If you are coming to Malta to enjoy some time on the beach, one of the most important things that you are going to have to consider is accommodation. Hotel accommodation by the beach in Malta can be very expensive, so a great alternative would be to choose a self catering holiday apartment.

Kite Surfing at Ghajn Tuffieha, Malta by Windsor Garage

Not only do these tend to be more affordable, but they can offer you a great deal more flexibility for your holiday. For example, if you are travelling with your family, an apartment is going to allow you to all stay in one place without you having to pay for multiple hotel rooms.

When it comes to accommodation, Malta has no short supply. However, it is a very popular destination, so you should make sure that you book well in advance. Once you have found somewhere to stay, booking an affordable flight is also very possible as Malta is well served by budget airlines. This makes flights to Malta easily available from most European capitals.

Enjoying a holiday by the sea is a wonderful experience, and Malta is certainly one of the best options if you are just looking for a relaxing place to come and get away from it all. That said, Malta is not going to disappoint when it comes to other options either. If you have chosen self catering apartments in Malta rather than a hotel, you are going to need to think about food. This is something that is easy to do because Malta has so many fantastic restaurants.

Whether you are looking for local cuisine, or international favourites, you are sure to be able to find it in Malta. In addition, you will find plenty of supermarkets, so you can take some food back to your apartment and cook for yourself.

Saint Peter’s Pool, Malta by Marco Chiesa

If you grow tired of just relaxing on the beach, another great activity you can do is take a boat out and explore some of the attractions that are located close to the island. Boats operate regularly from the shore and you will be able to find one that will take you to whatever you want to see. Alternatively, simply taking a relaxing walk along the beach can be a wonderful way to pass some time with a loved one.

In the evenings, you will find that there are plenty of active places to get a drink along the beach. As the evening draws on, you will also find lots of nightclub opportunities on the island, if that’s what you fancy. For whatever reason you come to Malta, you’re going to find a fascinating island that enjoys wonderful weather and has a huge amount of culture, not to mention fantastic beaches.

Written by Leila El-Dean on behalf of UniqueHolidayMalta.com, specialists in Malta Holiday Rentals.

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The key to planning cheap city breaks, is to first identify what the major costs may be. These are normally to be found in transport, accommodation, and activities. By choosing the most economical way to go about each of these things, weekend city breaks anywhere in Europe become more affordable.

Airline Fares: Landing on the cheapest options

Depending on the destination, the cost of flights can quite often be the most expensive part of a weekend city break in Europe. There are several ways that one can go about reducing the cost though, and all that is needed is a little time and effort. The well-known budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet all have websites that can be browsed through, and from time to time, they also run worthwhile deals. Websites that compare the prices of different airlines can also be helpful in tracking down a cheap flight. Examples of such sites are skyscanner, Opodo, Expedia, Spa Travel, fare compare,etc.

Accommodation: Getting the best deals

After the flights, accommodation can be the next most expensive part when planning weekend city breaks in Europe. Fortunately, the internet can again be of assistance, and it is possible to both view and book hotels for a cheap city break in Paris online. Many hotels will offer some form of discount if staying more than two nights, and so the overall cost per person per night can be reduced.

Activities: Cheap and Cheerful things to do

The French capital has a wealth of things to see and do, and there are several ways to do this in the most economical way whilst not compromising on seeing the attractions themselves.

The first thing to do, is spend a little time in researching Paris, and visit those sites that are grouped together in order to avoid zig-zagging all over the city. Saving travel costs on taxis or other public transport goes a long way to make a cheap city break in Paris. Another idea is to pick the best day to see each attraction. Sundays in particular are a good time to see some places, as the Louvre is free one Sunday per month, and the Sunday organ recital at the Notre Dane Cathedral adds another dimension to the experience there. Paris also has many free museums, such as the Modern Art Museum, Fine Arts Museum and the Paris Fashion Museum. The Rodin Museum is also free on the first Sunday of every month.

Perhaps the most helpful piece of advice when planning cheap city breaks in Paris, or indeed any other city in Europe, is to be flexible. Whilst weekend city breaks might be the most desired choice, it is actually a lot less expensive to travel between Monday and Thursday than it is during the weekend. Early morning flights can also be cheaper than mid morning flights, and occasionally, leaving booking flights and hotels until the last minute can lead to price reductions.

Dave writes for Spa Travel an online travel agent dedicated to offering the cheapest Spa Breaks, flights, hotels and holiday packages for the UK outbound Traveller.

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Flying into Rome

There are two airports, the Fiumicino international airport and the Ciampino airport.  The Flumicino airport is 30km south of Rome and takes 30 – 40 minutes by train to the Termini train station.  The Ciampino airport is slightly closer, just 15km from Rome but chartered and budget airlines such as Ryanair mainly fly into this airport.

Free Open Air Museums

With the weather turning warmer, it is pleasant to spend an afternoon outside admiring the sights, one of the most important being the Rome Forum set against the backdrop of the Palantine Hill.  The Pantheon is also free.  It was a pagan temple built in the 2nd century and then was converted into a church in 608.

Tourist Pass

There is a lot to see in Rome and therefore to avoid paying for all the attractions, it is best to get a 5 day combination pass (if you are of course staying for 5 days).  This gives you entry to some of the most well known attractions including   the Colosseum, Baths of Caracalla, Palatine, Cypta Balbi, Diocletian Baths, Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.

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Travelling within Italy

Visiting Italy in the spring time means there will be less people in the cities and in the countryside.  Why not take the opportunity and see more of Italy. The Eurorail pass stops in many cities in Italy, Milan, Venice, Florence and Pisa in the north and Naples in the south.

Eating Italian style

Rome has an abundance of restaurants to choose from.  Italy is the home to pasta and pizza, so where better place to sample the local cuisine than in Rome? There are many pizza places but Life Pizzeria which is opened in the northern part of Rome is well worth a visit.  It is Rome’s first organic pizzeria and has a variety of vegan foods which previously have been unheard of on Roman menus such as courgettes with onions and plain pizza with mozzarella.

Staying in Rome

There are a number of hotels and hostels to stay in Rome.  However if there is a big group of you, you may want to check out some of the Rome apartments for rent.  It can end up cheaper as you will be splitting the cost among you and you can have the option of eating in which can also save money.

There are many different places to stay when travelling round Europe.  A lot of companies offer short term accommodation rentals in Berlin, Rome, London and you can even rent apartments in Paris.

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