Don't move to Malta!!!
 

All I can say is that it is a filthy, overcrowded polluted hell-hole. The Maltese are ignorant, arrogant, rude and nasty!

For your own sanity and peace of mind, DO NOT MOVE there! Do NOT be fooled by the promotions and publicity. It is a rip-off place. The Maltese will only use you as a source of income. That is how they primarily see you as: INCOME!

Also, what other people in the world goes around shooting little birds?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

This is well known. But good that you decide to publish it. However it really does depend on one attitude to the Maltese. We always seem to get on well with them.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Welcome to BE, thats quite a strong first post.

Do you have specific reasons for your dislike of the place? How long have you lived there?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Too long. My wife and I can't wait to leave!!

It truly is a disaster. The whole island has become a building zone with ugly high rise apartment blocks!

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Er, why do you think the Maltese government encourages people to move there? :unsure:

Encouraging mass immigration by retirees isn't some sort of generous service they are providing for your convenience. :rolleyes:

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

how long have you lived in Malta?

If & when you leave, where are you going to move to?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

For years I have been kidding myself, you're spot on with your comments, still far better off here than the UK though.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

and if Malta, the UK or one of the other EU countries is out of the question, or post EU referendum (out of the EU) what about one of those Scottish Islands such as the isle of Bute...

then there is always Norfolk island, smallish, the size of Bermuda with only approx 2200 people, all self sustaining

Home

first page 11, then page 15 in the following link for foreign nationals taking up residency, leading to the GEP, then Australian citizenship

http://www.immigration.gov.nf/Immigr...2002072013.pdf

..

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Yeah it took me a while to finally work out the Maltese mindset, and believe me, it ain't an attractive one.

Tourists who go there for a week or two and come back saying "oh ow luvely" have no idea what it is they are saying. Once you live there you realize you've made a terrible mistake. The Maltese are nearly all racists and small minded bigots. God, I feel sorry for the Somalis and other African refugee stuck there! They are pretty much treated like slaves - and I do not exaggerate. That's why so many try to flee to Italy.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I don't quite follow what you're saying?

As a retiree who will probably need a lot of medical care, I would not recommend Malta at all. Many have died through lack of care and shoddy medical practices. Many have also returned to the UK or their original country.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

The Maltese government believes that retirees will spend more than they will cost, thereby boosting the economy. Obviously part of this balancing act is the Maltese government not spending too much on medical services.

This is something that people used to the "free" provision of medical services in the UK with negligible fees for prescriptions, find hard to understand, and if they haven't done their research might belatedly find rather shocking.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

:nod::nod:

OP sounds like a typical whiny old git (no, they aren't all like that) who expects everything in his country of expatriation to be exactly like home, so in which case, stay home! Malta isn't just the UK with a bit more sunshine, its a different country with an entirely different culture. If you expected it to be just like the UK well then obviously it will disappoint you in that regard.

You can't expect to move to someone else's country and not provide a benefit to them. In this case its the hope that you will spend money and boost the economy. In the case of Canada or the US for example, they award residence to those who have skills useful in their countries. The benefit to the country being their skills. Malta being a largely tourism-oriented economy, wants you to come down and spend your money. Thats the benefit to Malta of you living there.

And in terms of health care, with the agreement between the UK and Malta you actually have a pretty good gig compared to other EU citizens who live in Malta, the only people who have better access would be Maltese citizens. We have a different health care system than the UK, there is a reason it is divided into public and private. If you want faster, more immediate and thorough care, go to the private system. If not, the public one will keep you healthy no doubt.

I hope you find better pastures somewhere else.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

As a Maltese living abroad, (so an expat myself) I do not agree with you. Yes some Maltese are bigoted racists but you find that everywhere. On the concrete high rise buildings, well that depends on where you decide to stay. A lot of expats want to stay in St Julians area. I frankly do not understand that as we Maltese (I am 30ish) always try to avoid it. It is overly expensive, crowded, parking is a headache. There so many nice hidden places all over the island. :)

If someone is considering moving and reading this post I just tell them to do their own research properly. I own an apartment in Marsascala and have rented it over the past months including UK expats. Most of them told me they wanted to avoid the noisy Sliema/St Julians area. They did their research and loved it being in a quieter area yet close to sea.

