Malta International Airport

I don’t like airports.

Enormous hangers full of people who are worried, rushing around and generally stressed out.  Am I going to miss my connection?  Exactly how many kilos does this bag weigh?  Is my carry-on really going to fit into that tiny metal measuring thing?  A swarm of negative emotions swirling around one giant soulless building.  Fortunately, Malta Airport is one of the least stressful of the species, mainly because it is very, very small.  This is fortunate indeed for me, given the amount of time I have had to spend in the place.  It does not have a wide selection of shops, at least not if you’re there as often as I am, but we can live with that.  But don’t worry, you can still buy very expensive sunglasses and things to make you smell less like you really smell and more like you imagine other people would like you to smell.

As with any airport, mostly people are interested in how to get away from it as easily and cheaply as possible.  You will see a coach company offering to drop you off to your hotel for €16, and this is what I ended up doing the first time I came here.  This service is no more or less than a dictionary definition of a Tourist Trap, ensnaring the unwary into paying more than 5 times what they need to.  Having become something of a veteran, I now take the regular bus instead and suggest you do likewise.  Basically any bus with an ‘X’ on it* will get you to or from the airport for the much more economical price of €1.30 (if you are arriving early in the day pay €1.50 and ask for an all day ticket which you can use anywhere on the island).  And the stops are right outside the front doors so you can’t miss them.  If you need to get a taxi because the buses aren’t running or just because buses aren’t your thing, then you should be able to haggle to get to Sliema/St Julian’s for €20.

If you don’t fancy taking on the bus service, you can get a taxi without worrying about being ripped off (too much), although at €25 to St Paul’s (for example) it’s not exactly a cheap option.  Especially when it’s easy to get a taxi/hire car going the other way for €18 from a variety of outlets.   Anyway, when you come out of the Arrivals area, you will see signs pointing left for Taxis.  There is a small office where you buy a ‘ticket’, they charge you the standard fare for your destination, and a taxi whisks you off.  It’s probably your easiest option.

Bon voyage.