Basically the Most Underrated Travel Location in Europe- Malta

Flickr CC By Robert Pittman 

by JIM O'CONNELL


Of all the places which I visited within Europe the one that I'd call the most overlooked is the tiny country of Malta. Most Americans most likely don't know much of this tiny island nation, but if you have a chance to visit this nation in the Mediterranean I will almost guarantee you'll find it an outstanding experience. The reason is because of its critical location and ideal harbors it's for ages been sought after and battled for by almost every Mediterranean power dating back to the Phoenicians.

Over the centuries the island has long been under control of eight major superpowers. It would probably not come as a surprise, then that as you tour Malta you'd be aware of the influence of several of these great cultures. One of the initial things I observed was the language. There are a couple of official languages, Maltese as well as English, and essentially every one of the locals there speaks English effortlessly. But to me the Maltese language appeared to be much like Arabic, even as almost all of the population is Roman Catholic.

An additional impression that I got was the hot, dry weather conditions. I was there in October and although there was modest greenery to be found, it's rough, rocky terrain and large seaside cliffs above the Mediterranean made it incredibly beautiful. Possibly the ideal way to see Malta is on their hop-on hop-off vehicles, which run in a couple of loops, one covering the north as well as the other south regions of the main island. Malta is made up of three inhabited islands, but much of its past is located in Valletta and also the ancient capital of Mdina.

Probably the most historical part of this significant country is the capital and largest city, Valletta. The large fortifications for this downtown area had been constructed in the late 1500s by the Knights of Malta after they had survived the siege by the Ottoman Empire. Those stonewalled buttresses withstood heavy bombing within the Second World War at the time the Germans unsuccessfully attempted to capture it. Valletta is rather compacted therefore the region you will have to include to see lot isn't large.

These days one of the most preferred places to stay for travelers, and also where there are also plenty of business meetings will be the attractive seaside village called Bugibba. It is north from Valletta along the coastline about four or five miles. Now Malta is an autonomous nation, getting its independence from United Kingdom in 1964. This is actually a highly regarded vacation spot with Europeans, and if more Americans knew in regards to this overlooked tourist destination they would be flocking there, too.

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Jim O'Connell is a writer and travel enthusiast.


via Amazine

Discover the most pristine beaches in Malta

Flickr CC By Simon

by FABIOLA GROSHAN

The tiny Republic of Malta is one of the most beautiful places in the world and can definitely be considered a gem of the Mediterranean Sea. Millions and millions of tourists make their way every year to this little Paradise in the middle of the sea in the search for the most rugged and unspoiled beaches that they have ever seen. 

As a matter of fact, with the addition of travelers and business tourists that come every year, the entire population of the country is tripled in comparison to those that reside in the Republic all year round. Owing to this fact and keeping in mind the rocky construction of the terrain in Malta, there are many changes that have been done by the officials in order to facilitate transport through the islands and ensure that all the visitors make their way along the shores with no problems or trouble from their part. 

Hence, long stretches of road have been built and they can even cover the entire exterior area of the island so that you can see all of the amazing shoreline views from the comfort of your own car.

But what happens if you are a traveler coming from a far distance and did not have the possibility to bring your own ride along? Remember that Malta is an island country and there is no other link to the European or African continent than by sea or air, so coming with a car can prove to be challenging, if not impossible. 

Flickr CC By Juan Llanos

In this situation, you can trustfully use one of the firms that offer car rental in Malta. This industry of giving away cars as a temporary measure for those who want to travel in comfort has thrived and flourished in this small archipelagos, where the distances are just large enough to make them out of reach by foot and small enough to make a twenty or thirty minute car ride to the beach a pleasant and breathtaking experience. 

Especially families that travel with small kids will enjoy the perks of having a personal vehicle where they can store all of the important elements needed for travel, such as change of dippers, clothes for the evening, safety kits and plenty of large sized beach toys, water mattresses and kids’ buoys.

This can also be handy for large groups of friends or even smaller ones that need specific beach gear or simply want to feel the freedom of stopping whenever and wherever they want along the way to enjoy a captivating view from above, above meaning the high shores and rocks that make the Maltese shoreline to be extremely tall in comparison to the sea.

Flickr CC By John Haslam

A car hire in Malta is also a great idea if you want to visit some of the impressive sights and touristic spots that the islands have to offer. On the main and largest island, called Malta, you can see the Dingli radar and Dingli Cliffs, which is the highest point of the country and offers impressive views for romantic lovers or couples to gaze at. 

If you want, you can even take your car and travel with it to the nearby island of Gozo, where more impressive Mediterranean architecture and landmarks can be found. You can even tour around Gozo and make your way to the Comino Island, the third in size and last inhabited island of the archipelagos, where the famous Count of Monte Cristo movie was shot. 

There is practically nothing that you cannot do or see with the help of a personal car rented in Malta from a reliable source. This method of travelling will totally transform the way you see the gorgeous Republic of Malta.

via Amazine