Malta

Maltahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/maltaMaltahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/europe/malta/how-safe-is-maltaThis island nation is a jewel in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. Here's how to explore it safely. 2024-07-23T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/malta/how-safe-is-maltahttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#crime"> Crime in Malta </a></li> <li><a href="#climate"> Climate and weather </a></li> <li><a href="#getting"> Getting around </a></li> <li><a href="#driving"> Driving in Malta </a></li> <li><a href="#swimming"> Swimming in Malta </a></li> <li><a href="#emergency"> Emergency contacts </a></li> </ul> <p>This archipelago nation, known for rich history and culture, is made up of seven small islands. Generally crime-free, here are a few tips to help you navigate Malta safely.</p> <h2 id="crime">Crime in Malta</h2> <p>Malta is generally a very safe place to visit, but like anywhere with visitors, bag-snatching, pickpocketing and other petty crime can occur particularly in nightclubs, on the beach and at markets and transport hubs. Thieves might also target ATMs and parked cars.</p> <p>Thieves target people using ATMs. Theft from parked cars occurs. </p> <p>Pickpocketing may occur on popular bus routes including those from Sliema, St. Julian's and Paceville to Valletta. </p> <p>Use normal common sense in regard to your belongings and when withdrawing money from ATMs.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/malta/GettyImages-639435142.jpg" /> <figcaption>The clear waters of Ghar Lapsi, Malta. Photo credit: Getty Images / Paul Biris</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="climate">Climate and weather</h2> <p>Malta has a lovely Mediterranean climate with a daily average of around 12 hours of sunshine during summer which tends to be hot and dry, but with cool sea breezes. Winters are mild, with short cold spells brought by the north and north-easterly winds from central Europe. </p> <p>Swimming in the sea in the sea is possible well into the winter months, and the peak beach season can last until late October.  </p> <p>The average temperature during the year is a pleasant 18°C, with January averaging a slightly lower temperature of 12°C, and the peaking to an average of 30°C in July and August.  </p> <p>Spring is the ideal time to visit the Maltese islands to avoid summer heat. </p> <h2 id="getting">Getting around</h2> <p>Malta’s islands are small and easy to get around. Public buses are a convenient and cheap way to travel around, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way. </p> <p>Visit the <a href="https://www.publictransport.com.mt/">Malta Public Transport </a>website to plan your journey.  </p> <p>There are ferries between the islands. The Gozo Channel ferry service links Cirkewwa, Malta to Gozo, and takes about 20 minutes each way. </p> <p>A ferry service from Valletta, Malta to Gozo takes around 45 minutes each way. There are also regular boat services between each island and Comino. </p> <h2 id="driving">Driving in Malta</h2> <p>Driving around Malta is a great way to explore at your own pace. In 2019, there were 16 road deaths in Malta. This equates to 3.2 road deaths per 100,000 of population (compared to the UK average of 2.6 road deaths per 100,000). There are plenty of car rental options so be sure to compare prices to get the best deal and always use a reputable company. You must be at least 21 to rent a car, and drivers under 25 may incur a surcharge. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road (like in the UK) and speed limits are usually signposted. Where there is no sign, national limits apply:</p> <ul> <li>80 km/h on the open road and</li> <li>50 km/h in built-up areas.</li> </ul> <p>For more information, you can contact Transport Malta by sending an email to <a href="mailto:info.tm@transport.gov.mt">info.tm@transport.gov.mt</a>. </p> <h2 id="swimming">Swimming in Malta</h2> <p>During the summer, most beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and operate flag safety systems. Make yourself aware of the flag system and follow any warnings; red flags mean dangerous or hazardous conditions. <a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/water-safety">Always swim within designated swimming zones</a> and be cautious if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs. Follow local advice if jellyfish are present. </p> <p>You can find more information and a general code of conduct for beaches in Malta on the <a href="https://www.visitmalta.com/en/a/beach-conduct">Malta Tourism Authority</a> website. </p> <h2 id="emergency">Emergency contacts</h2> <p>For police, fire service and emergency medical service dial 112. These calls can be made from any phone and are free of charge. </p> <p>For local police information <a href="https://pulizija.gov.mt/mt/Pages/Home.aspx">click here</a>.   </p>Getty Images/Barry Winiker 0 Getty Images

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/europe/malta/only-in-malta-a-road-safety-guideMalta's main island has a reputation for bad roads and terrible driving. Find out how to stay safe while taking a road trip with these tips from our travel safety expert.2019-11-27T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/malta/only-in-malta-a-road-safety-guidehttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>They're only small islands with ridiculously narrow streets, but car ownership is high, so it's a challenge.</p> <p>Locals are only half joking when they say, "We neither drive on the left nor the right, we drive in the shade."</p> <h2>Organized chaos</h2> <p>Even those who have a kind word to say about the crazy, stuntman-like driving can only go so far as "organized chaos". Those who've been to Bangkok or Cairo will understand… drivers make their own way, any way, they can, and the horn is the favored safety device (hear it and expect anything to happen).