On the Maltese just want your money thing, well if you go to real estate agents or aim for accommodation that is in high demand areas, you don't have to be surprised that they try to make a quick buck from you.

I love Malta and I am aiming to go back to the island in the coming years. One thing I do however agree that it is becoming unbearable is the traffic situation. In most cases, driving etiquette is nowhere to be found. This is in part attributable to the very relaxed driving tests that were permissible in the past. I hope that public transport is improved as well as in the last years it lacked a lot.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

of course same could be said about the UK, with all of the refugees, immigrants, benefits cheats, free loaders, graffiti, chavs, overcrowding, grime & filth everywhere, slums etc etc

Now, do tell us how long you have lived in Malta, do you work, are you retired

Then, if you leave Malta, where is it that you are planning on moving too?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I'm interested to read the various comments on this thread, as I recently arrived in Malta to see if it is somewhere that I could retire to. Before arriving, I had done a lot of research and so knew more or less what to expect.

I suspect the OP must have experienced something dramatic to warrant the emotive comments, and it would be nice to know more about what triggered the post. Although I would not be as strident in my comments, I do agree with many of his/her points, and they should not be dismissed out of hand.

There is no doubt that Malta is a small island, and perhaps as a result, is somewhat insular. Despite, or maybe because of, the many visitors to Malta, those in customer-facing roles are often lacking in politeness or helpfulness. I am talking for example, about grumpy bus drivers and unsmiling check-out operators. Of course, surliness is not unique to Malta, but could be a surprise to anyone expecting a more friendly welcome from those with whom they come into contact.

Malta is certainly overcrowded in the East (Valletta, Sliema, St. Julians, etc). The traffic is really bad in most of the island and the driving standards are very poor. Pollution from car fumes is a known problem on the island. There is also a lot of rubbish discarded along the roadside in many places, and quite a bit of fly-tipping.

Building standards are very poor. Even new-builds generally lack heating and insulation. Walls are single-skinned (no cavity). It gets cold here at this time of year and so the absence of heating is both surprising and off-putting.

I can't comment on the health service, although the large Mater Dei hospital looks impressive from the outside. I have no idea what it is like for anyone having to venture inside.

Of course there are many plus-points. For someone from the UK, the fact that English is used widely is welcome.

As always, anyone thinking of moving here should come and spend several months (in winter and summer) to see if it suits them. It's not for everyone of course and an extended visit is essential before taking the plunge.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

An excellent point! And that is exactly what so many retirees don't do wherever it may be in Europe, or elsewhere. They have one or several wonderful brief holidays in a place, fall in love with it, and move to their new found location after burning their uk bridges i.e. selling up completely.
It's when winter comes to those locations without efficient indoor heating, and encountering many other unheard of difficulties, that the rose-coloured glasses start to rapidly erode, and those dreams of paradise can often within a few years turn into terror when the realities kick in. And that's without even mentioning potentially more hospital visits with advancing age.
It's not being pessimistic, it's called being realistic.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

If you want to live on an island, what's wrong with the Isle of Wight? :confused:

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I think insularity is a natural part of being a small island. I live on Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, which is two-thirds the size of Malta with about one eighth the population. We've lived here for 38 years, and are still called "expats"; the word "immigrant" is not recognised here. Many of the natives are anti-expat, but we only mix with the ones who aren't - and with other expats, of course. No big deal. We're way too comfortable here to leave - except for the expense of it!

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

A little etymology goes a long way. :)

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I think the OP's post was a bit harsh and we all have different reasons for moving somewhere. I wouldn't see the benefits of living full time in Malta personally, especially if I was a pensioner with a State Pension and have no connection to the island, as you get free heath care in the EU anyway. I couldn't cope living there and the constant noise and pollution would get on my nerves and I suppose it's no different in cities, but at least it's easier to escape the madness, or you have more options.



