Marina Hotel in Malta

This item appears on page 34 of the May 2008 issue.

In Malta, the Marina Hotel (Tigne Sea Front, Sliema SLM15, Malta; phone 00 356 2133 6461, fax 2133 0650, www.themarinahotelsliema.com) is a family-run hotel that offers sea-view rooms, which, while not luxurious, have all you need plus wonderful views of Valletta across the bay. Ask for an upper floor to avoid street noise. We enjoyed room 305 on our 6-night visit in May ’07.

The view of Valletta from the Marina Hotel, Sliema, Malta. Photo: Wilson

There were many restaurants nearby.

We traveled all over Malta by local buses; a bus stop for many routes was a short distance from the hotel. Other Malta destinations were reached by taking a bus to Valletta, then continuing on to our destination, such as the island of Gozo.

Boat tours of the bays were also available nearby, and we recommend them! We chose a tour in a small luzzu (traditional fishing) boat and were very pleased. You can negotiate the price a little with all of them.

Including breakfast, the 2007 rate was 13.50 Maltese lira per person plus four lira for the sea view. This came to about $82 per night. (Note: Malta converted to the euro Jan. 1, 2008; the 2008 rate for a sea-view room is €42 [$62] per adult per night.)

• The restaurant Dee Goose (Fawwara Junction, Sliema; phone 9924 9490) was recommended by one of the hotel desk clerks as a place locals ate. It was nearby but hard to find, so ask the desk for directions. Entrées ranged from about $8 to $14.50. We ate there two nights.

• One night we ate at Il Galleon, right on the strand and a few doors from the hotel. It cost $52 for two, with wine.

Both Dee Goose and Il Galleon offered very good food.

• In Valletta we had a very nice lunch at Restaurant Malata (Palace Square; phone 2123 3967), near the fort, in the square where the horse-and-carriage operators park. The local Marsovin chardonnay was very nice. (Dinner for one costs $21-$30.)

By the way, while looking for more information on the above restaurants, I found the following website, which has paid restaurant listings and includes menus: www. foodforfun.com/index.exe/malta.

MARGO WILSON

Scottsdale, AZ