A Short Break in Malta

I know there's a few expats out there who already make the Malta run regularly - it's highly recommended to get away from the BS and tedium of Tripoli!

Mrs Sand and I, minus our 1-1/2 year old just had a couple of nights at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paceville, Valletta, Malta.

We got a great deal through Air Malta (their office is on the ground floor, Burj Al Fatah), return flights, 2 nights at the I/contenental ***** for just over 700 Lyd for both of us, taxes included.

It's available every day (check their brochure) but gets booked up quickly if you're planning on joining all the Libyans on their pilgrimage to the land of booze on a Thursday! We travelled out on a Wedmesday and returned on Friday.

If you want to do it on the cheap, there are plenty of budget hotels on the list.

If you want to be in the middle of the party patch with the 18-25 year olds, head for Paceville or St Juliens Bay, it gets quieter towards the Sliema end. For those who want to take life at a slower pace, there are hotels in the less commercial areas of the islands.

I won't bother with all the touristy stuff, we went for a good time on the pi$$ and to shop for hard-to-get things.

We left Tripoli by 5pm (flight was late) and after getting a taxi to the hotel we necking our first cold ones by 7pm in one of the many bars in Paceville. There's quite a few pole dancing clubs in the area, if you're prepared to shell out 300 Euro to rub the boobies of some Russian slapper

Beware, Malta is a tourist trap and anything entertainment related carries a premium! A round of drinks for four goes for 15-20 Euros.

There's an area around the Plaza in Sliema where you can find lots of trendy shops and there are a couple of supermarkets in the same area. Scott's is one, and there's another one on three levels on the next street.

There's also a brewing supplier store in Zebugg (a 20 min taxi ride away) where you can buy beer kits, yeast and a few other bit n pieces for your hooch. I bought them out of their Cooper's IPA kits, expensive but beggars can't be choosers...

There's supposed to be a good butcher in Sliema who sells imported beef & pork but we didn't have time to find it.

Great couple of days away from it all!

ps Malta is an EU member and uses Euros. Non EU visitors need a visa from the Malta consulate which is a couple of blocks from the unfinished grey mosque in the Ben Ashour area.