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The Best Beaches In Malta, According To Locals

by Anil Polat | Jun 19, 2018 | Advice, Guest Post | 1

This is a guest post by Edward Lansink, the founder and editor of Malta Uncovered, a travel guide for curious travelers looking to discover Malta.

Being surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, it’s only natural for the Maltese Islands to boast some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. With the islands’ mild winters, and the heat of summer, you’re most likely going to find yourself on a beach while in Malta.

Here are my tips for some of the best beaches that the Maltese islands have to offer, based on local knowledge.

Best Family Friendly Beach: Golden Bay

Even though the Maltese Islands are surrounded by beautiful crystal clear seas, the coast is generally a very rocky one, making for a limited number of sandy areas to soak up that summer sun. Having said that, you can find a few sandy gems scattered along the Maltese coast which make up for their scarcity where local businesses are established.

One of the most popular sandy beaches is the aptly named Golden Bay. Found along the island’s northwestern coast, this beach’s wide curve of orange-gold sand slopes gently into the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It is flanked by dramatic, rocky cliffs and the striking Għajn Tuffieha tower on one side, whilst the luxurious Radisson Blu Resort & Spa overlooks the other end of the bay.

This is a beach in which you can lie down on the soft, golden-colored sand and just enjoy the summer rays. You can rent an umbrella and deck chair on the beach and if you’re into water sports, there’s a variety of activities and boat trips you can take up. There are a few beach hut cafes where you can grab a bite to eat or have a drink or two, but if you’re looking for something more upmarket, just walk on up to the five-star Radisson for a variety of dining options, either casual or more refined

Being a Blue Flag certified beach (European standard for beach quality), life guards patrol the area during the summer months and the beach has a system of flags signaling where it is safe to swim. The beach is easily accessible by car, with a few public parking areas nearby. It’s also serviced by a regular bus service.

Best Sandy Beach: Ghajn Tuffieha

If you prefer a more quiet sandy beach, head on towards Ghajn Tuffieha (Maltese for ‘Apple’s Eye’, also known as Riviera by the locals); located a 15 minute walk south of Golden Bay. It is flanked by dramatic clay slopes and rocky cliffs and boasts a narrow strip of beautiful orange-golden sand and clear azure waters and is accessed by descending a tall fight of (over 100) steps.

You can rent sun beds and umbrellas from a kiosk located on the side of the beach, which also offers some fairly decent snack options and there is a regular bus service to the area. Bus routes with destination Golden Bay all pass from there. You can also find a parking area at the top of the steps, but be warned, car spaces in the lot are rarely vacant as people visiting Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden Bay use this area, as well as the main access road for parking and it does get pretty busy during the summer season. Having said that, Ghajn Tuffieha generally offers a more quiet and peaceful setting than Golden Bay, with a more natural atmosphere and less crowds.

Best for Snorkeling: Wied il-Ghasri

A unique spot and a popularly-photographed spot, Wied il-Ghasri in Gozo is definitely worth a visit for those who love snorkeling. This little gem of a beach is actually a coastal chasm at the end of a valley that opens to the sea through a river-like channel in between the rocky cliffs.

You can access the beach via a rocky staircase carved into the valley, although you’ll need a car or bike to get here since there’s no bus stop nearby. Snorkeling here is pure joy, with lots of nooks and crannies carved into the rocky ledges of the cliffs surrounding the inlet. It’s an absolutely stunning location to swim and snorkel at, although not the best place to sunbathe. The beach itself is small and covered in pebbles, which adds to the beauty but doesn’t make for a comfortable spot to lie down on.

Other fantastic snorkeling beaches worth a mention are Mgarr ix-Xini (also located in Gozo) and Ghar Lapsi and St. Peter’s Pool, both found in the southern part of Malta.

