UBICOMM 2009

You won't be able to afford sweoehmre like the Fortina for a340 a night  its one of the best hotels on the island and is far more than that! You are going in April when it won't be warm enough to swim but want to be near public transport so why not stay right near the bus station in Valletta? Valletta has so much to see and is handy for everything. The bus station is just outside the walls of Valletta and is the starting point to all areas of the island. You might find the Phoenecia has some special deals  and that is a great hotel and one of the oldest on the island. There is also the Osbourne which is in the back streets of the capital. Also supposed to be very good.I don't know much about Sliema as every time I have been there its full of Italian and German students who take over everything and the hotels are full of them. If you are offerred the Forum Hotel and st Andrews avoid it like the plague  bad food, rude staff and in a horrible part of the island. St Julians is very busy traffic wise and can be a nightmare to be around  mainly expensive hotels and rip off shops! Your best bet would be to get hold of the Belleair brochure  Malta specialists   and then look on the internet for reviews from people who have stayed there.Remember, the star ratings in Malta are not as reliable as some other countries so don't just be guided by these ie, 4* Maltese hotel could be worse than a 2* sweoehmre else!On the other hand, many 2*s are family run guesthouses full of atmosphere and you will have a real Maltese experience staying there.