| The trees have lost their leaves, it's raining, the rare | | | | winter. The cost of living is reasonable, I've gone |
| winter sunshine has to fight through grey skies and | | | | there many a time on a scarily small budget and |
| you've well and truly got the winter blues. Life | | | | returned home happy and with money to spare. |
| doesn't have to be dreary I've found - not when I | | | | What I love about Malta most are the welcoming |
| can take winter holidays in Malta. | | | | Maltese people. Ever so friendly and helpful, I've been |
| Malta is a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, | | | | treated like an old friend almost from the first. I |
| close to Sicily and only 15 miles in length. Small in size | | | | haven't found it unusual to be befriended and taken |
| but big in character, the Maltese Islands of Malta and | | | | about the island or invited into Maltese homes. I've |
| Gozo are great places to visit all year round. | | | | even been offered free accommodation for my next |
| The climate in winter is one of the best in the | | | | visit from friendly islanders. Be careful though ladies - |
| Mediterranean, mild with some rain but a decent | | | | the hot Maltese men do like to flirt!! |
| amount of sunshine and during the summer the island | | | | During the winter the best places to stay are the |
| is hot and dry. So dry that Malta has an almost | | | | towns of Sliema and St Julians because they are |
| desert like appearance but visit in the winter and you | | | | busier and livelier out of season. I like St Julians |
| will find a contrasting beautiful greener island with wild | | | | because of the nightlife, but Sliema is better for |
| flowers in full bloom. It's warm enough in the winter | | | | shopping and you can get the ferry to the capital |
| to be able to wear summer clothing during the day | | | | Valetta from there. As they are not far from each |
| but don't forget to pack some woollens and a coat | | | | other and it's a nice refreshing walk along the |
| for the cooler evenings. Sun tan lotion will also be | | | | coastline it doesn't matter that much to me where I |
| needed but you don't have to worry about | | | | locate myself. |
| mosquitoes in the winter. | | | | You will find accommodation suitable for all pockets - |
| Malta isn't an expensive holiday destination and prices | | | | 5 star hotels, villas, guest houses, self catering |
| are very comparable with other Mediterranean | | | | apartments and even an all inclusive in Sliema. I've |
| destinations. As with other resorts if you take a | | | | mostly stayed in self catering apartments because I |
| vacation in Malta over Christmas and the New Year | | | | like to do my own thing. Wherever I've stayed the |
| expect to pay premium rates for that 2 week period | | | | accommodation has been clean, comfortable and |
| and off season rates throughout the rest of the | | | | problem free. |