Carol Myhill visited the Maltese archipelago in May 200. Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, the largest inhabited island, Malta, lies 93km south of Sicily and 290km from North Africa. Gozo and Comino are the only other inhabited islands. Malta has no mountains or rivers. Its coastline is indented with harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Gozo is connected to Malta by ferry and is more thickly vegetated, with many flat-topped hills and craggy cliffs. Comino, the smallest island, is connected to Malta and Gozo by ferry and is very sparsely populated. Most recently the film Troy was partly filmed on the mainland.

Air Malta fly direct from London Heathrow, with flying time of approx. 3 hours. The weather was warm and sunny although it had recently been cold and raining. Malta suffered its most severe winter for decades this year with snowflakes seen for the first time in living memory!

Malta became a member of the European Community last year although, to date, they retain the Maltese Lira as day-to-day currency, although most goods are marked up in both Maltese Lira and Euro. The influx of EU money is very much in evidence with extensive road repairs and the eventual replacement of all public buses. The ancient walled city of Mdina is also benefiting with buildings being cleaned and renovated and historical remains excavated. Construction of promenades and beach enhancement is also much in evidence, and contrary to common opinion, there are miles of beaches on Malta although often with little depth.

My first hotel visit was to the RADISSON SAS BAY POINT RESORT where I was accommodated. This 5* property is located on a headland by St. George's Bay in St. Julian's. The rooms are modern and comfortably furnished with the usual amenities expected with this class hotel such as robes/slippers, trouser press, minibar, satellite TV, air-conditioning, balcony etc. The international breakfast buffet was exceptional and the hotel also offers two separate outdoor swimming pools. One is a short walk from the main area and provides sunshine later in the day when there is no sun left by the main pool. When it gets a little chilly, visitors come inside to the warm indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi.

Next stop was the HILTON MALTA. Another 5* property, with tastefully and colourfully furnished rooms and suites, with all the usual amenities. There is a Thai restaurant ‘The Blue Elephant' providing a romantic setting for couples, and a very well-equipped gym and separate aerobics studio - both being well-used during my visit. Construction on the island tends to remain low-rise, which is why the high-rise part of the HILTON hotel complex stands out as such a landmark and is used as a navigation tool by visitors to the island! Helpful, as road signs are few and far between.

Also in St Julian's, THE 5* WESTIN DRAGONARA RESORT is situated next to the island's Casino. This is an impressive hotel with everything a family could desire, we enjoyed a delicious à la Carte dinner in the ‘Quadro' restaurant.

Next morning we visited the three hotels in the Corinthia Group. THE CORINTHIA PALACE in San Anton was the first hotel in the Group, and had beautiful gardens surrounded a large pool and the hotel boasted a very modern health spa, with a choice of dining options. THE CORINTHIA SAN GORG is has an impressive façade and fine facilities, Ideal for families as there is a kind of ‘mall' of restaurant choices including French, Italian and American-style outlets. We enjoyed lunch in the large, airy restaurant overlooking the Marina at the THE CORINTHIA MARINA.

The following day was spent on the neighbouring island of GOZO. Ferries depart about every ½ hour and take 20 minutes. The CORNUCOPIA HOTEL & BUNGALOWS were quite delightful. The hotel is quaint and quiet, and whilst walking through the grounds you can actually feel yourself relaxing and slowing down, and would be an ideal setting for a romantic break. The Bungalows would be similarly ideal for families or groups of friends. We looked into a 3-bedroom bungalow with large seating and kitchen area for a self-catering option. Four bungalows each share a private swimming pool. Worth noting is that this hotel uses all fresh locally grown vegetables, never frozen, and has live entertainment most evenings, and a games room.

Next on the list was TA' CENC (pronounced ta chench ). Situated at Gozo's highest point, most of the accommodation in this top class hotel is provided as individual terraced bungalows, providing privacy for guests. We enjoyed lunch on the large terrace shaded by a bamboo roof, overlooking the extensive pool and grounds. Ta' Cenc has its own private beach, to and from which a shuttle service is provided, and you can take a picnic from the hotel!

Back on Malta, our last hotel was LE MERIDIEN PHOENICIA. On arrival just before dinner, some of the guests were being collected at the entrance by a procession of horse and traps to convey them to their evening engagement! The Phoenicia is a listed building and very colonial in style and design. The swimming pool area is a 5-minute walk from the main building, which makes it very quiet and secluded. Dinner was taken in the grandly appointed dining room from a sumptuous buffet. The rooms were smaller than found in the more modern hotels, but made up for it in style.

A morning tour of VALLETTA concluded my visit. Valletta has one of the largest natural harbours in the world and is home to the vast cruise ships moored there. The busy, bustling capital combines a traditional market and small local shops with the mainstream chain stores such as Gap and Next. Well worth a visit is St. John's Cathedral in St. John's Square in the centre of Valletta . Although wholly uninspiring from the outside, the interior is breathtaking. The magnificent altar needs to be seen to be appreciated and the most beautiful marble floor is covered in intricate slabs - each the tomb of a knight bearing his arms.