Malta

Some travel analysts suggest that Malta’s holiday industry was saved by the entry into the market of budget airlines, turning a worsening position just a few years ago to an island that has a vibrant tourism sector.

With higher airfares than competitors in the Mediterranean the number of holidays to Malta had been declining for some years, but eventually the authorities gave in to the inevitable and allowed Ryanair to start flights to Malta - and the island hasn’t looked back since.

Other airlines are now flying to the island’s Luqa Airport, including easyJet and bmi, from not just the main UK airports such as Gatwick, but Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle - with good news for holidaymakers in Northern Ireland that easyJet are to start a Belfast service soon.

The net result of the skies opening up to the budget airlines is a wider choice of Malta flights for tourists, with a choice of departure times and airport, and lower airfares.

And while the UK market is the biggest for her tourism industry, more visitors are coming from elsewhere as the airlines have opened new routes to the island from other European cities - diversifying the tourist mix, becoming less dependent on the UK, and increasing the net number of holidaymakers spending money in the hotels, shops and other holiday related businesses.

The new routes include Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Marseille, Seville, Stockholm, Valencia and Venice - allowing Italian, Spanish, French and Swedish people to more readily consider Malta for a holiday destination.

All excellent news for the tourism industry. But it’s not just the lower fares that those taking a holiday are benefitting from, as Malta’s flag carrier is winning awards for excellence, while lowering their own fares to compete with the budget airlines.

In a recent satisfaction survey of passengers by the influential Which? consumer magazine in the UK, Air Malta was voted as one of the best, alongside Swiss Air, while the budget airlines were a lot less successful.

It’s quite a turnaround for the island’s national airline. Given that it’s a small country with a population of just over 400,000 people there were justifiable fears that the airline might go out of business as the low cost carriers cut fares. But Air Malta has not just competed well on fares but provided a service that other - much bigger - airlines cannot match.

Coupled with the good hotels Malta has, the island now appeals not just to those who want a traditional two week holiday in the Mediterranean, but also for those who want to visit for a long weekend. Spa hotels are a big attraction, and some of the Malta hotels have been winning awards for excellence in the last couple of years, all adding to her reputation among tourists in the UK and Europe.

The capital is Valletta, and the main villages where people take a Malta holiday are St Paul’s Bay, Mellieha and St Juilan’s. Mellieha has the best beach and a ot of people who take villas as opposed to staying in a hotel opt to stay here, with the Santa Maria Estate popular.

Another Malta blog is available at maltaproperty.info and often people post their own photographs of the island along with photographs on social media like facebook, myspace and twitter.

If you’re considering a diving holiday for next year, there’s no better place than Malta - and that’s according to the divers themselves.

As The Independent in the UK report:

As I floated through the open hatchway into the engine room, it was almost as if the scene had been frozen in time. The ship’s charts were still in the rack and the phone was on the hook, but seaweed waved gracefully around the wreck, now home to octopus and fireworms.

On the seabed lay some Royal Navy china, smashed into pieces when the Lady Davinia, formerly HMS Greetham, was sunk. As I picked up one piece for a closer look, I was amused to discover it had been made in the Wedgwood factory just 15 minutes from where I grew up. Now 64 years later, it was half-buried in the sand, waiting to be rediscovered.

Just 15 metres above me, the busy cafés of Sliema, on Malta’s east coast near the capital Valletta, were full of tourists relaxing in the sunshine.

The Mediterranean island, along with neighbouring Gozo, was last year voted the best diving destination in Europe by readers of Diver magazine in America, thanks to its clear, warm waters, and more than 30 underwater sites, with reefs, fish, caves and lagoons as well as the numerous wrecks. There’s also a long diving season (from Easter through to November), and plenty of English-speaking instructors, so it’s ideal for beginners from the UK.

It was all a long way from the swimming pool in Waterloo, London, where I’d started my dive training with the London Hellfins Scuba Diving Club. Although you can do the complete course in Malta, I wanted to get the theory lessons and pool training needed for the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) qualification done in the rainy UK, rather than being cooped up in a classroom while the sun shone outside.

