Direct to Marvellous Malta with Aer Lingus
Marvellous Malta
Just how much can you cram into two days in Malta? Quite a lot as it turns out. In the capable hands of Liza Hammond, UK Commercial Manager, Aer Lingus, we left Dublin at lunchtime on Thursday. Our flight of just under 4 hours had us in Valletta by early evening. A short transfer of 25 minutes took us to the Marriott Hotel & Spa overlooking Balluta Beach in St, Julian’s. This magnificent 5 star hotel has recently undergone a €40 million upgrade and this was evident in all the facilities including our beautiful sea view bedrooms. Dinner in OKA Restaurant, located in an imposing 19th century palazzo which is part of the Marriott Hotel, prepared us for what to expect foodwise over the next few days – excellent meat and fish in an Italian style. Take note, the Maltese do not stint on their portions!
An early start the following morning and a short transfer took us to the ferry to Gozo, the smaller sister island just 5 km from Malta but with a completely difference vibe – rural, tranquil and very traditional. On our short visit we managed to fit in visits to the Ggantija Archaeological Park, the Mixta Cave, Ramla Bay, the Salt Pans, Blue Hole and Fungus Rock and the capital Rabat (also called Victoria) with its fine Citadel.
Our second day began with a visit to Mdina, the Silent City and the old capital of Malta. Our guide, ,Francesca, was both knowledgeable and passionate about her subject and gave us a fascinating insight into the chequered history of this beautiful island. We then proceeded to the capital, Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage site, where we visited the Upper Barrakka Gardens with their stunning views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, The Grandmaster’s Palace and the sumptuously ornate St. John’s Cathedral with its famous Caravaggio, The Beheading of St. John. We enjoyed a late lunch overlooking the Grand Marina before heading to the Airport for our return flight home.
The general consensus was that we all could not wait to return to spend more time here. The Aer Lingus service operates all year round on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, which would easily facilitate a 3 night weekend, or longer, staying in either Valletta or one of the nearby resorts. So much to see and do and attractive low season hotel rates coupled with very reasonable restaurant prices make Malta a serious contender for a winter break with a difference.
Many thanks to Liza Hammond from Aer Lingus and Louise from the MTA for their generous hospitality and introduction to Marvellous Malta.
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