Sights,Bites,and Maltese delights. Malta Sept 2021. Yay for Travel Day

[WileyCoyote]

Tuesday 28 Sept

Is this day 1?

I’m alway confused by that - is it day 1 or still pre holiday?

I didn’t have the greatest nights sleep - the room was a bit stuffy and I was awake on and off until round 3 when I finally fell asleep -but waking again just before the alarm was set to go off at 4.30 and springing out of bed straight away so I didnt fall back to sleep.

Was very thankful that we had sorted the cases last night and only had a few bits to pack away this morning, so we were out the door and waiting for the taxi at just before 5 am - it turned up right on time.

We did think on the journey that the PI at T5 might have been a better choice - it’s not that far from this one but this was just another 20 minutes or so we could have had snoozing ! It was £19 flat fare.

The airport was very quiet at 0530

and we were directed over to the check in zone and were seen straight away.

No idea how heavy the cases were as they were whisked off and the check in lady confirmed we just needed to show our email to access the perks of fast track and the lounge.

We headed straight to security - I showed the email to the attendant who pointed to the turnstiles and said we had to use them - of course that didnt work so we had to go back to her. It’s not like anyone else was there so why she couldn’t have just let us through was beyond me.

Once through, there were maybe a dozen others in security but it was very orderly and everything went fine through the scanner. No beeps or body searches. Always a relief.

From there, we headed to a store so I could pick up an iphone charger and on to the Galleries south lounge.

It was a bit tricky to take pics in here because it was quiet and an awkward layout.

It was all very good though.

You ordered your food and drink from the app and it was brought over .

Andy went for the bacon rolls and I had porridge and pastries.

It was all ok - not quite the same as the Aspire or No1 that we have used before but still nice.

We watched the first few planes coming in to land around 6 am and just as Andy was about to set off to duty free, it came up that the gate was boarding so we headed over via the little train. Closest we will get to the Orlando monorail this year ...

It was a little busier outside in the main terminal now but going on an early flight was definitely a winner for a no queue experience!

As we walked towards the gate they were calling the priority boarding groups. Another perk from BA, so we literally walked straight on.

I was so excited I took a photo of the plane door - that is how trip starved we have been - it’s all quality photo trip content here peeps

It was a bit of faff getting on with one gentleman determined to stow his bags, set out his newspaper and rearrange his hat, all while standing in the aisle rather than moving in to let people by.

The plane ended up pretty full - a few random seats empty but not many. It was weird being on a tiny plane and with no seat back entertainment !

We departed on time - goodbye cold rain

and I settled in for a bit of kip - not even getting my book or iPad out - it was lovely to just be in the air and chilling out. Not that I was that chilled as of course there was the anxiety about getting in to Malta and all the wretched forms !

We were given water and a cereal bar - the water was great as breakfast had made us thirsty. I didn’t bother with the cereal bar.

You could pre order stuff and have it delivered to your seat and there was a trolley service (card only ,no cash) but we didnt want anything - it was only a 3 hour flight so passed pretty quickly compared to our usual trips

The loos on these planes are teeny though - never mind enough room to swing a cat ( who does that anyway) , there was barely room to turn round and close the door

About 2 hours into the flight , the mask business started to get me a bit hot and bothered and I was very keen to get to the end of the flight. I felt really hot and claustrophobic. Happily the captain announced the flight was arriving 15 minutes early so that was good news.

They did hand out the health declaration form as we were nearing landing which caused some confusion - I think most people filled it in just in case( we had done ours last night). But it wasn’t asked for - just the PLF.

It was very orderly on landing.

Clear instructions to stay seated until your row was called and I think it’s the first flight ever where there wasn’t that communal click of seatbelts coming off and everyone leaping up.

As they called 4 rows at a time from back and front - and we were in the middle - we were pretty much last off .

That feeling - Stepping out into a wall of heat - - oh holidays we missed you. Even tho it was old fashioned down the steps and walk to the terminal type of arrival it was fantastic . Just what we came away for

I was expecting the Q to be horrendous at immigration as we had also stopped at the loos to change out of our jumpers and heavier travel clothes and were probably the last from our plane to reach immigration - but they had loads of lanes open and we were through in less than 10minutes. It took maybe another 10 minutes for all the bags to come off and then another 10-15 min wait in the queue to hand in the PLF and have the vax paperwork checked.

The lady in front of us hadn’t completed a PLF and was sent away to do one online- no PLF -no entry.

Our prints outs of the PLF and the NHS COVID pass were fine and within minutes of them being verified by the officer we both also received an am email confirming they had been approved .

That queue was a bit hot and stuffy and a bit of a faff managing cases and all the papers so I was pleased to be through it. Hurrah, we really had made it.

Next stop was to find the office for the transfer - we had opted for the shared coach - in hindsight I wouldn’t do this again and would opt just to take a taxi or a private transfer.

Andy found the office and then we had to wait for another couple to arrive before we could set off - in the end probably adding half an hour to our waiting time - when we could have been there.

It was a bit of a squeeze getting in the cases and bags along with the people and all a bit close for comfort and hot and stuffy for my liking. The journey didn’t take long as we only made a few stops( we were last but one) but we did see people at the hotel who had been on the plane and clearly got there quicker. I was wedged in the middle seat which is rubbish for taking photos

More quality content - barriers and bins

And buildings

and generally a bit squashed. Sometimes being the small person and always getting the middle seat sucks! The driver was lovely and chatty telling us about his life growing up in Malta.

The roads were crazy though - reminded us of Rome with cars coming at you in every direction . We decided we maybe wouldn’t hire a car.

