Added: 01/21/2006 |
Malta tourism and Malta hotelsThe capital of Malta is Valletta. It has the charm of an Italian city with its many Baroque palaces set on narrow steep streets. The first stone was ceremonially laid in 1566. The purpose of the city, built in a short span of 15 years was primarily to fortify the island. Besides offering awesome Baroque buildings and fortifications as its main sightseeing attractions, Valletta is bustling and bursting with restaurants and cafes.
The island's compact size is also a plus for visitors; it takes no more than an hour to drive between any two points on the main island, and there is very little open space. The dense population means that the island is virtually one large urban area, with buildings occupying every inch. It is said that the Maltese islands are the "open air museum of the Mediterranean", offering 7 thousands years or more of history to explore with numerous cultural, historical and megalithic sites unique in the world.
Malta tourism is considered very safe for travelers. Crime is rare, though theft from parked cars and handbags can occur. There are no health risks attached to travel to Malta, and water and food is safe for consumption. A reciprocal health agreement exists between the United Kingdom and Malta and as a result British citizens receive emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Maltese nationals on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card. Visitors should, however, take out adequate medical and travel insurance in case medical evacuation or further treatment is required.
Do you know about tipping? A gratuity of 15% is expected in Malta hotels and 10% in restaurants, if service charge is not included in the bill. Most services are tipped about 10%. The unit of currency in Malta is the Maltese Pound or Lira (MTL), which is divided into 100 cents. Many Malta hotels, shops and restaurants accept foreign currency. Most hotels and restaurants, as well as many shops, accept Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa.
Travelers arriving in Malta do not need to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco and 2 bottles of alcohol. Any large items or electrical equipment should be declared on entry (video cameras and televisions for example), and currency must be declared. Firearms and drugs are surely prohibited.
Malta International airport is situated three miles or 5 kilometers southeast of Valetta. A regular bus service operates between the airport and the city and the journey time to Valetta is about 15 minutes.
There are hundreds of hotels in Malta. Most Malta hotels are located on the edge of picturesque bays, with beautiful ponds, fountains and gardens, with panoramic views along coasts, set apart from busy resort centers. Other hotels are on busy streets, surrounded by cinemas, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and shops.
You may reserve rooms in Malta hotels online or with the help of tourist companies, anyway people who have already been there advise to make sure to stay in no less than a three stars hotel.
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