It's also a question of budget and if you are buying renting, but I do find that Italy, Portugal, Spain can offer the same at a lower price and the quality is better, depending what you want.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I too thought it sounded harsh, and I would sincerely like to know what happened to trigger such a post.

I have been here for two weeks, and am coming to the same opinion. The two attractions for me were the use of English, and the favourable tax regime. My plan was to stay for six weeks, and if I liked the country sufficiently, to then rent an apartment for a year. I have decided not to do that, but to leave at the end of the six weeks. I can understand why the contributors to this post who are Maltese would stand up for their homeland, but for the rest of us, there would seem to be better alternatives.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I agree with all the points as well as the comments of this thread

Different strokes for different folks, depending on your age, health & wealth as well as what you want out of life

One can be jut as happy & contented retired in an inner city environment, or an island somewhere off the coast of Scotland, Ireland, the Far East, or the Caribbean.

Its down to lifestyle choices in retirement, in no particular order

- Safety
- Healthcare
- Language
- Access
- Government & corruption
- Cost of living
- Taxes

Moses, you live in Ireland & are still working

Teejaydee, I'm guessing that (living somewhere in the far east) you're semi-retired or about to be retired looking for a perfect place

themajor happy as larry in Cyprus

maltaman ex-pat living in Malta

Gordon Barlow (the Aussie via the UK) lives in the Caymans

Few of us live in North America

Many retired Brits in Spain, Portugal, France & wherever else



.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

If the OP is leaving I believe there are houses for sale on Tristan da Cunha.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

invite him to Bute, he should fit in quite well ;)

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

There are some good things about Malta, like the very rich history and the traces of it left on the island ie. the original inhabitant Maltese, the Greeks, Phoenicians, Arabs, Romans, Normans, etc and especially the Knights of St John which have left a huge imprint on the island.

However, the negatives far outweigh the positive. As one poster wrote, you can be happy anywhere; on a Caribbean island, or in outer Mongolia. However, there are some things you should not compromise on if you can, and it is even these basics that Malta lacks:

1. Clean air. Malta is full of cars and diesel belching trucks. Even if one car goes past, you smell the fumes instantly. There is no emission control whatsoever. I was in the middle of Berlin during peak traffic and the air was far cleaner! The world is polluted enough so why go to Malta and get even more polluted?

2. Clean water. The local water is salty and not the best quality, which means that for the rest of your life, you have the added expense of buying bottled water.

3. It's way over-crowded. Even off-season, the island is overcrowded, with 423,000 people on an island (unofficially, it's more) on an island that's 35 kms long and 25 kms wide. Now, get this. During summer, the population expands to twice or three times that amount. That's a lot of people, which makes driving, parking, even walking a test of endurance and patience. Do you really need this in your life?

4. Everyone seems cranky, especially when the temperature reaches 40'C plus!

5. The Maltese are tourist/foreign fatigued. You can see it on their weary faces. If they meet one more tourist asking for direction to their hotel or whatever, you would swear they are about to knock them down. Often however, they are curt, off-handish and plain rude (but can we really blame them?). Still, as an ex-pat living there, many Maltese will simply assume you are another pain-in-the-arse tourist and give you the tourist treatment. It's no good trying to explain: hey, I'm an ex-pat; I'm a resident; I live here permanently. The Maltese can't distinguish you from a visitor or a resident and they wouldn't care anyway.

6. Ask yourself: do you really want to live on a tiny island where, 3 months of the year, you hear gun-shot sounds outside your bedroom window knowing that about 10,000 Maltese men are armed and roving the island looking for little birds to splatter?

