardens "

Quote:
When I was a kid, we came to Malta quite often, and one of the highlights was going to the Battlements in Mdina and enjoying a cake and a drink. Part of the fun was finding the restaurant through the maze, but for those who get there, you are rewarded with some of the best cakes on the island (and there's a lot of competition). There was nearly always a wind blowing and a good chance of things getting blown away, and that seemed to only add to the experience. (There is other food available if you're particularly hungry, but its really about the cakes.)

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Fontanella
1, Bastion St.
Mdina, Malta
21 454264

Quote:
Quite simply, it is the nightlife in Malta. All of the bars and discos are crammed into this area, and you'll meet both locals and tourists. The party goes on all night in this area of town. The only bad news is that taxis can be difficult to get a hold of. So if you want to party every night, then stay near here.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Malta Experience Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Malta Experience"

Quote:
There are now about three or four slideshows on the island, but for your money's worth, this is the original and the best. (I wouldn't recommend doing more than one.) If you know nothing of the history of Malta this is a great place to start and it also shows most of the historic sites on the island. The slide show is a little basic by today's standards but does feature a multilingual commentary. Once you've finished the slideshow, there is a shop, but the prices are more expensive than can be found at the craft village and other souvenir shops in the backstreets of Valletta. While in the area, do take time out to look at St Elmo's fortifications and you might also want to take a horse ride ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Malta Experience
St Elmo Bastions
Valletta, Malta VLT 06
+356 243776

Megalithic Temples of Malta Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Hagar Qim and Mnajdra"

Quote:
Imagine a temple, that's bigger than stone henge, practically unheard of and here's the strangest thing of all, its OLDER than stonehenge, created in around 3000 BC.

Malta has some of the finest examples of neolithic architecture available anywhere in the world. Only when you see it do you realise just how smart our ancestors were.

I'm not really the person to tell you why it's so significant, so here's the website: http://www.heritagemalta.org/hagarqim.html.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Megalithic Temples of Malta
2km Southwest Of Qrendi
Valletta, Malta

Popeye Village Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
The film was a disaster, and this set really explains why. They spent so much effort building the perfect set, they forgot to actually make a film. It was done up in 2001 and really does transport you into a make-believe world. See the website: http://www.popeyemalta.com/.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Valletta Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Local Markets Valletta"

Quote:
Get there early on a Sunday market and all the locals will be there and so will the bargains... If you get up late, it'll be you and the rest of the tourists and prices will have gone up. You really can get anything here from souvenirs to antiques to old gardening tools. Generally speaking this is the cheapest place to get souvenirs and T-Shirts. My grandma always used to buy me T-shirts from here, and mum used to say they were much better than what we could get in the shops in England. Also wonderful for local biscuits, fruits, and vegetables. Like any market: bargain hard and watch your purse. Also, if you are squeamish about animals, do be warned that...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Upper Barrakka Gardens Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Upper Barraka Gardens"

Upper Barraka Photo - Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta
Quote:
This is quite simply the best view of the city. Its a place that you can come for a quiet moment, enjoy a Pastizzi and a bottle of 7UP, Coca Cola or the local drink Kinnie. (Don't leave Malta without eating at least one Pastizzi) When my brother and I were children, we'd run round the play area and pretend we were knights of St John and even now, it isn't difficult to imagine. Of course Valletta was built after the great siege of 1565. But if you look across the water you can see the three cities and if you look to the left you can just about see the old fort St Elmo. Once you've taken in the scale of the citadel, have a look below into the harbour, there's normally ships in...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Upper Barrakka Gardens

Valletta, Malta

Sa Maison Garden Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
This is great if you are planning to walk from Sliema to Valletta, as it's on the way, but you will really need a map to find it, because it's quite a tricky park to find, and the only real clue is the watch tower over the water. Also, it's on a main road without a pavement, so be careful walking up. However, once inside the park, it is very quiet indeed; I've never seen anybody there when I've visited and a great place to sit and relax for a while. (It may be busier at lunch time, because some locals may visit.) There are few artifacts of historic interest, most notably the watch tower, which is photographed everywhere in Malta, but very few people actually go inside the watch tower itself. There's a...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Golden Bay Beach Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
It's the best beach in Malta where you don't either have to climb down a rock face or use a boat to get to it. That said, the beaches in Malta are crowded and can't compete with other places in the Mediterranean. If you want a beach holiday, Malta's not the place. Also, if you take a bus there, make sure you pay attention to the timetable, because the last bus home isn't very late.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Golden Bay Beach
Throughout Malta and Gozo
Valletta, Malta

Rock Climbing Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
It's my cousin's business, and if you're into rock climbing, he's the best. He knows all of the best climbs on the islands, the secret beaches and caves, and the best picnic spots.

Being the courageous guy I am, I tucked into our picnic and let him and the kids do all the climbing--a very relaxing time for me...

Most of the climbs on the island would suit a beginner but may not be that challenging for a really experienced climber. More info can be found at his Website.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 6, 2005

Quote:
This is one day that you really need to take a tour because nearly every shop and bus stops running.

There are large numbers of processions in Malta, and many of the best are in the smallest villages. However, there is normally also one in Valletta.

Be warned that these processions take hours and can be a bit much for a small child.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 7, 2005

Good Friday Procession
Throughout Malta
Valletta, Malta

Buses in Malta Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:
Nearly all the buses in Malta go to the main station in Valletta and head out from this hub. If you are in Sliema and St Julians, you will be well served with buses going to the main tourist spots and the beach.The roads in Malta are very bumpy, and if you are prone to travel sickness, you'll need to take some tabletsBuses are much cheaper than a car hire, and they are reasonably frequent to most places. Also, if you are thinking of hiring a car, parking is an absolute nightmare in St Julians and Valletta, not to mention that the Maltese are crazy drivers. There's an old joke about the English driving on the left, continentals driving on the right, and the Maltese driving in th...Read More

About the Writer

jabela

jabela
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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