New & now
6 ways to liven up your trafficy commute on the Maltese Islands
More than car games.

Kristina Cassar Dowling

Once school starts up again after a long and lazy summer, the morning commute on the islands can take quite a hit. As school kids scurry back to their classrooms, school buses, coaches and the parent-drop-off-crew will populate the streets, adding to the congestion of your daily drive to work.

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Instead of complaining about the inevitable, a number of fun activities can be added to your morning (and evening) drive to make it a little more bearable. Here are six ways to liven up your trafficy commute:

1. Blinkist

Blinkist is a downloadable app that turns interesting books into 15 minute reads known as blinks. Now, I know what you’re thinking, reading and driving don’t really go hand in hand - ahh, but listening and driving are a match made in heaven. Every blink can either be read or listened to, all you’ll need is a 15 minute commute -  pretty manageable.

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2. Spotify

A crowd pleaser and absolute boredom saver! Spotify can entertain you and your fellow commuters as you travel, at snail’s pace, to and from work. Choose a genre, singer or period and rock out as you slowly pass the next guy in traffic. Guess the year or lyrics games are a great way to entertain even the grouchiest of passengers.

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3. Number plate game

This is a winner on our commute. Focus on the letters that make up the number plate of the car in front of you; think of a phrase you can create using the letters - bonus points if you can get the numbers to mean something too. Vote for the best word combo and keep score… this can get highly competitive.

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4. Day plan

Planning your day usually takes up quite a bit of time, so why not use the time ‘lost’ in transit to give your day some structure. You could get your shotgun riding passenger to take note of your agenda or record yourself for later listening.

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5. New route

Why not make an adventure out of your car rides? Take on a new route every now and then, take a look at Malta or Gozo from a new angle and experience the variety of rural and urban roads to work.

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Traffic is one of Malta’s biggest enemies, and until some magical solution comes about, the most you can do is have fun with it, relax and take it as it goes. Plan ahead so as to avoid tardiness and look on the bright side.


Kristina Cassar Dowling
Written by
Kristina Cassar Dowling
A local writer in love with the Maltese islands, Kristina is a hunter for all things cultural both in Malta and outside its shores. A curious foodie, music fanatic, art lover and keen traveller with an open mind and a passion for writing.

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