Cheap Malta Deals

Will You Leave for Comino?

2011-02-01T08:56:00.001-08:00

Now why on earth would you want to leave Malta and head somewhere else when you have chosen Malta as the place to stay in for your holiday?

Well it would certainly be a good question to ask. But when you have another delightful island such as Comino close by, you’d be crazy not to take the opportunity to pay it a visit.

If you look for Malta on a map, you will see its slightly smaller neighbour Gozo to the north west of the island. In between, looking for all the world like a small stepping stone for giants between the two, lies Comino. Its proximity to both Gozo and Malta means it is easy enough to travel between them. This offers you the chance to see what another part of the Maltese islands has to offer you.

One of the amazing things about Comino is its history. It is not the largest island you will ever see after all, and this has been one of the reasons why it has had no inhabitants at various points in its history.

One place you should definitely see while you are there is also the easiest one to see. It is called St Mary’s Tower, and you can guess by the name just why it is so visible. Watch out for it as you make the ferry crossing. The tower has been a part of the island for almost 400 years, and it has taken on various guises since it was first built.

The great part about Comino is that you can enjoy walking all over it quite happily in a single day. At just one square mile in size, you can see that a car is quite unnecessary. Walking is the order of the day here, and it means you can look forward to exploring every inch on foot, no matter whether you want to go inland or stick to the coast.

Malta might be a delight in itself, but don’t miss out on the tiny but perfectly formed island of Comino either. It would be a shame not to set foot on such a small island that has so much to offer.

Tea and Cake Anyone?

2011-01-03T09:25:00.001-08:00

One of the most wonderful things about going on holiday is the ability to wander around and stop off for a bite to eat or a refreshing drink whenever the mood takes you. This doesn’t just apply to Malta of course – it applies wherever you want to go.

But perhaps Malta has one little secret that cannot be said of many other locations. It is certainly the case that there is an establishment that has already been written about favourably many times before. Known by the name of Fontanella, it is not described as ‘an institution’ for nothing. Should you be venturing close to or into Mdina when you are in Malta, make sure you visit Fontanella to sample their famous chocolate cake for yourself. This is not the kind of thing to read about and not to sample if you ever get the chance.

But to say this is nothing more than a café is to vastly underestimate the experience of grabbing a nice tea here. This is an amazing experience and one that comes with an equally amazing view as well. Fontanella has its own tea gardens that are the perfect accompaniment to tea and cake, and as you will see it can be incredibly hard to drag yourself away from the impressive view.

The views here are nothing short of spectacular. Malta will stretch out and away from you as you explore the visual delights of this wonderful island. The vista may be somewhat flat in many areas but this does not take away the beautiful nature of the scenery. From greenery to more built up areas and right up to the sea itself, you can appreciate more of Malta while you sample the wonderful fare to be had at Fontanella.

This is the perfect place to sit and contemplate what you will do for the rest of your time in Malta as well. You will probably find yourself trying to fit in several more visits to the ever popular Fontanella as well, although finding reasons to do so shouldn’t be at all hard. There’s the chocolate cake for starters.

The Popularity of Sliema

2010-12-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt that Malta is a very popular place to go to on holiday. The island boasts lots of places that are worth a visit, one of which is a town called Sliema.

You’ll find the town on the north eastern side of the island, about halfway down that coastline. It is well known for being quite busy as it tends to attract lots of holidaymakers. This could be for anything from a day trip to a longer stay in the area. There are certainly some nice hotels here that could prove ideal for you if you want to stay in the area for more than just a short visit.

This is actually one of the more popular areas people tend to stay in when they visit Malta. It is quite well built up so you can find everything you need from a good holiday here. The facilities are good but so are the beaches, so you can expect to have a nice stay. There are promenades as well, not to mention opportunities to try out various water sports. If you are eager to try out scuba diving or snorkelling while you are in Malta, do be sure to organise something to make it happen. Sliema offers you the chance so make sure you take it.

Of course not everyone wants a sporting holiday of this kind, and if this is you then Sliema can cater for you as well. Relaxing strolls along the front and the ability to go from street to street, wandering around the shops and taking in all the cafes is a wonderfully relaxing activity in itself. St Julian’s is also just along the coast so you have the option of exploring not one but two prime areas of the coastline in Malta here as well.

As you can see, Sliema may not be the quietest resort in Malta, but it certainly offers you everything you could hope for from a holiday in Malta. If you want to be sure you have all the essential facilities around you, it could be just what you are looking for.

The Calypso Cave

2010-11-03T07:09:00.001-07:00

Malta has many sights that are ages old and existed long before we ever thought of visiting the area on holiday. One such example is Calypso Cave, which can be found very close to Malta on Gozo.

The cave has the Greek nymph of the same name to thank for its title, and it isn’t the easiest of things to find. However it is worth making the effort because it is quite charming and spectacular to see. Don’t assume you will be seeing a huge cave though because nothing could be further from the truth. However small can be perfect as we know, and when you see just what this particular cave has in store for you, you’ll know just how worthwhile it is to see.

You’ve probably got an image of a cave with a wide open entrance that you can just walk into. Well think again – Calypso Cave couldn’t be more different. Once you are at the entrance to the cave you will be faced with a steep set of steps descending into the rock. There is a handrail and you will see you can descend some distance in just a short time.

Once you are down at the bottom you can walk into the cave and explore. It is very small and some of it is blocked further in, but it is worth standing there for a moment and wondering if all the legends of Calypso and her seductive ways are actually true. It doesn’t really matter if they are or not though – just being here and witnessing the cave and how it hides in among its surroundings is quite an experience in itself.

The cave is not far outside of Xaghra and although it is only a short distance to find it on foot, you should make the most of being there and taking some photos of this historic spot. The Maltese Islands have many caves but this would arguably be the most famous of them all. It certainly has the best myths and legends attached to it, thanks to the idea of Calypso and her wiles.

Visiting Fort St Angelo

2010-10-04T07:13:00.001-07:00

When it comes to visiting a major building, no matter where in the world it might be, your first instinct is probably to walk right up to it. But this isn’t always the best way to go.

Sometimes it is better to take more than a few steps back to see it in all its glory from a distance instead. You should do exactly this when you go to see Fort St Angelo in Birgu in Malta, and the best place to see it is from another of Malta’s top attractions. These are the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens.

There are several good reasons for visiting the gardens in order to catch your first glimpse of Fort St Angelo, no matter what time of day it might be. Firstly you will be able to get a proper idea of how the fort sits among its surroundings. As you would expect it sits in the harbour and watches over it, but you may not expect how dominant it is in this situation. No one is quite sure just when Fort St Angelo was built, although some suspect it could be as long ago as Roman times. However you can see why those people chose this exact spot to site the fort, as it certainly makes an imposing addition to this part of Birgu.

Of course you will also want to get closer to the fort and indeed you can do just this. Not all of the structure is available for entry by the public but most of it is. In addition when you combine an up close trip to Fort St Angelo with a more distant view from the Barrakka Gardens, you’ll get the best selection of views you possibly can.

Be sure to take your camera too because it is nice to capture some evidence of how and where the fort sits in relation to its surroundings. A visit around midday is ideal since you will also be able to hear the firing of the midday gun. This is no more than a tourist attraction now, but it certainly adds to the atmosphere while you are there.

Visiting Marsascala – An Ideal Place For A Holiday?

2010-09-03T00:34:00.001-07:00

Malta has lots of delightful spots you could happily spend a holiday at. One of the hardest things about choosing a holiday on this island is selecting the place you want to be based in.

But Marsascala is a good option for many people, and indeed the population here virtually doubles when the summer months arrive and visitors from other countries arrive for a week or two of summer sun.

This surely tells us that Marsascala has plenty to offer to the holidaymaker, so let’s see what we can find here. The village is sometimes known as M’Scala too, so don’t be confused if you see the two names as they both refer to the same place. This fishing village has been around for centuries, so you can expect to see signs of the past here and not just modern amenities. As such it has a lot of character and it is a simply stunning place to wander around.

Marsascala Bay comes inland, so you have the opportunity to explore both sides of the bay during your time there. One hotel in particular, the Corinthia Jerma Hotel, sits fairly close to the coast on the southern side of the bay itself. But there are many other places you could stay as well during your holiday in this village.