7. The normal everyday noise. If you are the type of person who likes peace and quiet, waking up to the sound of chirping birds that haven't yet been killed, or likes to walk in a park or along a beach, for some solitary introspective moments - forget Malta! From 7am to 8pm, there will be noise, often just outside your bedroom window. Cars honking, engines revving, road repairs with hammer jacks blaring away, your Maltese neighbor has decided to use his garage as a mechanic's workshop, the quaint little Maltese house next to yours is being demolished to make way for a newer, seven storey apartment complex that will take two years to build, which will mean you will have construction noise next to you from 7am to 8pm six days a week.

Just about every noise you can think of and some more, you will get in full in Malta.

8. I've met many ex-pats in Malta who, 10 or even 5 years ago, had bought their dream home with a fantastic sea-view. Today, many of them have a fantastic view to their neighbor's living room 10 meters across the road! Every week, it seems a new, bigger and uglier apartment complex springs up on a cliff-top to be sold as a "luxury dream life-style". A dream for some; a nightmare for others!

Gee, I could actually go on. But I think this will do for the time being.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

In which part of Malta or Gozo is it that you live & for how long have you lived there on a continuous basis?

Do you work in Malta, are you retired or self-sufficient?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Avoid anywhere that is full of tourists. Did you suppose that the Maltese would welcome all those "expats" ?

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

I actually don't think it's tourist people hate, but actually those expats who plan to stay in Malta. Tourists are annoying, but they bring money, create jobs and leave after 2 weeks, while expats either take away jobs, make housing even more unaffordable etc. Every overpopulated island has the same problems and it's mainly lack of affordable housing. The wealthy aren't bothered, but the working class people see Expats as a danger.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

:goodpost:

Your post should be required reading for anyone considering immigrating to Malta. It's a very good summary of what I have found since being here.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Leave after two weeks, are you kidding! Tourist season is now practically 12 months of the year, with the worst being the summer months. There is no RESPITE! Malta is a business that goes 12 months of the year. Forget about two weeks.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Your points are so true. Best to avoid places that are as tourist AND EX-PAT fatigued as Malta, because generally while they want your money, THEY DON'T WANT YOU.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Good points. I would also add that in the case of Malta, the non-dom tax regime must add to the sense of envy amongst the Maltese towards expats. In order to be able to afford even basic housing, the Maltese often need to have more than one job, and are paying tax on their earnings. Meanwhile, rich expat retirees are able to live tax-free (depending on how they structure their finances), and have a noticeably better lifestyle.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Of course the season is ongoing, but most people book a holiday for a week or two. The tourist is annoying, but doesn't take away jobs, housing etc.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Yes, true. There are far better, cleaner and healthier places to live than Malta. It just requires learning Spanish or Italian and making the effort. Sometimes I think people are lazy and think hey they speak English on Malta. I won't have to learn another language. Yeep pee! However, there is going to be a high price for that initial laziness to learn another European language, and it is this: THE MALTESE DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH! This is a myth. What many (not all) do speak is a rigid English text-book type of English and consumer buy/sell English. What you say and what they think you've said, can actually be quite far apart. They will nod as if understanding, and you leave thinking they've understood. But in reality, they haven't. If language is all about COMMUNICATION, I would give the Maltese about a C+.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

DO you live on Malta? Have you been there long? Where are you moving too (as you clearly aren't going to be staying there!)?

Just helps us outsiders to put things into perspective......

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Hi, yes, we are still in Malta. We are moving soon hopefully. Where do we go next, we are not sure. Probably Spain. Needs more research though.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

:thumbup: thanks for that

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Tourists and MALTA. Special deals from the UK. THREE MONTHS in a four star Hotel all inclusive (so sorry to the cafes/restaurants) Flights included-average price £520!! Wahey the pensioners.

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

For 3-months & £520, one doesn't need to pull up stakes & move to Malta full time.

Imagine a revolving door of bargains nine months a year, going between Portugal's Algarve, Spain (Majorca to Costa Brava) & Malta all for approx £1500-£2000

The life of a sun bleached retiree

Re: Don't move to Malta!!!
 

Flexible business class tickets, I presume. :rolleyes: