Entry Formalities. Citizens from the UK, EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia and New-Zealand may enter Malta for up to three months without a visa. Only a passport is required. South Africans and other countries need a visa.
By Air
Malta International Airport, located at Luqa, 6 km south of Valletta, has 24-hout currency exchange services, car-hire desks, a tourist information office, a restaurant and a variety of shops. Air Malta, Malta’s national airline, operates a scheduled service from many European destinations, including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Frankfurt. The airline also operates charter services from a number of airports in Britain and mainland Europe. Air Malta has offices in Valletta.
By Sea
Island Seaway operates an overnight car ferry service between Malta and Catania in Sicily four times a week, and between Malta and Reggio Calabria twice a week.
Hotel and Accommodation
In an effort to boost Malta’s image, the government has injected large sums of cash into the refurbishment of the island’s up-market hotels. There are now eight 5-star hotels and over 30 with 4 stars. In contrast to the over- ambitious building programme of the 1970s and ‘80s, when Malta looked perilously close to becoming a Spanish-costa-style package destination, the 1990s development was restricted to de luxe accommodation.
Generally speaking the grading of hotels is on facilities rather than style and character. Many 4-star hotels do not offer the same standards of service, comfort or décor that are demanded in other European destinations. On the other hand, they are good deal cheaper. The Malta National Tourism Organization publishes annually a list of hotels, tourist villages and guesthouses.
Car Hire
Car hire is cheap. Local law permits driving from 18 years. Some companies will not hire cars to those ages under 25 or over 70, while others will charge extra daily insurance for doing so. Drivers must present their own national driving licence or an internationally recognized driving licence. There is an additional charge for any extra driver. The main international car-hire companies have desks at the airport as well as in the major resorts. Local companies are cheaper, bur their cars may not be quite as reliable as those of the well-known companies.
Regulations
Driving is on the left. The speed limit is 64 kph on highways and 40 kph in built-up areas. Cars approaching a roundabout must give way to the traffic already on the circuit (in theory). Seat belts must be worn. Breathalyzer tests similar to those in the UK are now in force.
