Did you hear? Malta will pay travelers to visit this summer (as if I need a reason to escape my house, Philadelphia or the U.S. after more than a year at home). Yes, you read that correctly, the Malta tourism agency has decided to spend a portion of their budget to reimburse tourists for visiting their country. As of now, Malta has one of the highest covid vaccination rates of adults in Europe and will require a negative covid test in order to visit. Where is Malta you ask? It’s about 50 miles south of Italy in the Mediterrean and a place to go to relax and do nothing but enjoy the sun, sand, rocks, history, food, wine and the water. Unlike others who are posting the press release information, I’ve actually visited Malta and the sister island of Gozo.
The small country of approximately 500,000 residents will open to travelers on June 1st but as of today is closed to Americans and not on the green list for UK residents yet. Fingers crossed this changes soon so I can meet my friend back in Gozo to drink at DBar in Q’ala. Read about my first impressions & holiday on Gozo.
It is estimated that up to 35,000 visitors can benefit from this promotion. The maximum reimbursement will be €200 for a 5* hotel stay on Malta. Bookings to Gozo, the small island just a ferry ride away can receive a 10% additional bonus for a max of €220. This amount is based on two people in the hotel room, if traveling solo, then the maximum would be half the amount listed. What’s the catch?  This is for independent traveler, not tour groups or tour packages and you need to book hotel directly via special links.
Malta Traveler Reimbursement Amounts
Given the currency exchange rate will vary based on your home country, I will quote in Euros and you can do the fx math. If you book a 3, 4 or 5 star (*) hotel for the 3 day minimum stay, you can receive up to the maximum amount as follows (based on double occupancy)
5* star hotel €200
4 star hotel €150
3 star hotel €100
How to Book – Malta Hotel Promotion
Bookings are open now for stays that begin on June 1st through December (or until the budget runs out).
You MUST book the hotel via the links provided in the Malta promotion guide to ensure participation. You do not get a cash or a cheque as reimbursement but rather a hotel credit for use during your stay toward food, drink or services. The participating Malta Hotel List is quite diverse and gives you many options for your stay.
5 Star Hotels Malta & Gozo
I visited Malta and Gozo for nearly a month staying at hotels, an Airbnb and a private home. The five star hotels I stayed at, the Malta Westin and Gozo Kempinski, are included in the hotel promotion which is great. Each hotel was memorable and I highly recommend them. They each have fantastic restaurants, bars and spa options and while you can definitely spend all day and night on property, please try to get out to explore the islands.
Malta Westin Dragonara Resort Review
The Kempinski Hotel San Laurenz Gozo Review
Where to Eat in Gozo
During my stay in Gozo, I had amazing meals at the family run DBar in Qala and the posh dinner experience of Ta’Frenc in Xaghra. Despite being such a small island, each of the villages (think neighborhoods back home) have an eclectic assortment of cafes, restaurants and bars to enjoy. Definitely make dinner reservations in advance as there are limited spaces to be had along the waterfront, in the courtyards and on the street. With a unique blend of spices and cooking, a foodie will enjoy Gozo fresh seafood, plentiful pastas and tender meat presentations. You can also find a good burger, pizza and takeaway options too.
Malta Tourism Promotion – Summer 2021
While I may be grounded in the U.S. (for now) and my travel partner stuck in the UK, we are on the fence about the Malta promotion, we had wanted to keep this island to ourselves. But given the past year and the need to restart and rebuild the tourism & hospitality sector we are ok for you to discover our happy place. While Malta has more nightlife and visitors, Gozo is laid back and chill so take your pick and see what you like during this visitor promotion. I’m sure you will love it as much as we do.
