Avoid the crowds in mighty Malta

A winter trip to Malta warmed SAM TEESDALE up more than he was expecting, at a good price too

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The small island nation of Malta, found between Italy and North Africa, has a longstanding reputation among Brits as one of the best spots for winter sun.

With affordable flights and a flight time of around three hours, it's no wonder it's ranked number one on easyJet's top winter getaways for 2025.

But, there are, of course, wins and trade-offs with winter holidays. Yes, the crowds are a fraction of what they are in high season, but then again, so are the temperatures.

I set off to stay at the all-inclusive AX Odycy hotel to see whether a winter getaway was worth the hassle and cash.

THE WEATHER

With December looming, the weather was understandably up and down. There were rainbows, downpours, thunderstorms, sea winds of 50mph but also moments of glorious sunshine.

So, while it was most definitely a climatological smorgasbord, Malta was undoubtedly warmer than Blighty.

As is always the case with holidays, the final day, which was spent in the airport, saw completely clear skies and a lovely temperature of 20C. Such is life.

SUNBATHING

Sunbathing is indeed possible in the late November Malta sun, weather permitting, but whether you'll see the all-important tan lines appear is a different question.