The chlorine-scented pool that I’d practised in seemed a world away as I headed to my hotel, the Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa in Mellieha, in the north of Malta.

Mellieha Malta

While the UK froze, the sun was shining on the small hillside town, dominated by its huge baroque church, which is still the focal point of life on the island – although, for younger Maltese, it often seems to be a meeting point to start a night out.

Mellieha is also home to one of the island’s best restaurants: Giuseppi’s Wine Bar. Despite the uninspiring name – and its less-than-obvious entrance on St Helen Street – the seafood and local fish on the menu are spectacular, thanks to local chef Michael Diacono.

Over some Maltese wine, it was time for a quick introduction to the island by dive instructor Dave, who moved here three years ago from Lowestoft, enticed by the laid-back way of life, the year-round sunshine, and the fantastic choice of dive sites. He revealed it’s the wrecks that make Maltese diving so special. And according to Dave, even on the rare occasions when there’s bad weather in Malta, or when the wind makes the sea too rough for diving in one place, there is always a more sheltered option to try less than an hour’s drive away.

The next morning, I shoehorned myself into a short pink wetsuit and some fetching black Neoprene boots as Dave led me into the calm waters of Qawra Bay, just along the coast from Mellieha, for my first ocean dive.

Things got off to a slow start when it turned out I was too light to sink, but, after a brief pause to fill my pockets with lead, I headed slowly down past shelves of seagrass towards the reef – while trying to keep an eye on my oxygen and my dive buddy, look out for landmarks to guide myself, stay balanced without shooting down to the seabed or up to the surface too fast, and still find the time to enjoy the scenery.

Once I’d worked out how to balance these various factors, I relaxed. After spotting a flying gurnard with its stunning iridescent blue markings hidden in the sand, I started to forget the strangeness of being completely surrounded by water.

The sea around Malta is home to grouper, rainbow wrasse and parrot fish, not to mention eels and more elusive barracudas and seahorses. Whether I dived one of the many wrecks or among the rock reefs and soft corals, there was plenty of underwater company, with shoals of brightly coloured fish darting over to investigate this curious bubble-blowing intruder.

With each dive I had more tests to pass, but also more exciting sites to explore. On Manoel Island, a spit of land opposite the capital Valletta, we strode off the sea wall to investigate a bombed barge, the Water Lighter X127.

Valletta Malta

Also known as the Carolita, she was sunk during the Second World War (probably after being mistaken for a submarine), and I could still make out the gaping hole left by the bomb that had finished her off.

The next day we explored the Lady Davinia. I got kitted up on the quayside, much to the amusement of a couple of local fishermen as I waddled to the shore weighed down with tank, lead and unwieldy flippers before vanishing under the waves. And when I emerged from the dive, my fifth, I was a certified Ocean Diver.

After swimming alongside them during the day, it felt almost rude to tuck into fish every evening. But specialities such as octopus carpaccio at harbourside restaurants around the island were too mouth-watering to miss.

Peppino’s in St Julian’s Bay, near Sliema, has tempted celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Madonna and Daniel Craig in the past, while they filmed in Malta (which has doubled as places such as Troy and Lebanon on film).

Meanwhile, in St Paul’s Bay, a short drive from Mellieha, Tarragon Restaurant has already started winning local awards for its modern twist on Malta’s classic favourites, such as black tiger prawns in champagne tempura.

For such a tiny island, there’s plenty to see on dry land. And as I could only safely dive for a couple of hours every day, I did plenty of exploring – when I could drag myself away from the Malta hotels rooftop pool and the hot stone massages of its underground spa.

All roads lead to Valletta, around a half-hour drive from Mellieha. The fortified city, a grid of cobbled streets and steep steps, was built in the 16th century by the Knights of St John – otherwise known as the Knights Hospitaller.

