Malta Things To Do For Families, With or Without Children: Attractions and Bargains

TRANSPORT
LAND
The hop on hop off bus has a top deck for good views. In Spring take an umbrella.
Alternatively, there's a horse drawn carriage to take you around the city of Valletta.
Vintage bus tour.
Gozo Segway tours.
Malta Classic Car Museum, Tourists Street, Qawra SPB 1020. www.classiccarsmalta.com
Cars, motorbikes, model cars, life-size figures and gift shops.
Rolling Geeks, electric powered cars with GPS and commentary. www.rolling-geeks.com
SEA
Take the ferry to Gozo. See Azure.
Side trip to Sicily.
Captain Morgan boat trips.
Blue Grotto Boat Service, 20-25 minute trip passing several caves, 9.30 winter and 9-5.30 summer, weather permitting. www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt Passengers must wear life jacket. Tickets 8 euros.
Malta Maritime Museum.
AIR
On the former site of the RAF station, includes aircraft which played on important part in WWII 1940-43, including Spitfire, de Havilland Tiger Moth, Douglas DC3 and more. Cafeteria and garden, near picnic park and Crafts Village. Last entry 4 pm.
Malta Aviation Museum
www.maltaaviationmuseum.com

ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH
Land, sea and sky provide constant interest.
Bird Park Malta.
Malta Falconry Centre.
National Museum of Natural History.

FISH
Malta National Aquarium
Triq It-Trunciera, Qawr, San Pawl Il-Bahar, SPB 1500
www.aquarium.com.mt

HISTORY & MUSEUMS
Lascaris War rooms, Valletta, where Eisenhower and Montgomery planned operations, underground Med HQ, code room and more.www.lascariswarrooms.com
National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta.
Museum of Archaeology, Victoria, Gozo.
Valletta Living History, Malta.
The Malta Experience.
The Mdina Experience.

LANDMARKS and LANDSCAPE
MALTA
Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens
Multi-lingual film, walk through dioramas and Punic tomb, stone carving, farm animals, 30 foot waterfall garden, coffee and souvenirs shop.
www.limestoneheritage.com
GOZO
Azure Window (arch over sea). Windmill. Calypso Cave. Prehistoric temples.
COMINO
Blue lagoon.

ACTIVITIES
Paintball.
Waterpark.

ATTRACTIONS and Museums
Malta 5D.
Malta experience. 45 minute show. www.themaltaexperience.com
Valletta Living History.

TOYS AND FILMS
Popeye Village
www.popeyemalta.com
Manoel theatre has lots of adults and children's events, some in the local language.

LANGUAGE
Rainy day, stuck on the ferry, or in a queue? If they are interested in language, or map-reading, point out that Triq is track or street, San is Saint and Pawl is Paul. Mt in the internet address is Malta. You could devise a quiz, or ask them to devise a quiz for the family.

HISTORIC
Lascaris War Rooms.

FAMILY DEALS, DISCOUNTS, BARGAINS FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS
Malta Public Transport
www.publictransport.com.mt
Malta Discount Card
www.maltadiscountcard.com
Tel: (+365) 7921 1329
@info@maltadiscountcard.com
Up to 50% off. In Feb 2015 the deal was a 10 day card for only 20 euros, valid for holder and one guest and up to three children under 12 years.
See their website for where to buy and where it is valid.

ADULTS EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Trabuxu The Wine Bar, Strait Street, Valletta. Tues until Sat. 7.30 until late. www.trabuxu.com.net
Twenty Two. Night club on floor 22 of Malta's highest building the Portomaso Business Tower, St Julian's, Malta.
www.22.com.mt
Open Wed-Sun 9.30 until late.

Zoo Safety Rules & Rehearsals

    When on holiday, especially family holidays with children, a zoo, bird park or safari is a  popular outing. But how safe are zoos. You always wonder. A BBC article explains the safety measures including those taken by Colchester zoo after wolves escaped.
    Why are wolves classed as danger category one out of three? Not only are animals unpredictable, so are human members of the public. (Plus other animals: pets, livestock, wildlife.)
   Even an escaped 'pet' can be a problem. Such as the rhea on the loose in England. We were told it has such long claws it can kill a human with one slash.
   Ah - but not adults, only babies? Mothers with babies going to zoos, or having a picnic in the local park, do not want to hear that animals on the loose can 'only' kill babies.
   And property. An elephant on the loose can crush or overturn a car. Any animal can cause an accident by colliding with a vehicle or making traffic on motorways swerve.
   Looking at the situation from a financial point of view, you don't want to frighten away the zoo visitors, put up your insurance, or fight law suits.
   I was interested to see that restaurants and information centres are designed as places of refuge for members of the public.
   Now you know. But it's time for a zoo safety certificate with stars, like the ones on restaurants.

What's child friendly in Singapore? Any islands with beaches?

I was recently asked, 'What's child-friendly in Singapore? Are there any islands with beaches?

   Yes, Singapore is an island and there are lots of beach areas along the East Coast with nearby restaurants, cycle hire and other activities.

   On the south side of Singapore is a traffic free island called Sentosa. It's like a giant Disney park with a couple of hotels and lots of attractions. Look for all-inclusive tickets. You may want to go early in the day to get your moneys worth, have time for everything, and arrive in time for attractions which are fully booked, crowded or closing before you leave if you are staying late or staying overnight.

   A ferry ride takes you to the islands of Bintan or Batam, popular for weekends away. Take your passport.

   To make use of time in Singapore, go on the Night Safari and perhaps have dinner there. Check out bookings as you may be able to get a discount or a combined ticket with the Singapore Zoo or Bird Park. 

   To get an overview of the city, ride on one of the hop on hop off buses.

   Children would also like a boat trip. These range from a short trip along the river, an amphibious Duck vehicle tour, or a historic elaborate Chinese style ship for a day tour to a tiny island where you can hike to a temple, or a little motorboat which zooms off.

   Another idea is the equivalent of the London Eye, a giant wheel called the Singapore Flyer.

Discounts
Look for coupons on line and in the local free magazines and booklet you pick up at Changi airport on arrival. You sometimes get discounts with your airline ticket or hotel booking, and from maps in the hotel foyer, so check on these sources too. If you have time, check out the Singapore tourist boards websites and offices in the UK, Singapore and other countries in English or other languages.
   You might want to include Universal Studios.
   Look for a City Pass, Riverboat Pass, Sentosa Pass. You can buy tickets for one, two or three days.
Look for beaches and boats on sites about Bumboat tours, River cruises, Tripadvisor, and YouTube.