Malta is a small island sat in the Mediterranean 80Km south of Sicily, enjoys good weather for most of the year, and there are handy flights from Shannon, to the Capital Valletta. The international airport ( MLA), is south of the Capital and the main tourist resort areas around St Julian’s and Paceville. It was a short taxi ride from the airport to our hotel, the Hyatt Regency very centrally located, in a lovely square with the restored Santa Rita chapel adjacent and shopping centre opposite providing access to the beach and commercial area.
The hotel and staff were excellent, possibly one drawback could be limited outdoor space at the rooftop pool, but we didn’t have an issue, high season may present a challenge, and with little in the way of shade a hat and plenty of sunscreen are essentials.
The rooftop pool provided stunning views of the surrounding area.
Space is at a premium in downtown St Georges bay, and the man made beach is crowded, so not really an option unless you enjoy others company, and associated mess, the area is scruffy and not the cleanest.
In general the area is lively with bars and restaurants, and plenty of steps to negotiate with non stop traffic adding to the mix.
A short walk out from the hectic mayhem around the beach, you come across the Westin Dragonara Resort, sat in its own grounds on a private beach, a lovely setting for dinner outside on the terrace, or an evening at its casino.
Local to the Westin are plenty of much better dining options than around Georges Bay, with a fine Italian, the Fumo Ristorante.
A short walk from St George’s bay area through Paceville you arrive in St Julians Bay.
Never too far from an Irish bar overlooking an attractive harbour, but no beach for sunbathing a drawback.
Plenty of restaurants and street bars to enjoy.
Valletta is a UNESCO world heritage site and only a short taxi ride from St Julians area. It’s a small compact city and commands stunning views sat atop a peninsula between the natural Grand and Marsamxett harbours. Its streets aligned in grid formation making it very easy to navigate.
The taxi drops you outside the Phoenicia hotel from where you cross the square in front of the city gates dominated by the Triton fountain
The Triton Fountain
City Gate, the main entry point to Valletta is located on the city’s southern side that leads you straight into the city’s main street (Republic street). After you cross the footbridge overlooking the ditch and the impressive bastions on both sides of City Gate, the city’s entrance provides an instant glimpse of Valletta. Passing the modern Parliament building to your right, and older stately buildings to your left, you continue past shops before arriving at Republic Square dominated as was Malta by Queen Victoria, not the first time in our travels we have pondered over a statue of the Great White Queen.
Apart from the UNESCO heritage badge, Valletta is famous for providing the backdrop to many an episode of Game of Thrones.,
The National War museum at Fort St Elmo, a fine sandstone building looking out over St Elmo Bay.
And after all that sightseeing a quick aperitif and back to the Hyatt.
