Nowhere on the Maltese Islands is far away from the beach, but if you really must sleep with your toes in the sand, these are the hotels for you.
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Golden Sands, Golden Bay (5 star)
This is pure bucket-and-spade heaven. Five star luxury directly on one of Malta’s most beautiful beaches, with its own private concession offering a plethora of water sports. A family favourite, the hotel has different in-house eateries from casual to fine dining, beach lounge to mini-market. And if the beach is not enough, there’s a lagoon pool to indulge in. The spa provides the ultimate in pampering and a small gym helps you work off those delicious calories. The hotel is surrounded by rugged countryside and rises on a cliff at the end of one of Malta’s most fertile valleys, making it an interesting destination resort to consider, even off season.
Distance from the beach: roll out of bed and land on the sand
db Seabank Resort & Spa, Mellieha (4 star)
This all-inclusive hotel just across the road from Malta’s largest beach is an ideal family resort. It boasts no fewer than seven restaurants, which means that you can eat in a different place every day of the week. There’s a busy entertainment schedule for kids and grown-ups in case you get bored of lounging by the pool (there are two actually, indoor and outdoor) or building sand castles. The spa offers some glorious treatments and there is also massage therapy, hairdressing and beauty treatments available. For the more active, you can try your hand at crazy golf, beach soccer, beach volley, archery, bowling or darts. No dull moments here!
Distance from the beach: sand on the doorstep
Paradise Bay Resort, Cirkewwa (4 star)
Situated right at the water’s edge, just minutes walk away from the ferry terminal to Malta’s sister island Gozo, Paradise Bay Resort certainly lives up to its name. It boasts its own private sandy beach across the road, which was the first to be awarded Blue Flag status. The popular public beaches of Ghadira, Armier and the eponymous Paradise Bay are just a few minutes drive away. If sand isn’t your thing, the idyllic outdoor pool overlooks the bay so the sea is always in sight. The fully equipped gym, tennis court and multi-purpose court will help you enjoy your dinners guilt-free. And speaking of food, there’s three restaurants at the resort and two bars to cater for all tastes.
Distance from the beach: a hop, skip and a splash
Ramla Bay Resort, Marfa Limits of Mellieha (4 star)
Ramla means grain of sand in Maltese, which is pretty much what you need to hear when looking for a beach hotel. Set right by the sea and surrounded by quiet, pristine countryside, the hotel commands views of the northernmost shore of Malta and the sister islands of Gozo and Comino. Of course it has its own private sandy beach, but Ghadira, Armier and Paradise Bay are only minutes away. The hotel offers all types of board options from bed and breakfast to half-board, full-board, all-inclusive and even self-catering. You can relax by one of the hotel’s three seawater pools, stroll through its private gardens, enjoy some adrenaline fuelled water sports or explore the underwater world with its in-house diving centre. There are several wine-and-dine options on site and a kids club to keep the little ones entertained.
Distance from the beach: sand between your toes
Labranda Riviera Resort & Spa, Marfa (4 star)
Labranda Riviera Resort & Spa
Next door to the Ramla Bay Resort, this newly refurbished property boasts its own private beach club and features three outdoor swimming pools, a heated indoor seawater pool and a full service Thalasso spa centre. The resort has its own internationally certified diving centre, offering courses for beginners and experienced divers as well as night dives, cave dives and wreck dives. The hotel offers an ultra all-inclusive programme between April and October, which even includes a diving taster in the pools. There are plenty of in-house dining options and bars to choose from, including an adults-only bar.
Distance from the beach: splish splash
Comino Hotel & Bungalows, Comino (4 star)
Why settle for a beach when you can have an entire island? There’s barely a handful of full-time residents left on the tiny island of Comino, so the hotel is pretty much the only substantial piece of infrastructure there. The rooms are simply furnished but spacious. It’s all about pared-back simplicity, a chance to get back to basics and enjoy the pleasures and infinite beauty of nature. This is the ultimate get-away-from-it-all holiday, pure R&R. Apart from a sizeable lagoon pool, there are several beaches and coves to discover, including the famous Blue Lagoon. The hotel is a 25 minute boat trip from Malta (departing from Cirkewwa in the North) or 20 minutes from Gozo’s Mgarr harbour. Pack flip-flops but also hiking boots to explore the island’s rugged terrain.
Distance from the beach: it’s all around you