$Unique_ID{COW02349} $Pretitle{430} $Title{Malta General Information} $Subtitle{} $Author{Embassy of Malta, Washington DC} $Affiliation{Embassy of Malta, Washington DC} $Subject{malta tel lm gozo service air maltese per british minutes} $Date{1990} $Log{Cathedral of Mdina*0234901.scf } Country: Malta Book: Malta General Information Author: Embassy of Malta, Washington DC Affiliation: Embassy of Malta, Washington DC Date: 1990 General Information [See Cathedral of Mdina: Courtesy Embassy of Malta, Washington.] How to get there By air: Air Malta and major international airlines operate regular scheduled flights between Malta and most major European cities. From the U.K., Air Malta, Air Europe, British Island Airways and Monarch Airlines operate scheduled services to Malta. Air Malta flies from Heathrow Terminal 4 every day of the week and from Gatwick at least twice a week. Air Europe and British Island Airways fly from Gatwick and Manchester. Monarch Airlines fly from Gatwick and Luton. In addition, charter flights to Malta are operated from seventeen UK and Irish regional airports. The frequency and the choice of regional airports increases considerably during the summer. Flying time is around 3 hours 15 minutes. Airline addresses in the UK AIR MALTA Air Malta House, 314/316 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, LONDON SW15. Tel.: General (01) 785.3199 (3 lines); Reservations: (01) 785.3177 (7 lines), (0345) 581.195 (2 lines); Telex: 923.213 MAL MOV; Fax: (01) 785.7468 Booking Office: 23/24 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5LP, Tel.: (01) 839.5872/4; (01) 930.2612. Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4) Room 2526, Terminal 4, Tel.: (01) 745.4154; (01) 745.4133; (01) 745.4155 Gatwick Airport c/o Service Air Ltd, Room 230, Concorde House, Gatwick, West Sussex, Tel: (02 93) 502.093 Manchester Airport c/o Service Air Ltd, Manchester International Airport, M22 5WX, Tel: (8 61) 489.3233 Air Europe The Galleria, Station Road, Crawley, West Sussex RH01 1HY Tel. (02 93) 562626 Fax (02 93) 20992 British Island Airways Apollo House, Church Road, Lowfield Heath, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 OPQ Tel.: (02 93) 546301. Fax (02 93) 28525 Monarch Airlines Luton Airport, Luton, Beds LU2 9NU Tel.: (0582) 424211. Fax (0582) 416168 By Sea: Passengers travelling to Malta by sea have a choice of three alternatives: (a) The Gozo Channel Co. operates a weekly service between Malta and Catania in Sicily from April to June, increasing to twice weekly July to September. Cruising time is around 8 hours and the cost about LM 12 per person and LM 26 for a 4.5 metre car. Agents for Gozo Channel Co. and for Virtu Rapid Ferries Ltd are: Multitours 21 Sussex Street London SWIV 4RR Tel: 821.7000 (b) Virtu Rapid Ferries operates a high-speed passenger-only catamaran service from Naxos (Taormina), Catania and Syracuse to Malta. Two services are operated daily between June and September, decreasing to one daily between October and May. Journey time is 1 hour 40 minutes. Indicative fares are LM 18 for an adult single, LM 36 open return and LM 25 for a day return. There are senior citizens, family and child reductions. Further information on the catamaran service may be obtained from Virtu Rapid Ferries Ltd, 3 Princess Elizabeth Terrace, Ta'Xbiex, Malta, Tel.: 317.088, Telex: 1214 SHIPAZ MW, Fax; 314.533. c) The Italian line, "Tirrenia," operates a thrice weekly service from Malta to Syracuse, Catania and Reggio Calabria and a weekly crossing from Naples. An indicative fare for the Malta-Catania crossing is about LM 12 per passenger and LM 26 for a 4.5 metre car. Agents for Tirrenia in the UK are: Serena Holidays, 40/42, Kenway Rd., LONDON, SW5 ORA. Tel: 0124 48 422. Passport and visa regulations British nationals may travel to Malta on a Visitor's passport. No visa is required for a stay of less than three months. Where a stay longer than three months is envisaged application should be made, in Malta, shortly before the three months are up, to the Immigration Police, Police Headquarters, Floriana. Customs Personal belongings and clothing intended for own use are not liable to duty. The duty-free allowance for adults is 200 cigarettes or the equivalent in cigars or tobacco; one bottle of spirits and one bottle of wine; and a reasonable quantity of perfume and toilet water. Currency Malta's currency is decimal. The Lira (LM) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents; each cent is again divided into 10 mils. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency visitors may bring into Malta, providing it is declared upon arrival. However, the maximum amount of Maltese currency that may be brought into Malta is LM50. Visitors may take out of Malta any unspent foreign currency but no more than LM25 in Maltese currency. Importation of animals Importation of healthy pets from the U.K. is allowed, but they must first be kept in quarantine for a period of three weeks. Banks Usually open 8.30 am to 12.30 pm Mondays to Fridays and up to 11.30 am on Saturdays. Foreign exchange facilities are available at Luqa Airport on a 24 hour basis all the year round and up to 4 pm at most banks. Baby requisites All well-known brands of baby milk powder, nappies, medicines and other baby products are available from chemist shops in Malta. Shopping Shops are usually open between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm with a three or four-hour lunch break. Shops are not open on Sundays and Public Holidays. There are open-air markets, one day a week, in most towns and villages. The largest is the Valletta market on Sunday mornings. Major Credit Cards, Travellers' Cheques and Eurocheques are accepted at most leading shops and restaurants. Time Malta time is one hour ahead of GMT. Electricity Electricity supply is 240 volts, single phase, 50 cycle. The square-fitting standard three-pin British plugs and sockets are used. Water Tap water is perfectly safe for drinking. Religion Malta is Roman Catholic but the Maltese Constitution guarantees freedom of worship. There are also churches belonging to various other religious denominations. Language The official languages are Maltese and English. Almost all the Maltese speak English. Maltese is a semitic language written in the Roman script comprising a vast element of words of Italian, French and English origin. Italian is also widely spoken. Accommodation The Maltese islands offer varied accommodation in hotels, guest houses, holiday complexes and in self-catering apartments and villas. These are all officially classified according to international standards and are expected to exhibit a certificate confirming their official classification. The Malta National Tourist Office, College House, Suite 207, Wrights Lane LONDON W8 5SH, Tel: (01) 93 82 66 8 can provide comprehensive information on accommodation in Malta. Camping There are no organised or official camping or caravan sites on Malta. Beach facilities There is a number of sandy beaches, especially in the north of the Island, the best known being Mellieha Bay, Golden Sands and Armier. In the south the best sandy beach is at Birzebbugia. Ramla Bay in Gozo stands out for its beautiful red sand. Rock bathing is possible at most other beach sites. Bathing is safe anywhere around the islands; there are no tides. Sea temperatures average 22.8C in summer. Beach facilities in the high season, between March and October, include bars, restaurants, changing cabins, showers and umbrellas. On some beaches, it is possible to hire self-drive speed boats, dinghies, rowing boats, water skis, surfboards, etc. Topless bathing is not permitted on public beaches. Holidaymakers are kindly urged to respect the feelings of the Maltese people. Public transport Malta's public transport system offers a very cheap and efficient way of touring the Island. The main bus terminus is at Valletta from where the buses operate to all parts of Malta. The cost of a bus ride is generally between 5 and 10 cents. The longest bus journey takes about 40 minutes; the average is between 20 and 30 minutes. Gozo ferry service The Gozo Channel Company (Tel: Malta 603.964/5, Gozo - 556.114) operates a Ro-Ro service between Cirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr in Gozo. From November to March the Ro-Ro service starts from Mgarr (Gozo) at 06.00 until 22.00 daily with nine crossings a day; corresponding times at the Malta end are 07.00 and 22.30. