Matthew Hampton dispels the myths about Malta and discovers an island full of holiday options
Malta is at the centre of the Med but is still so easily misunderstood.
Is it just for oldies? No – although there is certainly a lot to appeal to the over-50s. Is it just ruins and dusty museums? No – although it can draw on more than 1,000 years of culture. Is it just a bit old-fashioned? No again; its hotels have been upping their game for years and investing millions in upgrades.
There’s a holiday in Malta for all your clients – young or old, couples or families. Check these out if you’re in any doubt:
Perfect for couples: Gozo
Why? Gozo’s pace of life is so slow you just can’t help shifting down a gear. There’s plenty to do, though – like the rest of Malta there’s excellent scuba diving, boat trips can easily be booked and there are also several important archaeological sites.
With a growing number of boutique hotels, plus a major player in the form of the five-star Kempinski St Lawrenz, Gozo is the perfect antidote to modern living.
Sample package:Cadogan Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Ta’Cenc Hotel in Sannat, Gozo from £1,099 next May, including flights and transfers.
Perfect for clubbers: St Julian’s Bay
Why? Not only can you go clubbing all night long in Malta, you can rest your head in a decent quality bed afterwards. St Julian’s, the liveliest spot on the island, abounds with four-star-plus properties: the Radisson, the InterContinental, the Corinthia Marina… It’s a world away from the two-star apartments of clubbing favourites such as San Antonio in Ibiza or Faliraki in Rhodes.
Just around the corner is the bar district of Paceville, which, as dozens of YouTube clips will testify, provides the teeming hordes with non-stop spills, thrills and probably a fair few bellyaches.
Sample package:Thomas Cook offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort in St Julian’s from £555 per person next May, including flights and transfers.
Perfect for the over-50s: Sliema
Why? Quiet, easy-going and more genteel than neighbouring St Julian’s, Sliema is ideal for anyone who wants a relaxing, good quality holiday.
The name (pronounced slee-emma) means peaceful, which couldn’t be more appropriate. The three-mile-long promenade is among the main attractions; boat trips can be booked from the beach and there are stunning views across to the capital, Valletta.
Nightlife is more restaurant-based, but Sliema is close enough to St Julian’s and Paceville that if anyone wanted to go clubbing, they can do.
Hotel entertainment is often geared towards more mature clients; think afternoon tea and ballroom dancing rather than all-night drinking and pole dancing.
Sample package:Thomson offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Waterfront Hotel in Sliema from £352 per person this October, including flights and transfers.
Perfect for young families: Qawra
Why? With a cast-iron sunshine guarantee, Malta is generally a good bet for families. Its long season and position outside the eurozone can mean keener prices than Greece or Spain, so recommend the shoulder months for anyone on a budget.
Qawra (pronounced ou-ra), in St Paul’s Bay, has a good choice of accommodation – from two-star apartments to four-star hotels – plus a rocky beachfront with plenty of scope for water sports. It’s not as lively at night as Buggiba next door, but there are plenty of family-friendly restaurants.
If the beach begins to bore, Malta’s turbulent history should keep inquisitive kids entertained. Knights, war, bloody sieges – it’s a greatest hits package of medieval violence.
Sample package: Cosmos offers seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Hotel Qawra Palace, overlooking Salina Bay from £385 per adult and £255 per child next May, including flights and transfers. Children’s facilities include a separate seawater swimming pool, splash pool, daytime activities. Early evening meals are also provided.
Perfect for culture lovers: Valletta
Why? Malta’s central position in the Med was both a blessing and a curse, bringing prosperity but leaving it prone to attack. Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all had their time in power, as, most noticeably, did the Knights of St John.
Many of its key sights, such as the city walls and ornate Palace of the Grand Masters, were built to celebrate the glory of the Knights, but the history of Valletta – and Malta – doesn’t end there. Learn about it all – from the first Siege of Malta to the terrible bombardment during the Second World War – in Valletta’s many museums and historic sites: Fort St Elmo, St John’s Co-Cathedral, the National War Museum, the Grand Harbour, the list goes on.
If you only see one thing, make it Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist in the Co-Cathedral. It’s one of the master’s best works outside Italy.
Sample package: Belleair Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Excelsior Grand Hotel in Valletta from £586 per person this October, including flights and transfers.
Malta photos on flickr.com
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