Malta Travel Forum

Hello Everyone:

My wife and I will be in Malta at the end of Feb./March. We would like to take day trips to Sicily and to Tunisia. I have read reviews on this site saying that flights might be better. Does anyone have any specific advice, taken both modes of transportation and has an opinion on which was better if not less expensive?

Has anyone stayed at the Island Residence Club at Golden Sands and how was it?

Thanks for all your help!

There are two ferries from Valletta to Sicily depending on which port you want to land in.
http://www.virtuferries.com/pages/index.aspx
Catania in the North or Pozzallo in the South. We got an organised day-trip to Sicily last summer and although we thought it was expensive, we enjoyed it. We went at about 6.30am (pick-up at 5.30am from hotel!) and the crossing took about 1½ hours. We caught a coach and immediately stopped for coffee in Pozzallo. Then were taken to the village of Taormina for a 2-hour stop, followed by a trip to nearby Mt Etna for another 2-hour stop.
The coach journey each way was 2 hours or so - very long and boring although the guide did provide commentary along the way.
It was a long day for , essentially 4 hours in Sicily - 2 in Taormina and 2 in Mt Etna visitor centre. The cablecar up Mt Etna was another 20 euros each I think.
If you fly then you will need a car at the other end I suspect and all told it will be rather time-consuming.
I recommend the organised trips - the ferry was beautiful - nice seats, drinks, snacks and unless you have any particular destination on Sicily in mind, the trip we took was very good indeed. (and expensive!)
I'll answer the Golden Sands question separately.

We didnt stay at Golden Sands or in the Island residence club but we did visit last summer.
We went to Golden Sands on the bus from our resort (Qwara) and it was, indeed a nice place to visit. We were glad we did not stay there though as, apart from a couple of shops and a bar plus the large Radison Hotel complex, there was nothing to do.
Qwara was much livelier and had a bus station from where you could get around Malta easily and cheaply.
If you stay at Golden Sands then I advise you to rent a car.
Now - Island residence Club.
We were (tricked?) persuaded to visit by a tout-type as it was definitely NOT a timeshare he said.........but we got some wine and a T-shirt.
We were given a 5-star tour and viewed several hotel rooms/apartments in the centre of the Radison complex which were very expensive ( I wish i could recall the prices now but certainly more than £10k. The idea was that you "rented-out" the room or suite and made money on your investment.
It was basically buying a chunk of rental up front from an organisation who were still building other properties in the same vein. You did NOT own bricks and mortar.
As for staying there - well luxury wasn't the word - it was sumptious. I believe you must pay for meals yourself - the rates for staying were room-only unless you have some sort of deal. If you have been "invited" to stay there you might have to go through the sales pitch but you might get some meals thrown-in. Again, the meals and restaurants were 5 or 6 star at least. (and expensive!)
The pools, gym, rooms, bars, facilities were absolutely sumptious. Terrific! (and very expensive!)
If, like me you want a basic comfortable holiday, then there are other resorts that offer far more.
If you want this luxury complex, a golden beach, and all the trappings and don't mind the travelling to get to to the other parts of the island, then this will be fine.
If you want more than a beach and a shop then it will be a bit of a boring place to stay - apart from the luxury element of course!
Personally, I would NEVER pay up-front for a "promise" of future holidays - I would want actual bricks and mortar.
And, if I wanted that much luxury, then I don't think it would be in Malta much as I loved my holiday!

Note: for Qwara, read QAWRA! (pron: owra, ow as in "ouch").

well excuuuuuuuuse me!

Thank you John for all of the information.

duly noted!