I'm not usually one for superlatives, but it's hard to overstate how great of a stay this was. Mdina is a magical place, a medieval walled city full of authentic charm and character. Staying at Ian's house was the perfect way to experience this. It's a beautiful and unique house crafted amongst 500-year-old stone walls echoing Mdina itself, centered around an indoor glass-covered courtyard, an environment well-suited to immerse yourself in your visit to the ancient city.

The location could not be better. It is but a few hundred feet from the main gate to Mdina, allowing you to go back and forth as you please, so you can casually step into Mdina just for tea and a snack even. It's in the heart of Rabat, itself charming with narrow, winding, well-kept, stone-paved streets, around the corner from the inimitable Crystal Palace pastizzeria, and walkable to all restaurants and sites in Rabat. The main Rabat bus plaza is virtually outside the door.

Ian's mother greeted me at check-in, walked me around Rabat so I could get my bearings, showed me friendly places to eat, and even took me for pastizzi. The house had been stocked with fresh bread, fruit, and other breakfast snacks as wells as ample drinking water.

I could not recommend more highly this house and Ian and his family as hosts.