I have been here for quite a while now, and have picked up a few bits and pieces of information along the way. So if you have any questions about Malta, (living, working and holidaying over here), or about the meaning of life in general, please ask them in the comments section below and I will be glad to help if I can. A lot of people prefer to contact me by email, and you can do this at howtomalta@hotmail.com - every mail will be answered!
We don't want any cash or sacks of precious gems, but if we help you out then please click the facebook 'Like' button.
Cheers!
David
38 comments:
Hi, thanks for your blog - its great!
I am moving to Malta next month and hopefully we will stay for a few months if we can find jobs. Can you tell me if it is easy to open a bank account in Malta and what is the best bank to use? We just need it for deposits and easy withdrawals.
Thanks for your help. Ruth
Hi Ruth... You basically have a choice between HSBC and Bank of Valletta so take your pick. Both have ATMs all over the island, internet banking and all that good stuff. I'm going to be publishing a post with more info in the next couple of weeks, but I would strongly suggest that you go and get a Maltese ID card before you try and open your account. Makes life a lot easier. You can find details on how to get a card elsewhere on the site, just enter 'id' in the search bar and you'll find what you need.
Really enjoyed reading your blog & your odd wee bit of Irish humour makes even the potentially boring stuff enjoyable.
Myself & wife are heading over next Feb to look at posssibly relocating to Malta next summer (lived in Canary islands for 10 yrs & fancy a change). We've always lived away from main tourist resorts, and was wondering where you'd recommend to consider. Doesn't need to be ex-pat area either, in fact, we generally avoid those spots too! Still in early planning stages, but I'm sure a week in February will give us a better idea, along with any pointers you might have.
Many thanks,
Ken
Thanks Ken..
The real British/Irish hub in Malta is the Bugibba/Quormi area. So that's probably the place you want to avoid! Sliema/St Julian's is where a lot of expats live, but it's not a tourist resort type of place, this is just close to where many people work & shop.
If you are after a 'back to nature' experience, you should probably look for somewhere in Gozo, which is a sedate and rather old-fashioned version of the main island.
As you say, you will get a better idea when you come out here yourself, so let us know if you need any more info before then.
Cheers,
David
Really enjoyed reading your articles. Which resort would you recommend for us? We are a group of 2 ad, 2 young kids, 2 grandparents. All I know for sure is that I dont want Bugibba. What about staying in Valletta? Not desperate for beaches, we will probably go off for day trips on the bus. We would like to have a choice of eateries on our doorstep. Going end of March.
Thanks a bunch
I would definitely recommend St Julian's - buses to wherever you want to go and plenty of restaurants to choose from.
Hi! First of all, what amazing blog you have here! I'm 19 year old student from finland, and i would love to go to malta in the summer 2013. I would have to work there that i could pay my visit, which i hope would be from june to end of july. Do you think that i have a chance to work there in the summer? I read your post where you recommended that if you want to come to malta and work here in the summer you would have to come here earlier, in the spring and find a job as a waiter etc. What if that's not possible? I've been trying to find jobs from the web but still empty handed.. Do you know any good sites for finding jobs? I got good social skills and i'm up to any job really.
Any advice to my "problem" would be a huge help!!
Thanks
Hi and thanks for the kind words. You have a couple of advantages to start with: 1. You are an EU citizen, so no visa problems and 2. Your English seems pretty perfect so that will make things easier as well. There are lots of jobs around in summer, if you are prepared to do bar work and restaurant type jobs. Yes, the earlier you get here the better, but it is never too late. Any kind of certificates or experience/recommendations will definitely help. These jobs aren't advertised on the internet, it's just a case of knocking on doors and persevering. Try emailing some of the big language schools for jobs as a 'Leisure Team' worker: basically going on various trips with language students and showing them round the island - won't pay much, but it will pay for a summer in the sun.
I am sure you will find something without too much trouble - Good luck!
Couple of errors in the above reply which I feel duty bound to address: First of all,'Quormi' should be spelled Qormi - or Hal Qormi if you prefer the Maltese. And secondly I was thinking of Qawra when I wrote the above. Sometimes I get confused by all those 'Q' placenames...
Hi David would you say Malta is a very noisy place? Can it be a real issue with property owners leaving dogs on roofs barking, constant building , gas trucks blaring their horns, loads of cars/bikes with loud exhausts all the time?
