Holidaying alone

Hi ShowerGel, good on you for going it alone on holiday. I have travelled quite far afield on my own before and am racking my brains for helpful suggestions. No luck so far! Apart, of course, from the obvious about personal safety etc. We`ve been to Malta before but it was a while ago now. I do remember that everyone seemed to speak English which was a help. You may fall in with similar company on your holiday and end up as part of a nice group. If you want to get talking to people I expect meal times would be fairly sociable so you might join others at a table. The Maître D should be able to help here. Otherwise sitting on your own either playing Patience, looking at photos or even just reading can be good. If you sit in a corner location facing out and smile pleasantly someone might just pass the time of day with you, comment on your photos or suggest a game of cards. It may be that the tour operator will have a few organised activities or can carry out introductions. Its extremely unlikely that you`ll be the only traveller on their own. BTW- avoid bores if poss or you could be stuck with them!!

Thanks Jane10 - there is no tour operator but I can take the iPad and a book of crosswords with me.
I'll do my best to avoid any bores

I have never been to Malta, but have done quite a bit of lone travelling. At the airport I always find it helps to have the name of the hotel written down to show the taxi driver - avoids possible misunderstandings. It's usually obvious which are the 'official' taxis, but if you're worried about this, maybe contact the hotel and ask them to send someone to meet you. A lot of the other advice about security and so on applies to all travellers, but I'd be a bit cautious about letting people know that you are on your own. Sorry to say that in my experience couples travelling together don't want to be sociable with a singleton - understandable, I guess. There are probably more opportunities for a bit of chit chat in the bar rather than in the dining room - one of the reasons why I always make sure the hotel has a bar!

Showergel How alone do you want to be? There are many groups who run holidays that are every easy to go with as a single person.

www.hfholidays.co.uk (others are available.) this lot do holidays of special interest of all sorts, walking holidays, coach holidays, sightseeing for those who can't do the walking etc.

It is understood that the whole atmosphere is geared to being friendly and a single person does not stick out like a sore thumb at mealtimes etc. It does mean that you get someone to talk and share an experience with when you feel like it.

Bellasnonna is the expert. She lives there.

Hello ShowerGel. I have recently spent time on Gozo (a smaller island just north of Malta) so would recommend a trip there. My time in Malta was limited and confined to Valletta but it was very walkable (if rather hilly and lots of steps) and it is a very interesting place. Mdina was somewhere I would have gone if I had had more time. I would try and get away from the hotel fringe north of Valletta.
You are right about the buses. The bus service is excellent and very cheap - a day ticket is 1.50 euros and I think a weekly ticket even cheaper. There is a very helpful bus information office at the terminus in Valletta.There is also a bus service from the airport but of course it depends on where your hotel is as to whether it is convenient (and also how much luggage you have). I would feel safe travelling on my own in Malta - the people are helpful and friendly.
Have a lovely time.

It is many years since I visited Malta but everybody spoke English. The people were very friendly and helpful. We had a great time there.

I was in Malta last October. I Stayed in qawra, north of valetta. Buses frequent and cheap. A weekly ticket 6.5 Euro.
What area are you staying in. Airport bus is cheap and covers several routes...could save a taxi fare on arrival. Actually it would be covered by your 6.50 weekly ticket. We used the airport bus regularly to get to the sights like Mdina,( the silent city), and the craft village.
Wouldn't recommend the red or blue moneymaking island hop on hop off buses. They are about 17 Euro for the day....regular buses are much better. Plenty of English speakers everywhere. Didn't meet anyone who didn't speak English.

Just go for it.... if you are ever stuck you can get a taxi. But we never got stuck.

Just be aware that there are many roadworks and a journey takes longer than anticipated. Also forget bus queues. When the bus arrives....your aim is to get on!!

I will be based in Bugibba. I hadn't thought about a bus from the airport - makes sense. And thanks for the tips on the weekly ticket.
I can recall the 'bus queues' when I once visited what is now Slovenia - as you say, just head for the door.

Phone the hotel and ask if the airport bus stops close to them . If not ask ,as Vega has said ,if they could arrange a taxi for you if you are landing late night. They may say they have a hotel transfer available.

My friend who is disabled and lives alone also holidays alone and indeed spent Christmas in Mexico. She says that people are very helpful and she has had no problems over the many years that she has been doing this. So....go girl!

I holiday alone as well.