Most Rugged Beach: Fomm ir-Rih

If you’re looking for a remote, secluded beach, Fomm ir-Rih is definitely the one for you. Located along the northwest coast of Malta, just outside the village of Baħrija, this beach is Malta’s most remote and probably least accessible beach. It’s a bit of a challenge to get down to the sea, with a tricky 20 minute trek through some rough and steep terrain, but it’s worth the effort.

The coastal views here are magnificent, the water crystal clear with some great snorkeling opportunities, and you might just have the whole beach to yourself for the day! Imgiebah Bay in Selmun, Mellieha is another, easier to access (and sandy) alternative to Fomm ir-Rih, although there’s still a 30 minute walk to get there from the nearest bus stop.

Most Unique Beach: The Blue Lagoon (Comino)

Accessed only via ferry boat, the Blue Lagoon is located on the tiny islet of Comino, found in the strait between Malta and Gozo. An extremely popular summer spot, the Blue Lagoon is often overcrowded, a true shame, but for good reason. Boasting bright, crystal clear, turquoise waters and some of the most unique and stunning views of the Islands, Comino is truly a unique place to visit. The lagoon itself is a small inlet of inland sea ringed by rocks and lined by gleaming white sand. The beach in itself is extremely small, but there are a large number of large, flat rocks dotted about which are perfect for sun bathing. Swimming in the warm, azure waters of the Blue Lagoon truly feel like paradise, especially on days which are less crowded.

For even greater access, and guaranteed private moments, you could stay overnight at Comino’s sole hotel (quite pricey considering it’s not the most updated place), or even camp on the island if you’re feeling more adventurous! Of course, there are many other special beaches around Malta, all offering their own unique landscape and charm. A few noteworthy mentions are San Blas Bay and ir-Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo, and Mellieha Bay and Ghar Lapsi in Malta.

Thank you Ed for giving us some great beach options in Malta. You can learn more about traveling in Malta through Ed’s website, Malta Uncovered and check out his ebook, Valletta: An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital.

The Tokyo Experience That Gives You Culture, Food, And A Good Lesson For Life

by Anil Polat | Jun 12, 2018 | Advice, Culture, Food | 0

What most of us look for when visiting a new place is a local, authentic experience that feels like we’re the first outsider to discover. The best place to find this intersection of culinary culture is to ask a few locals, “where do you eat?” In Tokyo, that’s exactly what I did, which lead me to Rangetsu to try sukiyaki – and you should too.

Misleading Exterior

The polished but humble entrance to Rangetsu is almost too fancy; the kind of decor that leads one to believe you’re paying more for ambiance than good food. But a few steps into the tight hallways of Rangetsu hits you immediately with the sense you’re entering somewhere special. The waiter, in suit and tie, asks for your order – sukiyaki of course – and seats you in a tiny room, sharply closing the curtain behind him.

Contemplating Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki, a lesser know Japanese dish, is a meal of vegetables, noodles, and thinly sliced beef mixed with raw egg served in generally that order. Typically sukiyaki is a winter meal, but Rangetsu serves sukiyaki year-round. Once the curtain has been closed, the silence of your contemplation will be broken by the clicks of the curtain rings as they’re pulled open again. This time, a woman wearing traditional Japanese attire with under heavy makeup takes your drink order, then promptly leaves.

Your drinks arrive, food order given, and there you are again. Piece by piece, moment by moment, sip by sip, the meal at Rangetsu is reflective of the general Japanese dining experience. Colorful, coordinated, proportional and very much in moderation.

Hot Potting

Every time the waitress comes into your little room, something is cooked in front of you in a small hot pot. The noodles are one course, as is the soup, then vegetables, finally beef with raw egg. Everything is tasty. The kind of quality that makes you notice things like the flavor of individual green beans you normally wouldn’t on most plates. Portions are just enough food to be satisfying leaving ample room for respectable amounts of saki.

The dining culture in Japan is certainly quality over quantity over time and Rangetsu is the manifestation of it all.