I am about to hit the "buy" button to fly over to see for myself with a view to staying but feel realistically it may be a wasted trip as I'm not keen on noisy, built up, touristy areas. When I read about Gozo or other areas the quad bikes and noisy exhausts issue do get mentioned but only occasionally.
I expect more lively cultural differences, but I do like to be able to escape to the peace and quiet at times so wonder if this is too much to expect.
Thank you.
Well one of the first things to be said about Malta, is that you are talking about a very small island which is home to a relatively large population. It is by far the most densely populated country in the EU; in a 2008 report Malta was found to have 1,274 people per square kilometre, England second on the list with a mere 395 per square kilometre. So in other words, you cannot expect to live a life of splendid isolation over here. Having said that, I don't find it to be particularly noisy and drivers don't blare their horns perhaps as much as they should given some of the driving on display... Gozo is a lot quieter than the main island if tranquility is top of your agenda.
To be honest, from what you write I get the impression a small village in Italy, France or Spain might tick more of your boxes than Malta. But of course there's only one way to find out, and that's to get over here and check the place out for yourself.
Hi David,
Great blog!
In regards to a twenty something year old female,looking for a safe, quiet , yet central to daily necessities ,where would you recommend? I keep thinking Sliema as the best option.Defantely want to stay away from Paceville.Also,how important is it to be within close proximity to your job/school(still seacrhing for one)Could i depened on the bus to get me on time and on schedule?
Look forward to your feedback.
I agree with you that Sliema is probably the best option. This is where most of the foreigners stay - close to any kind of shopping you need, close to where you will probably end up working, and the centre of the bus transport hub so you can get anywhere you need to. I cannot say you can totally rely on the buses here to arrive when they are supposed to, but in Sliema you will have enough options so that it shouldn't be a problem. If you can find an apartment a street or two back from the seafront it won't be too expensive, and safety is not a concern in Malta compared to just about anywhere else in the world. I'm sure you will have a good time when you get over here, and best of luck with the job search!
Hi David
I stumbled across your blog today and have been reading your posts for the past two hours! Great stuff.. it really is amazing for you to share your experiences with others, i can't thank you enough!
I'm due to move to malta in the next month with work but had a few questions I hope you could help with.
I was wondering what the cultural mix is like in Malta? I'm black and have lived in London all my life so am used to a multicultural society... is malta the same? I've read some reports that suggest otherwise so am not sure what to believe!
Secondly, how far (journey wise) is Birkirkara from Silema?
And thirdly, will 22k euros be a decent salary to live on? Compared to what i earn in london it is much less but i havent factored in the lower maltese standard of living.
Sorry for the long message but hopefully I'll hear from you soon!
Two hours eh? Impressive endurance... I will try to answer your questions here:
1. London is one of the great multicultural cities of the world, and it's hard to find too many places which compare in that sense. Malta is certainly no melting pot - that may sound odd, as historically that's exactly what Malta is, but you don't find the cultural diversity on a societal level today. Apart from English and Italians, immigration to Malta from elsewhere is a pretty new thing. Lots of first generation immigrants from Africa, lots of young Europeans who have moved here to find work in various roles. And during summer season the place is bursting with tourists from all over the world. Certainly not as diverse or as integrated a place as London.
2. Birkikara to Sliema by bus is probably between 35 to 45 minutes depending on time of day.
3. By Maltese standards €22K is pretty decent. Some things are still pretty expensive out here, but you will be comfortable enough on that salary - it is certainly more than the national average (although it's hard to pin down those figures).
Anyway feel free to stop by any time & best of luck to you!
I think I read every one of your posts!
The national average seems pretty low, I can't see how people live on that much... but i suppose they get taxed less, so it balances up
Like others stumbled across your blog and loved it. Busy running a business and want a well earned break - talking scant 10 days in May. We love to walk & visit interesting places(lazy strolls more like) and so Gozo appealed. However, seems a shame to visit with out doing some sightseeing on Malta, not just a the airport! Read a lot about bad driving in Malta and rubbish tips on Gozo, so wonder what is best/truth.
1. We hate UK styled/run resorts but we do love rustic/local food and pleanty of wine, so need to hit on the right place on Gozo - any ideas?
2. Is it possible to do day trips realistically from Gozo onto Malta and actually have enough time to visit anything worth while. Would we need a hire car and if so should we get this in Malta before crossing to Gozo or on Gozo.
More I read the more confused....... As our breaks are so rare always like to try to make it perfect and relaxing
Thanks for stumbling this direction... First thing to say is that May is a good month to visit, pretty much guaranteed good weather without being achingly hot. I am guessing you're coming from the UK, so another very important thing to bear in mind, is that Malta is small. Until you get here, you probably won't fully get your head around just how small it is, but try looking it up on google maps to get an idea. So I guess I'm saying that you don't really need to stay on Gozo for all ten days. I would suggest splitting your time so you have at least a few days on the main island.
There are some beautiful farmhouses and villas for rent in Gozo, and the main city Victoria is certainly a lovely place to stroll around. Wine is not in short supply anywhere on either island, so that shouldn't be a concern (but remember, no alcohol sold in shops after 9pm)! You can definitely do day trips over from Gozo, but it will take a chunk out of your day, even if you're taking the hire car across, and will require some military-style planning and execution to get to see more than a couple of places. That's why it will probably be more relaxing to have a hotel somewhere in Valletta or St Julian's booked for 2 or 3 nights - you lose the rustic part in these locations, but are free to drive around the main island and find the quieter spots in no time. And although you won't necessarily need a car, it certainly makes getting around an awful lot easier, and allows you to discover some of the more remote spots - even more useful on Malta than Gozo, as the buses take some pretty circuitous routes to get around. You won't find the Mallorca-style resorts anywhere here, although a lot of Malta is pretty built up and Bugibba/St Paul's is probably the closest equivalent, so you should probably steer clear.
Perfection is a tall order, but you will certainly be able to sit out in the sun with a bottle of the (pretty decent) local red, visit some beaches, some historic sites (if that's your bag) and wander around beautiful medieval cities like Victoria and Mdina. I'm sure you'll have a good time.
Thank you, this is so helpful, I am already there, sitting on a harbour wall watching the fishing boats soaking up the sun while waiting for my well deserved glass (or two) and some fine sea food - roll on May. Big thank you, it is great to get the real take on somewhere. And yes from the UK escaping the grey skies for a bit of blue and sun.
Hey David. Thanks for this awesome blog! We are currently in the middle of negotiations with regards to jobs and will probably be moving down soon. Maybe you can answer one question for us that are having a hard answer figuring. How does it work with finding an apartment if you have cats/dogs? In Denmark where we live now, it is almost impossible to find anything rented where pets are allowed, so what are you impressions of Malta?
Well, Malta is an animal loving country, particularly if the animals in question are cats and (small) dogs. And as most people live in apartments, there tends to be a pretty lenient attitude towards keeping pets. My small apartment block displays prominent notices warning that pets are not allowed, but that didn't stop my downstairs neighbours from keeping a yappy little dog. In short, check with the estate agents, but I don't think you will have too many problems.
Hi David,
While looking for more information on living in Malta,I got redirected to this blog and all I can say is this site has to be one of the most descriptive for any person wanting to live in Malta.The topics are easy to read and full of everyday useful information.I kinda want to pick your brain about something.Im a 27 year old Irishman who thinking of emigrating to Malta towards end of Sep.I currently run my own business,a sweet shop but due to higher overheads and with the lease coming to an end,I wont be renewing it.I am just wondering,is there still jobs in sales/retail Malta and what is the salary range like for someone with a vast amount of retail experience and knowledge of dealing with customers?.Ideally I would like to get into the igaming industry within a customer sales role but is this very slim as I only speak one language?.Id would be willing to do any sales/retail work or even barwork to begin with as I also worked in this industry for some time.Any information would be greatly appreciated.Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
Good stuff... glad you found a few useful bits and pieces on these pages.
There are certainly jobs over here, but without a second language you are a bit restricted. Most of the local businesses require Maltese, and I don't imagine you'll become fluent in 4 months. Bar work is also an option, there are quite a few Irish pubs out here, although if you're coming in September you will miss most of the tourist season. And yes, it is possible to get into the i-gaming business without a second language, as that's exactly what I've done over here. I suggest you try and fill out the CV with any online courses you can take over the next few months, so as to give yourself a better chance of landing a job. One thing to bear in mind is that the salaries over here are generally a lot lower than what you would expect in Ireland, but then the cost of living isn't as high either. And the weather is a hell of a lot better!
