Hi there. I have just returned from a week at the Topaz Hotel. We tend to use the hotel as a base only but here are some of the comments from fellow guests. (All first timers in Malta )
On our return from a pleasant night out we bumped into a couple well into their second week in the hotel. They asked where we had been as they couldn't find anything nearby!!! They had literally turned left out of the hotel, walked 50 yards or so and returned to the hotel. These people will go home and say there is nothing to do in Malta!
We sat a while with another couple who 'usually go to Spain' (their words) In the vicinity were newish apartment buildings and old Maltese houses. They said, "they should rip all these old buildings down and build new apartments"! I explained that these were Maltese homes. They said that they made the place look scruffy. Maybe they are happy with purposes built resorts and they will go home with a bad opinion of Malta.
Another group we met had been there 2 weeks and not gone further that the square in Buggiba. They bemoaned the fact that there wasn't any decent beaches but didn't want to catch a bus to Golden Bay or Melliha.
A woman in our hotel complained bitterly to me that her room over looked the pool and was noisy at night (the evening poolside entertainment finished at 11,30 prompt) I asked if she had asked to be moved to a rom away from the pool. She said she couldn't be bothered asking. She just seemed happy to complain loudly to anyone who listened.
Another couple said that their room was dirty but hadn't said anything to reception.
WE had a fantastic time in Malta (as usual) After 20 years going usually twice a year we still find new places to visit. This year we didn't even find the time to visit Valletta!
You could argue that Malta would be better off without these sorts of tourists however 'networking' will ensure that their opinion is spread to many others to Malta's loss.
You could also argue that people are looking for more value for money in their holidays and as a result expect higher standards of everything and are justified in this. There are resorts/countries which will satisfy their expectations.
There's nowt so strange as folk after all!
Ciao
Susan
This year we didn't even find the time to visit Valletta
you must always go to Valleta (& Mdina) as this is one of the lovliest cities in the world, we always fit it in even after 15 years now.
The type of people with the rip it down attitude are welcome to go home and tell all there like minded friends to avoid Malta and go to spain, Malta doesn't need them and to be honest it is their loss.
They would have loved Gozo then
Here Here Graham
There are still soooo many people around who aren't interested in any of the rich culture or real areas of another country. They seem quite happy to travel 000's of miles and avoid anything local, including the people.
Their perfect holiday is "all inclusive" (which normally means the cheapest food that contains near zero nutritional content), staying by the pool and never leaving the hotel for 2 weeks.
We could definetly do without that kind of "visitor".
Here Here openminded in the words of meatloaf "you took the words right out of my mouth" that could almost of been me writing your reply frightening :yikes.
When I'm there I'm out every evening. There are so many good restaurants,bars and clubs. Why do people want to eat in a hotel where the food is very often compromised since it's not their main business focus.
I also think there is a problem caused by people wanting a 2 week holiday for example for a price like 300-400 GBP. That's not much more than 21-28 GBP per night including flight, breakfast, dinner etc. And what about the piece for the tour operator which also comes out of this? It's not sustainable and the result is clear - poor quality and dissapointment.
I personally hope that all the so called "value for money" operators and hotels go out of business and that quality operators replace them. I believe this has started to happen and will be much more visible over the next 5 years.
I think that it will certainly lead to an improvement in hotel quality because hotel owners will now have to compete for the custom of independent travellers. These are people who want quite specific things and good quality and service are two of them.
I think hotel owners can become quite complacent when they know they have a captive market of package tourists coming each year.
In countries where the cost of living and wages are low then you can expect to get a good holiday for less money, but I think these places are becoming harder to find, particularly in Europe.
Ciao
Susan
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