Given the island as their base by a 16th-century king of Spain, and charged with protecting it against the Ottomans, they then built the new walled capital as a fortress to keep out the Turks.

The city is a Unesco World Heritage site, and walking through the streets takes you through centuries of history. Many of the façades of the auberges, the knights’ grand former palaces, are unchanged, and you can visit the Grand Master’s Palace, home to the Maltese government.

Most memorable for me, though, was the former capital of Mdina, the walled fortress in the centre of the island. Unlike Valletta’s wide, planned streets, the twisting alleyways date from around the time of the Arab occupation of the island in the ninth century.

The city is closed to all but residents’ cars. As I ambled to the bastion walls, past the Nunnery of St Benedict and the 700-year-old palazzos and casas of the Maltese nobility, nothing broke the quiet except the echoing clop of horse and carriage.

All too soon, though, it was time for my last dip: at Cirkewwa, in the island’s far north. One of the best beginner sites, the water here is astonishingly clear, and, although I couldn’t stray below 20 metres, the seabed at 36 metres looked temptingly close. One of the string of small underwater caves contained a statue of the Virgin Mary, and there was a natural stone arch in the rocks to swim through.

For information on diving Malta holidays visit yourmalta.com - they also have airlines with details of flights to Malta.

The icnetwork in Wales recently wrote about a vist to the island:

THE British influence on Malta is noticeable in more than the fact that virtually everyone speaks English.

Hidden down a back street of the capital Valletta is a small pub called, simply enough, The Pub.

This is the place where hellraiser (and actor) Oliver Reed enjoyed his final drinking session before collapsing and dying of a heart attack in 1999. An extra line – Ollie’s last pub – has now been added to the sign outside and the venue is a favourite with tourists. It’s definitely worth a visit.

But don’t get the idea this tiny island is just about partying. There are so many places to see.

Malta is blessed, although in the past that could read “cursed”, with a berth in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa. It has been fought over by many nations in its long history. The result is a fascinating land of architectural and cultural variety.

And because it’s so small and easily reachable from Wales, Malta is ideal for a short break. I stayed in the centre of the island, in the fabulous ancient walled city of Mdina – the former capital.

Mdina Malta

With the luxurious Xara Palace hotel as my base, I spent three days whizzing around some of the island’s varied attractions before heading back to the hotel for top quality food and hospitality. And the hotel’s location is perfect.

Perched on a hilltop it forms part of the wall around Mdina. The 17 individually-designed rooms boast dizzying views down and across the island or into Mdina itself.

Malta is a favourite destination for people from the UK looking for warm winters and hot summers, a largely gentle pace of life (if you don’t venture out on the chaotic roads on your own) and some spectacular beaches. Holidays in Malta during the winter are taken by quite a few people.

One of the island’s main attractions is its history. This tempting spot was colonised by the Phoenicians around 1,000BC. They were followed by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, French and finally the British, before Malta became independent in 1964.

All left their mark but the main existing developments date from around the time of the military religious order the Knights of Malta who spent more than a century guarding Christian Europe’s southern borders from invasion by the Ottoman Empire.

They, like me, were based in Mdina, the Silent City. Stepping through the towering walls feels like moving back several centuries in time. Few cars are allowed inside and it is home to a few hundred people who live among the peaceful, ancient alleyways.

No visit to Malta would be complete without visiting Mdina. Outside its walls the rest of the island has moved with the times.

After a visit to the pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk, complete with brightly painted boats and busy market, it was on to the island’s current capital.

Valletta is home to the booming business sector and some sparkling nightlife. The glitzy clubs are concentrated in just a few streets where the beautiful people congregate. There is much talk of Malta becoming a party capital – the new Ibiza. While that might be a way off, I did enjoy a night in Valetta’s Ministry of Sound club where superstar DJ Todd Terry was in residence.

Valletta Malta

Despite its long and eventful history, the city seems youthful and buzzing. But everywhere there is a mix of the old and new.