You may be thinking that a village isn’t going to give you enough to see and do during a week long stay here. But as far as size is concerned this is a good sized village with a harbour, plenty of restaurants and bars and much else besides.

You also have the next bay along from this one to explore. It’s called St Thomas Bay and it gives you yet another potential destination to see. This is one of the reasons why lots of people opt for Marsascala when they take a holiday on Malta – it is far more than just a simple village.

So the next time you plan a holiday on this beautiful island, perhaps M’Scala could be the best spot to stay in. It certainly has lots of history to share with you – and plenty of modern sights as well.

Basing Your Holiday In Mellieha Bay

2010-08-04T08:15:00.001-07:00

So you’ve decided to book a holiday in Malta. Where do you want to stay when you get there? After all there are lots of delightful spots to choose from, and there could well be a perfect holiday awaiting you in one of them.

One popular spot that a lot of people go for is Mellieha Bay. This is far away to the north of the island of Malta, and the bonus is that it isn’t far from the ferry terminal at Cirkewwa either. With Gozo off to the north of Malta this gives you another possibility for something to do while you are on your annual holiday.

But let’s get back to the delights of Mellieha Bay itself. This is an ideal spot to visit for a family holiday if you have children, mainly because of the beach. It is nice and clean and the water isn’t too deep or vicious either. Mellieha Bay benefits from being deeply indented into the island itself, unlike some other bays which only gently slope inland.

Another bonus of this beach is that it is the biggest one the island has to offer. This alone is a benefit worth considering if you are visiting Malta during the summer holidays, when it is likely to be at its busiest due to all the children being off school.

The village of Mellieha itself can be found slightly further away from the beach, but within walking distance nonetheless. It is worth exploring when you have a couple of hours to spare before you head to the beach itself.

The good thing about Mellieha Bay is that it is designed to cater for tourists in many different ways. There is plenty of accommodation here to choose from which means you have apartments, hotels and various other resorts to decide on. No matter what you want you will find it here, and you’ll have a great time as well. This is a pleasant resort that is simply a breeze to stay in, with lots to see and do, a wonderful beach and plenty for the whole family to enjoy. What could be better than that?

Visiting Playmobil

2010-07-06T08:30:00.001-07:00

Hang on, we know what you are probably thinking – this is a blog about Malta, not Playmobil. But while that is indeed the case, there is a significant link that Malta has with Playmobil. It’s called the Playmobil Fun Park.

You’ll find it at Hal Far on Malta, and there is even a bus from Valletta that will take you and your family there if you want to pay a visit. But is it worth a look?

The first thing to remember is that this is a park for kids, not for adults. To this end you can actually get in free of charge if you are of adult age and you arrive after 1pm. Perhaps not surprisingly though this doesn’t apply if you visit during the school holidays or at weekends. If you manage to time your holiday in Malta so you can accommodate these dates, you might just be lucky enough to get in for nothing.

Another aspect to bear in mind is that the term ‘fun park’ could be a bit misleading. It only costs just over two Euros for those under the age of ten to get in, and less than that for anyone over the age of twelve, so you can see this won’t be a theme park in the normal sense of the word.

However with that said you will soon see the advantages of going there. You get to go on a tour of the factory which shows you just how all the Playmobil figures are made. This is really interesting and good for the adults as well as the kids –particularly if you happen to remember Playmobil from your own childhood!

Of course there is the Playmobil shop as well, so expect to be persuaded to buy a kit or two while you are there. All in all this is a good place for the kids to visit, and you might just get a while to sit and relax while they make the most of all the Playmobil toys there are to play with. And really, if you are going away with the kids, what more could you want?

Visit The Splash And Fun Park In Malta

2010-06-04T03:14:00.001-07:00

The Splash and Fun Water Park in Malta is a perennial favourite among all those who visit the island looking for some water based fun. It is particularly good for those who have young children and want to make sure they sleep well during the evening!

So what can you expect from this water park? Is it much the same as all the other water parks across Europe? Or does it have other attractions that you might like to see while you are there?

Well let’s take a look and see what we can find. If you love the idea of jumping into a wave pool you’re in luck – they have a nice sized one here that will really cool you off on the hottest days in Malta. The Lazy River is a bit more sedate if you would rather sit back and float along, which you can do by hopping into a large inflatable tyre and kicking back to explore the park in style.

The Super Bowl might sound like you will be exploring all the delights associated with a ball game, but nothing could be further from the truth at this water park. It actually consists of a large slide which brings you out into a huge bowl. You can spin round in this for a few turns before heading for the hole in the middle – and then you’ve got a plunge into a pool that is eight feet deep. Would you fancy a go on that? Then head for the Super Bowl to give it a try.

The family slides are great fun for the whole family, just as the name would suggest. There are three of these in total, so why not get one family member to start off on each one at the top, so you can see who reaches the bottom first? Lying down is supposed to make you go faster – so bear that in mind!

And finally the Side Winder is not for the faint hearted. You don’t need a tube for this one – just you and some real nerve. Look up an image of it online and you’ll soon see why…

Experience Wreck Diving In Malta

2010-05-06T03:16:00.000-07:00

If you can dive you will definitely want to do it in Malta. There might be plenty of places around the globe that are ideal for diving but Malta offers some interesting alternatives and experiences you’ll want to try as well.

Dive locations around the world vary in terms of what they have to offer. For example some are better in terms of visibility than others – and to this end Malta and the waters that surround it are better than most. There are plenty of assorted wrecks here too, and not surprisingly you won’t find it hard to book yourself on a guided tour of them. It’s always best to go on a proper tour because you will get to see all the best wrecks and locations with no chance of missing anything worthwhile.

Some of the wrecks here have also provided a home to the many fish and other things that lurk beneath the waves. Expect to see many things here that you wouldn’t be guaranteed to see elsewhere. And there are many different wrecks around as well, so you’ll have plenty to watch out for.

For instance Zonqor Point hides two wrecks that many divers want to see – the Ten Wreck and St Michael. Both of them are easy to find, popular and pretty close to each other as well, so you’ll have no worries finding them. It is the fact that people are able to see so much beneath the waves that makes Malta such a great place to go for divers.

And there are rewards here for divers that aren’t beginners as well. Try the Blenheim Bomber for example – a plane that sank below the waves a long time ago. The history may be murky but the wreck is clear enough to see when you are experienced enough to dive down and find it.

As you can tell the island of Malta has a lot to offer for those who are willing to go below the waves to see it. If you stay on dry land you will only see half of the delights of this island.

Get A View Of The Dingli Cliffs

2010-04-06T03:49:00.001-07:00

Somehow it is a name that suits the awesome sight of the cliffs themselves. When you visit Malta there are certain sights you should not miss – and the Dingli Cliffs are undoubtedly one of them.

When people speak of Dingli they may be referring not only to the cliffs but also to the small village nearby which takes the same name. There are many ways to view the cliffs and each one gives you something different to appreciate. For example some say the best way to see them is to take a boat trip out to see them from the waters rather than the land. You will certainly get a very different view from here, but don’t let that put you off seeing the cliffs on land either.

Dingli Cliffs are extremely popular with walkers who are visiting the island for a holiday. You will need to be ready for a walk as well if you want to take the bus to the cliffs, since it stops in the nearby village but doesn’t take you any closer than that. This means you have to think about how far you want to walk; you will have covered quite a distance before you even get to the cliffs themselves.

There is no doubting that the trip is worth it though. You will see plenty of other walkers while you are in the area, along with people who choose this stunning place to take their daily jog as well. Feel free to walk along the coastline and enjoy every inch of it, but don’t forget that stopping and sitting down to relax for a while gives you an equally stunning opportunity to see the Dingli Cliffs.

The cliffs soar up an impressive three hundred metres into the sky, and you can certainly appreciate that you get fantastic views from this height. The cliffs have provided protection over the years as well, so it is clear they are good for more than just amazing views all in all. No holiday to Malta should be complete without a visit to this stunning area.

Visiting Valletta

2010-03-05T04:15:00.001-08:00

When a city is described by some as being akin to an ‘open air museum’, you can see why a visit is absolutely essential. Add to that the fact that it is a World Heritage Site and you have even more reasons to see it.