Prices at Rangestu aren’t as high as most places in Ginza, Tokyo’s version of Time Square, but not cheap either. (Despite Tokyo dropping out of the top 10 most expensive cities last year.) A sukiyaki dinner, the full experience, is around $75 but only half that at lunch time.

Sukiyaki at Rangetsu is an event – vaguely like ordering a lomito in Santiago or drinking raki like a Turk – where the meal itself is an ingredient of conversation, reflection, and enjoyment. Not something to be rushed or overlooked, after a warm sukiyaki then final sip of tea, in the future you might occasionally take a slower bite at your next lunch. Try to feel the flavors as they’re absorbed by different parts of your tongue. Appreciate the next cup of coffee on your way to work or otherwise find the peaceful moment that lies in every food, one of several lessons the sukiyaki at Rangetsu hopefully leaves you with.

What To See And Do In Asuncion, Paraguay

by Anil Polat | Jun 7, 2018 | Advice, Culture, Lodging | 0

Asuncion is the capital city of a country I’ve described as affectionately weird – one of the reasons you should travel to Paraguay. Oddities aside, there are plenty of tangible experiences in Asuncion that make it an interesting trip, even if it’s a short one from the few nearby cities with direct flights.

Here’s how to explore Asuncion and embrace its culture, history, and yes, weirdness.

On The Edge

Asuncion is a city with pockets of activity and areas of isolation with such large contrast, you can feel like you’re in a big, bustling city or ghost town, all within a few blocks. To begin, for accommodation, I recommend avoiding the hotels but rather checking out the many Airbnbs just around the city center. They’re nearly all gated, with pools, and large living space for well under $50 a night.

Buses and transportation are crowded but easy enough to manage with some guidance from your Airbnb owner. The first place you’ll want to go is Lido Bar for lunch. Lido Bar serves a variety of Paraguayan staples to Asuncion’s middle class before or between the workday. To best avoid the crowds, arrive at 1pm and then order caldo de pescado (fish soup) and an empanada to go with it. Don’t expect much English to be spoken by staff but if you use Pimsleur 2-4 weeks before your trip, you’ll have no problem asking for the daily specials in Spanish.

Right around the corner is Cafe Consulado; a calm, borderline-hipster cafe where you can hang out, recharge, then plan your next move.

The Other Side Of Quiet

For some reason that wasn’t apparent to me, the government in Asuncion has created the Bohemian neighborhood of Loma San Jeronimo. It’s lined with colorful buildings with small shops, eateries, bars, and snack stalls. Unfortunately, nearly all of them are closed and as nice as the area is, it’s bizarrely quiet. Fun for photos, Loma San Jeronimo is worth a visit – just don’t trust Google Maps (offline or not) to get you there. Google will send you somewhere nearby but a part of town don’t you definitely don’t want to be in.

Museo del Barro

Museums can be boring, especially after you’ve been to more than a few during your travels. Museo del Barro (also practically empty) though is a detailed look at Paraguay’s indigenous heritage, bloody history, and the contemporary society born of it. You can check the hours as well as updated entry fees on their website.

Runners, walkers, and nature lovers from here it’s a long walk or quick bus ride to Parque de la Salud. The park is an oasis of Asuncion: clean, green, and quiet. There are joggers, walking families, and the enclosed park is well secured so you can explore without worry. Personally, Parque de la Salud was one of my favorite places in Asuncion.

On the way back to the bustle of Asuncion’s hidden city life, Mercado 4 is the world famous for its knockoff electronics. I saw fake iPhones so close to the original, unless you’re a tech enthusiast, they’re very difficult to distinguish. Mercado 4 is a fun stroll though Paraguay’s booming counterfeiting economy; highlighting just how off the international grid Asuncion is.

Outside there’s plenty of barbecue with friendly locals who don’t mind a side of conversation with their pork. Now all of a sudden you’re feeling small town again in Asuncion, an a la carte travel experience.