</p> <p>Don't be surprised to see donkeys and horse-drawn carts sharing the roads with cars, trucks, and buses. Don't be surprised to see tiny cars carrying huge loads. Conforming to bureaucratic dictate is not a Maltese characteristic (and OH&S is routinely ignored).</p> <p>Malta's National Statistics Office reported that in the first quarter of 2017, 3,508 traffic accidents occurred, down by 5.6% compared to the first quarter of 2016. Unfortunately, six people lost their lives.</p> <p>Having said that, Malta has the least number of fatalities by population and the least number of fatalities per million passenger cars of any European nation.</p> <p>Road safety campaigns and tougher licensing requirements are improving standards. There are even speed cameras on the main island!</p> <p>Take a day or two to observe local driving habits before picking up a hire car.</p> <h2>Road rules</h2> <p>Once you feel brave enough here are a few rules to observe:</p> <ul> <li>Drive on the left</li> <li>The urban speed limit is 30mi/h (50km/h), 50mi/h (80km/h) on the few short stretches of open road</li> <li>Everyone in the vehicle <em>must</em> wear a seatbelt</li> <li>Drivers cannot use a mobile phone while driving</li> <li>The drink/driving limit is low at .035, which, depending on gender and body weight, is one standard drink</li> <li>Headlights must be on at all times</li> <li>You must stop for all public transport, including school buses, when passengers are alighting.</li> </ul> <h2>Public transport</h2> <p>Malta's colorful buses are a great way to get around the country.</p> <p>There was a time, when it was difficult and expensive to get vehicles onto the islands, that all the buses were old, held together with string and brown paper and virtual death-traps (albeit with icons of the Virgin Mary or Christ keeping an eye on the passengers). Modern, safer buses are being introduced, but authorities are trying to retain the ‘retro' look that has become synonymous with Malta.</p> <p>Still, the roads remain narrow, the surface potholed, and the owner-drivers in a rush to keep to the timetable. Just hang on tight, and keep children secure.</p> <h2>Crossing madness</h2> <p>Malta holds on to many traditions from its past as a British colony, such as red phone boxes, and driving on the left – why not the venerable zebra crossing?</p> <p>The particularly British practice of giving way to anyone who even looks like they're contemplating stepping onto a pedestrian crossing is totally absent in Malta. Crossing the road, especially in congested Valetta, can be a life-altering experience. Don't expect, or give any quarter! Keep your wits about you, your eyes open, and your travel insurance policy close to your chest.</p> <p>If you're after a car-free holiday, head to Comino, the smallest inhabited island in Malta – there are no cars at all.</p>Getty Images/Felix Cesare 11175892597 Getty Images An aerial view of a winding road shaped as a letter S in the north of Malta

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/europe/malta/festivals-and-fireworks-in-maltaWith village festival fireworks happening around Malta from June–September, here's what you need to know about your safety.2019-02-05T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/malta/festivals-and-fireworks-in-maltahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Malta is staunchly Catholic, so religion plays a major part in daily life, but that doesn’t mean the Maltese are conservative – actually, it's quite the opposite. From June to September every village in Malta holds a <em>festa,</em> a daytime religious commemoration of the parish patron saint, followed by celebrations into the evening with marching bands, food, beer and fireworks. </p> <p>The Maltese are very proud of their fireworks, and have turned the pyrotechnical displays into art. On a local level, the villages compete with one another to put on the best display.</p> <h2>Fireworks in Malta</h2> <p>There are fireworks factories all over the islands. Some villages make their own fireworks in <em>ad hoc</em> factories. Sadly, there have been a few horrible accidents. In September 2010 five members of the same family died after their Gozo factory was destroyed in a massive explosion.</p> <p>Malta’s lack of bureaucratic red tape and shunning of over-regulation is one of its charms, but as a British ex-pat’ <a href="http://britishexpat.com/expatforum/malta/viewtopic.php?t=10068">said online</a> after the Gozo blast, “The Maltese attitude to the manufacture, storage and handling of fireworks is suicidal.” He said he’d seen locals setting up a large display during the day, just 10ft (3m) from a busy shopping street.</p> <h2>Petards and Shotguns</h2> <p>What the locals refer to as <em>petards,</em> are the loud bangs you will hear during the day – and these are not to be mistaken for a factory explosion. Petards are fireworks that make no visible display aside from a puff of smoke, but let off a loud booming sound.</p> <p>Many people want them banned, as these are pointless and annoying. But, supporters say they’re part of tradition.</p> <p>If you think you hear gunfire rather than an explosion, your mind isn’t playing tricks on you. Bird hunting is extremely popular in Malta. Hunters set up hides along cliff tops and in open fields to take shots at wildlife. Given the main island is only 18mi (30km) long, the density of hunters is pretty high.</p> <h2>Fireworks Safety</h2> <p>If you go to one of the smaller village displays, keep your distance. Fireworks can be a danger to those handling them and to spectators. Shells may misfire and head off in the wrong direction, and burning remnants often fall on spectators.</p> <p>If you are burned, pour cold water over the wound, a continuous flow is best. Taking the heat out of the injury limits the damage. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Fortunately Malta has an excellent hospital and medical system, but you will need travel insurance to pay the bills.