St Paul's Bay, Malta

We set of on our week trip to Malta early one cold autumn morning (September, 2012) from London Heathrow with Air Malta. The flight was very bumpy and had a service similar to that of a budget airline, however, the first drink was free and any subsequent drinks were to be paid for. We arrived in Valletta at 14.25 and picked up the rent a car.

Hello nightmare numero uno .... Do not expect the little standard luxuries of most countries of the world that have tar macadam roads, such as signs directing you to anywhere. What appears to be a main road on a sat nav is actually a single carriage road with cars parked and oncoming buses that you need to chicane past. What should have been a 15 minute journey became 1 hour and 20 minutes of hell inspired oral flame throwing inside a very small Chevrolet.
Finally got to the ‘hotel’ just before dinner. Check in was smooth and eventless, by the way this ‘hotel’ was called ‘The George’ in St Pauls Bay. We were shown to our rooms.

Hello nightmare numero dos. The room was clean and the blackout curtain would have worked if they had met in the middle to blackout the window! There was a large hole in the 1970’s fitted furniture where the website published ‘mini bar’ should have been, however, in hindsight, it was a blessing this was ripped out as the plug socket the mini bar would have used was the only available one except for the TV (nightmare numero tres) socket. Opened the wardrobes (yes it is supposed to be a 4 star) to find a total of 4 and one half clothes hangers. Not to be pushed into a negative and despondent mood I decided to have a shower. Turned it on and stepped in, adjusted the shower head so as it was in the optimal position. Low and behold, the whole fitting came off in my hand and had to have a shower under the bit of copper pipe sticking out of the wall.

Went out for a walk to the bay area. The infrastructure would give all these British ambulance chasing solicitors a very good living. Potholes everywhere. It was more important to look down at where your feet were going than look straight ahead. It was preferential to walk into a lamppost than to fall in a pothole or a manhole with no cover on it. Had a couple of beer’s, local brew Cisk was wet, yes just wet. Went back to ‘hotel’ turned TV on, numero tres begins. Rolling screen snow all over and abysmal picture.

Now lets start on Malta the Island. St Pauls Bay and nearby Bugibba really are places to commit suicide in. A really nice breakfast on the bay could be had at Paulus Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/paulusdining) this really was a redeeming feature for St Pauls Bay. I definitely recommend going on the Red and Blue bus tours of the Island, one does north and the other does south. Very informative and relaxed, until you need to get back that is. If you leave it later than 1.5 hours until the last bus, be prepared for a free for all stampede to get aboard. The bus showed us that the rest of Malta is really beautiful and Maltese.

Valetta old town is spectacular fantastic restaurants and bars, museums and fascinating building adorn the narrow streets. There is still a bit of colonial Britain with the Post boxes and telephone boxes. Mdina is also very beautiful, home of Mdina Glassware. Wondering around these quaint tiny little streets and alleyways finding great little authentic Maltese cuisine and beverages, was a real part of the trip. There are a lot of lovely knockers too!

A day trip to Gozo is highly recommended too, very picturesque, however, very very very very packed with tourists! You have approx one quarter of a square metre to call your own.

I am glad we went out of season, otherwise, the place would have been unbearable in the school holidays with the bucket and spade brigade there. I phoned my mum while there, as I knew she had been. She just said that after the first day she cried for 3 hours solid and she knew she had another 13 days to go. I just thank God we only went for 7.

To sum up: Don’t go!