Malta - safe for "family cycling"?

infinity&beyond

Hi, thinking about a 10 day holiday in Malta in February for myself, wife and 2 year old son.

I'm looking to stay somewhere quaint, quiet with a nice safe beech close by (recommendations anyone?). But I'd also like to do a bit of casual along country roads (with the son in the back carrier). Can anyone out there give advise as to how safe that would be? I read on another post that drivers out there are maniacs! Also, can you rent bikes easily enough?

Cheers.

boarddotie

Hi there
I was in Malta at the end of this month and i was hoping to do some cycling too but there is absolutely no way I was even going to atempt it. It isnt the driver themselves that are maniacs, its the whole road system and lack of signs and rules that seems to be the main problem! I wouldnt advise, especially with a child on board. The island is also very hilly. I cant say what the two islands are like though-hilly too i imagine.
Hope that helps!

rossie1977

the only areas i saw safe for cycling would be golden bay in the far north of the main island (has a lovely beach too and a hotel which overlooks the beach) and the area around Dingli Cliffs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingli

infinity&beyond

boarddotie wrote: »

Hi there
its the whole road system and lack of signs and rules that seems to be the main problem!

Would GPS or a map help with the lack of signs?

rossie1977 wrote: »

the only areas i saw safe for cycling would be golden bay in the far north of the main island (has a lovely beach too and a hotel which overlooks the beach) and the area around Dingli Cliffs

Thanks rossie, did you notice any bike rental shops?

Really what we're looking for is a network of country roads (i.e. not the main roads), which you mightn't see if you're on a bus / taxi. Looking on Google Earth there does seem to be lots of little roads.

Also, I've found a website www.cyclemalta.com where a guy provides guided tours of the island. The site says he can bring you around the island without touching the main roads ("a difficult task these days, with so many built up zones").

So it looks like it's possible. Anyone else looked into this?

boarddotie

infinity&beyond wrote: »

Would GPS or a map help with the lack of signs?

Apologies, i more meant there is a lack of stop signs, road markings and the usual 'rules of the road' that we may be used to! I hope I am not downgrading the road system (!) but that seemed to be evident in the villages rather than the main tourist areas

rossie1977

infinity&beyond wrote: »

Thanks rossie, did you notice any bike rental shops?

Really what we're looking for is a network of country roads (i.e. not the main roads), which you mightn't see if you're on a bus / taxi. Looking on Google Earth there does seem to be lots of little roads.

i didn't see any bike rental places but i am sure they are there

nearly all of malta seems to be country roads, very few what you would call main roads even by irish standards there, most are narrow and windy. malta is stupidly built up, you won't believe how built up until you get there, its has one of the highest population densities in the world, barely any countryside between towns

malta is a very small island, a map probably will come in handy, i doubt you would need GPS though

just noticed you are going in february, valletta carnival goes on for a full week in early february and is great fun, we were over at it this year.

jebusmusic

Went to malta a couple of years ago in February.

The weather was about 14-17c, but felt colder as it was breezy, nice beach but the sea was far too cold for swimming.

We stayed in Mellieha, in this hotel http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g230152-d596557-Reviews-Solana_Hotel-Mellieha_Island_of_Malta.html

Nice hotel, got it cheap on hotels.com, B&B for one week for 2 people was about €200!

The place was petty quiet in February, locals said it was completley different place in peak season. There's a 'Popeye Village' near Mellieha, an old film set from the 70's version of Popeye starring a young Robin Williams, kids would enjoy it! You could cycle to it quite easliy, we walked.

Like rossie said, Valetta carnival is cool, entertaining for kids also!

infinity&beyond

rossie1977 wrote: »

nearly all of malta seems to be country roads, very few what you would call main roads even by irish standards there, most are narrow and windy. malta is stupidly built up, you won't believe how built up until you get there, its has one of the highest population densities in the world, barely any countryside between towns

I hear what you're saying -- reading around various websites indicates cycling can be dangerous unless you've got someone who knows where to go and what to avoid.

It seems that Gozo is much quieter, might be possible to cycle there. Anyone have an opinion on this? Place I'm looking at is Marsalforn, at the top centre of Gozo. It's got a sandy beach not too far away. Anyone been there, recommend accommodation (self catering ideally)?

Or anywhere else on Gozo that fits the bill (quiet, aesthetically appealing, close to sandy beach)?

Thanks for the other suggestions everyone, all info gratefully accepted.