Slimea, Malta with purpleholidays.com

Skint_Catt

Does anyone have any good or bad comments on either Slimea or purpleholidays.com?

PH (found on teletext) have (seemingly) beaten any travel agents quotes we had yesterday but as we've never heard of them my OH is nervous! We decided against the Plaza Regency in Slimea after reading bad online reviews, and think we prefer the Preluna Hotel and Spa.

WILS_2

Went to Malta August 2007, stayed at Hotel Juliani in St.Julians Bay- would definitely recommend both.

Visited Slimea a couple of times, very nice area with a very wide range of shops/services. Excellent bus system, on time and cheap. Maltese people all very nice and welcoming.

Skint_Catt

Thanks WILS, thats very helpful

Francophile

Malta is a very small place and you could see it all in an afternoon so depends how long you're going for. We went for a week and found it too. long There are no beaches as such, well only one small one that I'm aware of. I agree the Maltese people are lovely but it seems to be one of those places, you either love it or hate it.

Skint_Catt

We're going for a week of relaxation in late April. We're as happy sitting at a harbourside bar watching the world go by as we are exploring the towns. We'll probably do a boat trip and maybe even see if we can get over to Gozo for the day as we decided against staying there.

sloppychops

Francophile wrote: »

Malta is a very small place and you could see it all in an afternoon so depends how long you're going for. We went for a week and found it too. long There are no beaches as such, well only one small one that I'm aware of. I agree the Maltese people are lovely but it seems to be one of those places, you either love it or hate it.

No beaches?
Most are in the north of the island
Mellieha is Maltas largest sandy beach,then we have
Golden Sands/Golden Sanda
Gnejna Bay
Armier Bay
St Thomas Bay in Marsascala
Pretty Bay
These are all sandy beaches varying in sizes.

Never stayed at the Preluna before but visited family and friends who have stopped there.It seems a very good hotel,right on the seafront and i have to admit i love Sliema.We always have a slow walk along the prom after evening meal and a few drinks on the way and just watch the world go by.
Oh you have got me wanting to go back and its not long since we were there visiting family(hubbys family are all Maltese)

Skint_Catt

Thanks sloppychops. We're not lie on the beach all day people and it probably won't be hot enough anyway in April, but we love coastal resorts and being so close to Valetta sounds perfect along with the good transport system. Can't wait now! Just need feedback on purpleholidays.com!

sloppychops

I am sure Purpleholidays are part of Hays travel and we have used Hays many times over the years and never had any problems at all.

Engadine

sloppychops wrote: »

I am sure Purpleholidays are part of Hays travel and we have used Hays many times over the years and never had any problems at all.

Purpleholidays are definitely part of the Hays Travel Group. Hays are an excellent, reputible company so you will be fine to book with them. I deal with Hays on a regular basis and like sloppychops have never had a problem with them

panavia

I have been to Malta and stayed in Sliema...Galaxy Hotel (not there anymore though). we found it to be a nice place, I would say it will certainly be relaxing in April, and not too hot...August is a scorcher!!!!
There are beaches if you want them, but you do have to travel to them.
The buses are an experience all of thier own!!! Very old no suspension lol...but you have to ride on a malta bus, its part of the holiday experience lol.
The people are very friendly and accommodating!! We got lost on our first day there, and asked a local guy for directions...he done no more that get his car and take us to our hotel, would take not thanks for it either. On getting to the hotel I found I had left our room key in his car... he kindly returned to the hotel the next day when he found it and handed it to reception.
I think you will like it there if you want a relaxing break.

Stephen_Leak

Sliema is a nice typical Maltese coastal town and I like the place a lot but, with the best will in the world, it isn't much in itself. Up to first floor level, the architecture is Weston-super-Mare, from there on upwards, Beirut. When I did our online research for the place, the high spot on the local authority's website was the new bus shelter! OTOH, when we found it on one of our evening strolls, it did turn out to be very nice bus shelter, as bus shelters go. However, it is close to Valleta, but without all of the bustle of a capital city.

As advised, Maltese buses are amazing. They may be old and clapped out, but together they make one of the best yet cheapest public transport systems in the world. They say that the Germans drive on the left, the English drive on the right and the Maltese drive in the shade. All Maltese buses have a shrine to the Virgin Mary: their drivers need all the help they can get!

For me, Malta has such a sense of history. For example, the luzzu, the multi-coloured fishing boats with the eyes painted on the bow to ward off evil spirits, have been painted like that, passed down from one generation to the next, for 3000 years.

Maltese food is an interesting mix of Mediterranean and North African. Don't forget that Malta is further south than the northernmost part of Africa. Try the fenkata (rabbit) and lampuka (dolphin fish) either on its own or in a lampuki pie. For snacks, try the deep fried fig slices called imqaret and the samosa-like small ricotta or pea filled pasties called pastizzi.

Finally, make sure you visit the Sunday fish (and everthing else) market at the unpronouncable Marsaxlokk (mar-sa-schlok).

PS. As you are going over to Gozo, get the OH to treat you to a Gozitan lace shawl as a souvenir.

PPS. The inhabitants are called Maltese, NOT Maltesers!