1: Pocket sized
This pocket sized 400 page guide to Malta & surrounding islands is full of facts, details, and helpful hints. This is a British made publication, which means: 1) you have great detail on after hour clubs, bars, and entertainment; 2), there will be practically no attempt to help you with the local language (which for the most part the natives can understand & speak English, even if they are heavily accented); 3) there will be no hesitation to give opinions along with the facts; 4) there will be good information on bus routes and transportation options.
There are only 4 pages of photographs out of the 400, so it helps to team this book up with one like the AAA Spiral Guide which is chock full of photos, but this Rough guide is the one to stick in your pocket when you head out into the street.
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2: The best guide to Malta
Having lived in Malta for about five months, I can vouch for the quality of this book. It definitely beats all the other guides out there.The author had the advantage of writing about a small country, which might explain why this book is so good. Alas, smallness is often next to greatness, as anybody who knows anything about Malta will tell you. Situated smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean, it has been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years, from the time of the Phoenecians right down to British colonial days (Malta became an independent country only in 1964 and the British influence is still strong). Its famous siege by the Turks in 1565 was only a part of its rich and exciting history. This book includes a thorough section on Maltese history and culture, plus a list of other books if you want to learn more. As for the travel sections, it's replete with useful information, including details about admission costs, opening hours, bus routes, places to stay and eat, how to get there (not always easy), and where to go have fun in the sun. The maps are great, and it's also got a lot of useful information about Gozo and Comino, the beautiful neighboring islands 30 minutes by boat from Malta itself. This book was written with budget travelers in mind, but anybody will find it useful. And don't be turned away by the title: the only thing "rough" about Malta is the bus network, which is absolutely prehistoric and will beat even the most hard-core travelers down to an ichthyous, jelly-like pulp. Watch out. --- Five stars.
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