This year, we’re hopefully looking at taking the boys on a short holiday abroad. It’ll also hopefully be the first hot weather flight they’ll ever have taken. The biggest problem I have is finding something in my price range, and yet isn’t too far for us to go either as I suspect my middle child with learning difficulties won’t take too well to a long flight. Easing him in gently would be perfect.
Looking at places we could go, the first ports of call are likely to be Malta, Tenerife, or even Portugal, as I don’t want to risk the beaches of the Spanish mainland as there are quiet spots in the places that look good to me. I’ve flown with First Choicebefore, so their website is often my first port of call when I’m looking and I find their searches easy to do.
I’ve quite liked looking at Malta for options, and the next logical progression for me was to look for things they have on. There is no point in us going anywhere if it’s just a place to lie in the sun, as middler just doesn’t do lying around. As the island is only about 17 miles long by 9 miles wide, it would be easy enough to get around different activities with a hired car, and nowhere would be out-of-bounds. They also drive on the left which is perfect for me, as although I will drive on the right, I do prefer to drive in the same way as my homeland if I can.
Malta might be small, but it seems to have plenty going for it. From ancient hills, and history from ancient Greeks to the Knights of St John, there’s a lot to see with cathedrals, palaces and temples.
There are good beach options so we would also have the choice of just chilling and hanging around at times if we hire a car and then we could take things at our own pace.
These activities have really struck a chord with me as the types of activities that he would love to be part of.
Event: Alarme 2014
Date: 18 May – 19th October
What It’s About
It’s a military re-enactment event that portrays the historic and turbulent tenure of Malta by French troops, following Napoleon’s landing and conquest of the islands in 1798. I have a history fan in the family and I know he’d absolutely love to see this.
Event: MTV Malta 2014
Date: 25th June
What It’s About
Possibly one of the most attended free open-air concerts in Europe, the Isle of MTV will be held in Malta.My kids would absolutely love this, but the date wouldn’t work in for us.
It does look great though and if a small place like Malta can secure events like this, it gets the thumbs up from me.
Event: Sliema Street Art Festival
Dates: 18 – 20th July
What It’s About
A street festival that attracts a wide range of world class musicians, entertainers and parties.
Event: Maltese Night
Dates: Wednesdays through the season, up until 27th August
What It’s About
This looks fabulous and it also looks like it runs through the season on certain nights.
Based in Razzett I-Antik, it’s a place to try authentic Maltese food in an old farmhouse.
The restaurant is in an old milling factory that used to grind grain for bread and is over four hundred years old. Staff wear traditional costumes and food is served in metal cooking pots, just like it used to be.
It looks like a great place to get the authentic experience of Malta, with a menu of peppered goats cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, soup, rabbit with spaghetti, fried or stew. I think I’d give that a miss though. I couldn’t actually eat a rabbit.
You can find out more about what’s on in Malta here.