Valletta falls into this exclusive category and since it is the capital of Malta you will certainly want to add it to your holiday itinerary. Even if you are a beach lover you will want to explore the city itself as it has a whole raft of things to show you.

Take the city streets for example. There are signs here of the 16th century as well as signs of the intervening years and styles of architecture. They make it fascinating simply to walk around even if you choose not to explore inside some of the museums and churches dotted around the city.

The city itself is fortified and you will find many impressive signs of this as you explore. St Elmo fort is there to be seen, although you can only explore it on certain dates. This is because it now houses the Maltese police academy. However it still makes an impressive sight from outside and it is good to know it is being used for a good reason.

If you like the idea of visiting a palace while you are in Valletta, you are certainly in the right place. This is because it has several of them and you can visit most of them as well. The Casa Rocca Piccola is one such example, and it is still inhabited too.

You will also find the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, so be sure to add those to your list of places to go. As you can see it pays to have a spare couple of days to explore Valletta at its fullest, because it has so much for you to do and see. In particular don’t miss out on the Valletta Waterfront, which has been renovated and designed to attract both tourists and locals to enjoy everything it has to offer.

Don’t Miss Golden Bay In Malta

2010-02-03T01:50:00.001-08:00

Along the western side of Malta towards the top of its northern edge, you will find Golden Bay. It sounds wonderful even before you know anything about it, and luckily for the many people who visit the island for the first time each year it is just as good in reality as it sounds.

The Golden Bay beach is one of the most popular ones on the island, and it isn’t hard to see why. It does get crowded but most of the time you can quite easily find a space on the beach even if you arrive later in the day.

The facilities are good here too, so if your idea of a nice holiday is being able to turn up on the beach knowing you have everything you need around you, you’ll love Golden Bay. Try the various food outlets dotted around the beach instead of having to make sandwiches and take food with you. You’ll find plenty to drink too whenever you need it.

This is also a popular beach for families and it isn’t hard to see why. You’ll see a lifeguard on duty and while you can get the odd nasty in the water – such as jellyfish for example – there are good warning signs used whenever they are about.

It’s always good to find a beach that is good enough to stay at for the whole day, and Golden Sands certainly delivers on this point. You will enjoy it whenever you go, but it can be quieter if you go outside of the school holidays as well as earlier in the morning. But the good news is that if you want to find a quieter spot that is more intimate for you and your partner to enjoy, there are plenty of them nearby. You don’t have to go that far away to explore a nice cove or secluded spot elsewhere.

Golden Bay isn’t the only beach on Malta but it is definitely one of the best if you want somewhere with all the facilities you could need. Why not try it the next time you visit?

Exploring Fort Rinella On Malta

2010-01-05T03:10:00.000-08:00

Are forts your cup of tea? Not too sure? Well whatever the answer might be you will want to see this one, which has been standing for over 130 years. Most visitors to Malta make the time to see it, and you will certainly enjoy what you find there.

For starters you’ll see that it’s a Victorian fort. And it still looks as capable of protecting the island today as it did back when it was first built. You will also be able to see the 100 Ton Gun. As the name might suggest it really is huge and it makes a forbidding sight whether you are standing next to it or viewing it from a distance. This probably has something to do with the fact that it measures a full 35 feet long! Although technically it shouldn’t be called the 100 Ton Gun at all – it actually weighs over 150 tons.

The best way to find out the most about Fort Rinella is to book a place on a guided tour of the fort. Not only will the guides tell you all about the fort and its history, they also look the part by dressing up in the correct uniform. This all adds to the authenticity and feel of the fort itself in an official capacity. Don’t be too scared to ask questions though – they may be volunteers but there isn’t much they don’t know about Fort Rinella.

There is no doubt that the presence of these guides in uniform totally transforms any visit to Fort Rinella in Malta. Why is this? Simply because it truly takes you back in time to when this would have been a working fort instead of just a tourist attraction. Kids love it because it brings history to life instead of presenting it in the pages of a book – and they can also run around and explore the various parts of the fort itself.

So if you visit Malta, keep an eye out for Fort Rinella and make sure you go and see it up close. It’s quite an experience.

The Upper And Lower Barrakka Gardens In Malta

2009-10-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

If you are planning on staying anywhere near Valletta, don’t miss your chance to see the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens. Not only are they stunning, but they provide an insight into the history and life of Malta itself.

So what can you expect from these gardens? Surely all gardens are pretty much the same wherever you go in the world?

Actually no they aren’t. You cannot fail to be impressed by these gardens, and since the Upper Garden has a history stretching back into the 17th Century, you will see that there is a lot to appreciate and learn about here.

While there are gorgeous and luscious plants and trees to be seen, you will also notice the frequent appearance of statues and busts as you make your way around the gardens. You might even spot Winston Churchill lurking in among the others, as there are plenty of notable historic figures that have been commemorated in stone.

The Lower Garden is very close to the harbour, and you will get a terrific view of it as you walk round. Not only do you have plenty of reasons to take photos of the gardens themselves, you will also find yourself with the perfect vantage point over the harbour.

As for the Upper Garden you can even stop and have a break for a drink and perhaps a snack while you are wandering round. Watch out for the kiosk that is ready and waiting to serve you. You will also see a fountain situated in front of a small temple building, featuring strong stone pillars soaring up to the roof. It is, as you can see, quite unlike any other garden you may have seen in the past.

For the first two centuries that the gardens existed, they were purely for the use of Italian knights. But thankfully for us they were then made available to the public, and you can now walk along the same passageways and pathways that the knights used to.

If you only visit one garden during your stay in Malta, make sure it is this one.

The Gozo Music Festival

2007-08-13T01:46:00.000-07:00

13 August 2007

The sixth Gozo Music Festival, organised by Dynamic Promotions, will take place on Saturday, 18 August at the Maxtura Fields on the way to Marsalforn.

The festival’s reputation has enabled the organisers to invite international artists who appear in the top charts around the world. The aim is also to give local talent an opportunity to perform in front of a large audience and to offer an evening with a difference.

The night will begin at 9pm will be set in three arenas and will feature 30 local and four international artists. The music for this year’s Gozo Music Festival will range from 80s to 90s, from House to Live Rock.

The local artists will include Ira Losco, Winter Moods, Ivan Filletti and friends, Scar, Gianni and Rug, Spectrum, Johnny Cash and the band, Klinsmann, Indigo, DJ Ruby, Miss Roberta, J Joy, Joseph Armani, Carl Bee, Clay C, Luke Blade, DJ Pantos, Duncan F, Stevy Vee, Drew, Conrad SK, Clayton J, Alvin Gee, DJ Jeff, Alex Grech, Alfie Fabri, Malcolm B, DJ Ryan, Neville Peak, Terra, Luc Adams and Steve Caesar.

International artists will include Shena (UK), Prezioso and Marvin (Italy), the Italo Dance Superstars and Ericke (Netherlands).

The evening will be hosted by Malta's top presenters from 89.7 Bay – Jonathan Abel and Elinor. One of the arenas will include extra attractions for the evening – an ethnic and merchandise market, body art dancers, body painting, body massages, magicians and a snack bar.

For those who want to give someone a treat for the night, a VIP area will be available to welcome special guests.

For more information visit www.dynamicpromotion.com.mt or www.gozomusic

Malta Air Show Displays Draw The Holiday Visitors

2007-07-31T03:57:00.000-07:00

28 July 2007

Malta's annual air show is set to be the best ever this year, with tens of thousands of islanders and tourists attending the event over the weekend of September 23 and 24.

Making the event a truly international one, as well as the Armed Forces of Malta participating, the French, Italian, Dutch Swiss and Spanish will all have planes and crew in attendance, plus the British Royal Air Force and US Air Force.

Among the planes taking part are two Alpha jets from France, one of which will be doing an aerial display, six F-16's with two Dutch F-16's flying, and from the RAF two Harriers and two Tornados, with one of the Harriers expected to do an aerial demonstration.