I suggest taking the hotel number with you wherever you go, just in case. Could you get a personal alarm for extra safety? I wouldn't just get any taxi from the airport, get one from either the hotel reception or from the travel agency. I would try to chat to many people, some might be stuffy but most will be glad of conversation. I've chatted to many different people on my holidays, one elderly gent on a bench in a Disney park in Florida. We had a lovely long chat and I still remember him to this day, 15 years later. Besides, chatting to others can take you in other directions, find new places you hadn't thought of to visit etc. I hope you have a wonderful time and we will all be waiting to hear how it went, have fun.

I've bought a guide book today so I now know what number (and colour) of bus to find at the airport. I should be arriving at lunchtime so it shouldn't be problematic.

Next question - how much money to take? I am not a shopper - postcards are usually my only haul when on holiday. I will only be buying lunch and drinks and will be going to a few sights, if they are open. (I'll draw up a list once I've read a bit of the guide book).

Most places have ATMs these days. Get a Santander. Zero card or a Halifax Clarity card which are good to use abroad or load up a cash card from the post office. Take enough Euros to sort out drink or sandwich on arrival in case of delays and for buying bus pass.

Bugibba and Qawra (where I stayed) are practically the same place. 5 minutes walk.

There is a bus station in Bugibba/Qawra, airport bus goes to it regularly.
Our hotel (San Antonio Health & Spa) was beside the bus station.
You will find the airport bus brilliant for various sightseeing.
For some sights you will have to go into Valetta and get another bus.
All very easy to follow.

The No. 12 goes along the coast from Bugibba to Valetta bus station, in October it took ages but nothing we could do about it. Not far distance just heavy traffic and roadworks. Sit back and enjoy.
In Valetta, to get back to Bugibba, you can take the 12 along the coast, or the airport bus which goes inland via the airport and Mdina.

Get a tourist travel book of the island, it often tells you what bus to take etc.

And check on Google Earth where your hotel is in location to the Bugibba bus station. What time of day will you arrive at the airport, and then in Bugibba. On google maps/earth You can check your route from the bus station to your hotel.
How far is it, will you be able to walk it with your luggage. Pavements aren't great. I'm also in mid 60s and made sure I had constant foot comfort.
Or you can get a taxi at Bugibba bus station to take you the short distance to your hotel.

The Aquarium which is in the area on the sea front is worth a visit.

The area itself has a lot of bars and clubs (at least it did in October) but we pretty much stuck to the evening entertainment in our hotel. ................ ok if you don't expect star material.

Solo and Just You do holidays for one person if you fancy company.

I've never been to Malta but have travelled alone for some time. I find people are amazingly helpful, especially if you chat to them. I had a fantastic driver who took me from the airport to my hotel in Sorrento and stopped en-route so I could do some photos of the great views. (and it was a set price so he wasn't charging!). I always take books to read when I am relaxing- they are conversation starters and also a way of not having to talk when you want to be quiet. I love sight seeing and visiting museums and art galleries alone because I can spend as long as I want looking at things without someone asking when we are going home/for coffee/to swim! Plan your days but be flexible because if you find you are really enjoying somewhere you can spend as much time as you like there. Hotel staff and local people in shops etc are just as worth chatting to as fellow hotel guests because they know all the best places and deals. Carry some cash but there are ATMs everywhere. Read all the holiday reps folders in your hotel to see what they recommend doing, they are usually in a corner, on a shelf somewhere. Have fun and enjoy your freedom!

You can use a Travelcash card (there are others, but that's the one I use) where you can load money on to it before you go then use it as a debit card - withdraw cash and pay for items. The advantage for me is that mine is an all-currency one, so I can load it with pounds and pay in any currency. But there are just Euro ones. That way you don't need to pay credit card fees for withdrawing cash if you need to. I also have the Halifax Clarity card, which is good for purchases.
I am sure you enjoy yourself. Bon voyage!

Thanks for all the advice - I am getting quite excited now! I'll have to check out those prepaid cards; they sound like a good thing to have.

If you like historical novels, there's a fantastic one called The Disorderly Knights, set on Malta. It's part of a series by Dorothy Dunnett, but not in print(Library) People either absolutely love her novels or find them too complicated. You can tell which camp I'm in.

Just to say I have taken your advice on the Travelcard - my Post Office was able to dispense it immediately and I activated it the following day.
I am packing and just getting everything together. My Son-in-Law is driving me to the airport and his father will pick me up next week, on my return.
Many, many thanks to you all.
If I enjoy the experience it will open up endless possibilities ....

Have a wonderful time! Looking forward to hearing all about your holiday x

Enjoy every minute!