If we are to believe the iconic American band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers then ‘coming down is the hardest thing’ when you’re learning to fly. He probably tried to learn on Malta because the rest of it – finding someone to teach you, perfect conditions, great views etc is dead easy! 

Think of the marathon and the same question always pops up – why would any sane person want to run 26 miles 385 yards in one go? It’s not even as if anyone is holding a gun to their head and making them do it! They do it for pleasure! Pleasure!?

More than 20-plus years ago (when I first went) Valletta was a city crying out for facilities that really took advantage of the view. Sure, there were plenty of excellent cafés and bars but these were in the middle of town. If only someone would build a development on the side of the Grand Harbour – on the Valletta Waterfront. 

Valletta's 320 monuments make it one of the most concentrated historic areas of the world. Take advantage of this Malta holiday deal and explore and enjoy the beauty of the City built by gentlemen for gentlemen.

In our article dedicated to renting a car on Malta, we said that it was still the best way of seeing the island. We lied … well, we sort of lied because it is the best way of getting around and seeing the island – unless you are an experienced biker with a motorcycle licence!

This is not an article advising you to watch a dodgy ‘coming-of-age’ film from the 1980s – the one that earned notoriety for the divine Brooke Shields swimming topless. We certainly would never recommend that! This is about the Maltese Blue Lagoon – an enjoyable experience that does not require you to fast-forward through an hour of dull nonsense before anything interesting happens! 

Set in the lively district of Paceville in central St. Julian’s, design Hotel Valentina offers free Wi-Fi and air-conditioned rooms. Free private parking, a bar and lift are available on site.

We’ve all done it! We’re on holiday, wandering along a shopping street when we spot an estate agent’s window. The thought process is pretty much the same for everyone: “It’s lovely here. I wonder how much it costs to buy something?”

If the three ingredients for your perfect holiday are fun, sun and sea then Malta can certainly provide on all counts. However, you can take all of these to the next level by spending a day in one of the island’s many beach clubs. 

Most people enjoy a day by the sea. But there is also a fairly large percentage of people who have serious issues with sand – or, more specifically, its annoying habit of lodging in every nook and cranny of your body and grating away until you are red raw! This is where Malta scores heavily because most of the shoreline here is a totally sand-free zone!