Malta - Need Some Help to Sell it to SWMBO

Richard10002

Richard10002

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A tentative route for our summer trip has been laid:

Lagos - Barcelona - Balearics - Monaco - Pisa - Amalfi Coast - Malta

stopping at various places en route as appropriate.

For a variety of reasons, (berth costs, tax regime, access to UK, warm in Winter), Malta seems to be a good place to winter, (and possibly stay long term).

Neither of us has ever been, (but nor have we been anywhere else we could end up), so I have an open mind and good reasons to go there.

Janet has an irrational dislike of the place which must have been created by what she has heard from others and seen on TV and in other media.

I know there are a few people here who either live there, or spend time there, and others must have visited for short or long stays.

Is there anyone who can tell me a few things about Malta, or point me at web sites and other resources which might help me to sell it to her....

Many Thanks

Richard
 
most of the websites will point towards the tourist side , look into the historic side and you'll find a lot more to make the trip worthwhile . Spent a few years there as a kid and would love to go back , parents had a holiday there last year and loved it even though they said it had changed a lot . Just keep clear of the usual tourist tat and it's a lovely island
 
Been there and lived there for a while but not on a boat then. Expensive and easy to get lured by the Maltese Pound into thinking like for like. It isn't. I found it a rather boring limestone rock the size of the Isle of Bute. This was in the early eighties, so things may have changed.
Valetta harbour impressive, but the Gut isn't anymore, Blue Grotto worth a visit, Marsaxxlok?? pretty harbour with lots of colourfull boats, good diving. Raba Holy City, no cars alowed and very peacefull.
Gozo much the nicer island.
Hmmm, perhaps I enjoyed it more than I care to remember.
Gozo much the nicer island.
 
Gozo yes , but it's also more expensive

Richard , if you do decide to go let me know , I've got a few freinds out there that'll make you welcome
 
Malta? Sorry Richard, but I would suggest that you take note of Janet's womanly intuition in this case!
I really, really did not like Malta much for many of the reasons suggested by other postings here.... expensive, boring, etc..... As for wanting to keep your boat there!

Give me Greece anytime.... it has all the things you mention that you are looking for, and it doesn't matter how many times you may have sailed Greek waters, there is always much more to see. Also, contrary to some popular belief, mostly spread by those who only stick to the 'normal' sailing waters, it can be very inexpensive both to sail around, overnight at, and to lay your boat up, if you chose the right places.
Drop me a message if you want some suggestions etc.
 
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Gozo yes , but it's also more expensive

Richard , if you do decide to go let me know , I've got a few freinds out there that'll make you welcome

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Thanks for that!

Whilst it could change.... I've more or less decided that's where we'll end up this year... so I suppose she will find out for herself.... I guess I'm just trying to smooth the waters in advance <g>

Will obviously keep in touch, and will let you know as we get closer... expecting to be there mid/late September.

Cheers

Richard
 
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Malta? Sorry Richard, but I would suggest that you take note of Janet's womanly intuition in this case!

Give me Greece anytime....

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Just had a call from Janet delicately suggesting that she might prefer Greece to Malta <g>

I think Malta is as far as we might get and I suppose we will find out for ourselves..... and she has said she is open to persuasion. We can always spend 6 months there, and then move to Greece for the summer, or nip in and out, or whatever.

One of the attractions of Malta, (to me), is the fact that it has close ties to the EU, (maybe it's in it?), and they dont charge Capital Gains on the sale of overseas property, which obviously has nothing to do with how nice a place it is. Given that there are a few quids at stake, I think we're going to suck it and see. But I'm not dismissing your input.

Cheers

Richard
 
If you are going that way, (Amalfi coast) don’t miss the islands of Ischia and Capri. The Amalfi coast is well worth it.

The only thing I would say about Malta is that I thought that the port of Valletta very interesting in atmosphere with the architecture but the rest of the island, forget it.
 
good place to winter --were there two years ago after buying a yacht which was based there. Cheap Marina near Sliema Creek -- loads of chandlers and a v good boat yard at Manola Island opposite Sliema.
Having said that I wouldn`t fancy it all year round -there`s just not that much to do and the sailing in terms of places to go is not that brilliant. We left last May and went to the Ionian on route to Turkey , much more interesting.
If you go to Malta check with Christian @ S7D yachts -- a really nice guy who knows everything and everyone to do with yachting on the island. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
There is a 1/2 page write up on Malta in this months MB&Y - yes I know it's stinky rag, but it does have some nice piccies of blue seas and even a nice marina.

No pictures of boats hurtling around either. Might be worth waving it under SWMBO's nose, or going to WHSmiths and just reading the bit of the shelf.
 
Stop in Menton and take the train back to monacco Menton has fresh water showers on the beach as it has had for years a great market where you can stock up when its over. It also has an English church and comunity and great shopping!

For Pisa you must call for a place alon the river now.I wouldent recomend it as sap from the trees drops on deck and the bus service into pisa isent what it was!