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes and crossings are every two hours. From April to October the service continues uninterruptedly throughout the night with crossings every two hours. In the peak summer months there are crossings every hour on the hour from both Malta and Gozo. Fares for a return journey are LM 1 per adult (LM 0.50 per child) and LM 3.50 per car. The Gozo Channel Company also operates a daily Ro-Ro service to Gozo from Sa Maison at 09.30. The trip takes about 75 minutes and costs LM 0.50 each way per adult and LM 3.50 per car. Return trips to Sa Maison leave Mgarr at 17.30. Additionally, the company also runs a daily passenger-only hovermarine service from Sa Maison to Mgarr, which takes 26 minutes. Hovermarine services also operate from Sliema (25 minutes) and from Bugibba (15 minutes). Peak-time tariffs are LM 2 per adult for a single and LM 1 during off-peak hours. Guides Licensed multi-lingual guides may be hired through most Travel Agents. Car hire Malta has the cheapest car hire rates in Europe. Prices start from LM 4.50 per day including mileage and insurance. Weekly arrangements are the most favourable. Driving is on the left; a British driving licence is acceptable. There is a speed limit of 64 km per hour on highways and 40 km per hour in built-up areas. Although Maltese law permits driving from 18 years upwards with no upper-age limit, several car-hire firms are reluctant to hire cars to persons under 25 or over 70. Check with your travel agent. Taxis Taxis can be identified by their all-white livery and red number plates, and are all fitted with meters. Should you wish to know in advance how much a trip will cost, it is best to check with the driver beforehand. The Malta National Tourism Organisation publishes a list showing distances between main towns in Malta and the relative cost of taxi rides. Tourist Information offices There are tourist information offices in the major tourist areas to assist holiday makers with their enquiries or difficulties. The location of these offices is as follows: Luqa Airport, Tel.: 229915 Valletta, at the City Gate Tel: 227747 St Julian's, at Balluta Tel: 342671/2 Sliema, at Bisazza Street Tel: 313409 Gozo, at Mgarr Harbour Tel: 553343 Gozo at Victoria Tel: 556454 Telephones Overseas calls may be made from Malta to nearly all parts of the world. Calls may be made either from your hotel or from Telemalta's offices at St George's, Qawra, Bugibba and Valletta. When telephoning Malta from the UK the code is 010 356. Television and radio Malta television programmes feature a number of British and American productions and a daily news bulletin in English. Radio Malta transmits daily on two services: 998 KHz (medium wave) and 89,7 (MHz VHF/FM). Italian television is received in Malta over 14 channels. Licensing hours Bars, restaurants and cafes are normally open between 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 a.m. and beyond. Alcohol may be bought up to 1.00 a.m. Most hotel bars close between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. and some open after 6.00 p.m. Restaurants are not open before 11.30 a.m. and between 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Discos There is a number of smart and lively discos, particularly in St.Paul's Bay, Sliema, Paceville and St. Georges areas. Several open-air discos operate only in summer. Casino French and American Roulette, Baccarat (Chemin de Fer), Black Jack and Boule are played according to international rules at the palatial Casino de Malte, St. Julian's. Beer Maltese beer is excellent. Foreign beers are also available but are more expensive. Wine There is a wide variety of good Maltese wines, at very reasonable prices. Well known foreign wines are also available. Medical care Malta enjoys a high standard of medical care. The general hospital, St. Luke's, is in Guardamangia but there are government health clinics in various towns. British nationals holidaying in Malta for a period not exceeding one month are entitled to free medical and hospital care in Malta and Gozo. Persons who are receiving medical treatment and who may need to carry medicines into Malta or purchase fresh supplies locally would be well advised to arm themselves with a letter of introduction from their family doctor. Most British drugs are available in Malta. Malta has special clinics for diabetic sufferers and chemist shops generally stock a wide range of diabetic products. Dress In summer very light and informal clothing. In winter some lightweight dress for the warm sunny days together with some 'woollies' for the cooler days and evenings, as in other parts of Southern Europe. Tour operator lists The Malta National Tourist Office will be pleased to supply, on request, a list of tour operators offering package holidays to Malta.