Well, I think there is a difference in expectations from holiday makers/visitors. Some want to see some culture, are interested in meeting the local people and are open to something different from home (the uk in this instance). This is all possible in Malta.

Others are interested in sitting on a beach all day, staying in 'all inclusive' resorts and basically staying in isolation from anything local. This is all possible (and the norm) in places such as Ibiza, Mallorca, Canaries etc.
All of these places are ouposts from a mainland.

Malta is a self sufficient country in it's own right without a mainland to help it along.

Its what makes Malta unique within Europe and I think this is the problem for some visitors. They don't want anything unique or different. They want to go to the "McDonalds" or "Starbucks" holiday locations of Europe where they can remain anonymous in cloned environments.

It really is funny to see the comments that "Malta has no beaches". Looks like these come from people not willing to venture more than 1km from their "all inclusive" environments.

Another is that Malta is expensive. Huh? I was there last week and I took my mother to a lovely restaurant in Spinola bay. The meal included starters, main course (one of which was fresh fish), a good quality bottle of local wine (11 Euros) and a large bottle of mineral water. Total bill was around 55 euros (about £38 ). Try getting a bottle of good wine in London for £7 plus we had fantastic views, great food, sat outside and had great service. We also had trouble getting a table for 2 last Friday evening at many restaurants. Maybe this is an indication of the quality and value for money?

Still too many expecting a great holiday for £150 a week including hotel food and the dreaded hotel "entertainment". I didn't realise so many were still stuck in the 1970's/1980's

Hi Roundasapound, firstly no offence intended in any way, I have already said my remark was churlish prior to your reply, but I didn't call you Dyslexic, Dave mentioned it in his post and I was having a joke with him and not you.

Regards
Sliema2

I admit that Malta does not particularly have the scenery that you get on other islands - that is mostly because it does not have any mountains. However, the coastal scenery and the history more than make up for it.

My mother aged 82 'discovered' Malta only a few years ago and now has to visit twice a year!! She feels totally safe going out on her own and absolutely loves all the history especially the temples etc.

A stroll all the way round the walls of Valletta gives so many diferent wonderful views especially across to Sliema. And the cliffs at Dingli are amazing.

There are beaches - mostly in the north of the island.

I think that before travelling to Malta you do really need to do your homework before choosing where to stay and bear in mind that sometimes a 4* star in Malta may not quite come up to the standard of a 4* in another country.

We are visiting Malta in January having not been for 6 years. We have actually fallen in love with Majorca because of the fantastic mountainous inland scenery. But the hotel we love is closed for refurbishment so we are off to Malta - I'm sure we will have a great time.

As has been previously said we all have different views on where we would and would not return - it would be very boring (and very crowded) if we all like the same place!!

Pippa

views like this ??

I think I ruined my appreciation for Malta. My wife and I stayed there for 4 weeks over Christmas last year. We went round all the sites on the island, historic and pre-historic and visited all the main towns/villages. We won't return there; I think we stayed too long.

but did you visit Gozo ??

Gozomark,

Lovely photo - where was it taken??

Pippa

thanks Pippa - thats my dog, Peppa, taken at Ta Cenc (it will appear in the Gozo SPCA 2008 calendar, which should be available in July...)

she also features in a greetings card
http://www.spca-gozo.org/SPCA%20merchandise.htm - it says sold out, but there are a few left !

I spent a couple of weeks in the Algarve (actually travelling around the area). I found that it had too many Brits and too many golf courses. There really was no culture or soul to the place. However, it did seem to suit those who wanted an anonymous environment where one could get alot of bland food and wouldn't meet any real locals. A bit like a home from home for many who were there.

Please stay on topic.

This thread is meant to be about what you like or don't like about MALTA

Biff

I think OpenMinded was Staying on topic, what he was saying was all the thing that Malta isn't i.e.

Not over run with a stereo type Brit, an island with a lot of both culture and history, both ancient and modern. Malta hasn't just relied on one style of attraction as say the Algarve has done with it's abundance of golf courses.

Maybe it is because Malta isn't an anonymous environment but an island rich in history with a proud sense of achievement with a real heart and soul to the islands and a heritage that the locals are happy to share with strangers that makes a few people not like Malta.

It is perhaps as OpenMinded suggesed, Malta is not a home from home for some and that is why they don't like the island, I remember a tourist who was having a miserable time (his wife loved Malta) saying it reminded him of Spain 30 years ago, a time when holidays abroad were a totally new experience.

No 18-30, very few British chip shops (proper food, non of that foreign stuff ) and very few of the British style pubs that can be found in other holiday destinations.

Perfect for us

I have always wanted to go to Malta

no idea why as no one i know has been there etc !
think it will suit myself and my family by the sounds of it ,from reading on here etc

Hoping to get to go next summer

If i save enough mr t clubcard vouchers for a holiday with http://www.xl.com

and .me .......kiltman.........i think malta just what i need.
regards..........john-doe

hi all ,well mum has gone back to the uk after staying in malta for a month and she loved it and wants to come back soon lorna

Got back from my first ever visit to Malta last night..and although i like the place and will return... I absolutely LOVED Gozo and prefer it to Malta. Parts of Malta are in serious need of repair/modernisation, but it would be difficult to do that without destroying the character of the island. I will talk about the hotel and resort in a separate posting in the relevant places.
The weather was great and the scuba diving was great too, although I was disappointed that I did not see a huge amount of marine life. ( I did see a stingray which was breathtaking!).
We are returning to Gozo in August on a scouting mission on behalf of the diving school we belong to in England. We were on holiday with them and everybody loved Gozo, almost all saying they would return. A completely great holiday in a superb part of the world and we love it.

I keep telling everyone - the ideal trip to Malta is

1. aarive at airport
2. get to the ferry to Gozo ASAP
3. stay in Gozo until its time to go home

i have not returned to malta for over 15 years, not because of the island or anything like that, i love the people and culture,

i fell in love with a local whilst on holiday over there, trouble is i didn't tell the other party of my strong feelings towards them, so i left the island with deep regret and never to return to try and get this person out of my system, 15yrs later i still dwell

Hi little legs,

Blimey that was a sad story.

I guess 15 years is a long time and I guess both you and this other person are otherwise settled. What is sad is that you never knew what he/she? felt about you!

Trev

Well it's about time I added my thoughts.
I love Malta but this thread made me ask why? or rather why do I prefer it than other places in the Med?

The Weather is one reason but you could say that for all the other major Country/Resorts in the Med

History/Culture again can be found elsewhere.

The Sea clarity is an amazing Plus I don't really like sandy beaches much and it's fantastic to be able to dive straight in the sea! No wadding out for miles and instant snorkelling great! I suppose you could get this in other places, Turkey springs to mind.

So why do I prefer Malta then..........???

Well the top reason has to be, and the one that is unique to Malta is the Malltese! That's what's missing in the other places
People always look forward to going on Holiday, but if I am going to Malta I also look forward to actually chatting and meeting more locals, where else can you say this about?? Tunisia maybe Doubt it lol!

I always feel some sort of infinity with the Maltese, don't know why, but it seems to be mutual which makes it all the better.

They have to be the joint best race of people on the planet
By the way we go AI as it makes life a lot easier when you have kids, a bit like a holiday I would prefer Half board with drinks/snacks but have never seen this offered as yet as we do like to eat around in the evenings, stroll meet people etc

Must be a spelling mistake there lol.

P.S. Thanks for the Eurovision vote, we thought it was cr*p too