Ticket prices for the Saturday or Sunday are low compared to many international air shows, ensuring access is available to many of the Maltese population as well as enthusiasts and veterans who travel from around Europe for the weekend. Prices this year are 4.5 Maltese (around US $12) for either day, with public transport to the show available throughout the island.

With the tourist season beginning to slow down, many of the hotels in Malta see the air show as a tourist attraction and organise transport to and from the event.

An advantage of holding the show in the second half of September is that the Malta weather can almost be assured to be good, with the all important clear skies allowing viewing of the participating planes.

Maltese Holidays Experience Media Boost

2007-07-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

2 July 2007

The prospects for Maltese tourism have improved dramatically over the last year but in 2007 having stared at the possibility of slipping to a niche travel destination, the island is enjoying an upswing in visitor numbers, pressemitteilung.ws said. Malta is seeing a revival in her fortunes as a mainstream tourist destination.
The danger of slipping to a niche travel status, and the subsequent economic consequences for the Malta tourist industry, is thought to be part of the reason why the island was galvanised into finally accepting low cost flights from her main UK and Irish markets, with Ryanair starting flights from London in November last year, and this March from Dublin.

In addition to the new Ryanair services, the island's own airline, Air Malta, has run a successful campaign of its own for cheap flight to Malta deals, and from May launched a new route from Liverpool to Malta. Further visitors are expected from Spain and Germany, following agreements with airlines to provide cheap Malta flights outside of Malta's traditional market.

The extra visitor numbers are being boosted by more media coverage in Malta's traditional core market of the United Kingdom, with daily and Sunday newspapers featuring Malta more as a suggested location for a holiday.

For more information visit maltamedia.com

Big Music Festival in St Paul’s Bay on 21 June

2007-06-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

19 June 2007

Malta will join another 105 countries to celebrate Fête de la Musique on 21 June; a big music festival – Festa Mużika – will be organised in St Paul’s Bay to mark the event.

Five stages will be set up in different areas of the locality. From rock to classical, folk to club music, a number of bands, DJs and other artistes from the UK, France and Malta will participate in the festival.

These include: The Yardbirds, an English rock band noted for starting the careers of three of rock’s most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, The Animals, The Killer Queen, DJ Sonique, Prodigy Tribute Band Jilted Generation and Soasis, among others.

Launching the festival, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said this was the third activity he had announced in a week, which would take place in the St Paul’s Bay area.

He said these events, together with a number of projects that the government was planning to undertake by means of EU funding, showed the government’s determination to improve and increase the number of attractions in the Bugibba, Qawra and St Paul’s Bay, which house about 40 per cent of tourist accommodation and entertainment facilities.

Fête de la Musique was first launched in 1982 by the French Culture Ministry. 21 June is the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, so the music festival in the form of a big street party in St Paul’s Bay will mark the beginning of the summer season.

Minister Zammit Dimech said the music festival will be a unique occasion for all music lovers. He said an activity of such magnitude would not have been possible without the collaboration between a number of entities.

The event is being organised by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, the Malta Tourism Authority, the French Embassy in Malta, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) and the Bugibba/St Paul’s Bay Bars and Restaurants Association.

Malta Fast Becoming Events-Oriented Tourism Destination

2007-04-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Malta is moving towards becoming an events-oriented tourism destination, with international events organised year-round by the Tourism and Culture Ministry and agencies that form part of the ministry, as well as through supporting events organised by the private sector.

“Our product is in continuous upgrading mode,” Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech told a conference organised by the Tourism Studies Association Board of the University of Malta, and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.

He referred to the World Tourism Forum’s first Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 which ranked Malta in 26th place from 124 countries surveyed.

“We ranked extremely well in prioritisation of travel and tourism, fifth place; in ICT infrastructure, 11th place; tourism infrastructure, 12th place and national tourism perception, 16th place. But our competitive advantage is eroded due to our price competitiveness, which puts us in 109th place and ground transport infrastructure in 60th place.”

He added that he did not necessarily concur with all the results but still thought that the report offered a good yardstick. The report places Switzerland in first place for, among others, being an extremely safe country and because its cultural resources are among the richest in the world with the report stating that “Switzerland is home to six world heritage sites, a significant number for such a small country.”

The International Living magazine placed Malta in second place as the ideal country where to retire. And among the reasons for putting Malta in second place was the fact that Malta was secure. Malta with a land mass of only 316 square kilometres was home to nine world heritage sites – the city of Valletta, seven Megalithic temples and Hal Saflieni. Switzerland for its part has an area of nearly 40,000 square kilometres.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that up to some years ago, Malta’s tourism industry was dependent on sea, sun and sand. “With more countries living off this industry, we are doing our best to diversify our tourism industry through the identification of niche markets and the promotion of these niches in foreign countries,” he said.

Malta’s diversification process took into account the upgrading of the infrastructure, embellishment projects, and restoration, rehabilitation and environmental projects.

“Concurrently we have embarked on projects aimed at providing more sandy beaches in Malta and Gozo. Two of these projects: the St George’s Bay project in St Julian’s and the perched beach project in Bugibba were completed with an investment of over Lm1 million (more than e2,330,000). Further projects are earmarked for other beaches in Malta and Gozo.”

Nowadays promoting a country as a tourist destination is no longer a question of merely reaching agreement with tour operators. More travellers are planning their own holiday through the internet. The recent launch of the VisitMalta portal, he said, would contribute towards making Malta more competitive.

The changeover to the euro next January would also help competitiveness since a high percentage of tourists to Malta come from European Union countries that adopted the euro as their currency.

The Malta International Food and Fireworks Festival

2007-04-03T03:42:00.000-07:00

The International Fireworks Festival will incorporate the Food Festival this year. This event is being organised by the consortium Burning Spear, made up of Where’s Everybody? and Nexos Lighting. According to Lou Bondi, director of Where’s Everybody?, this festival will bring together both Maltese and foreign fireworks’ displays, and well as Maltese cuisine and others.

The festival, which will be spread over four days, from 27 April to 30 April, will include a variety of attractions, including the popular Ghanja tal-Poplu competition, Olivia Lewis’ last concert before leaving for Helsinki, folklore groups and singers, and much more. This will be held along Grand Harbour.

Lou Bondi also announced the arrangement made with ferry operators Captain Morgan, where people who do not wish to enter Valletta by car, will have the chance to enjoy the fireworks’ displays on board one of their vessels in Sliema and Vittoriosa.

Several fireworks companies will be taking part – the Mount Carmel Fireworks Factory of Zurrieq, the St Joseph Fireworks Factory of Ghaxaq, as well as Design Fireworks International from Austria, The Yung-Feng Firecrackers and Fireworks Co. Ltd from China. Special guests include Orzella Fireworks Factory from Italy, and last year’s winners, the St Mary Fireworks Company from Mqabba.

The jury will consist of international pyrotechnical experts, who will be working independently of the organisers.

Early Bird Offer

2007-03-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

Air Malta has launched a travel opportunity whereby one can fly for Lm19 one-way excluding taxes and charges. The offer is valid between April 18 and June 30.

The Early Bird Offer covers 22 destinations to/from Amsterdam, Budapest, Casablanca, London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, Liverpool, Lyon, Glasgow, Marseille, Milan, Nantes, Naples, Newcastle, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Toulouse, Venice, Vienna and Zurich.

Reservations and ticketing have to be made by April 2.

More information can be obtained by calling 2166 2211, Air Malta sales offices, travel agents or by visiting www.airmalta.com.

Air Malta and Hilton Malta Resort Launch "It's my Birthday and I'll Fly if I Want to"

2007-02-20T04:14:00.000-08:00

Friday 16th February

After the successful launch of the Travel Gift Vouchers and the Discounted Excess Baggage offer, Air Malta is yet again introducing another exciting and innovative product to the local travelling public. Air Malta has teamed up with the Hilton Malta Resort to make your birthday an uplifting experience.

If you travel with another paying passenger within 7 days from your birthday you will benefit from a Lm10 Air Malta Travel Gift Voucher. Furthermore if you book your accommodation through Flyaway Tours you automatically benefit from another Lm10 Malta travel gift voucher. Further celebrate your birthday by savouring the exquisite cuisine at any of the Hilton Malta's award winning restaurants and get a 15 per cent discount on your bill valid for one month after your birthday.