Incongruously close to Ollie’s last stand is St John’s Co-Cathedral, featuring spectacularly gaudy decoration as well as some gems including The Beheading of John the Baptist by Caravaggio and works by Malta’s own art superstar Mattia Preti.

After spending the days wandering around the island’s attractions, it was a pleasure to return to the Xara Palace. And after a rest on the comfy king-sized bed, it was time for a spectacular meal cooked by chef Kevin Bonello in the rooftop de Mondion restaurant overlooking the bright lights of the island.

The setting was spectacular, the ambience relaxed and the food perfection.

Visit yourmalta.com for a choice of Malta hotels

Malta

The percentage of people who book their holidays and trips away via the internet increases every year, and with ticketless flights, reviews of hotels from previous guests and currency delivered to your home, the impression might be that booking a trip a few days before departure is the norm.

Not for UK tourists, according to research undertaken by leading online travel site Expedia.

In fact, many British people still book their overseas trips months ahead - but then they are the most organised tourists in Europe!

Before the recession, the trend was to book different parts of a holiday with different online travel firms, ensuring each part of the trip was done at the best price - but with some small companies going under Expedia note that more people are booking both flights and hotels at the same time.

And it’s not just the recession that’s caused the shift back to booking with the same company, the recent Icelandic volcano left many travellers stranded while those who had booked with well established tour operators such as Thomson and Thomas Cook were well looked after and alternative ways home organised on their behalf.

And it’s in times like this that tourists realise that cheap isn’t always good - but a resource like Expedia does allow money to be saved while booking all or some parts of a trip with one company.

Take Malta for example. There are plenty of different options for booking holidays in Malta available, and different parts of the trip can be booked seperately - or all with someone like Expedia.

Hotels can be viewed and reviews from people who have stayed there be seen, and a little extra research can be done to see which area might be most suitable. Valletta for history, Mellieha for a good beach for example. Both areas have a wide choice of accommodation and any of the Malta hotels can be booked with the one resource.

Flights are slightly different for the island. In recent years the low cost carriers have started to fly in and out of Malta, and not all of them are represented on travel sites that do the other components of a trip. Search Expedia for example for return flights and it might not bring up Ryanair who were the first budget airline to fly to the island, and provide flights from both Luton and Bournemouth.

So for the cost conscious it might be worth checking their site to see how much their Malta flights are.

But overall booking everything with one company does have its benefits, with hotels, car hire, flights, holidays and travel insurance all possible, and for Malta holidays Expedia is able to offer all these at a good price.

More details about the island are at yourmalta.com and there are other free to use articles

Gran Canaria Blog

There’s a part of Gran Canaria that has become known by holidaymakers visiting the island as ‘Little Venice’ – the village of Puerto de Mogan.

Away from the bigger resorts it’s a haven of tranquility and still has the air of a traditional village, but with the advantage of good modern accommodation with both a hotel and self catering accommodation available.

Puerto de Mogan’s similarity to the Italian city of canals is no accident. The vision of the designers of the beachfront part of the city was to re-create the quaintness of Venice in a Spanish environment.

It’s located on the southwestern coast of Gran Canaria. The island is the second largest most populous in the Canary Island chain. Visitors from Europe, the UK and further afield for its sunshine, beaches, charm and rich culture.

The island is home to over 800,000 residents. It sees well over twice that many annual visitors. Tourism is an important part of the economy.

A majority of tourist activity takes place along the eastern coast of the island. Much of it is centered around the capital city of Las Palmas.

The western side is less populated and concentrated. This is one reason that Puerto de Mogan’s developers decided to adopt an Italian theme. Created by an Italian designer, it’s one that is unique to the island.

Visitors to the beachside downtown area will be hard pressed to find a motor vehicle of any kind. Instead, Puerto de Mogan caters to the pedestrian.

Designers created arched walkways reminiscent of many Italian cities. Visitors can stroll the bricked walkways which link the town’s shops, restaurants and quaint residences and hotels.

