I wound up in Malta purely by accident. I’d never longed to go; I always filed it under an “also-ran” among vacation spots. Then chance had it that we drew it from a box as our destination—and I admit, we fell in love with it immediately. How did a stroke of luck turn into an exciting vacation and this website? Read on!
Malta From the Box
My wife and I have a box into which we toss destinations we’d like to visit. Then when it’s time to travel, we give the box a good shake, reach in with eyes closed, and pull out the lucky place we’ll visit next.
Malta wasn’t a dream destination for either of us, but with a kind of “it would be nice to see it once,” it somehow made it into the box. And early in the spring, it popped right back out. We had a free week in May, planned a memorable trip for then, and I can say we were truly surprised when Malta emerged as the lucky winner.
So we rolled with it and organized the trip. We were able to book plane tickets and lodging at a really good price, so we slung our stuff on our backs and set off for the Mediterranean island.
May Was a Very Good Decision
Perhaps the cheap lodging and plane tickets were linked to our timing. Since we weren’t craving swimming or any activity that only makes sense in summer, we didn’t mind skipping high season and going in May instead.
We couldn’t have made a better call! In fact, if you’re asking when it’s worth traveling to Malta, I can absolutely single out May. After the spring jacket weather back home, the pleasantly warm Maltese sunshine felt divine. The weather was perfect the whole time—never too hot for a city stroll, and perfectly cool at night for sleeping. It never even occurred to us to wear more than a T-shirt or to complain about the weather.
And the sea? We could even swim. Although every year’s weather is different and you can’t necessarily generalize, we visited the beautiful Golden Bay and Riviera Beach several times (can anything not be perfect with a name like that?), and we took a dip in the pleasantly calm sea.
One of the Cheapest Vacations of Our Lives
That week in Malta was one of the cheapest, most budget-friendly vacations of our lives. And not because we scrimped, but because Malta isn’t expensive, and May—as I mentioned—is still far from high season, which everywhere tends to be about nickel-and-diming tourists a bit.
We snagged a one-week bus pass right at the airport for just 25 euros, valid without limits on all bus lines across the entire island. And although Malta’s public transportation leaves something to be desired in certain respects, one thing is sure: you can get everywhere by bus. From Valletta, the capital, you can practically go nonstop and arrive within an hour. We never for a single minute felt it was a problem that we didn’t rent a car—quite the opposite! We didn’t have to hassle with parking, and enjoying a glass of beer or cider never posed an issue.
And the island as a whole isn’t pricey either. We found entirely reasonable prices in restaurants, shops, and even at tourist sights, while, for example, time on the sandy beaches was free.
We Went All Over
In a week we went all over Malta and Gozo. Those are the two inhabited islands, and in the meantime we also made it to beautiful Comino—the third major island.
We had time to shop, stroll Valletta’s old streets, visit a fish market, sunbathe and swim on sandy beaches, tour the sights of the island of Malta—including the Ħal Tarxien Neolithic site—and visit the island of Gozo as well. And, of course, the famous Blue Lagoon, which is one of the country’s most notable and most beautiful natural attractions.
To preserve our memories, Malta has now joined the Az út ízei websites, where we’ll share our own experiences and tips so you can get the most out of your Maltese vacation.
I Can Only Recommend It!
For us, Malta was an incredibly positive “disappointment.” It’s beautiful, full of natural and architectural wonders, good vibes, and both easy and more serious hiking options. Maybe the marketing isn’t all that strong, so it hides on many people’s “maybe someday” list, among the also-ran destinations.
But don’t think Malta is just one place among many. It’s easy to reach, affordable, and a perfect getaway whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with kids. Put it on your bucket list and visit as soon as you can! You’ll fall in love with it and want to come back!
This article was originally posted on our Malta website.