"Air Malta's objective is to position itself as a Value Focused Airline and we strongly believe that these co-marketing initiatives give our passengers an enhanced travel offer which is unique in the local travel market." commented Joe Cappello, Chief Executive Officer.

More information can be obtained by calling +356 21 66 22 11, Air Malta sales offices, or by visiting Air Malta's website www.airmalta.com. Certain conditions may apply.

Air Malta Extends its Winter Seat Sale Offer

2007-02-06T04:38:00.000-08:00

Air Malta has announced that it will be extending its Winter Seat Sale offer up to February 28, 2007. This offer is a continuation of Air Malta's sale campaigns 'Spread Your Arms and Fly' and 'Spread Your Arms and Fly Too' which also have generated excellent results.

"Through the extension of the Winter Seat Sale, Air Malta is once again presenting an unbeatable travel opportunity to both the Maltese and to incoming tourists by offering low fares without having to compromise on a high-quality full service treatment." commented Brian Bartolo, Air Malta's General Manager Marketing and Product.

On its flights, Air Malta offers an enhanced level of in-flight service including free audio visual programming, the popular inflight magazine - Skylife; free newspapers and a complementary drink (including wine or beer). Air Malta operates to main European gateways, thus passengers will avoid costly land transportation expenses. Air Malta allows passengers the possibility to pool 20kgs and 30kgs free baggage allowance for Economy Class and Club Class passengers respectively.

The airline also boasts of a young fleet, which by next year will have an average age of 2.5 years and will be one of the youngest fleets in Europe and throughout the world.

This fantastic sale is being offered to/from the following destinations: Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Dublin, Dusseldorf, East Midlands, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Hamburg, Istanbul, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Newcastle, Oslo, Paris, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm, Vienna and Zurich.

More information can be obtained by visiting: http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=266984&pid=1

Missing Christmas Flight Mystery For Malta

2007-01-30T03:08:00.000-08:00

A flight from London to Malta that didn't depart on December 26 has set alarm bells ringing on the holiday island of Malta.

The flight operator, well known and popular airline Ryanair, claims no flight was scheduled, while one newspaper said they had a photograph showing a departure board with 'cancelled' next to the flight number.

The Malta tourist industry pushed for low cost airlines to be allowed to operate to the island in the hope of arresting the recent decline in visitor numbers, and agreement was reached with Ryanair, with the inaugural flight from Luton in November.

With a projected 80,000 to 100,000 extra tourists a year, the arrival of new flights to Malta has been warmly welcomed and seen by many as the saviour of the holidays and hotel industry, with a knock on effect for the property for sale industry to overseas buyers.

The exisiting carriers, including the national airline Air Malta, have responded with offers of their own, and the price of flying to Malta has come down significantly in the last few months.

But what looks like a cancelled flight due to a lack of passengers has sounded alarm bells on the holiday island.

'The Malta hotels and holiday industry was looking forward to the year ahead with a sense of optimism', comment local travel guide www.yourmalta.com, 'The extra tourists being brought in by Ryanair is a major boost for the island's economy.

But if a flight has been cancelled just weeks after their service started we just have to hope that it's not a sign for the future, and projected arrival numbers haven't been wildly over estimated. Hopefully there wasn't a flight scheduled at all rather than being cancelled.'

Snooker: Malta Cup Block Tickets are Now on Sale

2007-01-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

As already announced the Malta Cup 2007, the third in the series, is being held at the Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso, between Sunday 28 January and Sunday 4 February.

This will be a significant edition as it will represent the 200th World Ranking Tournament sanctioned by World Snooker over the past thirty-years.

Block tickets for this 32-man eight-day tournament will go on sale as from Monday 8th January for Lm35 each and will be available from Café Veneziana in Melita Street, Valletta and from Kids’ Korner in High Street, Hamrun.

The Malta Cup 2007 comprising 36 matches will be the fourth world ranking on this year’s Main Tour calendar which so far has produced three different winners - Ding Junhui (The Northern Ireland Trophy), Neil Robertson (The Grand Prix), and Peter Ebdon (The UK Championship).

Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty winners of the first two editions will definitely be trying to win again the title but with an array of snooker celebrities, all eager to make this 200th ‘Ranking’ their special victory, a daring challenge is expected.

Meanwhile online sales for block and day tickets, which had a most positive response, will still be available through the Tournament’s website www.maltacup.org. A spokesman for Snooker Promotions confirmed that 50% of block tickets allocations have already been sold ‘online’ mainly to overseas snooker fans who will be travelling to Malta for the event.

The Malta Cup is organised by Snooker Promotions (Malta) and sanctioned by World Snooker, while the Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Hilton Malta and Vodafone Malta are the Event’s main local sponsors.

Malta Hotels And Holidays Hope To Rise Again 2007

2006-12-20T03:52:00.000-08:00

Hotel and holiday bookings have been in decline on the Mediterranean island of Malta, but the hope is that 2007 will see new life breathed into her hotel and holidays industry.The Malta hotels and holiday industry are major players in the island's economy, and with unemployment already high, a further drop in the number of visitors next year could have a negative impact not just in tourism but for Malta as a whole.

Throughout the year the monthly statistics for the number of tourists visiting Malta have made depressing reading for the Malta hotels, and the next twelve months will be pivotal as to whether the island can stay in the mainstream of holiday destinations, or be relegated to niche travel status.The island was rife with rumours earlier in the year that a UK tour operator was going to withdraw the island from their 2007 brochures, and a survey in the island's biggest market showed that Malta would be more expensive for British tourists than the Canary and Balearic Islands for equivalent holidays next year.

But more recent news has brought hope to the holidays in Malta market that 2007 will see an arrest in the decline of visitor numbers seen this year, with MyTravel surprising the holidays in Malta market by announcing an increase in the number of winter visitors it will be taking from the UK to Malta. But the most positive news has come from low cost carrier RyanAir, who have started cheap flights to Malta from London and Dublin. Between announcing the Dublin and London routes and the maiden flight to Malta, Ryanair sold 30,000 tickets. And the new competition has spurred Air Malta, the island's national airline, to make offers of its own. A successful campaign saw two tickets a minute being sold recently.

'This is all good news,' say Malta hotels and holidays guide http://www.yourmalta.com, 'Earlier in the year it looked like there was only one way that the visitor figures for Malta were going for the future, and that was in a continuing downward spiral.' At one stage earlier in the year there were real doubts cast upon whether the Malta Government would approve the new low cost flights at all. Air Malta is a major employer and some in the tourist sector felt that too much of a protectionist attitude was being taken at the expense of a possible upswing in new visitors. 'Unfortunately,' continue YourMalta, 'The Malta Tourist Authority and The Malta government seem to to make life as difficult as possible for the island's hotel owners and those involved in the holiday industry. A privately run company like Ryanair will achieve more and bring more money on to the island than the Tourist Authority can ever dream of. And Ryanair will probably make a profit out of it while the Tourist Authority is using taxpayers money. We're just waiting for the first set of figures where tourism has risen, and for the Malta Tourist Authority to claim part or all of the credit. In reality if tourist figures do rise it's despite the Tourist Authority, and not because of it'.

Speaking on a visit to Malta recently, Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary declared himself pleased with their new Luton route, and predicted that their Dublin route, due to start operating in February, would be even more successful. He believes that Ryanair could take some 85,000 visitors to the island in 2007.
'If Ryanair do deliver 85,000 visitors to Malta in 2007 it will stop the perpetual decline in overall tourist numbers,' say YourMalta, 'It depends of course on whether a large number will be new visitors or simply those who would have visited Malta anyway. We believe the likelihood is that a good deal of the 85,000 will be new visitors who hadn't considered a Malta holiday before. With Air Malta fighting back and having successful promotions too there is every reason to feel confident that 2007 will prove to be a good year for Malta tourism. Hopefully it will prove to be a turning point and not a delay in the downward spiral of the last few years'.