The real nod to Venice, though, is the town’s canals. They run through the village and out into the marina area which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

While many of Gran Canaria’s popular resort towns feature modern high-rise buildings. This was another deliberate design choice by town visionaries.

The main hotel sits comfortably in the surroundings, and for those considering a week or two’s holiday it can be booked in the UK via Thomson Holidays or independently.

No buildings exceed two stories tall except for a small handful of older ones. Any modern construction is limited by law to two stories or less. This feature adds to the unique charm of the beach town.

Locals survived for centuries on fishing. The city is still home to many native fishermen. However, most of the economic activity comes from tourism in today’s world.

Daytrippers tend to stick to the waterfront area of the city. Tourists who want to stay for a spell and spend a little bit less money can venture further inland. Away from the pricey, tourist driven restaurants and boutiques, visitors can find more authentic cuisine and homier accommodation.

The village is family friendly, with activities for people of all ages. For swimming and sunbathing it’s fairly sheltered, so the water is warm and currents are gentle, helped by the good Gran Canaria weather.

Other popular water activities include snorkelling, boating and jet skiing, as well as surfing if you venture a bit further out.

Puerto de Mogan is widely well known for her Friday market. The open air market draws hundreds of locals as well as tourists every week. Shoppers can find just about anything, from hand made clothing to native produce, fresh fish, and locally made craft and gift items.

A visit to to see Puerto de Mogan is well worthwhile if you’re not staying there during Gran Canaria holidays - most of the coastal towns are connected by a highway.

Some of the eastern towns are even connected by ferry for ease of travel. It’s time well-spent, whether it’s a day trip or a longer stay.

For a Gran Canaria map visit yourgrancanaria.net

Comments from people who have been to the island are often posted on social network sites such as mixx

ThisisBristol visited the island recently, and had this to say:

The Mediterranean is never far away wherever you are on Malta, which is just 20 miles long and 12 miles wide. The surrounding clear blue waters of the Med enhance the charm of the island – and that of its near neighbour, Gozo – and have enriched its history.

Arabs, Ottomans, French, British – all have come over the centuries, leaving aspects of themselves in what, nowadays, is a small but proud and forward-looking independent state.

For the modern-day tourist, it teases the curiosity, as you seek to piece together the jigsaw of which foreign visitor of years gone by influenced what can be seen today.

Malta’s setting, at the heart of the Mediterranean, is what has proved the magnet for the invaders of the past and the recreational visitors of the present.

Just over three hours away by Ryanair from Bristol Airport, Malta has long been a destination for holidaying Brits, unsurprisingly, in view of the close links between the countries. Flights to Malta are available with most regional airports.

Indeed, Malta’s flag bears an image of the George Cross awarded to the islanders by Britain for their fortitude in withstanding Nazi bombardment during World War II.

That sense of a country under siege permeates the history of the strategically significant island, although it is now a fully-fledged member of the European Union, with the euro adopted two years ago as its currency. Consensus has superseded confrontation in the forging of economic alliance.

Relax at a Maltese resort or visit its historical sites – everywhere is within easy reach. Gozo is also just 20 minutes away by ferry.

You can absorb some of what Malta is about by sitting at a street-side cafe in the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Gazing out at the vividly painted, multi-coloured fishing boats – known locally as luzzo and kajjik – bobbing about on the water starts to form an impression of the role the Mediterranean plays in Maltese life.

Marsaxlokk Malta

The catch of the day is sold at a fish market in the village.

You can get up close and personal with the Med in a small outboard motor-powered boat at Wied iz-Zurrieq’s Blue Grotto, pretty much a must-see, as the craft meanders between the striking rock formations, at one moment in semi-darkness before re-emerging into glorious warm sunshine from a cloudless sky.

Close by are the ancient temple structures of Hagar Qim and Mnadjra, sited against the inevitable backdrop of the Mediterranean.

