Malta, It's Like Marmite ??? You Either Love It Or Hate It!

Now you may be wondering why I have chosen to write about Malta, well half of my family are Maltese. My grandmother was Maltese and Lateu was her maiden name hence my Lateu-Dalton surname. The Maltese side of the family can be traced back to 1432 during the time of the Knights of Malta.

When I started off in the travel industry I was surprised by the love/hate relationship between customers and Malta, it was either 'oh no i am not going there again' or 'Malta absolutely lovely place been several times'.

People either love the history with all the UK connections (English being spoken) and the rocky coast line, (there are very few sandy beaches) or hate it as it’s not a beach resort in Spain! I guess that it normally follows that younger people tend not to like it so much, however Paceville near Slima is a lively place and it is where the young head for a wild night out!, but if you have family links like me then Malta takes on a different dimension and it’s about the culture, the history and of course my family.

Malta's 16^th Century Grand Harbour in the capital of Valletta is one of the most spectacular ports in the Med, it is simply breath taking as you can see from some of my pictures. Malta's principal maritime gateway is a very popular port-of-call for ships that are cruising the Med these days. The harbour has been a hive of activity for over two thousand years.

Valletta is a world heritage site, and is nothing short of an open-air museum. Take a stroll to admire the magic of the fortified capital and after that the city itself boasts a good choice of restaurants and number of cafes for convenient open air dining. Also Valletta is Malta's main shopping centre you will find a vast array of shops especially Goldsmiths down Republic Street.

Try visiting the silent city of Media, it’s located at the top of a hill in the centre of the Island, has narrow streets and loads of history, a bus ride from Valletta will take only 30 mins and the views are spectacular. If the cruise has a tour, this is one not to miss!

Another great adventure is the Blue Grotto on the opposite side of the Island, but remember nothing is far as the Island is 26 miles long and 13 miles wide – take a boat ride into the Grotto’s and see the sea turn different colours against the rock formations.

In my opinion although it maybe a little biased, Malta is a truly unique destination, with plenty to do and see and makes a great port choice on any Med itinerary. I promise you won't be disappointed!