How Crowded Is Petra During The Day?

by Anil Polat | May 17, 2018 | Advice, Health and Fitness, Pictures and Video, Travel | 0

The ideal way to visit Petra is to arrive one night before, stay at one of the plentiful hotels, and enter the site as soon as it opens at 6am. Petra enthusiasts generally recommend staying two days to be able to fully explore the entire site but if you’re planning on a day trip from Amman, you’ll likely arrive when Petra is at its busiest during the day.

Large crowds and people in all of your photos might have you worried that not getting to Petra at 6am will ruin what is a bucket list event. Many of the tour buses from other parts of Jordan – mainly Amman – arrive around 10am and in case you’re on one of them, watch the video here or read on for what to expect.

Petra Peak

Late morning is generally the busiest time at Petra when people taking day trips begin to show up. For a day trip to Petra from the Jordanian capital Amman, the JETT Bus leaves at 6am, arrives at 10am, and returns around 5pm (definitely check the times on their site to be certain). JETT’s online booking engine is very unreliable so at least a day before your trip to Petra, visit their offices in Amman to book tickets ($32USD round trip). There are certainly other ways but this is the method I used.

Put On Your Walking Shoes

Petra is a large, large area. The town itself isn’t too big but the historical part is much more than just the famous treasury. The iconic treasury is a 2km (~1.24 miles) walk from the main entrance of Petra and its only the beginning. From there it’s another 6-8 kilometers (~3.7 – 5 miles) to the rest of the sites. Hopefully some of the pictures I’ve taken give you a better idea of how expansive the area is because just reading it doesn’t prepare you.

Petra is so large it helps dilute out the average 1,750 daily visitors. Additionally, most people don’t go too far beyond the treasury since it’s a hike in hot desert conditions – the more fit you are the further you can explore and leave the crowds behind. (Keep in mind there’s little food aside from snacks in the Petra site, plan accordingly.)

Photographic Memory In Mind

For those of you who can’t stand people in your pictures standing in front of the treasury for 10 minutes should give you a fairly clear shot. A wide angle lens will make matters easier and if all else fails you can just remove the people digitally. To be honest, even at its peak you won’t feel like it’s crowded at Petra.

Plus the people in your photos can also give perspective, showing how big everything actually is.

Remember, around 2pm, the school buses show up. The kids stick to near the treasury and just beyond but while you won’t feel more crowded, the ambient noise will increase by about 5000%.

The Rode VideoMicro Compact Microphone Will Significantly Improve Your Travel Video Audio

by Anil Polat | May 15, 2018 | Pictures and Video, Tech | 0

More and more of you are adding travel videos to your trip collections as phones of the past 2 years have made major jumps in video quality. As cameras and mobiles get better at taking video, they still suck at audio. The small microphones in cameras (and particularly phones) are designed to pick up sound from sources that are especially close up, without much protection from ambient noise. (Try having a call outside, the slightest breeze can ruin a conversation.) For video with any kind of intelligible speaking in it, a microphone can go a long way.

Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre...

The Rode VideoMicro is a compact, durable microphone under $60 that dramatically improves audio in any video. It’s compatible with cameras and phones (that still have a headphone jack). You can watch my full review of the Rode VideoMicro in the video above.

The Best Falafel In The World Is In The Middle Of A Decade-Old Sibling Feud

by Anil Polat | May 8, 2018 | Culture, Food, Pictures and Video, Travel Journal | 1

This is the story of two brothers in Beirut, Lebanon, who haven’t spoken in since 2006, when they’re split up their father’s famous falafel shop. (Falafel is a simple dish of fried chickpeas, often wrapped in pita bread.) The two sons of Mustapha Sahyoun, Fuad and Zuheir, inherited the shop in 1992 but due to a dispute they won’t discuss, in 2006, Fuad opened his falafel shop right next door. Both of these shops are considered some of the best falafel in the world; though which is better is something of a local rivalry in itself.

I visited the Sahyoun falafel shops during a visit to Beirut and you learn more about the story in the video here.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More