One Week in Magnificent Malta & Spine-Chilling Spots

Hey there, Travellers,

You may or may not be relieved to hear that spooky season is nearly at its close. We've had nearly a month of spooky bodies of water, people racing inside pumpkins across open water, and even a jumpscare of my own face appearing in the Daily Mail. 

What could possibly be left to discuss?

As airlines begin (tricking and) treating us to seasonal sales, you may be in the mood to book one last spine-tingling trip this year. Luckily, our Facebook Community are an eerie bunch and have some sinister recommendations. These are my faves:

• Glen Etive, Scottish Highlands: Home to legendary creatures such as the wailing Caoineag and the Beithir, with ancient massacres staged just around the corner, the whole area is steeped in historical haunting. And when the mist hangs low over a chilly autumnal morning in the glen... brrrr!
  
  
• Trunyan village, Bali: Accessible only by crossing a lake to the foot of Mount Batur in the remote Kintamani Highlands, there's nothing quite like isolation to send a shiver through you. Trunyan is home to an indigenous community with unique funeral rites that involve a little less burial and a little more... skull.
  
  
• Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo, Sicily: Catacombs are spooky at the best of times. But when you're met by rows of fully-dressed skeletons suspended from the walls, it's hard not to feel the irk.

So tell me, you ghoulish globetrotters, where have you visited that left you chilled to the core? Just head to the comments to share your story.

Happy travels and safe landings,

It's that time again when we take a look at where you've been sending word from this month. 

First up, we're celebrating the fruits of July's epic error fare from Toronto to Dublin! We know a few of you managed to grab it before it disappeared, and thankfully, Thrill-seekingCosmopolitan06152 even sent us a few pics as evidence.

Next, we're celebrating the last of the Mediterranean summer sun. Iliko fell head over heels for gorgeous Sardinia, while both Sonja and MarvMan were raving about Tangier.

However, it was the Postcard we received from Jack's Traveller James about his trip to Malta that really blew us away. As the most densely populated country in the EU, you might imagine it's hard to catch a moment of peace and quiet in Malta. But James loved his trip there so much, he's shared his whole itinerary to help us find those moments of serenity in the sun.

Dear Jack,

I recently got back from Malta, after I booked a trip through JFC. I went from Manchester. I spent a whole 7 days in Malta and truly had one of the most amazing experiences. Not only does Malta have a bucket load of culture, but it has amazing scenery as well.

I'd highly recommend taking a small boat tour around Comino rather than a big boat or going just to the Blue Lagoon, as it's really busy, where small boats will take you to different locations. I took Mitzi Tours, which is run by a wonderful woman. I stayed down in Sliema at the Novotel which was beautiful as it had a rooftop pool and a view of the city.

My days looked a bit like this:

Day 1: Arrival, sunbathing, and wandering the city, eating on the harbour for the evening.

Day 2: Visit Valletta and the 3 cities. Visit Valletta early in the morning before taking the ferry over to the 3 cities in the afternoon. Valletta gets a lot of people visiting during the afternoon so it's best to visit early.

Day 3: Visit to Blue Grotto, Ghar Dalam and Marsaxlokk. Blue Grotto is a wonder of nature and genuinely gave me one of the best pictures I've ever taken. It's best to go early and view from the panoramic view at the top then walk down the hill to the bottom. Ghar Dalam is Malta's oldest prehistoric site, and not only did it have some cool caves, but there was lovely outside scenery. Finished the day in Marsaxlokk which is known for its outside market and funky boats. I took one of those, warning: it is definitely not for those that get seasick, they are very, very rickety.

Day 4: Full day boat tour (8 hours) around Comino. Stopped off at multiple sites including Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. Beautiful scenery, ability to swim from the boat rather than having to stay on a beach. Perfect for solo travelling.

Day 5: Visit to Gozo island. The island is very beautiful however it is very busy at all times of day. I visited the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Ta'pinu first climbing the path up a cliff to the get the best sites. From there I went to the citadel which trust me, you can get lost in as it's so massive, but it's amazing history that you can view. I loved seeing the old prisons there and the cathedral. I visited after the citadel, the best part of the island which was Ggantija Archeological Park. This place was surprisingly quiet. If you like places like Stonehenge or the pyramids, then you'll like this, because there are two Neolithic temples from like 5000 years ago. It's so unknown how these temples were built!

Day 6: Visit to Mdina and Rabat. Mdina is the silent city, and like with many other places best to go in the morning before everything opens to get the best pictures. Especially of the old city gate which was featured in Game of Thrones! In Rabat I visited the St Paul's Catacombs. A truly giant amount of catacombs that you can go down and visit. Like so many tombs, you have no idea, well over 20. I'm very tall at 6'3" and you do need to bend down a lot, they were not made for tall people back then. I finished the day by going over to the Dingli cliffs, which is well worth the view if you go for a little hike away from the church and observatory. (Don't worry, there is a restaurant along the way).

Day 7: Final day! A slow day, to allow for packing and sunbathing however I also visited the Mosta Rotunda. A famous domed church, that has been given the designation of minor basilica because of its significance during WW2 when a bomb hit it, during a congregation gathering and it didn't explode.

While I was in Malta I used the buses, very cheap, very easy to use. But the timings are more of a suggestion than a fixed fact. The buses are €2 for a 2 hour ticket (summer prices) but you can get a weekly ticket for €26 which is what I did, because I was using them so often. Use the tallinja app, which gives you live timings for the buses.

Thanks again Jack!!!!

You always give the best vacations,
James Hofstetter

Been to Malta and have your own tips to share? Pop your recommendations in the comments!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web and the Jack's Community this week.

• Next time you’re flabbergasted by the prices at the pump, repeat after me: “At least I’m not stranded on a cruise ship in Cambodia.”
  
  
• In need of a good cry? Navigator Mattie's done the legwork to help you find the best spots for a weep in Norway.
  
  
• Frontier, recently crowned America’s largest budget airline, reported a 71% increase in sales last quarter. “You’re welcome,” commented the ghost of Spirit Airlines. 
  
  
• Every airline faces delays, but at what point do those delays become a standard feature? Here are the 10 most delayed European airlines.
  
  
• From African rhinos to city skylines to aurora borealis, the Epson Pano Awards showcase the year’s best in panoramic pics.
  
  
• Solo travel as a woman at 60 - these are the trips our Facebook Community recommends. 
  
  
• The Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the Norman Conquest of 1066, is currently the hottest item on loan at the British Museum. Can’t score a ticket? Head north to admire a tapestry dedicated to an equally significant part of UK history: the Greggs sausage roll.
  
  
• If you had one month in Thailand, where would you go? From Chiang Mai to Khao Sok, our Facebook Community has loads of suggestions. Join the conversation there, or share your recs in the comments :-)
  
  
• And finally, a passenger was stopped by TSA in Seattle this week for carrying “mutant blade” claws in their carry-on. Turns out even the X-Men have to follow safe luggage procedures!