Gill firstly let me say how much I admire your adventurous spirit, we also like to stay off the beaten track in Malta from time to time and believe it can be so rewarding.

By day Senglea ( L'Isla) is a fabulous little City with blue seas either side and like all the 3 Cities it's history and seaside views are amazing with breathtaking vistas across the Grand Harbour from the Guardioloa and gardens at the tip, there is also plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop so in that respect you are well covered, swimming is off the rocks as no beaches here.

I might be wrong but am I right in thinking that you don't know Malta that well ?, you call Grand Harbour Valletta Harbour and spell Valletta with only one "l" the reason I ask is because as with all the dockyard area and nearby places such as Zabbar, Fgura, Marsa etc Senglea has it's social problems such as drugs and theft etc and even me as a 6 foot something bloke who can well take care of himself would think very carefully about staying here or even visiting after dark when it can get a tadge iffy, I'm sorry to have to tell you all this but this is what we have learnt on our numerous trips to Malta, don't get me wrong we love the Cottonera and visit every holiday at least 2 or 3 times, it is the real Malta and has so much to offer but unlike places like Sliema nightime can be a bit dodgy, let me know if you want any more info.

Regards
Sliema2

This will be our first visit to Malta.
thanks so much for the information, will be sure to be very careful.

Hello gillymiff, there is a small local beach near were you plan to stay it is between Vittoriosa and Kalkara under the battlements of Fort st Risasoli. Never one to put anybody of a place to holiday but I must say that Sliema2 has got it right about staying in Senglea.

Dave.

Thanks once again.
Sliema I have pm'd you - I hope you don't mind..

Hi Gill and I have replied to you, however unless your future questions are very private I would prefer future dialogue to be here in the discussion forum as there is nothing that cannot be generally dealt with in here.

Regards
Sliema2

Whoops, sorry I have just replied to your pm, by pm.

Apologies.

Can anyone recommend any villas in Sliema or anywhere else for around £500 pw to sleep 4-6.?

Thanks

Not a problem Gill, the only reason I ask for open discussion where possible is because it encourages dialogue on here and also we might all learn something from a fellow contributor.

Regards
Sliema2

So very glad I found this forum!

I have now changed our booking to a rather nice seafront apartment in St Pauls Bay

Phew!

thanks again

Hi Gill,

Like Sliema2 I'm a Maltaphile and like him I know this wonderful Island comparatively fairly well. I would certainly agree with what he has said about Senglea. Unfortunately I've found that area to be a bit rough and I think you would need to have more experience of Malta before you considered staying in that area. It's nice to visit but we wouldn't want to spend our holiday there!

Personally though if we were going to stay in an apartment I think we'd really want to stay in the Sliema area even though 'hotel wise' we do like to stay in the Coastline Hotel which is just across the bay from St Pauls!

Generally I hire a car when we visit (the Coastline has a large carpark), and I don't generally find that Maltese drivers are any worse than the nutters I encounter driving on the roads in the UK!!!

If you want to hire try Sundrive Car Hire Triq-il-Touristi, Qawra. We have hired from them many times - in fact I hired a car off them only last month while we were in Malta. Their rates are usually very competitive but make sure you pay the extra to waive ALL insurance excesses.

Hope this helps - have a great holiday,

Trev

I don't generally find that Maltese drivers are any worse than the nutters I encounter driving on the roads in the UK!!! Sorry trev, love that line, classic.

Which apartments in St Pauls have you booked? I know the area quite well and may be able to offer further advise

Hi Charliegirl

We've booked property ref 64105 on holiday-rentals.co.uk in Qawra

Hope we've chosen better this time!!

Couldn't post a proper link, sorry!

Hi vee dee,

Glad you liked what I said about driving in Malta.

I hope my 'nutters' reference conveyed the idea that driving in Malta is no more difficult than driving here in the UK!

gill - had a quick look on the net at the accommodation from the ref you gave and from the pictures on the webpage, it looks a really nice place,

Trev

Really hope so Trev, pity is, that the other place looked really nice too, but you don't want to be worrying about whether it's safe to go out when you are on holiday do you?

Really looking forward to the holiday already! Just need to loose some weight

Hi Gilly, when you go to Malta why don't you take a day bus trip to the 3 Cities to see what a magnificent and unique place it is ?, we will be there in a few weeks as we have a smashing walk planned from Zabbar to Kalkara then round to Birgu and Senglea before crossing the Grand Harbour by Dghajser for our bus back to Sliema, wow can't wait to go home.

Regards
Sliema2