Christmas in Malta

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To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA

Enjoy the festive season on the friendly Mediterranean island with the warmest of welcomes for British visitors. Head south to the Mediterranean for this winter-warming festive break on the historic island of Malta. Blessed year round with an agreeable climate, Malta puts on a wonderful festive cloak at Christmas, combining the very best traditional celebrations and some glittering illuminations.

Holiday Highlights

Enjoy a week of festive rest, relaxation and exploration
Set off on a tour of the walled capital of Valetta
Explore the beautiful island of Gozo on an optional excursion
Join an optional tour of fortified Mdina and the historic town of Rabat
Visit the cities of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea
Soak up the colour and atmosphere of Valetta
Celebrate with a Gala dinner on Christmas Eve
Watch the Malta Experience show, an educational audio-video storytelling

What's Included

Seven nights' half-board accommodation at your chosen hotel
Seven breakfasts and seven dinners
7 nights half-board accommodation at the four-star Dolmen Resort Hotel in Qawra (all inclusive option and alternative hotel available at a supplement)
Return flights to Malta
Comfortable coach travel and transfers
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
One piece of hold luggage per person
‘Three Cities and the Sea’ tour
Malta Experience show

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Malta - Fly to Malta, meet your tour manager and transfer to your chosen hotel in Qawra. This rest of the day will be free to settle in before dinner.

Day 2

Day at leisure - After breakfast, you’ll have a free day to relax at your hotel, taking advantage of the facilities, or you can head out and explore nearby Qawra. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 3

Included ‘Three Cities and the Sea’ tour - Following breakfast, today’s excursion will take you to the areas across from Valletta’s Grand Harbour, where three medieval 'cities' reflect the island's rich history. The first stop, Haġar Qim Temple, a megalithic complex and one of the world’s most ancient sites can be found in the village of Qrendi. You’ll then drive to the fortified maritime city of Birgu, also known by its title Città Vittorios. A walking tour will reveal its historic sights, like one of the earliest Maltese Crosses. There will also be some time explore at your leisure and enjoy lunch (on your own account) in the marina. After lunch, you’ll transfer to a small traditional fishing village, Marsaxlokk, known for its picturesque seafront promenade and colourful fishing boats bobbing up and down in the bay. You can walk around here and admire these crafts known as Maltese luzzus and sporting an engraved pair of eyes, believed to be a symbol of protection and good health.

Day 4

Included Valletta tour and Malta Experience show - Once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll travel to Malta’s walled capital, Valletta located on a peninsula. Your tour manager will lead you past the striking façade of the modern parliament building, the majestic Royal Opera House, and the pretty Upper Barrakka Gardens. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the firing of cannons in the Saluting Battery below at 12pm. You’ll then have some time for lunch before walking down to Fort St Elmo, named after the patron saint of mariners. Housed within the fort is the National War Museum, displaying military paraphernalia and artefacts. On the way, you’ll see the 16th-century exterior of the Grand Master’s Palace set on St George’s Square. Later, you’ll get to see the Malta Experience show, an educational audio-video show telling the story of around 7,000 years of Maltese history in a panoramic auditorium. During this, you’ll gain a better understanding of the islands and the local people throughout time. You’ll then return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5

Christmas Eve – Optional tour of Mdina and Rabat - You can choose to take things at your own pace this Christmas Eve or join an optional tour visiting Mdina and Rabat. You’ll begin in the city, Mosta, famous its Rotunda, a large basilica built in a neo-classical style and based on the Pantheon in Rome. The tour will continue to Mdina Glass, Malta’s original and leading producer of handmade glassware. You can watch the local glass blowers create an assortment of vases, lamps, and jewellery, and have the chance to purchase a few keepsakes. Next, you’ll travel to Rabat and visit St Paul’s Grotto, a significant Christian site, built beneath the ornate St. Paul’s Church. It’s believed that St. Paul and his missionary party took refuge here after they become shipwrecked on the island of Malta. This cave then become an important place of worship with many coming here on pilgrimages, including several popes. In Mdina, the ancient fortified former capital, the ‘Silent City’, you’ll be guided on a walk around the narrow streets lined with medieval, stone-built houses. You’ll have some time to wander on your own accord and have lunch. Lastly, you’ll traverse along the Dingli Cliffs looking out over the Mediterranean Sea and the Maltese countryside. These cliffs are the highest point of the Maltese Islands, and you can see a small chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene here to mark this. Dinner will be enjoyed back at the hotel.

Day 6

Christmas Day – Day at leisure - Enjoy a perfect Christmas Day of rest, relaxation and celebration in the hotel and its surroundings, perhaps heading out for a traditional Christmas lunch. This evening, dinner will be served as usual at your hotel.

Day 7

Optional excursion to Gozo Day - Enjoy a restful day today, or perhaps join the optional excursion to delightful Gozo. Board the ferry for a crossing to the quaint port of Mgarr, and visit the island's fortified capital, Victoria, picturesque Marsalforn, famous Calypso's Cave overlooking sandy Ramla Bay and the fascinating inland sea at Dwerja. Savour a last dinner with the other travellers.

Day 8

Fly back to the UK - Have a final breakfast and return to the airport to check in for your flight home.

AX ODYCY Hotel, Qawra

Boasting views of Qawra Bay and positioned within walking distance from the town's square, this stylish hotel ensures a perfect coastal escape....

Seaview Hotel, St. Paul's Bay (selected departures only)

Set within walking distance of Malta's glittering northern coast, this adult-only hotel offers the perfect setting for relaxation between excursions....

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

European closing times

Shops in Europe will generally close from early afternoon on Christmas Eve until 27th December. Included tours and excursions have been chosen for their scenic or historic value.

Visas & Passports

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES)

EES is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of most European countries. Once introduced, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts.

The EES scheme is not live yet - the latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live, ensure you are familiar with the process.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operational at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side. For further information please visit the ABTA website here.

Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS)

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen counties.

The ETIAS system is not live yet - the latest information can be found at www.etias.com. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live (and if applicable to you), apply for your ETIAS in good time prior to travel.

Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service here.

Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

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