2 Best Hotels in Malta

Occupying a corner plot on the beach at picturesque Xlendi Bay (one of Gozo's beautiful rocky coves), this family-run hotel is a favorite with divers and independent travelers. Built in traditional style with Gozitan sandstone, the rooms are compact but well-furnished and finished to a good standard. Zafiro, the on-site restaurant, has a waterfront terrace and serves breakfast (included in the room rate), lunch, and dinner. A selection of other bars and restaurants are within walking distance. Sea-view rooms offer the best value. One of the best dive schools on the island is only a few feet away on the harborside.

The grande dame of Malta is just outside Valletta's City Gate and is close to the busy bus terminus for cross-island exploration. Since the 1940s it has welcomed movers and shakers, including Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in 1949. The hotel still plays a central role in the social life of this country's capital, hosting many official functions and regular wedding parties. Rooms and public spaces have been updated to keep up with modern trends over the years and include the addition of a spa and pool deck with verdant gardens in the shadow of the walls of Valletta citadel.