Malta an 'ideal' holiday destination

Travelling on cheap ferries to Malta allows easy access to a short holiday or weekend break.

This is the suggestion of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). The organisation's director for the UK and Ireland Alex Incorvaja said that the Mediterranean archipelago is "cautiously optimistic" about tourist figures going into 2010.

"Malta is only 360 km sq so we are pretty small but we have history, some fantastic hotels, nice restaurants, picturesque museums and historical sites," he commented.

Mr Incorvaja went on to say that Malta is an "ideal" holiday destination, either for a weekend break of a longer, seven-to-14-night stay.

Malta is easily accessible thanks to cheap ferries operating from Italy and Sicily, with Grimaldi Lines offering services from Catania, Civitavecchia, Genoa and Palermo.

The island country, the smallest in the European Union, is famed for its warm climate, impressive beaches and beautiful scenery.

According to the Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer, Malta is the third-cheapest eurozone country after Spain and Portugal.

Written by Andrew Smith