</p> <p>Resist the temptation to buy some fireworks and have your own impromptu display. Setting yourself on fire puts a real dampener on the night. Setting fire to someone’s house with a misdirected skyrocket will leave you facing a big liability claim. Your travel insurer is going to take a long hard look at those claims, and any evidence you were drinking or skylarking at the time will leave you high and dry.</p>iStock 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/europe/malta/drinking-water-and-flooding-rain-in-maltaWater is a problem in Malta – there's either not enough or far too much. Here's what you need to know about flooding and water quality in Malta.2020-01-07T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/europe/malta/drinking-water-and-flooding-rain-in-maltahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Water is a problem in Malta – there's either not enough or too much. The tiny islands don't have rivers, so tap water is desalinated seawater and groundwater, of dubious quality.</p> <p>Many people rely on rain, which rarely falls during summer (June to August) but floods during winter (December to February). </p> <h2>Water tastes toxic in Malta – should I be worried?</h2> <p>In a <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP4495" target="_blank" title="EHP">study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health</a>, research identified Malta's tap water is linked to a <a href="https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltas-tap-water-linked-to-fifth-of-bladder-cancer-cases.763824" target="_blank" title="TimesofMalta">fifth of bladder cancer cases due to exposure to chemicals</a>. Official reports still say the tap water is safe to drink in Malta, but it tastes awful. The desalination process removes particulates and contaminants but leaves it heavy in minerals. So while it's supposedly not toxic, many visitors find it hard to stomach. <a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/travelers-diarrhoea-health-tips" title="How to Avoid and Treat Traveler's Diarrhea">Traveler's diarrhea</a> is the most common illness to strike tourists in Malta, but there's no cause other than a change in the water.</p> <p>The desalinated water is clean and safe when it leaves the plant, but there's no vouching for the cleanliness and integrity of the pipes that deliver water around Malta. Many of the pipes are very old and cracked. If you're unsure, ask your accommodation staff for their opinion.</p> <p>In apartment buildings the water may be pumped to roof-top holding tanks before coming out of the tap. Some of those tanks are in poor shape. Double check with locals in the building if you want to be 100% confident in what you're drinking</p> <h2>Can I drink tap water in Malta?</h2> <p>Seasoned Malta visitors say a combination of tap water and boiled water is best. Boil the water before drinking it, then let it cool and fill up your reusable water bottle before you go out each day. Use tap water to brush your teeth, shower and cook (perfect for pasta, there's no need to add salt), but drinking boiled tap water or straight tap water should be safe.</p> <p>It comes down to your tastebuds. Just be aware boiling tap water does not remove dirt, minerals and other debris that may be in the tap water, which means the heavy mineral content might ruin your cup of tea.</p> <h2>Water everywhere</h2> <p>If you're in Malta during the summer months there's no need for an umbrella. The average rainfall in July is just one millimeter (.03 inches) –  that amount of water wouldn't even settle the dust.</p> <p>But come October and the islands are awash with rain, an average of 120mm (almost five inches) falls in tropical downpours.</p> <p>Old watercourses, long since built over, revert to their original state, and streets become raging torrents. Roads, cars, people and anything not nailed down gets washed away.</p> <p>There's an infamous incident from the October 2010 floods, in which a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxf4FSXWq-g&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank" title="Coffin passing by Qormi Valley">coffin was videotaped</a> floating don the Qormi valley. Thankfully it wasn't from a cemetery – an undertaker's warehouse with 800 stored coffins had been inundated by rain.</p> <p>Now it's a part of the Eurozone, Malta is supposed to be attempting to comply with European flood prevention practices, so things are improving – slowly.</p> <p>If you're in Malta during one of these downpours check with locals before venturing out. They'll know which streets always flood and how likely it is you'll encounter a wall of water coming your way.</p> <h2>Tips for dealing with traveler's diarrhea</h2> <p>The use of <em>loperamide</em> (anti-diarrheal medicine) is controversial. While <a href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-4789-4025/loperamide-oral/loperamide-oral/details" target="_blank" title="WebMD - Loperamide"><em>loperamide</em></a> does prevent diarrhea, that may not always be a good thing. If a traveler has an invasive and especially strong infection, you are essentially trapping the bacteria in the intestine/colon where it can do the most amount of damage. Better out than in, as I always say.</p> <p>Diarrhea is the body's way of excreting these damaging microbes. <a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/travelers-diarrhoea-health-tips" target="_blank" title="How to treat and prevent diarrhea">Travelers who do not know the cause of their diarrhea</a> should use <em>loperamide</em> with caution, as they may be doing more harm than good.</p> <p>Those travelers who simply cannot afford to be slowed down by diarrhea (business meetings, honeymoons, athletes etc) can speak with their doctor about using <em>bismuth subsalicylate</em> (Pepto Bismol) as preventative measures.</p> <p>Taking two tablets every morning and two tablets every night for the duration of the trip has been shown to decrease rates of TD (traveler's diarrhea). This may not be for everybody, so our advice is to speak with your doctor prior to traveling for advice that is right for you.</p>Getty Images/Ryzhkov_Sergey 1916937986 Getty Images Gloomy sky over the fishing village Marsaxlokk, Malta