A good way to learn what has shaped Malta is to watch an audio-visual history in The Malta Experience, next to Fort St Elmo, in Valetta, the nation’s capital.

There is more to see in Valletta, with the best view of the island’s Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, on the St Peter and St Paul Bastion. Across the water, from your elevated perspective, can be seen Fort St Angelo and the Three Cities.

It was during the two-year long French occupation under Napoleon that Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea were given the collective Three Cities title. Again, though, the Maltese sense of independence is apparent, as Vittoriosa, which translates as ‘the victorious one’, is known to the locals as Birgu, well worth knowing as you find your way around.

A highlight of a visit to Valetta is the Co-Cathedral of St John. Fairly ordinary looking from the outside, the contrast inside could hardly be more marked, with the stunningly ornate interior décor a homage both to Malta’s overwhelming devotion to Catholicism as well as honouring the island’s venerated Knights of the Order of St John.

Originally formed in Jerusalem to care for the sick, the Order developed into a military organisation, dedicated to defending the Catholic faith.

After a somewhat nomadic existence, the Knights were given Malta by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, in 1530. Previous encounters with the imperialistic Ottomans came to a head in 1565 with one of the most significant events in Malta’s history – the Great Siege.

Against seemingly insurmountable odds, the Knights, under their inspirational Grand Master, Jean de LaValette, who was in his 70s, held off the invader.

Valetta was named in the leader’s honour and the Co-Cathedral gives the modern-day tourist an insight into that period, with mosaics on the floor covering the interred remains of Knights or paying tribute to those who died and are buried elsewhere.

Perhaps the greatest treasure in the Co-Cathedral, however, is Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St John the Baptist.

The painting, commissioned by the then Grand Master of the Order of St John, occupies a whole wall of a room in the Co-Cathedral and concentrates the mind as you appreciate the style of the rumbustious and rebellious Caravaggio, with the subjects of the work in a corner of the painting and the rest in darkness.

At the other end of the same room is another Caravaggio – St Jerome Writing. This painting has a fascinating contemporary tale to tell, having been stolen before being saved in the nick of time before, perhaps, being lost forever.

Malta is certainly steeped in history but it has an eye on the future and one of the most striking examples of that is Tigne Point, an ultra-modern residential, business, shopping and dining development, at Sliema.

The Point Mall is described as Malta’s first international standard shopping complex, with around 50 stores offering goods ranging from fashion and jewellery to household goods and books.

A prime place to eat at “The Point” is the Salini restaurant. At night, its view across the harbour of the lit-up Valetta is hard to beat.

If that is a feast for the eyes, then the menu is equally satisfying, based on Salini’s tagline, “Flavours of the Mediterranean”. Served up tapas style, there was something for all palates, with salami, pork belly, cod in beer batter, seared tuna, anchovies in breadcrumbs and lamb tagine with potatoes available. A dessert highlight was a drinkable lemon sorbet.

Accommodation to suit all budgets is available with, nearer the top end, the five-star Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay, in St Julian’s, providing that extra bit of luxury. Its 180 rooms and 70 executive club rooms include 39 suites. There are five outdoor pools and a day spa for those who want to chill out.

Depending on the length of a stay in Malta, a day out from the main island to Gozo is well worth while, making the short ferry trip from Cirkewwa.

Gozo, which means “joy”, was named by the Aragonese in 1282 and features the remnants of a significant historical site.

To put the Ggantija Temples into context, they predate Stonehenge by 1,000 years and are thought to be the oldest freestanding structures in the world. The complex, excavated between 1816 and 1820, has two Neolithic temples that are 7,000 years old. To read the full article click here

For the latest offers for Malta holidays visit yourmalta.com

As UK holidaymakers get set to head to the Mediterranean island, Post Office Travel Insurance reminds people of the importance of travel insurance.

Research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has shown that Malta is expected to be a popular destination for UK tourists throughout 2010. The country already hosts around half a million UK tourists each year, and according to the ABTA Travel Trends Report this figure is expected to increase thanks to new Malta flights from the UK to be introduced this year.

