Ronald Briffa
Underwear, hair wax and a Chinese store
My holidays are…
Planned, unplanned, budget, paid for, short, long, solo, group, football related, cultural, romantic. That is as much as I can remember.
My staple travel essentials are…
It depends on the type of trip, but usually it’s the bare minimum. I only pack an hour, maximum two before leaving for the airport, so it’s a matter of what I manage to remember to take with me at that time. The default list includes underwear, deodorant, hair wax, enough clothes to change, a mobile charger and nasal spray for takeoff and landing, or my head would explode. The rest I either do without or buy from abroad.
When in Rome…
Aviator sunglasses are a must when visiting Italy.
When I need something desperately…
This is a regular occurrence. Some things I can mention, others not. The list includes razor blades, plug adapter and contact lenses. Usually it is either the hotel reception, or the Chinese store around the corner, which stocks everything, that come to the rescue.
A good holiday is…
Unless you choose to travel solo, visiting a place in good company is a 50 per cent guarantee of a good holiday. Let’s face it, everyone’s behaviour changes a little when on holiday, and that’s when the fun starts. At times going on an unplanned holiday in good company makes up for the other 50 per cent guarantee of a good holiday.
My next holiday plans…
Australia, New York and Israel are on the list. I’m also planning a rail and coach trip. Next check-in should take me to Munich for the annual Oktoberfest. Let’s just hope I can find my way back to Malta.
Gianluca Bezzina
Mini-pharmacies and the Bible
My holidays are…
I’ve been on all types of holidays, from vacations with family and friends to concerts and voluntary work stays. I have been involved in voluntary work groups in Palermo, Turin and Egypt, and although they were never intended to be your typical holiday, all these experiences have taught and revitalised me so much that for me they are still the best holidays I have had. That said, I still really enjoy travelling with family and friends – two memorable holidays were skiing in Cervinia, Valle D’Aosta, and a Coldplay concert in London.
I never leave home without…
My credit card, iPod and the Bible.
When in Sweden for the Eurovision…
Since we were there for two full weeks, and I had quite a few interviews and public appearances, I packed a few extra kilos of clothes, even though usually I am quite a light traveller. I also packed a mini-pharmacy in case of any emergencies my team or I might have got into. Thankfully I didn’t have to use any.
I once found myself in a fix…
When I was in London just days after my medical exam finals, I was waiting for the results to come out via e-mail when my phone completely jammed. My emergency fix was to go to London’s iCentre where they reset and updated my phone. So I got to find out I was a qualified doctor at Regent Street’s iCentre store.
A good holiday is…
The most essential element of any good holiday is the people I travel with. I definitely love the unique characteristics of each country I visit, but being able to share the experience with close friends and family makes it much more special.
My next trip…
I will be going to Israel this month. It’s a country I have wanted to visit for many years and I have been told that besides being a beautiful country, it is so infused with religious history that it quite literally makes the Bible come to life.
Claire Agius Ordway
Night-time mishaps and driving explorations
My holidays are…
Till now I have only been to European destinations such as Paris, Italy, Sicily, Greece and Belgrade, but I hope to travel further when my children are a bit older. We seek relaxation but most of all, my husband and I love going to museums and other places of interest. Half of the holiday will be spent at fun parks because of the kids, but we enjoy these too. Every moment away from computers, television and tablets is welcome.
I always take with me…
Sportswear is a must for all the family, since we are adventure seekers. And I always pack a cardigan, just in case it gets chilly.
You’ll never believe what happened…
On a two-day trip to Sicily, my eldest, who was still five at the time, got a high fever in the middle of the night. I had no medication and the hotel reception only had painkillers for adults. I had to make do and gave him a small portion of a painkiller. I’ve learnt my lesson now and always pack essential medicine just in case.
A good holiday is…
I always prefer holidaying with my closest family members as I want to get so much out of a holiday that I do not want to stay negotiating where to go and what to do. My husband usually plans the holiday and I leave it up to him without even asking twice. We love observing different lifestyles and habits so we usually pack our bags after breakfast and spend the day driving around and exploring whatever comes our way. Picturesque places and good food certainly make the holiday even more perfect.
My next holiday…
For our next holiday we plan to go to the US. Our children will be easier to handle and we promised them we would take them to Disneyland. The rest of the time we’ll do our customary exploring. We are saving to go for a month – we’ve been planning this for years. New Zealand is next in line.
Once a year, if possible, we travel as a family to enjoy two weeks alone without distractions – that is our deal.