| Malta is a small island state in Europe, in the middle | | | | a result, Malta is soaked in culture and heritage |
| of the Mediterranean and is a popular holiday | | | | and offers a large number of cultural and historical |
| destination for many Europeans, mostly from the | | | | sites in very short distances from each other, |
| U.K., Germany, Italy, France and Holland. Tourists | | | | making Malta a unique place in the world map of |
| visit the island for various reasons and the island | | | | culture and heritage. Both in the Maltese language |
| offers a variety of facets that will be of interest | | | | and culture remnants of Phoenician, Carthaginians, |
| for most types of travellers. This article provides | | | | Romans, Arabs, Turks, French and English |
| you with the top 10 reasons why booking a trip | | | | invaders can still be found today and this melting |
| to Malta is a great idea, not only for next | | | | pot of cultures is of interest to many tourists |
| summer's holiday season but all year round! | | | | visiting the Maltese islands on holiday. |
| 10. Language and money in Malta | | | | 5. Good quality hotels and accommodation |
| The Maltese have their own language ('Maltese') | | | | Good quality hotels and self-catering apartments |
| but the country has two official languages, with | | | | are widely available at very reasonable prices. |
| the second official language being English. Malta | | | | Package deals are usually the way to go, but |
| was under British rule for 160 years, gaining | | | | booked separately the cost versus quality of |
| independence in 1964, but leaving the Maltese with | | | | accommodation is very good. The main areas for |
| a relatively strong knowledge of the English | | | | holiday resorts are St. Julian's, Bugibba/Qawra, and |
| language, although Maltese is much more widely | | | | Sliema, which are all situated in the Northern part |
| spoken and is the mother tongue for the vast | | | | of Malta. Accommodation in St. Julian's is |
| majority of Maltese. For English speaking tourists | | | | recommended if you enjoy spending your nights |
| this means that communication is almost no | | | | going out but, being close to the nightlife hub of |
| problem, which is definitely a benefit when on | | | | Malta, is not advisable for couples and family who |
| holiday. Although at the moment the Maltese Lira | | | | are looking for peace and serenity. For those |
| is still the only valid currency, the Euro will be | | | | travellers, places like Mellieha and St. Paul's Bay are |
| introduced on January 1st, 2008 and many | | | | much better places to stay. |
| retailers in tourist areas already accept Euros for | | | | 4. Malta is an all year round destination |
| cash payment. | | | | A flight from London to Malta takes less than |
| 9. Sports and leisure activities | | | | three hours, but the difference in climate is huge. |
| Malta is a great location for a variety of sports, | | | | Mild winters and warm summers with an average |
| including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, para | | | | temperature of 32C means excellent weather for |
| gliding, wind surfing and yachting. Plenty of | | | | both hot summer holidays as well as great holiday |
| activities to keep you entertained, no matter the | | | | weather in winter, to escape from the cold back |
| time of year. Most materials needed for these | | | | home. There are plenty of activities to keep you |
| sports are available for low-priced rent and there | | | | entertained all year round and for example hiking |
| are various locations on the islands where these | | | | is a popular way of spending days out in the |
| sports can be exercised. Gozo is a particularly | | | | countryside in winter, enjoying the scenery and |
| popular location for rock climbing, thanks to its | | | | serenity. Most cultural and historical hotspots are |
| steep cliffs, and mountain biking thanks to its quiet | | | | open all year round, and although open air clubs |
| roads and excellent hill climbs. | | | | don't open during the winter months, nightlife in |
| Events, such as pop concerts and theatre shows, | | | | Malta goes on throughout the whole year. |
| but also historical re-enactments such as In | | | | 3. Malta offers a great nightlife to complement |
| Guardia are popular among both tourists and locals | | | | your daily activities |
| and provide great entertainment for the whole | | | | Nights out on the town are a ton of fun, since |
| family. Are you a fan of watching sports? Don't | | | | Malta hosts a true clubbing hub that goes by the |
| worry about missing any big matches or events - | | | | name of Paceville (St. Julian's) and which offers a |
| satellite reception is widely used by the more | | | | large number of clubs which are situated literally |
| popular pubs and there are plenty of appetizers | | | | door to door and which play different genres of |
| and beer around to enjoy your favourite sports. | | | | music to suit everyone's tastes. Open air clubs, |
