Set in the Mediterranean just south of Italy, there’s a lot of fun and excitement waiting for travellers in Malta. For a night of bar-hopping, there are a number of trendy pubs and clubs that won’t disappoint; for Mediterranean inspiration, try one of the local salsa bars to get your blood pumping.
Authentic fishing towns and villages dot the island, perfect for a real rustic, down-to-earth, experience. Sporty types will find themselves in water sport heaven. From scuba diving to sailing and water-skiing, it’s all non-stop fun, and when you’re tired, lie back and relax on some of the world’s most unspoiled beaches.
Your gateway into Malta is via Malta International Airport, the island’s only airport, located between Luqa and Gudja. Air Malta is the flag carrier, offering economy class flights to and from the island nation.
No-frills, cheap flights to Malta are available via airberlin (Germany), Clickair (Spain), easyJet (U. K. Germanwings (Germany), Ryanair (U. K. transavia. Netherlands).
A no-frills, budget-fare flight usually means no complimentary food or drinks, unassigned seating, no in-flight entertainment, meal boxes with smaller food portions (only for long-haul flights), and no connecting flights. Book flights in advance to avail of special discounts and promos.
With Belfast rapidly cleaning up its act these past years,, the city’s facelift has made it a popular destination for short break weekends. Flight deals available to Belfast from U.K. airports.
Belfast International Airport 17 miles north west of Belfast and the George Best Belfast City Airport, three miles east of the city centre. Even if you don’t plan to stay In Belfast city centre for the length of your stay, preferring instead to explore some of the breathtaking scenery along the Northern Irish coast, including The Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim, or Cushendun further along the coast a weekend getaway in Belfast is always worth the trip.
Flights are available from all over the U.K., direct to Belfast.
Best fares at the moment, £58 return, from London Heathrow are with Aer Lingus, with 3 flights daily
From London Gatwick, Flybe are running a £60 return with 4 flights per day
Direct Flights are also available from Manchester, (Flybe.com), Glasgow (Bmi.com and Flybe.com), Southampton (Flybe.com) and Birmingham (Flybe.com)
All flights are direct and range from £60 return up to the more expensive Manchester at £119 return
If you are flying to Belfast International Airport, then Ulsterbus provide a bus service from the Europa Buscentre in Belfast city centre to the airport and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
Taxis can be hired outside the terminal building and a number of car hire firms are available with the terminal. Why not arrive in style with a pre-booked Value Cab, Fonacab or Citi Cab taxi waiting at the airport to collect you? The journey from the airport to Belfast takes about 25 minutes. There is no direct train service from the airport but trains do run to Belfast from the nearby town of Antrim.
Otherwise, arriving at George Best Belfast City Airport There is a Flexibus service running from the airport to the Europa Buscentre in the city centre. In addition taxis can be hired outside the terminal, with the fare to the city centre being around £6. Car hire is also available within the terminal. There is a rail service from the nearby Sydenham station to Central Station. A shuttle bus runs between the airport building and the train station. But you can also pre-book a taxi from Value Cabs or Fonacab or Citi Cab and they will meet you as you arrive.
Popularised in the 1950s by the American Beats; Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs and long time resident Paul Bowles – Morocco has been a destination for thrill seeking literati, adventurous nomads and sun seekers alike. Access is just as easy, and getting more popular this summer.
Both Lastminute.com and SkyScanner are advertising deals to the Moroccan destinations of Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Rabat and Casablanca accessible from London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh
If it’s sun, sand and a North African Costa holiday that you’re after, then Agadir is your destination. Iberia will fly you there from London, Birmingham and Manchester but expect to pay upwards of £150 return from July onwards.
Morocco’s most popular destination, Marrakech is accessible from London, Manchester and Bristol with flights from as little as £40 each-way from London with Ryanair, Iberia and eDreams.
For the taste of Marrakech but with less tourists then Fez is your destination. A wonderfully exotic city, particularly the old city of Fez-al-Bali, and gateway to the Atlas Mountains, Fez can be reached from London with eDreams and Iberia for as little as £90 each-way.
A note of warning though. Avoid, if possible, Tangiers. Yes, it was the heart of the Beat Generation’s drug-fuelled writing life, but as with many port towns, Tangiers has a dark and dodgy element. Having passed through there some years back en route to Fez, (I had taken the ferry from Spain) I was never as happy to survive a town with wallet and luggage in tact. Beyond this though, true Arab hospitality shows through all over Morocco – and the Hammam scrub waiting for me in Fez was worth the trip.