Better go into Livorno thats the first comunist town in Italy they began Italian comunisum!Thats why you will pay to much to eat and even when your introduced as a long term resident your lunch can still cost more than twice the amount paid by others at your table at first!But the wines plentiful and good.

You will find a place,just come into the port and on the starboard you will see pontoons and a hut behind just tie up on the wall before the pontoons and if the omigatore dosent see you just go over to the cabin if theres a VW bus or a blue Lancia hes there some where and wont be long getting to you and giving you a place.

Their honest but in town dont expect much the food is very good but only at the less expensive places theres only one street and one place but there are several "good" places though over priced!

If you arrie at a moment of economic difficulty you can tie up on the main break water its forbidden but you can do it for a while as the police cant always be bothered to come out to tell you to move!Then its free

The markets a bit expensive and dosent leave enough for the economicaly challenged theres a daily coverd market you can visit by boat and tie up near the steps and a street market the coverd market vendors will ive a better price and have better fresher sometimes products than the open one also agood cafe one sitting one standing one at each end!

Pisa is for tourists and people from Pisa dont like those from Livorno and vis a versa so dont say you are mooring to see Pisa!!!!!!Your stay could be short!
 
Haven't sailed there, but did have a climbing trip there 15 years ago and really enjoyed it. Have spent part of the last 15 years trying to find a tastier portion of creamy garlic mushrooms which we ate in a restaurant near the harbour, unfortunately can't remember its name.
 
I spent some time in Malta and loved it. came from Turkey and Greece and found it a really good place. Nice people, inexpensive, excellent boat facilities, good yards and lots of really nice tourist things to do - I enjoyed the museums et al. Nice fireworks every Friday night.

Not only that it is a great stepping stone to other nice places - Tunisia, Sicily, Italy and Corfu to mention a few.. good wintering place and is sort of the Gibraltar of the Eastern Med.. Good place..
 
100% agree with you!Some "tourist"shops can be a bit over the top but boat wise amazing place so freindly i was offered 4 props to try no deposit just take with try and bring back!!

Work is great but you have to stay by your job or it might slow a bit and the hours mount up!

The islands really wonderful but not in summer!Then its walm!!!!Its been a while since i wa there but i want to retern its the best place in this rotten EEC corrupt world.

In Malta the politicos DONT drive 4.6liter Range rovers and EEC mercadies 500s and tell others to be eco freindly as our EEC commisars do

The winds and swell is a bit boreing!
 
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I'd miss Monaco off that list, unless you need to visit your bank manager there.

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I'm sure we wont be taking little Rogue into monaco, but it seemed a nice place to put a waypoint, and to include on the provisional route sent to potential crew members.

Having said that, I wonder if you can motor in, around, and out?

I do have a rich friend/who rents a flat overlooking the harbour, so it would be good if we could visit when he's there...... he might even get the champers in <g>

We'll probably take Trouvilles' advice, moor nearby, and get public transport in. I also think Livorno makes more sense than Pisa.... I'd rather see Florence than Pisa, but we'll probably do both, (Mum's the word).

And thanks to everyone for the help, or otherwise, so far.

Showed Janet a couple of posts earlier this evening, and she's really touched that people are so helpful.

Cheers
 
Check out my website for Sicily and S Spain information.

Sorry, I haven't written up the S France and Italy bits yet, but those coasts are incredibly crowded and very expensive during the 6 weeks peak season, and pretty busy outside those times. Italy S of Naples is quiet all year round though.

Personally, I'd hop from the Spanish coasts to the Balearics (preferably outside peak season), then Corsica, Sardinia, to Sicily.

There's a wonderful drop in costs (and crowds) when you go east of Italy. Look forward to that for the following year!
 
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Check out my website for Sicily and S Spain information.

Personally, I'd hop from the Spanish coasts to the Balearics (preferably outside peak season), then Corsica, Sardinia, to Sicily.

There's a wonderful drop in costs (and crowds) when you go east of Italy. Look forward to that for the following year!

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Thanks Jim

My first route was Barcelona, Balearics, Sardinia, Amalfi Coast, but I got distracted by the shorter legs and "flash" ports of call on the Northern route..... seems a shame not to do it if it's there.... but these things arent set in stone.

Cost is a factor in heading East..... £2000 for a marina berth is a lot more attractive than £6,000 in the West.

One problem we will have is the dog, (Paddy). Given that Janet may want to take him home occassionally, we think we need to remain in the EU to avoid quarantine... so Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey seem to be off the agenda... unless anyone knows different.

Cheers

Richard
 
One problem we will have is the dog, (Paddy). Given that Janet may want to take him home occassionally, we think we need to remain in the EU to avoid quarantine

.......................................................................

Far as I know, you cant bring an animal into the uk on a private boat. Maybe that was not your intention??
 
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Far as I know, you cant bring an animal into the uk on a private boat. Maybe that was not your intention??

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Agreed, it has to be via a prescribed route with a prescribed carrier. The boat and me will be staying abroad. If they want to return to the UK, Paddy and janet will be flying <g>
 
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