Malta or Corfu

browneyedbazzi

I really like Malta - it isn't full of great beaches but there are some nice beaches in the north of the island if you fancy a beach day (Melleiha being the biggest and busiest but there are smaller/quieter beaches a bit off the beaten path). If you like cultural things then Valetta is great as is the old city of Mdina. If you like art there are lots of glass work studios around that you can visit to see them working and see the finished stuff on display (it's some of the best in the world).

It's also quite easy to get over to Gozo for a day and it's a nice island to explore with an interesting coastline. I think the place has a really lovely character to it.

There are also plenty of boat trips on offer and some good snorkelling around Comino if you like that sort of thing.

I also like Malta because I got to swim with dolphins there which is brilliant!

Neil49

If you want culture and history then Malta is a good option. Most of it is centred around Valetta and that part of the island, however, this is also the most built up part as well.

We have been twice and stayed in the Sliema area on both occasions. The first hotel was on the busy sea front road where most of the local ferries and tour boats are located and personally we wouldn't stay in that part again as it was just too hectic and noisy. Our second stay was just around the headland on Tower Road where it was much quieter and had a very pleasant promenade for evening strolls past numerous restaurants which were quite reasonable for price and offered a wide range of good food. This area also gives you a better chance of getting onto a bus into Valetta as they were frequently crowded.

Just be aware that there is no sand on the beaches in this area, it is basically a white stone shoreline with man made lido's and pools along the way. A look at Google maps will give you an idea of what it is like. We are not beach people but did make use of a nearby lido where there were sunloungers, bars etc.

There is a tourist open bus service which tours the island on 2 routes and covers most areas of interest although we used the local bus service which is very cheap and gives more flexibility. Most services run out from Valetta apart from the X services which tend to run from the airport to various parts of the island.

catoutthebag

Sounds quite divided! Back to drawing board

eshroom

Corfu every day of the week. Lots of cheap flight (scheduled Easyjet/Ryanair or Charter - Monarch, Tui etc.). Lots of cheap package deals to.

Cheap car rental, great food, lots of beaches and lots to see and do as it is quite a large island.

Disclaimer: I grew up in Corfu so may be biased. - If you decide to go, feel free to ping me for advice.

littlereddevil

Corfu for me everytime, especially the north, Malta was too boring for me

C_Mababejive

When people who have been to Malta talk of it, a commonly used phrase is "you will either love it or hate it"

I have never heard that said of Corfu. Why take the risk..

Corfu--Whats not to like?

catoutthebag

Yes maybe not risk it

Sorry to future divert the question (& of course ill do other research too), more preliminary feelers...

Corfu or Crete or much of a muchness?

Any parts of Corfu which are relaxing but not boring, ...not 18-30?

Other decent European destination apart from Corfu which match up to or better recent destination of Dubrovnik, santorini or Palma? Had Bulgaria & Albania in mind but read mixed things..

sparrer

catoutthebag wrote: »

Corfu or Crete or much of a muchness?

Any parts of Corfu which are relaxing but not boring, ...not 18-30?

Other decent European destination apart from Corfu which match up to or better recent destination of Dubrovnik, santorini or Palma? Had Bulgaria & Albania in mind but read mixed things..

In answer to your first question, I lived in Crete for 5 years and visit a friend who has lived in Corfu for much longer. The only thing I can say is that a Greek island is a Greek island be it Crete, Corfu, Santorini etc., very little to choose between them They all have sun, sand, sea, good fish meals, lots of historic sites, and easy transport.
Still rate Malta higher though for something unique and as relaxing or busy as you want it to be.

Bulgaria was one of the nicest European countries I've every visited, very different in culture therefore a really interesting and enjoyable holiday. I'll definitely go back. I can't comment on the other places mentioned as I've yet to visit them.

Koicarp

I'm biased toward Corfu and I have a little house there. Never been to Malta.
There are lots of historic places to visit in town (good guide here: http://www.tomsportguides.com/Corfu-03-10-2012.pdf ).
Nightlife is either crazy as in Kavos, taverna in the quieter villages or somewhere in between at the larger resorts.
I prefer quiet these days and my house is on the mountain above St. Spyridon in the north east, Gerald Durrell found many of his animal friends around the Lagoon there, as discussed in "my family and other animals". On the northern and western coast there are great sunsets, these are hidden from those in the northeast by Mt. Pantokrator (the almighty), which has a (I think) 14th century monastery on top (complete with frescos), and a nice little taverna with great views across albania, northern Greece and to Italy on a clear day.
One poster above mentions Paleokastritsa, I would also suggest places such as St George (northwest) which is very close, and also aghios gordis further south.