Malta is a beautiful place to visit and it is relatively cheap to get to especially if you use Malta Bargains for your flights.   There are many great places of historical significance to visit.

 

The beaches in Malta are rather few and far between but they are there.  Golden Bay has a beautiful beach and is located next to the Radisson SAS hotel which owns a section of the beach. Guests are allowed to use this section of the beach to be away from the rest of the public on it.  You can do most water sports including jet-skiing, windsurfing and water skiing.

 

Another nice beach in the North East of Malta is the one in Mellieha which is the largest beach in Malta.  Again you can do anything from sunbathe (sun beds cost 3 Liri per day which is about £5.00) or do all of the water sports mentioned above with the addition of Para-Gliding. 

 

Most things in Malta are about the same price as the UK but one thing that isn't is fuel.  If you are hiring a car you can do so for about seven to twelve pounds per day depending on the type of car you go for.  As Malta is only a small island you won't need to break the bank to see it all and considering fuel in Malta is about 20p per litre cheaper than the UK it makes sense to hire a car as the buses in the main don't have air-conditioning.  That said, public transport in Malta is excellent and you can get just about anywhere on the island from anywhere on the island just by taking the bus.

 

One of the best places to visit if you like to bargain hunt is Marsaxlokk on a Sunday when there is a market selling everything from pets to trainers (sneakers). The town is a working port and the views aren't quite as nice but there are lots of nicely painted fishing boats to look at.  If you get thirsty there are plenty of bars and cafes to get a drink and a bite to eat. 

 

One of the most endearing things about Malta is that everyone speaks excellent English and it is taught to children as their first language as it is easier to learn than their native Malti.

 

Malta is located almost in the centre of the Mediterranean, between Sicily and North Africa: Spain to the west and Egypt to the east are roughly equidistant. The island has been inhabited since Neolithic times, and its ancient sites, which include some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world, are of great archaeological significance. Malta's strategic position and marvellous natural harbours caused the island to be fought over for centuries. In 1565 the Knights of St John, outnumbered six to one, withstood a long siege (remembered to this day as the Great Siege) by the Ottoman Turks. A year later, Valletta was founded as the capital city, and it was built with some of the strongest fortifications in Christendom. The Knights, who ruled Malta between the 16th and 19th centuries, also fashioned beautiful religious, civic, and domestic buildings from the local honey-coloured limestone. During World War II, Malta was an important Allied base and once again resisted invasion.

Today Malta is successfully invaded each year by over a million visitors, attracted by the Mediterranean climate, the well-developed tourist infrastructure, and the many places of cultural interest. Malta is popular with British visitors, partly because English is widely spoken, but holidaymakers come here from all over Europe. Despite this annual visitation, the Maltese people have retained their cultural integrity, their own language (mostly Arabic in origin), and their accommodating good nature.

Malta is made up of two main islands: Malta, 27 kilometres (17 miles) at its longest and 14 kilometres (9 miles) at its widest, and Gozo, about half that size. They are separated by only 8 kilometres (5 miles) of water, with the largely uninhabited, tiny island of Comino in between. With a population of over 350,000 people occupying an area of 316 square kilometres (122 square miles), Malta is the most densely populated country in Europe, although on neighbouring Gozo it is possible to find true peace and quiet. On Malta itself, most of the premier visitor resorts are to be found along the northern coast, but on the east coast, towns such as Marsaskala and Marsaxlokk are rapidly developing as alternative destinations.

 

Malta's capital is an architectural gem of graceful, golden-stone balconied buildings. It is enclosed on three sides by water and mighty fortifications—the best way to view these defences is to take a harbour cruise. Two of the original auberges, or headquarters of the Knights of Saint John, are open to the public; the Auberge of Provence houses the National Museum of Archaeology, while the Auberge of Italy is now the main post office. The finest survivor, however, is the Auberge de Castille, now the prime minister's office. Other fine buildings from the period open to visitors include the sumptuous Grand Masters' Palace, now the seat of government; the Knights' hospital, now a conference centre; the Knights' library, now the National Malta Library; and St John's Co-Cathedral, its floor paved with colourful Knights' tombs. The National Museum of Fine Arts and the War Museum are also worth visiting.

 

All on all Malta is a great place to visit and live providing you are a happy friendly person - as everyone is Malta has a sunny disposition!

 

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