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Malta - Accessible Holidays, All Year Round

By Jimi St Pierre

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Published: 02Mar2010
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In spite of becoming part of the Eurozone, with all the implications for higher costs due to the Euro exchange rate in recent times, Malta remains attractively-priced for UK and Non-Eurozone visitors. In particular from the UK, an increase in available no-frills airfares means even better holiday prices. And further to this, more and more local airports have attracted the low fare airlines, and so convenience as well as attractively-prices holiday is in the mix. Airports such as Newcastle, Bristol and Edinburgh are among the growing list of regional airports offering Malta.

So, as the price is right, what can the visitor expect from a holiday in Malta?

First and foremost, the island is only a couple of hours away by air, and so a short break out of season is an interesting idea. The island has over 7,000 years of history - including a fascinating pre-history with stone-age monuments available and accessible year-round, as well as cave complexes and fine natural landscapes. In addition, the island has been attractive to waves of invaders and settlers over time, each group leaving it's indelible mark on the architecture and infrastructure.

Investment in tourism in recent years has been considerable, and visitors can expect top-quality year-round accommodation, first class dining experiences (including myriad fish specialities) improved tourism infrastructure and many new entertainment venues and state-of -the-art night clubs for those looking for night life.

Malta offers visitors warm summers and mild winters. But of course, the summer season will always be the most popular time to go, and here, Malta has worked hard to develop family-friendly facilities and attractive discounts. For those looking to enjoy a quieter break, the sister island of Gozo offers a serene, unspoilt atmosphere with friendly hotels and plenty of walking, bird watching and sailing opportunities.

Sightseeing on Malta's islands offers a rich and rewarding tapestry. As well as beautiful island beaches to enjoy, there is much else to see and do. The town of Valetta is a jewel, with it's famous St John's Co-Cathedral (Caravaggio's painting of St. John the Baptist is a major highlight) and the inlaid tombstones covering the Cathedral floor. Also in Valletta, a dramatic presentation called the Malta Experience offers a complete overview of the history of Malta. This can be seen at the finely restored Mediterranean Conference Centre at St. Elmo's Bastion - a building originally created by the Knight of St John in the 16th Century.

The main maritime towns in Malta have merged into a fortified complex known as the Three Cities. These rest on the promontories opposite Valletta, and are a fine sight. Walking tours here are very popular.

For those interested in the ancient history of Malta, The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum just southwest of the Three Cities in the suburb of Paolo, is a labyrinth of man-made chambers carved out of limestone, reaching about 36ft below the surface. Experts believe it was used as a burial site and temple. Meanwhile at Hagar Qim in western Malta dates from 3,800 BC, and has the oldest known man-made structures in the world - older even than the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Again, on Gozo, the Ggantija Temples are two massive megaliths carved into temples at a date between 4,100 and 2,500 BC.

For those looking for a resort-based holiday, and ideal choice might be the small fishing village of Marsalforn on the north coast of Gozo, which has become the island's most popular summer resort. It offers swimming and water sports, and is well restaurants, bars and accommodation.

Days out for families might include a visit to the Toy Museum in Valetta which has three floors of Maltese and international toys dating back to the 1950s, or perhaps the Playmobil Funpark which is the second largest Playmobil factory in the world is located here in Malta - a must for children of all ages. Or perhaps the Splash & Fun Park which is a great place to take the children on a hot summer day where they can swim and use the water slides to use up all their energy. At the Splash & Fun Park there is also a large whirlpool where adults can relax and unwind. Also on the list might be the Mediterraneo Marine Park, where children will be able to enjoy learning about sea animals by watching Black Sea Dolphin or South American Sea Lion shows, or Popeye Village at Sweethaven, which is the actual set of the 1980s musical of which starred Robin Williams.

Thus history, family entertainment, quiet romantic getaways and a year-round holiday opportunity - Malta has it all in abundance.

Jimi St. Pierre writes for several Travel Companies in the UK, including Country Connect, a publisher of a daily news feed to the UK travel industry. Country Connect has a UK Tourist Office Directory, cheap flights to Malta and airport parking at www.countryconnect.co.uk

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