iMALTA.COM |
|
 |
iMALTA.COM |
|
|
|
| |
TRANSPORTATION IN MALTA
|
 Buy this print from Corbis |
Malta is unique in this regard. Due to its small size but rich and varied attractions, you can be on the beach basking in the sun at one moment and then dressed up attending a concert or at a village festa within an hour. Malta is 27 kilometres long and 13 kilometres wide. Do not be misled by the small size, though. Within this small space there is an endless ramification of streets leading from one village to the next. |
With no railway or tube system present, the Maltese bus system is surprisingly efficient. Buses operate on average every fifteen minutes, starting at 06.00am in the early morning and going on till ten or eleven o' clock at night. Buses operate from Valletta, the capital city, to all parts of the island and back, stopping in all the towns on the way. Fares are very cheap, and the buses, although most are quite old, are very hygienic and comfortable. Malta's buses are not only efficient, they are also an attraction all on their own.
These tend to be quite expensive to use regularly, but are very handy when you need to arrive at the heart of nightlife without bothering to find a parking space, or simply when you don't want to commit the fatal mistake of drinking and driving. Taxis are safe in Malta, and all of them have a taxi meter displayed on the dash board. However, always inquire about the approximate fare for a journey before embarking on a trip. Taxis are identifiable by their all-white livery.
Malta enjoys a fairly wide number of international auto rental companies, with very competitive rates. Pre booking is recommended particularly during the holiday seasons. Book online to get the cheaper internet rates. Most Car Rental companies make it easy to pick up and drop off the rented automobile at Malta International Airport (code: MLA), the only airport on the island.
This is definitely the best way to explore the Maltese islands - they give you the freedom you need to go off the beaten track, and also explore Malta's sister island Gozo, by taking the car on board the ferry running the crossing between the two islands for a nominal price. In Malta, people drive on the left like the British. However, for continentals and United States Citizens, it is easy to get accustomed to this system. Speed limit is 64kph (40mph) on highways and 40kph (25mph) in residential areas. A driving licence must be presented in order to hire cars and drivers need to have their licences endorsed by the licensing department in Floriana on the outskirts of Valletta. The wearing of Seat Belts is compulsory. Wheel clamping and car towing are now in use in most areas. Observe parking restrictions, even if these are sometimes obscure.
When entering the country with your own car, you must be able to show proof that the car is insured. Engine and chassis numbers will also be written down. Drivers must have their own national drivers license or an international one. People here drive on the left-hand side. The speed limit is 40km/h(25mph) in town and 64km/h(40mph) on the highways.
The Gozo Channel Company runs a ferry service between Malta and its smaller sister island Gozo. It costs approximately $4.50 to cross over to Gozo - add $10 per car if you're going across with one. Crossing time is about 20 minutes. There are 14 crossings a day. Between March and the end of May, one nightly crossing is put on. This leaves Mgarr at 00:00 and Cirkewwa in Malta at 00:30. Services to Comino operate from mid-March to mid-November. For further information, contact the Gozo Channel Company, Hay Wharf, Sa Maison in Malta.
There is a helicopter service operating all year round between Malta and Gozo. A quick alternative to the ferry service, it runs eight times a day and takes only ten to fifteen minutes. It costs approximately US$35. The same service offers sightseeing tours from the air.
The age and design of most historic and public buildings on the island group makes sightseeing inconvenient for disabled travellers, however the situation is being remedied. Pavements are usually rather uneven and very few buildings have ramps. Disabled travellers interested in more information can contact the National Commission for the Handicapped on +356 487789 or the Health Educational Unit on +356 231247.