Malta. A small country that packs a big punch!
I am lucky to have travelled to Malta on quite a few occasions. The more I go, the more I love it. Area-wise it’s a tiny country with two main islands – Malta and Gozo. But don’t be deceived by its size. There are heaps of things to do on both islands. For first time visitors I recommend at least 4 nights for a good snap-shot, but a week is better. You are spoilt for choice on what to visit in Malta.
My initial trip was with my family when my children were little. We had a great time shopping, eating and exploring our way around. You feel safe, everyone speaks English and the public transport is excellent but there is a definite cultural hit if you want it.
My subsequent visits have been hosting tours so I have managed to immerse myself into the history and the culture. From ancient ruins (some, arguably amongst the world’s oldest), to fabulous museums, a great food culture (their national dish is rabbit), beautiful harbours, rocky coastlines and gorgeous fishing villages there is something for everyone. They even have a great coffee culture for those coffee-tragics like me.
If you can get a ticket, try and see the UNESCO listed hypogeum – an underground temple in the middle of suburbia, dating back 5,000 years! Tickets are restricted and it’s not cheap at about 35 Euros but worth the effort.
In my view, the best place to stay is in Sliema or St. Juilans where you can step outside your hotel and have food/shops/sight-seeing at your door step. Public transport can get you around the island to many places of interest and the ferry to Gozo takes about 30 minutes.
The people of Malta are a very proud bunch. One thing you will notice is that everyone seems to have a cousin living in Australia. Bus drivers, shop keepers, taxi drivers and hospitality staff will all tell you about their relatives in Melbourne or Sydney or North Queensland where many Maltese left to work on the sugar cane farms back in the 50’s. We provide package holidays to Malta for small groups of up to 20.
For a small place, it certainly punches above its weight!
Book your trip to Malta (which includes Sardinia & Corsia) with Blue Dot Travel! Contact us to register your interest for future tours.
By Brett Goulston
