Travel
Malta’s 316km2, so while it’s small, it’s not small enough to walk around (Simon Eyles I’m looking at you).
If you’re looking to extend your trip and are thinking about renting a car, please remember the following:
- Parking doesn’t come easy and car parks don’t come cheap, especially in places like Sliema and Valletta. Make sure you book a hotel that offers parking, otherwise you’re in for a ride (pun intended).
- When it comes to Valletta, you’re better off parking outside the city and walking in – Entry points to the city are monitored by a so-called CVA (Controlled Vehicle Access), which is a fancy name for charging you for parking during peak hours (8am-6pm, no charge for entries after 2pm).
- Malta may be small but the traffic jams are not – Malta is one of the most traffic congested countries in Europe, so if you plan on renting a car and driving on your holiday, make sure you’ve got a decent Spotify playlist or two to keep you company.
To conclude, probably don’t rent a car. Personally, we think there are better options. The first one is Bolt.
Previously Taxify, this is the equivalent of Uber. Download the app, attach a card and you’re never more than a few minutes away from a reasonably priced taxi. Like Uber, the app will give you an estimate price for your trip and will let you track the car via GPS. E-cabs is also an option, but we’d only use this if Bolt were having issues (very very rare).
Speaking of Taxis…. Avoid white cabs everywhere, particularly at the airport. They’re notorious for their over-charging and reckless driving.
If you fancy a bit more freedom than a taxi, but don’t fancy having a car for the entirety of the trip, have a look at GoTo Global. This is an electric car service, where you can download their App and have the option to rent cars for a set period of time – whether that’s a few hours or a few days. Just return the car to a GoTo parking spot, end the ride through your phone and you’re done. It’s worth reading the FAQs to understand their pricing plans, but this is certainly a great cheap option for shorter day trips. Saves time looking for parking too!
Food
Takeaways are easy. Download Bolt Food and/or Wolt. Both operate the same as Uber Eats and offer hundreds of options to choose from.
But you’re on holiday on an island so it’s the perfect excuse to get dressed and head out after all these months of lock-down. We’ve listed some of our-favourite restaurants here to give you some inspiration:
- Sotto – Pizzeria (Valletta)
- Zero Sei – Pasta (Valletta)
- Chukkas – Steak house (Marsa or Mosta)
- Chophouse – Steak house (Sliema)
- Ta’ Kris – Maltese (Sliema)
- Rubino – Maltese (Sliema)
- Vinum – Wine bar (Mdina)
- Mezzodi – Mediterranean (Valletta)
- Aki – Japanese (Valletta)
Other Useful Information
The tap water is safe for consumption, but you’d not think that by tasting it. We recommend stocking up with bottled water.
English is an official language in Malta so you’ll find communicating easy enough.
If you’re planning on visiting any churches, make sure your shoulders are covered to avoid getting told off or turned down at the door.
Most shops will accept credit card, but you’ll find some smaller shops around Malta and Gozo that won’t, or that will have a minimum spend on credit cards, so try and keep some cash at hand just in case.
On travelling after Brexit – you can travel to Malta for up to 90 days without a visa. However, your passport must have at least 6 months left and be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left) so please make sure you’ve checked this in advance! Oh, and another tip for our British friends, bring sunscreen and wear sunscreen, at all hours of the day. I know you think you can handle it. I know you think it’ll be worth it. If John’s any indication, you can’t and it won’t.
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