Why a holiday in Malta is worth booking now lockdown rules are lifting

Being a travel agent is like being on a rollercoaster ride at the moment, writes columnist Emma Savage.

Not long ago, the world was effectively closed, it was illegal to travel abroad and flights were grounded.

Then, travel was permitted to some destinations and a few flights began operating; a flurry of bookings to the sun ensued, with British travellers flocking to Portugal which made the green list.

However, the government then changed the traffic lights and there was a rush to get home before Portugal turned amber (meaning quarantine is required on your return to the UK).

At the most recent review, more countries were added to the green list – hurrah, said travel businesses and holiday makers; except those countries (including Barbados and the Balearic Islands) weren’t all, actually, green; they are in fact on a ‘green watch-list’ which means they can go to amber at any point without much notice, as Portugal did.

The only true green country for holiday makers to realistically consider is Malta, which is not on the green watchlist.

It is confusing for those of us in the industry, so I can only imagine the confusion amongst the travelling public.

I’ve been ensuring my customers are all fully informed throughout the changes and I’ve been on hand to make any amendments to holidays as required.

With the news that Malta is green, and therefore now open for double vaccinated British tourists, this might be the destination for your next trip.

Malta and its islands of Gozo and Camino are located south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, packed with over 7000 years of history and over 3000 hours of sunshine a year.

There are three Unesco World Heritage Sites to explore there; and the Cultural Capital of Valletta is one of them.

Widely renowned for its beauty and history, it bustles with life and its pretty streets are home to quaint shops, fountains and votive statues.

However, Valletta is also the perfect place to shop, with designer names in fashion and jewellery all found here.

The food in Malta reflects its Mediterranean setting; dine out on fresh fish with signature dishes such as aljotta (fish soup with garlic tomatoes and rice) and try local pastries such as the popular pastizzi (pastry filled with ricotta cheese).

Along with these local specialities, there are plenty of other options including Michelin star restaurants and wine bars to enjoy an al fresco meal or drink.

Malta is popular with divers and you can book a course to learn or if you are already qualified, dive in and explore the planes and ships which lie below; my customers often head there to dive.

The climate means weather is lovely all year round, so it is popular for winter sun and busy with visitors in the summer too.

If you would like to find out more, I would love to hear from you.