With Malta set to be a popular short-haul destination, Post Office Travel Insurance advises those planning to visit the island not to forget their travel insurance. Post Office Travel Insurance reminds holidaymakers that whatever the destination travel insurance is always an important requirement.

Those planning a weekend break in Malta in addition to a longer holiday during the year may benefit from an annual travel insurance policy. An annual travel insurance policy is often a cost-effective way of taking out travel insurance cover if going on multiple holidays throughout the year.

Post Office Travel Insurance reminds all travellers to check that they should have the correct travel insurance policy in place before they travel - even when only embarking on a short-haul holiday or city break - to ensure peace of mind when travelling should delays, accidents or emergencies occur.

Malta

Can’t get to sleep at night? A trip to Malta might ensure relaxation if you do what Gail Porter did, and wrote in the UK Daily Mail:

A week before Christmas I flew out of a desperately cold Manchester for a much-needed weekend spa break in Malta. Little did I realise that a magnetic mattress there was about to cure my long-standing insomnia.

My destination was a new style of hotel - the first in Europe - that uses energised magnetic mattresses, duvets and pillows to supposedly give you a better night’s sleep.

Well, as I usually wake up at 4am on the dot, no matter what time I crawl into bed, I wasn’t holding out much hope that a few nights at the Fortina Spa Resort hotel in Sliema would make any difference to my annoying sleeping habits.

My boyfriend Jonny and I arrived on the island at midnight, so we had little idea of our surroundings, but we did receive a warm welcome at the hotel before being escorted to our special ‘Wellness Rejuvenation’ room.

We were told there was a heated Jacuzzi on the balcony, from which there was a fantastic view over the harbour, and I couldn’t wait to see it in daylight, so we retreated to our magnetic bed.

The next morning I woke up and leant over to my phone to check the time and nearly fell out of bed, I was so shocked. It was 10am. I had slept right through the night - practically unheard of for me. I was elated.

I woke Jonny - who also managed to sleep like a baby - and we made a dash to breakfast before we missed it. We had to get a move on as we had massages booked for 11am. Jonny had never had one before so he was a mixture of trepidation and excitement.

I was having a Thai and Jonny a Lava shell massage. I have had a Thai massage before but this was one of the best I’ve experienced. It was exactly what I needed to relieve all the aches, pains and stiffness that my body had been holding on to. I also had the most wonderful head massage before I left. I was in heaven.

Jonny looked like the cat that had got the cream. His massage consisted of being massaged all over with hot shells. On our final day we were going to swap treatments, so I had this to look forward to.

The resort has many restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. After our treatments we went to the Hibiki Japanese restaurant for some beautifully fresh sashimi and a cooked tuna steak.

Then after lunch it was back to the room to get ready for an afternoon exploring the island. But first we had a look around. As we’d rushed down to breakfast after my fantastic sleep, we’d missed all the other gadgets.

There were mountain-fresh ionised air purifiers, a living water and shower system and hygienic bedding that kills dust mites. We also had a body energiser beside the bed, which massages your feet to help increase circulation and relaxation.

And, in the bathroom, there was a Dermalife Spa-Jet, a huge capsule-type piece of equipment with a spa shower with 20 heads, a ’steam experience’, coloured lights, and various water massage settings. I could see I was going to have a lot of fun with this.

We also had a Power Plate, a machine that can give you the equivalent of a full body workout in just 15 minutes.

Once my lunch had settled, I gave it a go. It is a strange experience as the plate vibrates as you do a series of exercises illustrated in a pamphlet. I found it exhilarating and my muscles certainly felt as if they had worked hard.

Massage, lunch and mini workout done, it was time to venture out to Mdina and then on to the capital, Valletta.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1279351/Spa-breaks-Gail-Porter-cures-insomnia-Malta.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0sdesagbZ

Majorca Blog

As reputations go, Majorca has a real mix of attitude from people who might be considering a holiday on the well known Spanish island that has proved so popular with tourists in the past.