The real estate industry in Malta also produces a good deal of inward investment for the Malta economy, and increased visitor numbers often correlate to an increase in Malta property prices. According to Tribune Properties, a UK based company who specialise in Malta property for sale, property inflation could be in double digits next year.
'Malta property buyers from overseas start as tourists, and with new tourists arriving next year in increased numbers we do expect this to have some impact on the market overall. The weather in Malta is always a plus point when potential buyers are considering where to buy a holiday home. But ease of access is a critical factor, and with the new flights at reduced prices it makes spending a few long weekends on Malta as well as the traditional week and fortnight holiday a realistic possibility for more people.'
Travel guide YourMalta do offer a cautionary note, urging the Malta authorities to invest in better roads and other infrastructure.

'It's important that holidaymakers want to return to the island in future years, and not just visit once - never to look at a holiday brochure and a map of Malta with good memories and return. The Malta hotels are on a par with the rest of Europe, but if they step outside to dangerous pavements, unclean beaches and a timeshare tout around every corner ready with a high pressure sales pitch they won't return. Hopefully the Malta Tourist Authority will be doing as much as they can ensure a pleasant Malta holiday experience.

Promotion From Air Malta

2006-12-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

Air Malta will give up to a 50 per cent discount on the price of excess baggage that is pre-purchased with every flight ticket or at least purchased three days prior to departure. The offers applies to all destinations this winter.

“This is good news for our customers travelling this Christmas and who want to shop that little bit extra,” said Brian Bartolo, Air Malta’s general manager Marketing and Product. “Air Malta is giving its passengers peace of mind this season while shopping abroad. Air Malta still has its standard 30 kgs free poolable allowance for Club Class passengers and 20 kgs free poolable weight for Economy Class passengers. This promotion will be an added bonus,” continued Bartolo.

This offer is valid until 21 January and certain conditions may apply. More information can be obtained by calling 21 66 22 11, Air Malta sales offices, travel agents or by visiting Air Malta’s website www.airmalta.com.

Malta Ranks as One of Safest Locations in World

2006-12-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Malta has ranked as one of the top five locations for safety in the world, according to American travel writer Laura McKenzie. In her report Ms McKenzie said 'In Malta there is no such thing as a dark and uninviting alley, while the police force is one of the oldest in the world'.

The report also praises Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland and Singapore as safe destinations. Commenting on the report, local travel guide YourMalta said it was not surprised that Malta reached Ms. Mckenzie's top five safest locations.

'Malta has her problems with the state of the roads and some other infrastructure, but when it comes to the people it's doubtful if you will find a friendlier more helpful island in the Mediterranean.

This report from Ms. McKenzie has come at around the same time as another survey showing that Malta is one of the best places in the world for retiring to. The Malta people and weather make for a great combination', said YourMalta.

The report comes at a worrying time for the Malta holiday industry, according to the travel guide which noted that the number of tourists visiting Malta this year is down on previous years.

However the travel guide also noted the introduction of low cost airlines giving hope to the Malta hotel and holiday industry to see the decline reversed next year.

Malta Cruises To New Tourist Record

2006-12-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

Good news for the holiday island of Malta is coming in droves recently, following a period of decline in visitor numbers.

Commenting upon the findings, local travel guide http://www.yourmalta.com say that while the spending per passenger while in Malta is small compared to holidaymakers, it's an important contribution to the island's economy'

'The spend is estimated at around US $10,000,000. And while this represents an average spend of around $40 a passenger, and holidaymakers spend considerably more, an important factor is that over 80 per cent of passengers would consider stopping at Malta again, and potentially that's a good number who would consider a land based holiday in the future.'

The good news for Malta doesn't stop at increased numbers of cruise passengers, as low cost airlines have recently started flying to the island.

'It's been a while since we've been able to say this,' comment YourMalta, 'but there are exciting times ahead for the Malta holiday industry. As well as the good news on passenger numbers from cruise ships, low cost airlines have started flying in passengers and it should boost the number of new tourists quite significantly in 2007.'

The turnaround in the Malta tourist indusry's fortunes has come just in time according to some travel experts.

Hotel and holiday numbers have been declining consistently, and at one stage rumours were circulating on the island that one of the major UK travel companies were about to withdraw Malta from their 2007 brochures, with the worry that if others followed suit Malta would be relegated from mainstream to niche travel status.

The pessimism of 2006 has been replaced by optimism for 2007 as new low cost airlines have already started delivering passengers to the island, with some estimates suggesting that close to 100,000 visitors extra is on the cards for the year ahead.

Mixed Fortunes

'There is a possibility', comment YourMalta, 'That the introduction of the low cost airlines flying to Malta will merely delay the long term decline of the island's tourist industry. Unless money is spent on the infrastructure and improving the environment for the tourists generally there is a danger that a lot of visitors will be one-off. If there's a lesson to be learned in Malta that the government and her agencies have failed to grasp it is that sustainable tourism is built on repeat visitors. At the moment a lot of visitors from the UK see Malta as a one-off trip'.

As well as Ryanair, it was hoped that easyjet would also start services to Malta, but the latest reports are that talks have failed to produce an agreement. Brighter news has come from the island's flag carrier, Air Malta though.

As well as at one stage selling two tickets a minute in a recent promotion the airline is starting a new service from Liverpool next year.

The property market will also be keeping a close eye on tourist numbers now that the new flights have been given the green light. If visitor numbers do drop in the medium term it could be good news for locals looking to buy their first property.

There has been some discontent on the island about the rising prices of property in Malta, and with less overseas buyers the possibility of prices falling and more islanders being able to get on the property ladder could be welcome news, as today's tourist is often tomorrow's property buyer.

But now that low cost airlines are going to start offering flights to Malta, this could help the Malta hotels and holiday market as more people consider three and four day breaks instead of the traditional week or fortnight, boosting the overall number of visitors, especially if Air Malta and the low cost airlines bring the cost of Malta flights to levels seen for the Spanish islands.

Malta has traditionally seen the majority of her visitors from the UK, but this could be changing to a more diverse mix in future years.

Last year saw a record number of visitors from Italy, and increased enquiries have been received at estate agents across the island from Scandanvia, Holland, France and Belgium, helping to increase the demand for Malta properties.

Malta Taking Part in Mediterranean Cycle Route Network Project

2006-12-11T03:49:00.000-08:00

The Ministry for Urban Development and Roads (MUDR) has embarked on a project dealing with the study of a cycle route network in the Southeast Mediterranean countries, the results of which are expected to include the promotion of urban mobility and cycle tourism.

The Ministry is working with seven other partners on this project - four partners from Italy, two from Greece and another from Cyprus - which is expected to cost around €1.2million. The cost for Malta will be around €95,000, of which around €70,000 will be financed by the European Union Community Initiative Interreg III.

The expected contribution of the MUDR is the identification and feasibility study of an integrated cycle-route network in Malta and the elaboration and publication of a technical manual for the construction of the cycle-route network in the Archimed area.

Besides the promotion of urban mobility and cycle tourism, the results of the project are also expected to foster international cooperation, dialogue and the exchange of experience among the participating authorities to harmonise standards in the cycling infrastructures.

Shopping Treat When Travelling on Air Malta this Christmas

2006-12-04T08:46:00.001-08:00

Air Malta has launched up to 50 per cent discount off the price of excess baggage that is pre-purchased with every flight ticket or at least purchased three days prior to departure. The offers applies to all destinations this winter.

'This is good news for our customers travelling this Christmas and who want to shop that little bit extra,' said Brian Bartolo, Air Malta's general manager marketing and product.

'Air Malta is giving its passengers peace of mind this season while shopping abroad. Air Malta will still offer its standard 30 kgs free poolable allowance for Club Class passengers and 20 kgs free poolable weight for Economy Class passengers and this promotion will be an added bonus,' continued Bartolo.

This offer is valid until 21 January 2007 and certain conditions may apply.

For more information visit Malta's website: www.airmalta.com

Maltese Marine Park Project

2006-11-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

An underwater marine park for divers, enclosed in a netted area the size of a football pitch, may be constructed off the coast of Malta if plans are approved by the government.

A group of investors who includes a fish farm operator, a hotelier and members of the diving community, said the proposed Marine Adventure Park would have two fish-farm-style netted enclosures, one 30m deep and one at 8m.

Situated one kilometre off Ras il-Griebeg, outside Mellieha Bay, the park would feature a selection of captive marine life and artificial reef structures, including a copy of a Roman shipwreck and a megalithic temple.

