There are plenty of package holidays to Malta, but if you are really looking to save more than a few pennies, I suggest that you go on your holidays in Malta just outside the peak summer holiday season. In 2008 I spent a stunning 2 weeks in Malta, during late March and early April. Not only did I get a wonderful warm holiday in the sun, (Malta is a perfect winter sun holiday destination) but everything was cheaper, from the flights, to the hotels. This meant that my package holiday in Malta a real bargain and a beach holiday that I would definitely go on again.

Malta tourism is also on the increase, I have noticed a lot of Malta news and adverts in the UK media and for me that is another reason to travel outside of the peak holiday season, less people means the airport and beaches will be less crowded and even things like finding a table at one of the many wonderful restaurants in Malta will be that much easier.

Easter in Malta
If you do decide to travel outside the main peak summer season in Malta, i would consider going over the Easter holidays. Malta has very strong Roman Catholic traditions and so Maltese people look forward to Easter with great enthusiasm and their culture really comes into life with many celebrations and street parades over Easter.

During Easter all over Malta and the smaller island of Gozo there are early morning processions from the churches and through towns and villages where Maltese worshippers bear the statue of the ‘Risen Christ’. Only in Malta, the ‘Three Cities’ across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, bearers run with the statue on their shoulders. It is also traditional for children to receive a ‘figolia’ which is a type of almond cake on this day. The Three Cities, joined into one historic urban area, are Vittoriosa, Senglea and Coapicua.

For me it was great to see Easter being celebrated in a more traditional way then the very commercial version that it has turned into here in the UK.

Back in 2009, Easter Sunday was on the 28th of March, in 2009 it is on the 12th April 2009, which makes a visit to Malta during Easter even more appealing as you are more certain of bright, warm, sunny days with hardly any chance of rain.

Weather in Malta
During my stay in Malta, in late March and early April 2008 the weather was stunning. I think one morning I woke up to a light drizzle that soon disappeared and it turned into a wonderful day. There was also one evening that we had a thunder and lightning storm that turned into a stunning display over the ocean that I viewed from my hotel balcony and so was far from being disappointing. On the whole the weather in Malta over my two week holiday was just perfect. Warm sunny days with out being to hot.

For a more detailed look at the weather in Malta, including temperatures, sea temperatures and rainfall all year round take a look at my section on Weather in Malta

Beaches in Malta
There are some excellent beaches in Malta, and what one of my favourite things about a beach holiday on an island the size of Malta, is that you can easily travel all around the island to find the type of beach that suits you. Whether it’s a secluded beach hidden away or a busy beach with lots of young people and restaurants and activities, you will find what you are looking for in Malta. Take a look at my guide to the Best Beaches in Malta for more details.

Package Holidays Malta
Back in 2008 I organised my Malta package holiday with Lastminute.com and I ended up flying on the excellent Malta Airways and stayed at the 4 star Paradise Bay hotel in Marfa, that came with a sea view. There are plenty of other companies that offer flights to Malta as well as hotel accommodation, here are a few companies that I would suggest:

Lastminute.com holidays to Malta

As I said I enjoyed a very good holiday a year ago that I booked through Lastminute.com and have nothing but good things to say about them.

Thomascook.com holidays to Malta
With 163 years’ experience of booking travel and holidays for millions of customers every year, Thomas Cook is one of the UK’s leading travel companies and the good news is one of their holiday destinations is Malta.

Thomson Beach Holidays to Malta

Thomson.co.uk offers access to great value holidays, hotels, villas and apartments direct from the UK’s No1 supplier of package holidays.

Further reading on the Beach Holiday Guide

• Malta Holidays
• Best Beaches in Malta
• Malta’s Main Attractions
• Malta Activities including Scuba diving in Malta
  
• Tour of Valletta
• Nightlife Guide

Can Dubai Really be a Cheap Holiday?
Dubai may not immediately spring to mind when you are thinking of a cheap winter sun holiday destination, but there are Cheap Dubai Holiday Packages available, and this does not mean that you have to stay in a 1 star hotel and fly with an airline that first stops in The Gambia, then South Africa before finally getting you to Dubai!

After a little searching, I found many holiday packages to Dubi for under £500 and a few under £400 per person, as an example below is a 4 night holiday package at the Golden Sands Hotel Apartments:

Golden Sands Hotel Apartments Dubai
Book with: Ebookers.com Holidays to Dubai
4 Star Hotel
Number of Nights: 4 nights
Location of Hotel: Half a mile South-west from the centre of Dubai

I picked the following dates: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 to Mon, 23 Mar 2009, and these can be changed.

Flights & Prices
The cost of the Holiday varied depending on which airline you choose, all prices are for the entire holiday per person and includes all taxes:

Royal Brunei Airlines (Non-stop) £341.61
Qatar Airways (One stop) £357.79
Emirates Non-stop (£382.91)
British Airways (Non-stop) £393.66
Virgin Atlantic (Non-stop) £395.66

More about the Hotel:
Golden Sands Hotel Apartments are ideally located in Bur Dubai, in the heart of business and shopping centers. The hotel offers a range of self-catering accommodation including One-Room Studios, Two-Room Studios, 2 Bedroom Apartments and 3 Bedroom Apartments.

The hotel has a Swimming pool, Gymnasium, Squash court, Table tennis, Business Centre, Coffee shop, Executive Lounge as well as Car Rental and Excursions Desk.

Each Apartment at the Golden Sands Hotel Apartments comes with a fully equipped kitchen.

Book a Package Holiday To Dubai
To book this and many other really great Dubai Holiday Packages try Ebookers.com Holidays to Dubai or click on the banner below to see some more winter sun holiday ideas not only in Dubai, but also to Malta, Jamaica, Cape Town, Bangkok, Miami and many more:

Dubai and Dubai Holiday Packages:
For more information on visiting Dubai, as well as more Dubai packages and how to book your holidays, flights, hotels or even car hire, you can follow the links to the relevant sections within the Beach Holiday Guide:

• Dubai Holiday Packages
• Book & Compare Dubai Holiday Packages, Flights & Hotels
• Golf in Dubai