Services & FAQ's

Air-Conditioning

Banks

There are two major banks in Malta namely HSBC (Malta) and BOV. Both are within walking distance of the Hotel.

Beaches

A rocky beach is located just 100 metres away from the hotel. The majority of sandy beaches are located in northern part of the island. One can very easily get to these beaches, using buses which run every 15 minutes. It only takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes to get to these locations.

Breakfast

Buses

Bus Stops are located less than 5 minutes walk away from the hotel, from where residents can get buses to Valletta (the Capital City) or to main areas around the Maltese Islands. Some of the areas which buses run directly to are: Cirkewwa (Gozo Ferry) and Mellieħa Bay one of the main sandy beaches, Golden Bay (sandy beach area), Sliema, Rabat, Mdina, Crafts Village, Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua), Marsaxlokk (fishing village), San Anton Gardens (Gardens of the Presidential Palace), Marine Park, Mosta Village, Paradise Bay (sandy beach). A night service is available to and from Paceville, Malta's primary night spot.

For further information on Public Transport, visit  www.atp.com.mt.

Business Hours

Banks - Opening hours vary from bank to bank, but normally they are from 08:00 or 8:30 to 13:00 or 14:00 from Monday to Friday throughout the year. on Saturdays, most banks only open until 12:00.

Offices - From 1 October to 30 June from 08:30 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 17:30 Monday to Friday. Some offices reopen at 15:00.
From 1 July to 30 September working hours are usually from 07:30 to 13:30 Monday to Friday.

Shops - From 09:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday. On Saturdays, most shops are only open in the morning.
Shops in tourist areas do not normally close at lunchtime and usually remain open until 22:00 in summer.

Car Rental

Car Rental Agencies situated all over Bugibba have the widest selections of vehicles for hire available. A valid driving license from country of origin is required. Driving in Malta is on the left hand side of the road. Of course this should not discourage you from hiring a car to see the various places of interest.

Check-Out Time

Chemist

There are some 200 chemists in Malta and about a dozen in Gozo; these are open during normal shopping hours. On Sunday chemists open on a roster basis from 9:00 until 12:30; A timetable is available by checking the Sunday newspapers

Veterinary pharmacies - There are eight such chemists, all in Malta, and they are open during normal shopping hours.

Climate & Weather Forecast

Malta's climate is strongly influenced by the sea and is typically Mediterranean. Winters are mild with occasional cold weather brought by northerly and non-easterly winds from central Europe. Summers are hot, dry and very sunny. Cooling sea breezes often relieve daytime temperatures, but in spring and autumn a very hot wind from Africa occasionally brings unpleasantly high temperatures. This is the scirocco, which also affects Greece and Italy; in Malta the air is usually drier because of the short sea track from the African coast. The islands have a very sunny climate with a daily average of five to six hours of sunshine in  mid-winter and more than 12 hours a day in summer.

A five-day weather forecast is available online by visiting www.maltaweather.com

Conference / Conventions

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro, abbreviated as '€' and divided into 100 euro cents. Malta adopted the Euro as its national currency on the 1st of January 2008. The exchange rate between the Euro and the Maltese Lira has been pegged at €1 = Lm 0.4293. The old currency is no longer used.

Direct Dial

Driving

As in many Commonwealth countries, driving in Malta is on the left. There is a speed limit of 80kph (50mph) on a highways and 50kph (30mph) in urban areas. Third party insurance is advisable, as the islands` accident rate is one of the highest in Europe with an average of 37 incidents a day. Visitors should be extremely cautious, as local drivers may be erratic. Roads flood easily and are often narrow, winding and congested. Arterial roads are prone to bottlenecks and serious accidents, often due to drivers` inexperience in merging or because of speeding.

Licenses - Any foreigner holding EU license and who is over 18 may drive in Malta until the license's expiry. Holders of non-EU driving licenses may drive in Malta for up to 12 months, but must apply for a Certificate of Local Registration of  Visitor's Driving License from the Licensing and Testing Directorate in Floriana. This is a straightforward procedure that requires a passport showing the last date of arriving in Malta and valid foreign driving license. The certificate is issued on the spot and is free. Visitors driving their own car do not require having their licenses endorsed.