Fish will either be hand-fed or fed from permanent feeding stations, according to a Marine Adventure Park project spokesperson. 'Coming face to face with these creatures of the deep is becoming a very rare encounter.'

'In the Atlantis enclosure, sunfish, rays, groupers, sea hounds, dogfish, angel shark, tuna and other pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish will be on the list of attractions.'

A sandy area with isolated patches of sea grass has been chosen as a possible location for the large netted enclosures. The Malta Marine Foundation, an organisation formed by the Maltese diving community, is supporting the project. A full development plan has been submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Air Malta Launches Two New Routes - Liverpool and Venice

2006-11-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday, 29 October, 2006

As from May 2007 Air Malta will be adding two new destinations to its scheduled services; Liverpool and Venice. To celebrate this launch Air Malta will be offering both destinations with full service treatment at a low-cost price starting from Lm20 one-way (excluding taxes). This introductory offer is also being offered to incoming tourists with prices starting from GBP 31 and Euro 45 one-way (excluding taxes).

Commenting on these new destinations Brian Bartolo, General Manager Marketing & Product said, 'This is more good news for the local tourism industry in that we estimate to attract to Malta 25,000 additional tourists from these two areas. This is also more good news for our Maltese customers who will now have the opportunity to visit two new exciting destinations next summer. Since both flights will be operated every Friday and Monday we expect that this offer will entice both tourists and Maltese travelling for weekend breaks.'

Air Malta's twice weekly flight to Liverpool and Venice will commence on May 4th. The Monday flight KM156/7 to Liverpool will depart Malta International Airport at 7am arriving in Liverpool at 9.35am. The return flight, Liverpool - Malta, departs Liverpool at 10.25am arriving in Malta at 2.55pm. Friday's flight departs Malta at 4.45pm arriving in Liverpool at 7.20pm. The return flight Liverpool - Malta departs Liverpool at 8.10pm arriving in Malta at 12.40am.

Flight KM656/7 to Venice will depart every Monday from Malta at 6am arriving at 7.50am. The return flight to Malta will depart Venice at 8.40am arriving at 10.35am. The Friday flight will depart Malta International Airport at 11am arriving in Venice at 12.50pm. The return flight departs Venice at 1.40pm arriving in Malta at 3.35pm.

Liverpool and Venice both have a myriad of attractions to offer to the Maltese travelling public. Whether its art and culture, shopping sprees or sport, one is spoilt for choice in Liverpool. The city boasts of two Cathedrals, the Anglican Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which are major attractions in their own right. Liverpool is also the birthplace of not only the Beatles, but also of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Echo and the Bunnymen and Atomic Kitten.

One can visit the Magical Mystery Tour, the Beatles Story and Cavern. Liverpool also boasts of two Premiership football teams, Everton and Liverpool, where one can tour both stadia for a behind-the-scenes view of the beautiful game's venues.

Venice, on the other hand, stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The city is renowned for its water canals including the Grand Canal - Venice's main water thoroughfare, which is lined with great Renaissance palaces and is a colorful and busy spectacle of gondolas and vaporetti.

Other attraction include the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Venice's most impressive secular building, Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), with its blending architectural styles of East and West. Last but not least is Venice's magnificent Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) which is undoubtedly the most photographed and famous plaza in Europe.

The National Museum of Archaeology

2006-10-30T05:29:00.000-08:00

The more important collections covering Maltese archaeology are housed in the Auberge de Provence, Valletta, one of the Inns of the Knights of St John. Collections of prehistoric pottery, sculpture, statuettes, stone implements and personal ornaments recovered from the Maltese megalithic temples and other pre-historic sites are exhibited.

Typical examples of tomb furniture of the Punic and Roman periods are also displayed. After two years of refurbishment, the Museum now boasts new prehistoric galleries. In addition to these galleries, the Museum will eventually have floors dedicated to the Bronze, Punic, Roman, Byzantine, Baroque and modern ages.

Stopover in Dubai

2006-10-24T03:33:00.000-07:00

Tue, October 17, 2006

Maltese travellers can enjoy a stopover in Dubai with Emirates at prices starting from Lm25 per person per night sharing a double room.

The Dubai Stopover product features a hotel and sightseeing package marketed by the airline. These packages are valid from November 1 until October 31, 2007 where passengers get to choose from a range of 53 hotels and apartments, in the city and on the beach. The price includes buffet breakfast, a 96-hour visa, hotel transfers and personalised meet-and-assist upon arrival at Dubai International Airport.

The packages are available to all Emirates passengers, regardless of class of travel, via Emirates' sales offices or travel agents.

One of the add-ons for customers is the Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack, which includes the Arabian Adventures Privilege discount card offering discounts at retail and entertainment outlets in Dubai.

For more information call 01922 700007 or log onto the website at cooptravel.co.uk

New Service to Malta to Commence from JLA

2006-10-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

09 Oct 2006

Air Malta, Malta's National Airline, has recently announced the introduction of a brand new service from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, starting in May 2007. Air Malta will operate two scheduled flights a week to Malta International Airport every Monday and Friday. To celebrate this launch, Air Malta will be offering a full service treatment at a low-cost price of 31.00 one-way (excluding taxes).

Reservations and ticketing for this offer are available from 10th October to 10th November 2006. Certain conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Vic Brodrick, Peel Airports Group Commercial Director, commented: 'We're delighted with the new link between Liverpool and Malta. Malta is situated in a beautiful part of the Mediterranean Sea and boasts a wealth of history, culture and attractions. This new route will provide more in the way of choice for our passengers and enable them to see for themselves what Malta has to offer. We look forward to working with Air Malta and wish the service every success.'

Brian Bartolo, General Manager Marketing & Product, Air Malta added, 'Flights will be operated every Monday and Friday and we expect that this service will entice North West tourists travelling on weekend breaks and provide Maltese passengers with the opportunity to visit the European Capital of Culture 2008.'

Situated in the Mediterranean Sea between the coast of Sicily and North Africa, Malta has a great sunshine record, a wide variety of places to visit and things to do. There is a great choice of bays, harbours and historical sights to explore and join in traditional 'festas' which take place all over the island during the summer months. Malta's locally-made goods are also worth a look particularly the glassware, lace, silver and gold.

Malta Included in Top 5 Safest World Locations

2006-10-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

In a recent report by a travel expert, Malta is viewed as one of the safest locations in the world.

Malta ranks as one of the top five locations for safety in the world, according to American travel writer Laura McKenzie. In her report Ms McKenzie says of the Mediterranean holiday island 'In Malta there is no such thing as a dark and uninviting alley, while the police force is one of the oldest in the world'.

The report also praises New Zealand, Switzerland and Singapore as safe destinations. Top was Monaco, with one police officer for every one hundred residents, and 24 hour cctv coverage of the entire principality. Commenting on the report, local travel guide YourMalta.com were not surprised that Malta reached Ms Mckenzie's top five safest locations, nor that Monaco was top.'

Malta has her problems with the state of the roads and some other infrastructure, but when it comes to the people it's doubtful if you will find a friendlier more helpful island in the Mediterranean. This report from Ms McKenzie has come at around the same time as another survey showing that Malta is one of the best places in the world for retiring to. The Malta people and weather make for a great combination'.

Commenting on Monaco, who just beat Malta to top spot for safe destinations, YourMalta say that the reasons for moving to Malta and Monaco are very different. 'Monaco is for millionaires and billionaires, who often choose to live there because of the zero income tax. Malta is a low tax island and has her share of millionaires, but Monaco needs the security and does it well because it's what the wealthy expect - and they get it'.

Air Malta Launches Cut-Price Flights Offer

2006-09-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Air Malta yesterday announced it is offering flights to 33 destinations for Lm15 each way, excluding taxes and charges, for the winter.

The offer, called Spread Your Arms and Fly, will enable people to fly at a lower cost to countries in Europe, North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

Air Malta marketing and product general manager Brian Bartolo said that since the airline operates to main European gateways, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, the offer is expected to entice more people to travel in winter.

Air Malta's offer comes hard on the heels of major low-cost carrier Ryanair's announcement that it would start flying to Malta next month.

But Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said Air Malta's offer had nothing to do with the arrival of the low-cost airline, but was part of its overall strategy.

He said Air Malta had been offering low-cost options on certain routes for some time and the new initiative covered many more routes than the three being taken up by Ryanair.
However, Dr Zammit Dimech said the arrival of low-cost airlines was an opportunity for Air Malta and not a threat.

Asked whether it was time for Government to review the airport taxes and charges - which are still high - he said Government had already indicated in the pre-Budget document that it would revise the Lm20 airport departure tax. He pointed out that since this was not paid by tourists coming to Malta, it would not have an effect on tourism.

The airline said that a substantial number of seats for travel between November and March would be on offer at the reduced prices. Tickets must be purchased by October 16 and the offer is subject to conditions.

Ryanair announces first routes from Malta, its 24th country of operation

2006-09-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

Ryanair, Europe's leading low fares airline, today (Thursday, 7th September 2006), announced the commencement of three new routes to Malta International Airport from London Luton, Pisa and Dublin. These routes are a direct response to the Maltese Government's initiative to attract low fare airlines to the island. The Government has accepted in full Ryanair's proposals and the airline is now confirming the commencement dates and frequency of these services.
Ryanair, on a year round basis, will fly a daily service from London Luton starting on the 31st October 2006, a three times weekly service from Pisa starting on the 31st October 2006 and a three times weekly service from Dublin, which commences on the 9th February 2007.
Commenting on the announcement of the new routes, Ryanair's Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley said:
"Ryanair is delighted to announce these new routes to Malta, which we hope will be the commencement of a long and growing relationship with the island. The Government has shown courage and initiative in inviting proposals from low cost airlines and we are delighted to have succeeded with our plans for these three new routes. We believe this will reverse the decline in Maltese tourism. As an island economy with over 20% of its GNP dependant on tourism, low cost access is crucial and the Maltese Government has taken the first tentative steps towards a major breakthrough in this regard.
"Ryanair will carry over 200,000 passengers in the first year on these three routes with over 110,000 passengers expected on the London Luton routes, 47,000 each from Pisa and Dublin. We expect to carry over 85,000 tourists into the country bringing total revenue of in excess of 36m euros in related spend, resulting in the creation of 300 new jobs directly and indirectly at Malta International Airport. These passengers will save over 20m euros as against the average fares charged by high fare airlines to and from the island.
"Our fares will undercut those of the existing high fare operators by up to 90% (net of taxes and charges) and we will immediately include all these routes in our existing free seat sale in, which over 4 million seats are made available for flying from October to March at zero fares with the passengers having to pay just the taxes and charges".

Mosta Dome Malta

2006-07-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

On April 9th 1942 a bomb hit the Dome of Mosta Church, there were over 300 people inside the church when it hit at around 4.40. The bomb never exploded but the pressure caused the debris inside to fall on the people. The Royal Engineers bomb disposal squad defused the bomb and it is now kept inside the church and can be visited by anybody.

Malta Information Fact File

2006-07-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Malta National Anthem: L-Innu Malti

Capital City: Valletta

Largest City: Birkirkara

Official Language: Maltese, English

Government: Republic

President of Malta: Edward Fenech Adami

Prime Minister: Lawrence Gonzi

Independence from United Kingdom: September 21st, 1964

Accession to EU: May 1st 2004

Area total: 315 km Squared
121 Square Miles

Area Water: 0.001%

Population Novermber 2005: 404, 039

Density: 1,282/km Squared
3,339 Square Miles

GDP Total: $7.574 Billion

Currency: Maltese Lira

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Calling Code: +356

Popeye Brings Movie Magic to Malta

2006-07-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Popeye was created by Elzie Crisler Segar who passed away at the young age of 44 in 1938. The story was about Popeye, he was deserted as a child so ventured to find his father in a little village called Sweethaven, on his quest along with olive oyl they find an abandoned baby called Swee'pe who draws the couple closer together. The set was built with imported materials such as tree trunks from Holland and wood shingles from Canada. The construction crew consisted of 165 members. The set was built in 1979 in Anchor Bay it is also known as 'Popeye Village'. Filming began on 23rd of January 1980. The final shoot was done on 19th June 1980.

Directors and Cast

Director - Robert Altman
Producer - Robert Evans
Story Writer - Jules Fieffer
Film Company - Lions Gate
Distributors - Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney
Popeye - Robin Williams
Olive Oyl - Shelly Duvall
Bluto - Paul L.Smith
Wimpy - Paul Dooley
Sweetpea - Wesley Ivan Hurt

To experience Popeye Village for yourself why not visit one of their theme nights.

Weather in Malta

2006-07-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

The best time to go to Malta is during the main summer season June, July and August as the temperature reaches 31 degrees and sea temperature is also at its highest at around 25 degrees. The sun is out for 11 - 12 hours in the day and there is very little rain fall.

The sea influences how the climate changes, in summer there are cool sea breezes but in spring and autumn a hot wind from Africa creates a high temperature and humidity. The summer are hot and dry and very sunny so use a lot of sun tan lotion. Winters are hot with few chilly periods.

Comino Guide

2006-07-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

Comino is a more laid back island, located between Gozo and Malta. The sea is made up of a range of blues and greens which creates a beautiful turquoise colour. There is nothing on the island that relates to busy working days in cities or towns such as buses, cars, crazy kids on scooters and crowds of people pushing and rushing each other. Everything is peaceful and no one rushes. This is a place you go to to reflect and relax.

Gozo Overview

2006-07-18T03:59:00.000-07:00

Gozo is a tiny island off the coast of Malta which can be reached on a 20 minute ferry ride and is much quieter than neighbouring Malta. It's built up of little fishing villages, churches and rock and sand beaches. You can visit the capital city Victoria where you can see the ancient Citadel, just a short drive from any accommodation on the island as all roads in Gozo seem to lead to Victoria, you should consider hiring a car as it's not to be missed.

Diving In Malta

2006-07-18T03:29:00.000-07:00

Malta has some amazing sites in the Mediterranean, either beginners or experienced divers are offered the same joys of cave diving or open water diving. There are many sites to be explored such as harbors, bays, reefs and wrecks but you wont be diving alone - there are groupers, gunards, flying fish and coral to name but a few.

Our recommendations for top sites are:

The Blenheim Bomber - Aircraft wreck in Xrobb il - Ghagin at the depth of 42m.
The Dive - Aircraft Wreck with wings and engines intact.
Ahrax Point - Reef rich In Marine Life or a large cave located North East of Malta.
Anchor Bay - 28m down is a cave with red algae.
Cirkewwa - North of the Island near Gozo Channel, there are numerous caves that are very popular with photographers.
Marsascala Bay - This is a newly located dive site yet to be discovered by divers, be the first.

About Malta

2006-07-18T02:47:00.000-07:00

Malta is said to be the 'open air museum of the med', there is more than 7000 years of history with sites that are dated back even before Stonehenge and The Pyramids of Egypt.

Maltas main island covers 95 square miles, the sandy beaches and secluded bays are what makes it a popular holiday destination not to mention the clear blue waters.

Gozo known as the 'little sister island' holds summertime festivals with fireworks. Gozo is packed with cafes and restaurants so when your feeling peckish there's always somewhere to relax after all that sightseeing.

The Maltese islands lie 60 miles south of Sicily and 160 miles north of Libya which makes the island a crossroads for travelers.

Getting Around in Malta

2006-07-18T01:20:00.000-07:00

Traveling in Malta can be done in many different ways such as

Buses:
The Buses are brightly coloured and cover the whole of the island.
Car Hire:
Car Hire is good value for money as you can visit all the attractions but its recommended that you don't drive until you develop a better understanding of how the Maltese drive as they have a unique style, also a lot of roads are in a very poor condition and need repairing. Gozo on the other hand is more relaxed so it would be safe to drive there.
Horse Drawn carriage:
The Horse Drawn carriage offers a chance to visit all different historical sites around the island.
Channel Ferry:
The Channel Ferry is a great way to jump from island to island, it carries people and cars so when you get across you can continue driving on another island. The trip takes around 30 minutes.
Harbour Cruise or Tour:
The Harbour Cruise or Tour gives you chance to see areas of each Maltese island.