For clients with deep pockets, there’s plenty in Malta and Gozo to spend their money on – from jewellery shopping at Jos Debono in Valletta to chartering Roman Abramovich’s 170-metre yacht, and from fine dining and spa treatments to gambling and enjoying the theatre.
It helps that Malta has a rich history of attracting royals, high society and international footballers. Recent celebrities have included Madonna, Brad Pitt, Rachel Weisz and Bruce Willis. Visitors can even dance in the footsteps of the young Queen Elizabeth II in the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenicia Hotel.
Daniel Sciberras, marketing director at the Phoenicia, explains the attraction of Malta to top-end visitors: “This is due to a combination of factors including high standards of accommodation, the extravagant experiences that can be enjoyed and the fact that high-profile guests can enjoy a break in peace.”
The good news is that Malta’s luxury offerings are great value for money. Or as Emma Yorke, national sales manager at Belleair Holidays, puts it: “There are not many places in the world where you can stay at a five-star hotel from as little as £35 per person per night.”
In addition to the wide variety of budget flights available from the UK, Air Malta offers Club Class from London and regional departure points. This provides enhanced seating, three-course hot meals, complimentary drinks, a free 30kg baggage allowance and access to the new-look La Vallette lounge in Malta and airport lounges in the UK.
Leslie Muscat, general manager for Air Malta in the UK, says: “Club Class bookings from the likes of Saga, Cadogan and Classic Collection are steady and we’ve also seen an increase in passengers upgrading at the airport or after booking because of reasonable rates and extra benefits.”
Malta’s luxury sector has also remained relatively unaffected by the global recession and the fluctuations of sterling against the euro.
Cox and Kings believes Malta is evolving into a niche destination for both spa and golfing breaks. Michael Fleetwood, the operator’s product manager for Europe, explains: “We are seeing some excellent new hotels coming on line with comprehensive dedicated facilities.”
Activities for high-rollers
The Malta Opera Festival, one of the most highly regarded in Europe, runs from March 18-23 this year and will feature pieces by Handel, Rachmaninoff and Rossini. The festival takes place at the Manoel Theatre Valletta, one of the oldest working theatres in Europe.
Harbour Air Malta offers scenic flights from Valletta harbour and Malta airport to Gozo. The 15-minute ride in a seaplane takes in the stunning craggy coastline and countryside.
There are a number of wine-tasting tours and festivals. Local company Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker holds an event in Malta in August and another in Gozo in September.
This is also the harvest season, so it is one of the more interesting times to visit the vineyards. Marsovin and Meridiana estates are also open for tours and tasting.
Food lovers should check out the De Mondion restaurant, which is set in a 17th-century palace in the quaint city of Mdina and is part of the Xara Palace boutique hotel. The restaurant offers panoramic views and local seasonal produce.
Luxury hotels
Xara Palace: This luxurious boutique hotel, a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, is centrally located in the ancient and so-called “silent city” of Mdina. It boasts just 17 individually designed rooms and suites, four of which have outdoor whirlpool baths on their private terraces.
Hotel Juliani: Don’t’ be fooled by the four-star status. This converted townhouse property in St Julian’s bills itself as Malta’s only small design boutique hotel. The hotel, which overlooks the bay, has 44 rooms and a rooftop pool.
The Phoenicia: The only five-star property located in the capital Valletta, the Phoenicia has 136 rooms and suites and has just been refurbished.
The George: June will see the addition of another small luxury hotel in St Julian’s with the opening of The George. It will be an urban boutique hotel with a rooftop pool and mod cons such as wireless internet, iPod docking stations and flatscreen TVs.
The Gran Hotel Excelsior: This waterfront five-star spa hotel offers breathtaking views of Marsamxett Harbour and is in striking distance of Valletta.
The Kempinski St Lawrenz: For clients who prefer a resort-style property, the St Lawrenz in Gozo is a substantial five-star luxury property in a quiet setting, and is a good option for families. The spa, which has just reopened following a refurbishment, offers a wide range of spa treatments.
Radisson Blu Resort St Julian’s: If your clients are in the market for a five-star resort but their budgets won’t stretch to the Kempinski, or they simply want to be based on Malta as opposed to Gozo, suggest the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s.
Ta’ Cenc: Another relaxing option for clients seeking the slower pace of Gozo, Ta’ Cenc’s unique selling point is its idyllic clifftop location. However, the property would benefit from some investment to help justify its five-star status.
Sample product
Prestige Holidays offers a week’s stay at the Gran Hotel Excelsior Malta in July from £659 per person. The price is based on two people sharing a deluxe room on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with midweek scheduled flights with Air Malta from Gatwick. It also includes private taxi transfers. 01425 480400
Belleair Holidays has seven nights’ bed-and-breakfast at the five-star InterContinental Malta from £484 per person, based on two people sharing. The price, which is valid for April 5 departures, includes return Air Malta flights from Gatwick and transfers. 0845 365 3400
For 2010, villa specialist Vintage Travel has more than doubled the number of properties it features on Gozo. One of its new properties is the Hamlet II villa, which features a 14-metre pool that is partly indoors and partly outdoors. A week’s rental for the four-bedroom property costs from £1,995 in May, rising to £2,995 in peak season. UK flights are extra. 0845 344 0420
