Life’s a beach in Malta – even until late October!

Aug. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- If you are fed up with no summer here you can still catch a late summer in Malta!  Life’s still a beach in Malta until late October and with direct flights from Dublin (Ryanair) and Belfast (Easyjet) there’s plenty of time to still catch a few rays in sunny Malta!  There’s a host of excellent accommodation at competitive rates and you can either book directly with the airline and check out www.visitmalta.com for accommodation or contact one of the tour operators such as Concorde Travel or Belleair for packages. Packages vary depending on the time but an example is on with Concorde Travel for three nights departing on the 27th September and staying in the 5* Le Meridien Hotel in St. Julians, €573 per person on a BB basis. Or book with Belair and stay at the 5* Hilton Hotel, St Julians where you can enjoy three  nights including return airport transfers from just €295 pp or five nights including return airport transfers from €476 pp.

The colours which strike you on a Maltese horizon are three distinct bands – dark blue, limestone gold and sky blue.  Dominant on every shoreline, they distinguish the island as a Mediterranean haven of beaches which leave no preference wanting – whether it is for soft white sands, golden ones, or sculptural rocky shores.  Voted one of the top three countries with near-pristine bathing waters by the EU and with 87 monitored waters to choose from, 95% of which are of excellent quality to swim in, Malta has plenty to boast about.  

If sandy beaches are a must, then the Maltese coast has plenty to offer with Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden Bay to the west of the island being very popular with tourists and locals alike.  The latter can be particularly busy at times but the quieter, equally pretty Gnejna Bay, on the other side of the verdant clay slopes is just as beautiful to swim in with soft golden sand and warm waters. Ramla Bay on the island of Gozo offers an expanse of rich red sand and a sweeping view from the hills above, looking for all the world like a vast red carpet leading into an inviting blue sea:  quite the star treatment!

Nestled in a more secluded place only a few minutes’ drive from the larger and very popular white-sands of Ghadira Bay in Mellieha, lies Paradise Bay close to Cirkewwa (where the Gozo Ferries berth).  Although it is isolated it is still easily accessible, and has plenty of amenities to offer, being a particularly good place to snorkel and popular for weekend beach parties, the rock formations provide a fantastic backdrop to a relaxed swim.  The most secluded bay in the Mellieha area however, is Selmun Bay, which is reached by a narrow winding country road bordered by cypresses and bamboo with winding rubble walls leading to a stunning little cove with clear water overlooked by the historic Selmun Castle at the top of the hill.  

Maltese beach culture is very firmly ingrained in this island nation and with some of the best beaches in Europe, boasting the cleanest, clearest water worthy of big-grossing Hollywood movies, you simply cannot go wrong, wherever you decide to take a dip – try it: it’s all around the place!

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