Diving

A diving school is located within meters from the hotel.

Doctor

Dry Cleaning / Laundry

Electricity

The electrical supply is 240 volts, single phase, 50 cycles. The 13amps, three pin rectangular sockets are used in Malta.

Excursions

Many excursions can be booked from offices within vicinity of hotel. Some can also be booked via reception.

Hospitals & Medical Care

Travelers do not normally require certificates of vaccination or inoculation to enter the islands. However, yellow fever immunization is needed by the travelers over nine months old if arriving within six days of leaving an infected area.
Malta has reciprocal health agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom. Nationals of Australia may receive free emergency care up to six months after their arrival in Malta. UK nationals visiting the islands for no longer than 30 days are entitled to free medical and hospital care in Gozo and Malta.

Visitors from EU and EEA member states are also entitled to publicly funded health care services on presentation of their European Health Insurance Card. If relevant card is not presented, bills must be paid in full before leaving the hospital of health centre. All medicines used in in-patient treatment and for the first three days after discharge are free.
Persons undergoing medical treatment - and who may need to bring medicines to Malta, or buy fresh supplies locally - are advised to obtain a letter of introduction from their family doctor. Most European prescriptions are available on the islands

There is one general hospital in Malta (Mater Dei) and is located around 30  minutes away. There are a government health centers in several towns and villages, these open from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and from 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday. The centers are open 24-hours a day for emergencies only

Holidays and Feasts

Public holidays celebrated in Malta are on the following dates:

01 January       New Year's Day
10 February     St Paul's Shipwreck
19 March         St Joseph's Day
31 March         Freedom Day
                      Good Friday
                      Easter Sunday
01 May            Labour Day
07 June           Commemoration of 7 June 1919
29 June            L-Imnarja (SS Peter and Paul)
15 August       Assumption (Santa Marija)
08 September Our Lady of Victories
21 September Independence Day
08 December  Immaculate Conception
13 December  Republic Day
25 December   Christmas Day

Parish feasts - in addition to public holidays, each parish in the islands - there are 68 in Malta and 15 in Gozo - celebrates the feast of its patron saint.
Most parishes celebrate their feasts in summer. The peak day for feasts is 15 August, when seven parishes celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady.

Language

Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta. Italian and German are also widely spoken and an increasing number speak French and Spanish.

Mail

Mini-Bar

Packed Lunches

Petrol Stations

There are two types of petrol in Malta - lead replacement petrol (LRP) and Unleaded. Because of relative cheapness of diesel, diesel-powered autos are common. Service stations are open from 07.00 hours till 18.00 hours in Winter and from 07.00 hours till 19.00 hours in Summer. On Sundays manned service stations open by roster from 08.00 until 12.00. Plenty of Self - Service pumps are available 24-hours a day.

Pharmacy

There are some 200 pharmacies in Malta and around a dozen in Gozo; these are open during normal shopping hours. On Sunday pharmacies open on a roster basis from 9:00 until 12:30; A timetable is available by checking the Sunday newspapers

Veterinary pharmacies - There are eight such pharmacies, all in Malta, and they are open during normal shopping hours.

Restaurants

One . While visiting the Hotel it is greatly suggested to visit the Gillieru Fish Restaurant. A discount of 5% will be given to residents. For more information visit www.gillierurestaurant.com

Swimming Pool

There is one outdoor swimming pool situated on the second floor. The swimming pool is open between May and October ( weather permitting ). Surrounded by spectacular views of the Islands of St. Paul's and a colourful sun terrace and snack bar.

Satellite Television

Taxi

Time

Malta is on Central European Time (CET); one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and two hours from the last Sunday March until the last Sunday in October.
Malta is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter and seven ahead from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.
Dial 195 for a time check.

Wi-Fi Zone