MALTA

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PROS

  • Great festivals and good weather if you go in September or April.
  • It's beautiful, the beaches are wonderful. Lots of sightseeing opportunities.
  • The people are very friendly, and there are many young Erasmus students.
  • It's very easy to get around the island.
  • Being a small island, it's easy to explore it quickly. You meet new people (many from Spain). There's a good party scene, and the places are very beautiful.

CONS

  • If you go in January-April, it's quite cold and damp, and the accommodation isn't well-equipped for this climate.
  • Public transportation isn't good: buses are often late or full, and if they're full, they don't stop.
  • The roads aren't in good condition, and people drive very fast.
  • Although it's not as expensive as Ireland or the UK, everything is quite expensive.
  • Being an island, the shower pressure can be poor.
  • In my area (Birkirkara), there isn't much to do.
  • Some people on the street show little respect; they whistle at you from their cars, make strange noises, and so on.

REGARDING ACCOMMODATION...

"I had a great time in the apartment. It was spacious and bright. My room was spacious and the bathroom was great. It had a large balcony with a table and chairs. The kitchen was open with windows and plenty of utensils."
"The water pressure in the shower was very poor. It must be quite normal on the islands, but it was very difficult to rinse my hair."
"The apartment was good, but the landlord came unannounced to "check on us," which was quite annoying."
"The apartment is fine, but I was very cold at night (January-April)."
"In my case, I wasn't comfortable, neither with my roommates nor with the quality of the apartment. We didn't have spare sheets, we were without internet for a month, and the hot water was out for a week."
"I was very lucky with the apartment I got, and with the people I was assigned. We all got along really well, and we'll stay together in the future. Regarding the agency that booked the apartment for us, they would show up at our house without warning to check that it was tidy, and it ended up bothering us a bit, because they would complain about the slightest thing you left out of place. We also had several days of power outages, but it wasn't anything major."
"A very good apartment, very large and spacious. I really can't complain, and it's very well located, but very far from the company."
"Very good, except that the cleaning is one aspect that could have made things worse."

IF YOU GO TO MALTA, YOU HAVE TO VISIT...

  • Comino (but don't stay where everyone else is, dare to explore the island).
  • Gozo, Mdina, the silent city, Valletta, St. Julian's, and Sliema.
  • Walk from Marsascala to Marsaxlok; there are some beautiful beaches.
  • I recommend taking a boat tour; they explain the history very well and are very nice.
  • Golden Bay, St. Peter's Pool, and Paceville
  • Blue Lagoon, the foam party, Marsaxlok.
  • Popeye Village.
  • For partying, I recommend going to Paceville; there are many clubs, the beaches of Golden Bay, and St. Peter's Pool.
  • The Blue Cave.

A GOOD PLACE TO EAT / HAVE A DRINKS IN MALTA IS...

  • Havana Club, located in Valletta.
  • Any bar in Valletta or Sliema.
  • Spinola (there are tons of bars serving all kinds of cuisine).
  • Try all kinds of kebabs.
  • Qube, St. Julian's.
  • The rooftop of a hostel called Marco Polo in St. Julian's for a drink.
  • Nine Lives for a drink in Buggiba. And burgers at Hermanos for lunch, in Birkirkara, St. Julian's, Mellieha, and Marsascala.
  • Fat Harry's in Bugibba.

TIPS IF YOU GO TO MALTA

  • January-April is a very wet and cold destination. It's better to go at another time of year.
  • You have to know that the Erasmus experience also has its downsides, and that helps us grow as people, allowing us to better manage our problems and feelings in the future.
  • Go kayaking in Marsaxlokk.
  • Partying is great. But you have to take advantage of the opportunity to visit as much as possible; the three months fly by, and you still have things to see.
  • Instead of going out a lot in Paceville, go to places where there are more Maltese people.
  • Ask for a public transport pass at least two weeks before you go. You can request that they leave it at the offices of the company organizing your accommodation and internship, and if you ask well in advance, they can even send it to Spain.
  • Manage your money wisely; it's very easy to spend too much and then have a bad time just in case. Bring your passport, even if you have your ID, in case you lose it.
  • If possible, bring an action camera to take videos on the beach or at the places where you can jump into the sea.
  • Get a green bus card before you arrive, as you can take as many trips as you want (€28 per card); if you don't have one, it's €2.50 per trip.
  • Wear plenty of sunscreen and don't pack too many winter clothes because the heat starts quickly.
  • If you're going to Malta with the intention of learning or improving your English, choose another destination. Despite it being their second native language, the majority of Maltese speakers are here.