| 8. Getting around in Malta is easy and cheap! | | | | however, are what makes clubbing in Malta rather |
| Don't you hate it when you go for a holiday and it | | | | special. Spending your warm summer nights |
| takes you ages to get to the beach or to visit a | | | | dancing to the latest club and trance anthems or |
| few cities, museums? Don't you hate it when it | | | | smooth R&B and hiphop beats under the |
| takes a whole day to take one excursion, when | | | | stars is just something else and a must do on |
| you waste so much time on travelling from place | | | | your holiday to Malta. |
| to place which makes you wonder whether it was | | | | 2. Malta holidays now come with cheap flights |
| even worth the hassle? If your answer is yes, | | | | That's right - low cost airlines have found Malta |
| then Malta is definitely the holiday destination for | | | | and offer dirt cheap flights to the island outside of |
| you. It takes less than an hour to get from one | | | | the high season and regular cheap flights in |
| side to the island to the other and there's such a | | | | summer. These airlines offer flights departing |
| high concentration of places of interest, beaches, | | | | from a select number of places in Europe, such as |
| holiday resorts and places for entertainment | | | | London, Dublin, Barcelona, Oslo, Stockholm, Pisa |
| (restaurants, clubs, cinemas etc.), you'll wish you'd | | | | (Italy) and Bremen (Germany). Look for airlines |
| have known about Malta earlier! | | | | the likes of Ryanair, Norwegian Air Shuttle and |
| A lot of tourists decide to visit Malta a second | | | | Clickair, but don't forget to check Malta's national |
| time and sometimes more, simply for the reason | | | | airline Air Malta, which regularly offers low cost |
| that there's just so much to do and to see, and it | | | | flights to a much larger number of European |
| takes so little money and time to get around and | | | | destinations. |
| spend quality holiday time. | | | | 1. Malta offers more than any other |
| 7. Gozo offers a peaceful setting to your summer | | | | Mediterranean destination |
| holiday | | | | You could say that the top reason for visiting |
| Malta is not just about Malta. Yes, that's right, The | | | | Malta is a combination of all other reasons listed |
| Republic of Malta also covers Gozo, which is | | | | above: There are a lot of different things you can |
| Malta's sister island and is said to be the island that | | | | do during your holiday in Malta and you'll never be |
| Malta used to be a long time ago - rural, quiet and | | | | bored if you get the right info. Baking in the sun |
| untouched. Gozo is a great place for a peaceful | | | | on the beach is great for relaxation after a long |
| (family or couples) holidays, with beautiful beaches | | | | year of work or school, but most people would |
| and countryside views. Visit the capital Victoria, | | | | prefer adding a little variety to the time they |
| with its Citadel in the centre - a fortified part of | | | | spend on holiday. So if you'd like to go |
| the village which used to offer the inhabitants of | | | | somewhere else besides the beach, why not visit |
| Gozo shelter against foreign invaders, similar to | | | | on the many places of interest around the island? |
| Mdina's surrounding walls on the main island Malta. | | | | Visit the old capital city of Mdina, for example, |
| The seaside town of Xlendi is a popular tourist | | | | surrounded by bastions and oozing with history |
| destination, offering a beautiful view of its bay | | | | and an ambiance you'll never forget. Why not |
| surrounded by high cliffs. Ramla l-Hamla and San | | | | take a trip to sister island Gozo, with its serene |
| Blas Bay are beautiful beaches to go for a swim, | | | | country views and attractions such as the Azure |
| one being larger and busier, the other being more | | | | Window, a rock formation sculpted by the sea. |
| secluded and more difficult to get to (steep hill | | | | Evenings will never be boring when you know |
| descent) but much worth the effort. | | | | where to go. There is plenty of choice when it |
| As of recent, a shuttle bus service is available, | | | | comes to dining out, as quality restaurants can be |
| taking you straight from the airport to the ferries | | | | found in most parts of the island. Wine bars and |
| in the Northern most tip of the island of Malta, | | | | pubs are also popular in Malta and provide quality |
| making arrangements for a Gozo holiday a little | | | | wines and both local and international lagers, beers |
| easier to plan for. | | | | and various popular brands of liquor. There's plenty |
| 6. Malta has a rich culture and heritage | | | | of opportunity for clubbing and open air clubs and |
| Throughout the ages, the Maltese islands have | | | | parties are a must see if clubbing is your ideal |
| seen various foreign rulers coming and going, and | | | | night out. |
| leaving behind their stamps on Maltese culture. As | | | | |