Any advice for traveling in Malta?

Molly there may be a few posters here who have been to Malta and could help, but frankly I would search out a Malta specific forum for more feedback. I would go on TripAdvisor.com Malta forums.

Sorry to be a broken record on The Senior Nomads, everyone, but The Senior Nomads have been to Malta, and written about it. I presume there is a Part 1 somewhere on the site as well:

http://seniornomads.blogspot.com/2015/05/welcome-to-malta-part-ii.html

Thank you. I also am looking at trip advisor.

It is about 8 years since I was there but things probably haven't changed that much. We got around the whole island on the public bus system, whose drivers are nothing if not eccentric. Our hotel was the Preluna in Sliema, right on the water front and I recommend it. I also recommend the Sliema area, though if you are young and like to party then St.Julian's might suit you better.

Malta has had a long and interesting history . Because of its excellent and strategically situated harbour, it was the target of months of bombing during WWII. Much of the Allied planning for the invasion of Europe was done in deep, underground bunkers, which you can visit. it is quite fascinating. The Maltese people were very stoic and brave during this period.

The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet were the guide books we found useful.

I'll give you a full report when I come back in mid-Sept (just PM me). Based on my research, Valletta (and Floriana just outside the fortifications) is probably the best place to stay because it has the best bus connections all over the island if you don't have a rental car (I'm staying in a self-serve apartment I found on Booking.com, walkable to all the sites in Valletta). If you want a rural stay in an old traditional farmhouse/villa in a less dense area, Gozo is ideal (in this case, though, you may need a rental car). December and January will be off season so I'm guessing that swimming, snorkeling, and diving will be out but there are plenty of other museums and attractions to see. In addition to Lonely Planet, I would highly recommend the Bradt Travel Guide on Malta - very comprehensive, go-to book.

If by chance you were to stay in Sliema, there is a bus that goes from there directly to the bus terminal just outside the Valetta gates, where you can pick up a bus to anywhere on the island.

You can take a day trip to Sicily, by the way, for not too much money. We did so, and visited Mt. Etna and the beautiful small city of Modica.

Sadly, the Hypogeum will be closed after September 9, 2015 until April 2016 for a special project to help preserve the site.

http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/hal-saflieni-hypogeum/

I also agree about potentially squeezing in a few days in Sicilily, if possible. Air Malta has short (40 min) and inexpensive flights to Catania. There is also a 90-minute Virtu ferry to the southernmost part of Sicily.

It looks like they changed the closing date of the Hypogeum (again). Here is the booking info if you are interested:
https://booking.heritagemalta.org/

Haven't seen Malta yet, but I just read this awesome article about it today. Maybe it will help: http://roadsandkingdoms.com/2015/know-before-you-go-to-malta/

Enjoy the trip! : )