Resorts include the charming former fishing village of St Julian’s in Malta and Gozo’s pretty bay, Ramla l-Hamra.
Older travellers have always been attracted to the island, thanks to its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, but its appeal extends to families who favour its water sports, safe beaches and the Mediterraneao Marine Park, where you can swim with dolphins.
Where to stay
For A-list luxury, stay at the Excelsior Grand, Valletta’s newest five-star hotel. Right in the heart of the capital, it is well-placed for shopping, culture and history, and people-watching – and perfect for a weekend city break.Genteel guests seeking a boutique retreat should try Hotel Juliani in St Julians, which overlooks the bay. The converted townhouse has been lovingly restored to its current stylish glory, housing 44 rooms, two restaurants and lounge bars, and a rooftop pool that offers sweeping views over the open sea.
By day
Rated as one of the world’s top diving destinations, Malta, Gozo and Comino are thought to have some of the clearest waters in the Mediterranean.The abundance of marine life, coupled with wrecks dating back to the First World War, mean divers flock here year round – but it has not become an overcrowded dive ghetto.
Visibility can be up to 30 metres, while water temperatures top 26C in the summer and 13C in the winter. There are plenty of dive schools that cater for all levels of experience.
Archaeology buffs will love Malta’s Neolithic temples, some of the oldest structures on earth, built between 3,600BC and 2,500BC by the island’s first settlers.
The underground cemetery of Hypogeum is a must-see that took a millennium to build, while Hagar Qim is the oldest stone building in the world. Artefacts found within the 25 temples are exhibited at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.
Families should check out Popeye Village in Anchor Bay, Mellieha, the set of the 1980s Robin Williams film which has been transformed into a fun park. Attractions include funfair rides, swimming pools and glass blowing demonstrations. For parents, there is free wine tasting at Tipsy and Son’s winery, plus boat trips around the bay.
By night
The lively beach resort of Bugibba has a flourishing bar and restaurant scene, a casino and a large number of shops. Paceville has earned itself a reputation as the island’s clubbing capital thanks to its plentiful hip nightspots. The district has played host to a string of top-name DJs, including Paul Oakenfold.The Maltese people’s love of partying is evident in the huge number of festivals that take place on the island every year. Valletta hosts the annual Jazz Festival on the third weekend of July, while April sees the impressive Fireworks Festival. Taking place over the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta’s long and colourful history is displayed via a laser show complemented by fireworks and music.
What’s hot for 2008?
Belleair Holidays agency sales manager Emma Yorke said: “The resorts of St Julian’s and St George’s Bay always do well in the summer, and I would say that Sliema is a hot tip for this year as it’s the oldest resort and is very cosmopolitan. There are lots of lovely restaurants offering a wide range of different cuisine as well as a number of trendy cafes. “It’s great for shopping and there’s a beautiful promenade.
“We’re also expecting Valletta to do well because of its new five-star hotel, the Excelsior Grand. The city is listed as a World Heritage Site and it has lots of lively bars, restaurants and cafes.”
Q&A: Richard Gamber, Belleair Holidays
Q. How is Malta changing as a holiday destination? 
Q&A: Richard Gamber, Belleair HolidaysA. There’s been a lot of investment in the past five years and you can see the difference in the hotels that have been opening. There is now a Hilton, there’s an InterContinental at St Julian’s, a Kempinski on Gozo and the Excelsior Grand in Valletta. It’s definitely become more of a premium market.
Q. Is the target market still the same?
A. Malta has always suffered with the perception that it was just for old people on a budget. That market is still there, and there are still good value hotels, but the visitors are getting younger. If you want to go out, St Julian’s keeps going all night.
Q. How does Malta differ from its competitors in the Med?
A. There’s not really anywhere else like Malta. It’s so easy to get by, English is widely spoken and they use the euro now. It’s always been well known for diving, but there are plenty of other activities too. You can go horse riding in the countryside, or mountain biking – people aren’t so aware of that. And the diving product just gets better. They’re still finding new wrecks – old bombers and the like. It’s a fascinating place.
Q. Is the tourist office doing a good job of promoting the island?
A. The tourist office is very active at the moment. It has a campaign and it’s not purely focused on history as it has been in the past. Malta needs to be promoted as a general summer holiday destination – it has everything you would expect from a summer break, and because the island is so small, nothing is too far or out of the way.
Lowdown
- Who flies there? British Airways offers daily flights from Gatwick, Air Malta flies to Valletta from Birmingham, Manchester and London, and EasyJet offers budget flights to the capital
- Flight time: London to Malta International Airport is three and a half hours; Gozo is an additional one and a half hours from the airport, including a ferry crossing, while Comino is an additional one and a quarter hours, including a boat crossing
- Currency: Euro
- Time difference: GMT +1 hour
- Weather: Summers are warm, dry and sunny, while winters are mild. Autumn is the rainy season
Sample product
- Belleair offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Excelsior Grand in Valletta, Malta, for £635 per person, including flights and transfers. Guests arriving between March 27 and June 30 will receive a complimentary room upgrade.
- Classic Collection Holidays offers three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Meridien Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta from £318 per person this April, including return flights and private transfers.
- Thomas Cook offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Ta Cenc in Sannat, Gozo, for £509 in June, including flights and transfers.
- Kirker offers three nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Juliani Hotel in St Julian’s for £699 in April, including flights and transfers.
- Sunspot offers seven nights’half-board at the three-star Primera hotel in Bugibba this February from £255 including flights. A four-star summer break, staying seven nights at the all-inclusive Qawra Palace in St Pauls Bay this May, leads in at £469, including flights. Three-night add-ons to Gozo cost from £79 this May-July.
Find out more from the Malta Tourist Office website