Thanks David for getting back to me so soon.Ideally I would love to get my foot in the door in the iGaming sector as a customer service rep as I feel its an industry that is going to grow and grow for a long time to come.What online courses would you recommend doing that would make my CV a bit more diserable for perpective employers?.Are you working in the customer side of the fence yourself?
Something to do with online fraud with the AFCE or a similar short course may be useful. Any language skills are good, and you should take a look at how the sites work to familiarize yourself with the lingo. Best of luck with it.
Hi this goes to the owner of this blog. I think its David I just wanted to thank you for all the work on breakfast as it seems you have been my guide for English breakfast as I only have one once in a while and when I do I want a excellent one. I am yet to try the portomaso one. Yet I thought I would share my favourite breakfast so far As it was today As villa mare in bugiba..
my review...Officially the best deluxe English breakfast I have ever bought!! The waiter was great and so was the food I went for a breakfast and it was great 6.95 for a deluxe which contains bacon, 2 eggs, hashbrowns, black pudding, 2 sausages, baked beans, fried fresh mushrooms, fried tomatoe and toast.. what can I say but Villa Mare you made my day.
cheers.
Thanks for the tip, I will check it out - A deluxe English breakfast sounds good to me!
Great blog mate. I am British and live in China the now with the wife, who is Chinese. Moving to Malta soon but having a hard time renting an apartment. Any tips on websites that will reply to me? I am a construction manager/joiner, how's the work situation there for that? I have been told there could potentially be a big market for a joiner to serve foreigners as I heard the Maltese tradesmen are a bit on the laid back side.
Cheers,
Craig
Thats great mate. Having problems with finding a place. I will prob end up going self employed and market my self as a British tradesmen and see how it goes. As she can speak Chinese...and my self, would the I gaming sector provide work based on language skills for translation etc? Thanks again!
Plenty of gaming companies have an interest in the Chinese market so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding translation work. Expect to get paid something around 10 Euro per hour for translations.
Hi
Great blog you made! There´s really a lot of good information.
We are going to Malta in about 3 weeks and are really having a hard time deciding what clothes to pack. We looked and the forecasts and it looks like 15 degrees both day and night but falling a little next week. How are the weather usually in the begining of april? should be pack shorts or not?
Also I read somewhere there´s a Boots in Sliema but it´s not the same things they have as in the UK?
Thanks
Glad you found the site helpful. My advice? Bring shorts for day time, and jeans for the evening. Yes there is a Boots, and you will also find a lot of UK High Street stores around the place.
Hi I'm Bob and I have just found your site about Malta. My wife Dianna and I have been to Malta twice so far, and we fell in love with the Islands. In fact we are both seriously considering retiring to Malta. I am 56 this month so it won't be long hopefully. I was wondering if you had any info on what our first steps should be?
You obviously like the island, so I don't think you are venturing into the unknown. I am not working for the tourist board, so you need to make your own decisions, but I can tell you that the UK makes up the largest part of the non-Maltese population here, so you won't be alone. In many ways, it is like an older version of Britain, except the weather is a lot better. As for first steps, if you plan on buying something over here, you should make sure that the area suits you, and if you're not sure, then book into a hotel for a week to check it out.
Hi there! Thanks for all the resources :) We just moved here and get our flat on Wednesday. It's in Gzira and we work in Sliema. So I'm wondering given how well you know the area, would you have any recommendations as to where to get a duvet and pillows that aren't unbelievably expensive?
Hi Jen, glad to be of service. You might find good deals in a couple of backstreet shops in Sliema, but I would suggest a trip to Birkikara because that's the place to go for all your bargain buys in Malta when it comes to household goods & clothes. Anyway, you're not going to need a duvet for long, because spring has sprung and we will be into summer temperatures soon!
Update to my previous answer: I have been looking for duvets myself recently for our spare room, and could not find anything cheaper than you can get on Amazon. Even in Birkikara the cheapest for a single duvet was about €40 and you could get a single plus cover plus (expensive) postage for about €30 on Amazon.
Okay my final, final response to the pressing issue of duvets in Malta! I ordered a couple on Amazon, but the supplier wrote back after a couple days to say that they could not deliver due to excessive postal charges. So we resumed searching on the island, and found that JB Stores in Lija seemed to be the best value place for all sorts of household goods.
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