Looked v nice around the Hilton

First view of our hotel

We pitched up at the Westin at 1pm - so about 90 minutes after landing .

Thee room wasn’t ready - likely to be a couple of hours so we had a nosey at the lobby

I shall be working my way through these ...

These reminded me of the Hard Rock Orlando

and sat on the terrace for a drink and bite to eat before heading down to the pool.

I had a strawberry daiquiri that immediately melted and we had the teriyaki skewers.

The food and drink menu looked v good and reasonably priced. We are making our way through it all in the name of research

It did feel surreal being away - we made it - hotel looks lovely and we are looking forward to two weeks of relaxing .


We had not long headed off to sit by the pool

when we had a call at 3pm to say the room was ready.

It looked really nice - lots of space and a lovely sea view.

It took two minutes to scatter our stuff and make a mess

And this - it looks like a good idea - the door stop neatly positioned by the loo -

but I can’t tell you how many times it’s caused stubbed toes or trips

Making use of robes and slippers

We passed by the club room which was closed due to Covid - looked a nice enough space with a balcony and terrace.

Had a faff with the WiFi - we couldn’t seem to get on and it looked like there was a charge so we had to ask for that to be sorted - appaz they should have sorted that when we booked in.

By the time we had unpacked and got changed, it was 6pm and went off to try out the club level perk - drinks and canapés by the pool. It was a bit breezy now but still plenty warm enough to sit out.

There was one plate of canapes per room - personally I felt a bit stingy and nothing like the club level perks we have had at the Hard Rock in Orlando or Waldorf in Dubai - maybe we have been spoiled.

Drinks were only wine, beer or non alcoholic so my early hopes for cocktail evenings were a bit quashed. Again - I think Club level was a bit lacking on that front and perhaps I was expecting too much.

The canapes were nice

Bruschetta
onion bhajis
Pulled pork sliders
mini kebabs
A cheese thing ( unable to determine its exact nature )

We had a few glasses of wine and beers and it was lovely to sit out and watch the sun go down and the lights all come up on the resort casino

We headed into the lounge

and still feeling a bit peckish decided to have a pizza.

We hadn’t realised quite how huge they would be and would definitely have just shared one - we should have asked.

They were both delicious - and very reasonably priced.

We felt completely stuffed by the time we had finished and toddled off in a total carb coma.

Goodnight from Malta

[princessnicki]

Woohoo for finally stepping back on a plane! I agree about the masks, i am praying by Nov 2022 that they are long gone! Wow your hotel is just stunning, would love to stay here! Malta looks beautiful! The canapes look delicious but yes where are the cocktails?! Shame on you club level! Pizza looks delicious too, great start to your trip

[Lizzim]

Glad to see you back on a trip! We've been to Malta a couple of times - your hotel looks fab!

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by princessnicki

Woohoo for finally stepping back on a plane! I agree about the masks, i am praying by Nov 2022 that they are long gone! Wow your hotel is just stunning, would love to stay here! Malta looks beautiful! The canapes look delicious but yes where are the cocktails?! Shame on you club level! Pizza looks delicious too, great start to your trip

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It was so nice stepping on the plane but even better off into the heat. Yeah the masks ... maybe on a long haul flight just going to sleep is the answer if they are still in place then.

Hotel is nice. Cocktails are good. Club level .. a bit meh
Pizzas are blinking enormous here

Originally Posted by Lizzim

Glad to see you back on a trip! We've been to Malta a couple of times - your hotel looks fab!

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Thank you .. it’s so nice to have got away x Did you do a trippie? I didn’t even do any research .. I should have looked !

[JudeB]

Love a trip report! We were in Malta for just one day as part of a cruise in Jan 19 and we loved it. It was so clean and the food was good and reasonably priced. Would love to bring our boys sometime as they love history.

[Taffy1959]

Such a good feeling to be back on a plane 😀 I was worried about having to wear a mask but it was ok and our flight was only 3.5 hours.
Your hotel is stunning but a shame about the cocktails

[margyloveswdw]

Sounds like an easy travel day. Great to be reading a trip report involving a flight and a foreign country 😀

[P&S]

Great travel day I really struggle with masks (menopause) so my travel abroad sadly won't be this year, looking forward to reading more

[WileyCoyote]

Originally Posted by JudeB

Love a trip report! We were in Malta for just one day as part of a cruise in Jan 19 and we loved it. It was so clean and the food was good and reasonably priced. Would love to bring our boys sometime as they love history.

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Thank you. It is very clean and the food is much more reasonable than we expected. Valletta has been our favourite I think .. and yes tons of history.

Originally Posted by Taffy1959

Such a good feeling to be back on a plane 😀 I was worried about having to wear a mask but it was ok and our flight was only 3.5 hours.
Your hotel is stunning but a shame about the cocktails

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It was great to be in the air again I have managed to do justice to the cocktail menu in the lounge . Hoping it’s a good flight back tonight. It’s been so windy our flight time should be halved

Originally Posted by margyloveswdw

Sounds like an easy travel day. Great to be reading a trip report involving a flight and a foreign country 😀

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Thank you ... it’s been so long hasn’t it

Originally Posted by P&S

Great travel day I really struggle with masks (menopause) so my travel abroad sadly won't be this year, looking forward to reading more

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I did feel quite hot and claustrophobic. I’m switching to a different mask for the trip home so hope that will help. Thank you x

[jocat]

Sounds like you had a very smooth travel day.

The hotel looks gorgeous! And lots of cocktails on those menus for you to try. Just a shame they’re not included on the Club menu. 😉