A legendary island romance

Boasting some of the best weather in the world and memorable sea views at every turn, Malta is the perfect destination for a Valentines Day trip away from the cold.

Only a few hours from the UK, the island is full of beautiful romantic hideaways for couples to enjoy, with a large selection of restaurants and hotels to suit every traveller.

Malta, Gozo and Comino are perfect for a lover’s holiday, steeped in culture and history with hidden gems waiting to be explored and discovered. Gozo is a beautiful island worthy of the legends surrounding it; many say that it is the island known as Ogygia, described in Homer's Odyssey. Ogygia was the home of Calypso who held Ulysses captive on the island for seven years, promising immortality if he would never leave her.

For adventurous couples there is diving off the tiny island of Comino, located between Malta and Gozo, and for those more suited to land activities there are horse-riding trails all over the majestic coastline to be explored at leisure.

With so many visual wonders as well as different locations to stimulate the senses, the archipelago provides a destination where any couple will get lost in the moment.

The selection of hotels has something for the tastes of every visitor. The grand Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux is a luxury, boutique, family-run Hotel situated in the medieval, fortified city of M’dina. The hotel is inextricably linked to the history of M’dina, its walls forming part of the bastion walls that surround the beautiful hilltop city and is ideal for a complete hideaway from civilization.

For the spa aficionados, Le Méridien St. Julians Hotel & Spa is set upon the edge of the seafront and overlooks the shimmering Balluta Bay. The 276 guest rooms and suites are contemporary and spacious, and Lotus Spa and Health facilities such as steam rooms, sauna, Jacuzzi, and a heated pool allow guests to achieve complete relaxation.

With double daily Air Malta departures from London Gatwick and London Heathrow, two flights a week from Birmingham and a daily service from Manchester, Malta is extremely accessible. Return fares from the UK to Malta cost from as little as £99 including taxes and charges. Passengers are greeted with warm-hearted Maltese hospitality and in-flight entertainment including feature films, documentaries and Sky Life in-flight magazines together with hot meals and complimentary drinks.

For flights, hotel and car hire reservations visit airmalta.com.