Malta holidays are enjoyed by many people throughout the year, and trips to the island have grown in popularity in recent years.
Many tour operators offer the island, we recommend the UK's favourite company who offer Malta holidays for reliability and peace of mind. Check Thomson's offers for what they have to offer:www.thomson.co.uk/Malta
Nearly all Maltese people speak both Maltese and English. A lot of native speakers could be also found there because of summer schools teaching opportunities.
Malta is a member of the EU and EU citizens do not require a visa. For non EU visitors please check with your local Maltese Embassy for visa requirements.
The island uses the Euro, and credit cards and debit cards are generally accepted during Malta holidays - some establishments accept British Sterling and US dollars to cater for those on a visit, but they generally give a poor exchange rate.
The international dialling code for Malta is +356
Some restaurants include a service charge of between 10 and 15 per cent. Where there isn't a service charge most people leave between 10 and 15 per cent, depending upon the level of service received. Although not compulsory quite a few people will leave a little change in a coffee bar if the service has been acceptable, but this is less usual than in restaurants. Taxi drivers are usually given 10 per cent of the fare.
When booking a hotel, some Malta hotels include lunch and/or dinner too. It's not expected for visitors to tip at every meal, but if at the end of your Malta holiday you feel that the service has been good, and one waiter or waitress in particular has looked after you, feel free to leave a tip as a gesture of your appreciation.
Most Malta package holiday companies produce brochures which include advice on this, or ask your rep at the resort who is working for the company you booked your Malta holidays with for his or her advice. All inclusive deals can work out to be good and quite cheap. Thomas Cook for example are worth checking out for their latest offers.
Always consider when planning your trip, entertainment and transport may be affected during holidays in Malta. The airport is generally unaffected and airlines run a normal service for both chartered and scheduled Malta flights
| Date: | Holiday |
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 10 February | St. Paul's Shipwreck |
| 19 March | St Joseph's Day |
| 31 March | Freedom Day Malta |
| 2 Apr | Good Friday |
| 4 Apr | Easter |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 7 June | Malta National Holiday |
| 29 June | Saint Peter and Paul |
| 15 August | Assumption Day |
| 8 September | Victory Day Malta |
| 21 September | Independence Day Malta |
| 5 November | All Saint's Day |
| 2 November | All Soul's Day |
| 28 November | First Advent |
| 5 December | Second Advent |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception |
| 12 December | Third Advent |
| 19 December | Fourth Advent |
| 25 December | Christmas |
| 31 December | New Year's Eve |
Could 2011 be another year that sees an increase in visitors to the island for a Malta holiday - that's the question being asked by those in the tourist industry.
Cheap Malta holidays have been possible for a couple of years now thanks to the low cost flights offered by companies such as Ryanair and easyJet - to the extent that Malta holidays can often compete with mainland European destinations that have traditionally been able to offer better holiday deals in the past.
The cost of traditionally popular Majorca holidays can often be on par with the island with companies like Thomas Cook Holidays.
The cost of a holiday in Malta can depend upon various factors, including the cost of airline tickets and aviation fuel, government taxes, the economy and how many Malta holidays the package companies offer.
So will cheap Malta holidays still be around for 2011?
Our guess is that there will still be good deals in 2011, how cheap they will be though no-one's really sure. Some of it will depend upon how many Malta holidays the big tour operators have to offer, and if they cut down significantly on previous years there might not be the same quantity of cheap and late deals as in previous years.
Keep a watch on the main players sites for good deals for 2011 Malta holidays - both Thomas Cook and Thomson have a full range of holidays in Malta for the whole year.
Malta holidays from YourMalta.com - holidays in Malta
June 23 2010 - DubaiThe Tourist Authority has opened a new office in Dubai to promote holidays |
September 29 2009 - Malta Beaches Among The BestIf you're considering holidays in Malta The Daily Telegraph recently ran an article extolling the virtues not just of the Malta weather but a particular beach too |
If Malta holidays are just one consideration it's worth looking at the travel sites of companies like Thomas Cook holidays for inspiration – vidoes, hotel reviews, visitor feedback and quite a lot of information is available for each area.
They have their own airline and as well as flying people in for a holiday in Malta they provide Majorca flights
If you're after a winter break and want a good warm climate and the sunshine instead of French ski holidays then Malta holidays are a really good option – check our weather page to see a five day forecast.
It's surprising perhaps that villa holidays aren't as popular on the island as they are elsewhere in Europe – the days when they were expensive compared to hotels is over and some good deals are available with various companies who specialise in villa holidays
Several tour operators offer all inclusive options, including Thomas Cook, First Choice and Thomson, all three are worth checking out for Malta package holidays.
An increasing trend in recent years, the advantage is that hotels and flights plus meals are all part of an all inclusive deal.
While it might not suit some who prefer the freedom of being able to choose whether they take their meals at a hotel or in one of the towns and villages, with more people taking them, there are some good deals available for those looking for all inclusive Malta holidays online.