Belleair Holidays
Brochures: Malta Wintersun, Malta Summersun
Description: dedicated Malta specialist, offering the whole range of accommodation from two-star to five-star hotels, farmhouses, villas and cruises. Belleair is owned by Air Malta so flights are predominantly with the carrier, but British Airways and charter flights are also featured. Concentrates on offering added value, including Early Savers deals, 10% discount on duty free on arrival, a free excursion, a free 75-page guide book and free mobile talk time.
Small programmes dedicated to Gozo and Sicily are also included.
Sample price: a four-night stay for a family of four (two adults and two children) at the four-star Canifor Hotel in Qawra near St Paul’s Bay, followed by three nights at the four-star Grand Hotel starts from £1,230. This is on a bed and breakfast basis and includes return flights with Air Malta and helicopter island transfers.
Cresta Holidays
Brochures: Cities & Short Breaks.
Description: targeting couples staying an average of four nights. Hoping to see an increase in young travellers for 2003. Features two hotels, the four-star Golden Tulip Vivaldi in St Julians and the five-star Le Meridien Phoenicia in Valletta, and a number of pre-bookable excursions.
Sample price: a four-night stay at Le Meridien Phoenicia in Valletta costs from £385 per person based on return flights with Air Malta from Stansted or Gatwick, accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. Pre-bookable transfers cost £14 per person each way.
Crystal Holidays
Brochures: Cities.
Description: offers two hotels in Valletta, including the five-star Le Meridien Phoencia, and two hotels in Sliema. Allows clients to book accommodation only with a £15 booking fee, but stays must be a minimum of two nights. Pre-bookable day trips are available. Special offers include no single supplements and one free night for stays of four nights or more during selected periods.
Sample price: a three-night stay for a couple at the three-star Imperial Hotel in Sliema costs from £281 per person sharing a twin room with breakfast. Price includes return flights and a guidebook. Transfers are not included.
Panorama
Brochures: Summersun, Wintersun.
Description: mainly three and four-star hotels on the northern coast of Malta, and three properties on Gozo, including the five-star Ta’ Cenc. Gozo packages include car hire. Properties on Gozo can be combined with stays on Malta.
Offers a number of deals where kids stay for free, hotels with children’s clubs and the all-inclusive Hotel Crown in St Paul’s Bay. For all holidays booked more than eight weeks prior to departure, brochure prices are discounted by up to 25%. Alternatively a 15% discount is guaranteed.
Sample price: a seven-night stay for two adults and two children at the child-friendly San Anton aparthotel in St Paul’s Bay, costs from £1,040. This is on a self-catering basis, staying in a two bedroomed apartment and includes flights and transfers. This includes the 15% discount on the brochure price. All-inclusive, half or full-board packages are available at a supplement.
Sunspot
Brochures: Malta, Gozo & Comino.
Description: 70 properties from five-star to economical self-catering, bed and breakfast and all-inclusives. Special deals include no single supplements and reductions for under 12s and under 19s staying in self-catering accommodation. Also offers 10 hotels on Gozo and one property on Comino.
Guests staying in five-star hotels get a free private car transfer between hotel and airport, while those staying on Gozo get free helicopter transfers from Malta Airport.
Sunspot offers direct flights with Air Malta and British Airways from no fewer than 15 UK airports, including Leeds/Bradford and Prestwick, which have both been added for 2003.
Sample price: seven nights for a family of two adults and two children staying at the all-inclusive, three-star Tigne Court in Sliema, (exclusive to the Sunspot Tours Group), costs from £1,148. This includes return flights and transfers.
Thomas Cook
Brochures: Thomas Cook, JMC and Sunset Summersun brochures, Thomas Cook, JMC and Sunset Wintersun, Forever Young Wintersun, Thomas Cook Select and Thomas Cook Escape.
Description: a selection of hotels in all categories in the main resorts.
Sample price: seven nights for two adults staying at the five-star Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort in St Julian’s costs from £404 per person. This includes flights from Gatwick and bed and breakfast accommodation based on two sharing.
Thomson
Brochures: Summersun, Wintersun, Skytours (Thomson’s budget family programme), Thomson Small and Friendly and Cities & Short Breaks.
Description: a selection of properties in the main resorts, several of which are exclusive to the Thomson Group. Four hotels feature in the Cities brochure, including the five-star, Relais & Chateaux Xara Palace in Mdina.
Sample price: seven nights at the Luna Holiday Complex in Sliema costs from £215 per person on a self-catering basis. This price includes flights and accommodation only. Transfers are an optional extra for £5 per person.