I have two friends on spring breaks in Iceland and another asked me to research somewhere new, but warmer, so I have selected Malta.
Malta has three islands. Gozo is the second largest. Teeny Comino is between them.
You can get a glimpse of the major sights on the internationally known hop on hop off buses but the reviews I read on Tripadvisor were very mixed. This often happens, but it's useful to see whether the issues will affect you. I read reports of problems with timing, waiting for buses which run half hourly whilst the local buses are every fifteen minutes. If you still prefer a bus with a commentary, which I do, it might still be worthwhile for me and others like me to take the tour buses. Some complained they missed a bus or two because buses were cancelled or stopped. Worthwhile having a phone which operates in Malta (check roaming costs) to call back to base.
Others said commentary could be out of sync with buses taking off before you hear the commentary, so you don't get off at a place which sounds interesting. That's when you are relying on the bus tour commentary to tell you what to see. You need to know in advance when to get off.
Another reported a bus stopping at attractions which turn out to be closed in the afternoon. That can happen when you drive your own car. Check opening times of attractions. Another said buses stopped at shops/sales outlets where the tourist thought the 'franchise operator' or driver had commissions.
If you are a keen shopper, like window shopper, and enjoy factory tours, then I think you might be quite happy, providing you get to stop at the main attractions.
Back to research. Yes, it's worthwhile listing what you want to see and checking opening hours.
I shall continue researching over the next 48 hours and continue in another post. Researching a new destination, people, places, food, history, restaurants, hotels, language, is part of the joy of travel.
Angela Lansbury
Travel Writer and photographer
Malta has three islands. Gozo is the second largest. Teeny Comino is between them.
You can get a glimpse of the major sights on the internationally known hop on hop off buses but the reviews I read on Tripadvisor were very mixed. This often happens, but it's useful to see whether the issues will affect you. I read reports of problems with timing, waiting for buses which run half hourly whilst the local buses are every fifteen minutes. If you still prefer a bus with a commentary, which I do, it might still be worthwhile for me and others like me to take the tour buses. Some complained they missed a bus or two because buses were cancelled or stopped. Worthwhile having a phone which operates in Malta (check roaming costs) to call back to base.
Others said commentary could be out of sync with buses taking off before you hear the commentary, so you don't get off at a place which sounds interesting. That's when you are relying on the bus tour commentary to tell you what to see. You need to know in advance when to get off.
Another reported a bus stopping at attractions which turn out to be closed in the afternoon. That can happen when you drive your own car. Check opening times of attractions. Another said buses stopped at shops/sales outlets where the tourist thought the 'franchise operator' or driver had commissions.
If you are a keen shopper, like window shopper, and enjoy factory tours, then I think you might be quite happy, providing you get to stop at the main attractions.
Back to research. Yes, it's worthwhile listing what you want to see and checking opening hours.
I shall continue researching over the next 48 hours and continue in another post. Researching a new destination, people, places, food, history, restaurants, hotels, language, is part of the joy of travel.
Angela Lansbury
Travel Writer and photographer
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