Valletta Travel Answers

I am sure you will enjoy your stay at the Osbourne Hotel: I did. :-) There is no bus service from the bus station into that part of Valletta, I'm afraid. The streets are, quite simply, too narrow even if a service was considered to be of use. So I suggest that you pre-book a taxi from the airport itself. It is very near Valletta anyway, and taxi drivers will (understandably) be very reluctant to take you from the bus station only 500m to the hotel. E.g. http://www.maltaairporttransfer.com/ (18 euro airport to Valletta) Or you could take the airport>hotel shuttle, which is cheaper but will obviously not be quite as direct a journey: maltairport.com/page.asp?n=m...

Yes, no buses to that part of Valletta. When we were in Malta, upon arrival at the airport we took a taxi to the Osbourne. What one did then was go to a kiosk at the airport, say where you were going, they'd say how much, (fares are regulated and are set prices to areas), you'd pay and be given a voucher thing and then you'd go and get a taxi just outside the terminal. Dead easy and honestly, I wish more airports had this system 'cos it sure takes the aggro and hassle and angst out of arriving. This was four or five years ago, so don't know if that system is still on-going. Gosh, if your husband hates walking, then he is going to have a rather difficult time on Malta, Valletta especially. All buses to other parts of the island leave from the bus station.

Yes, I'm afraid the same thing had occurred to me. I was hoping your husband just hating walking *with luggage*. But if he hates walking generally, then you must anticipate some considerable expense with taxis picking you up from the hotel and dropping you off there. A journey of less than 1km (they can't drive the way you would walk from the bus station) will be pricey for the distance covered.

For arriving, no problem - the hotel can arrange a taxi or you can use the airport service, all fixed prices - but just for getting around, yikes - the guys hanging around waiting to pick you up will try to get all they can, it is a real struggle - Once I was in Valleta trying to get to a boat and they were horrid - finally a kind person on the street phoned one he knew! that is extreme - the taxi who came was great and very helpful, and he was happy with what I gave him (we had to find the darn boat, run back up to an office to get the tickets, back to the boat, etc) but that is kinda depending on the kindness of strangers! (which I do) - The hotel can help you leaving out from it, but getting back? your husband might have to accept a little walking??!!

If there is a real issue with walking then it would be sensible to get the numbers of taxi companies from the hotel and use those on a regular basis, phoning when you need to return. There will be no problem with language on the phone. But I do think they may be reluctant to take you from the bus station to the Osbourne: the trip is so very short. But it will be a trip you need to make every time you use the bus to go anywhere. Have you considered hiring a car? Malta drives on the left, but driving there is not so very difficult. The island is very small, and nowhere is very far away. I'm not sure about specific parking for the Osbourne (you'll need to contact them) but there is a largish empty area used for parking just down the road (perhaps 100m).

Hi and thank you so much for taking the trouble to reply to me. My husband hates walking because he had a dual hip replacement 10 years ago and is terrified of wear and tear! I will get a taxi from the airport as advised, much better to fork out than have a grumpy hubby - once we don't have any luggage to cart about I am sure he will be so enthralled by the architecture ( he is an architect) and culture that he won't even realise that we have actually ambled miles. Will let you know how we got on, Cheers, Marian

Hi, and thanks for taking the trouble to reply. He hates walking because he had a dual hip replacement 10 years ago and is dreading the wear and tear that will lead to yet another replacement. We'll take a taxi - once we have ditched the luggage then I am sure he'll be so taken by his surroundings that he won't actually realise that we are ambling for miles. CHeers, Marian

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Osbourne and, I suspect, your husband will indeed not realise quite how far he has walked once he has begun to 'balcony-spot'. :-)