I always think Malta is one of those places people end up liking more than they expected to. It’s not usually the destination people get the most excited about straight away. People talk about Greece, Italy, the Balearics… and Malta sometimes gets overlooked a bit in comparison. But honestly, it’s one of the easiest short haul trips I recommend, especially for people who want a bit more than just lying by a pool all week.

I stayed there with my family during May half term in 2024 and it genuinely surprised me how easy the whole trip felt from start to finish. We stayed at db Seabank Resort + Spa which has one of the biggest pools in Malta, and with three kids that immediately made life easier. And I think that’s why Malta works so well.

Because it’s very easy to do as much or as little as you want there. You’ve obviously got the sunshine, hotels and sea views you’d expect from a Mediterranean destination, but there’s also a lot more going on once you start looking properly. Valletta feels completely different to somewhere like St Julian’s, and Mdina feels like another world entirely once you walk through the old streets in the evening.

Valletta in particular is somewhere I think people should properly explore rather than just “look around for an hour”. The Upper Barrakka Gardens are worth doing for the views alone, the little side streets are full of cafés and wine bars, and the whole city just feels very easy to wander around without needing a massive plan.

I also think where you stay in Malta makes a huge difference depending on what kind of trip you want.

- Mellieħa works really well for families and beach days

- St Julian’s is much livelier with bars and restaurants

- Valletta is better if you want more culture and atmosphere

- Gozo feels much slower and quieter altogether.

That’s one of the reasons Malta works so well as a short haul destination actually — you can completely change the feel of the trip depending on the area you choose.

I think it’s also worth saying that not every “must do” is necessarily worth doing.The Blue Lagoon is beautiful in photos, and the water genuinely is incredible, but in peak periods it can feel extremely crowded. When we went, there were people absolutely everywhere, towels covering pretty much every bit of space, queues for boats, queues for drinks… it just felt very hectic and over-touristed for us personally.

Some people absolutely love it, but I think it’s one of those places where expectations matter. If you go expecting a quiet hidden paradise, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you go expecting a busy boat-trip atmosphere with incredible water, you’ll probably enjoy it much more.

And honestly, that’s Malta all over really. It’s not trying to be ultra-luxury or wildly exclusive. It just quietly does a lot of things really well.

The transfers are easy, distances are short, you can mix pool days with sightseeing without exhausting yourself, and you don’t spend the whole holiday feeling like you’re constantly organising logistics.

For families, couples, short breaks, or people who like a holiday with a bit of variety, I genuinely think it’s one of the easiest Mediterranean destinations to recommend.

Not necessarily the flashiest destination… just one that feels easy while you’re actually there. And that’s underrated.