Malta and Gozo

With 7,000 years of history, the Maltese Islands are steeped in culture and heritage. The Maltese archipelago (Malta, Gozo and Comino) lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa.

With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving night-life and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. The official languages are Maltese and English and driving is on the left - so there it feels like a home from home.

We were flying out to stay for a week at the Intercontinental in Malta. We took a late evening flight from London and it was very relaxing. No crowds at check-in and we'd also booked the Airport Lounge so we were able to relax with papers and drinks until our departure time.

For this trip, we decide to sign up for 3 trips - ideal if you are visiting for the first time or short on time. The first trip was to the North West of Malta. The guide, Rosa was a mine of information and her talks were fascinating. At the same time, her commentary was not intrusive, so you had time for your own thoughts too. Mdina, otherwise known as the silent city, is the island's old capital and was built in the 9th century by the Arabs. This medieval city is a maze of narrow alleys and wonderful architecture. Our walking tour included all the main features and also a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral.

Our second trip was to the nearby island of Gozo. One reason for visiting Gozo was that I had some clients visiting in the following weeks and I wanted to visit to their hotel and meet the manager in person to ensure the best attention for them during their stay. The other reason was that Gozo is beautiful! It is greener and slower-paced than Malta and a perfect place for a chill-out holiday. Our tour included visits to the Ggantija Temples, the Azzur Window and Victoria. Rosa was our guide again and we enjoyed another great tour. Our last trip was to the capital city of Valletta, to tour the harbour by boat. This was absolutely fascinating.

In between our trips, we enjoyed the fabulous weather and sunbathed at the Hotel pool. The area was large enough so that it was always possible to find your own quiet area if that's what you wanted. We found a couple of great restaurants within easy walking distance, where we could sit on a terrace and overlook the Mediterranean. Often, we would call in at the Hilton Hotel for an aperitif in the Harbour View terrace bar, overlooking the marina. A very civilised way to start the evening.

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