On the one hand there is the image of Magaluf to consider. It’s a town that attracts some but is a definite turn off for others.

And for tourists who prefer peace and quiet to a walk on the wild side, Magaluf is set to become even more of a party magnet as ‘Mallorca Rocks’  has opened - sister hotel to the successful ‘Ibiza Rocks’ just across the water.

Fantastic for the young, and young at heart who can discover Majorca as well as Ibiza. For those who like their clubbing and nightlife Mallorca Rocks will be the centre of a Majorca holiday for many of them.

And the Majorca hotels could benefit as stag weekends and hen parties view Majorca as an alternative to Ibiza, bringing in good revenue year round from young Europeans with disposable incomes.

Flights are inexpensive to the island, and with airlines operating from many regional airports from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, for students and other young people the cheap flights could see visitor numbers in this age group rise considerably this summer.

Majorca Holidays

But for couples and families who don’t want 24 hour partying, and are looking for a good relaxing sunshine holiday, is Majorca a good destination for them this year?

The answer is a definite yes, there’s another side to the island that’s ideal, and if they choose the right location it would be hard to imagine they’re on the same island as party loving Magaluf - but they would still get the good deal for their Majorca flights.

When looking at a map, on the north-west side of the island is Soller. And it is here that holidaymakers can escape to another world, and it’s quiet enough to enjoy while having a good amount of activities going on, to be enjoyed year round.

A tram connects the port to the town, and Deia - another village ideal for family holidays - is closeby, and there is a train that runs through the wonderful Majorca countryside to the capital Palma - a great day out enjoyed by many staying in Soller either in one of the hotels or Majorca villa holidays.

The port is a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with yachts calling in from all over Europe. The harbour area has a good amount of restaurants and cafes serving a variety of food including local dishes all day, and there are also apartments to rent with sea views here for holidaymakers.

For a good family holiday this summer, Soller could be the answer for a quality trip.

For a profile of Majorca including travel information visit yourmajorca.net

Malta has been getting in on the music act recently - each summer they play host to MTV and in September they are set to welcome Elton John for a live concert.

Included in Elton’s career are over 250 million singles sold worldwide, including ‘Candle in the Wind 1997′ - a tribute to his friend Princess Diana, which alone has sold more than 37 million copies.

Now in his sixties, Elton John has enjoyed considerable success since the early 1970’s, and had a string of top selling albums and singles that have not only brought him a terrific fan base, but endeared him to the general public in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Europe - and it wouldn’t be unfair to say worldwide.

His first U.S. album number one was Honky Chateau, and included among his well known songs was Rocket Man and Honky Cat - just two of the hits which could be on the playlist for Malta in September.

Other hits that the Maltese and those taking their Malta holidays in September will be treated to could include:

Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie And The Jets, Nikita, Sacrifice, Sad Songs, I’m Still Standing and Blue Eyes.

If you’ve never been to Malta before and have been considering it, September is an ideal month for a visit, there are cheap Malta flight deals available, and what could be better than combing a visit with seeing Elton John live in concert?

And for those that haven’t been to the island before, what is it like?

Malta offers a great climate, and one of the best levels of sunshine in Europe. It has become a popular holiday destination for families. There are a number of good Malta hotels to suit just about anyone regardless of income levels. There are numerous bars, clubs and restaurants, where you can mingle with the locals and unwind. Malta makes a great weekend getaway as well as for a longer trip, with lots to see and do.

For those who are visiting for the music, the liveliest area is Paceville. A great set of clubs, discos and bars has developed over the years.

Paceville is the nightlife capital of Malta. Most of the venues are located on four main streets that spread out from the main square. These streets are Dragonara Road, Wilga Street, St. Georges Road and St. Rita Steps. A police presence is always nearby, keeping the denizens of the clubs safe and orderly. A taxi rank is also located in the main square, for those who need a lift.