The trees have lost their leaves, it’s raining, the rare winter sun has to fight through gray skies and you really do have the winter blues. I have found that life doesn’t have to be a dream, not when I can take a winter break in Malta.
Malta is a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Sicily and only 15 miles long. Small in size but big on character, the Maltese islands of Malta and Gozo are great places to visit all year round.
The climate in winter is one of the best in the Mediterranean, mild with some rain but a good amount of sun and during the summer the island is hot and dry. So dry that Malta has an almost desert-like appearance, but visit in winter and you’ll find a beautiful green island contrasted with wildflowers in full bloom. It’s warm enough in the winter that you can wear summer clothes during the day, but don’t forget to pack wool and a coat for cooler nights. Suntan lotion will also be needed, but you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes in the winter.
Malta is not an expensive holiday destination and prices are very comparable to other Mediterranean destinations. As with other resorts, if you take a holiday to Malta over Christmas and New Years, expect to pay premium rates for that 2-week period and off-season rates for the rest of the winter. The cost of living is reasonable, I have gone there many times on a scarily small budget and returned home happy and with money to spare.
What I like the most about Malta is the hospitality of the Maltese people. Always so friendly and helpful, they have treated me like an old friend almost from the beginning. I have not found it strange that they make me friends and take me around the island or invite me to Maltese homes. They have even offered me free accommodation for my next visit from friendly islanders. Beware ladies though: hot Maltese men like to flirt!
During the winter, the best places to stay are the cities of Sliema and St Julians because they are busier and livelier in the off-season. I like St Julians for the nightlife but Sliema is better for shopping and from there you can take the ferry to the capital Valetta. Since they’re not far from each other and it’s a nice refreshing walk along the coast, I don’t much care where I stand.
You will find accommodation suitable for all budgets: 5-star hotels, villas, guest houses, self-catering apartments and even all-inclusive in Sliema. I have mostly stayed in self contained apartments because I like to do my own thing. Wherever I have stayed, the accommodation has been clean, comfortable and hassle free.
Although Maltese is the first language, English is so widely spoken that communication is not a problem. On my first visit 20 years ago, I was surprised to regularly hear catchphrases from popular UK TV shows. Imagine paying for a drink and the bartender saying ‘Lovely Jubbly’ when your change is handed to you, that seemed so surreal.
Since Malta is now a member of the European Union, the currency has changed from the Maltese Lira to the Euro. I’d better buy myself a few euros now that I’ve written about my favorite winter destination and look online for a deal on another one of my Malta holidays. All I have to decide is when to go: off the peak and save some brass or pay full price for Christmas when it’s truly beautiful with glorious window paintings to decorate.
