MALTA - 7-14 nights from 18th May - help?

[54isanopendoor]

I want to travel (for first time in 20 years hence very nervous) to Malta in May.
HAS to be Malta. Have up to 14 days to be away but budget is beans so...

I had found a place in Meheilla that was a twin & sofabed with a kitchenette.
Ideal as travelling with 2 teens with ASD so flexible & cheap. Accom, flights, baggage & transfers was £2K. Bargain. Except due to age of Dc2 we could only use the 'kiddie pool' not the nice peaceful adult one on the roof so no good.

Can anyone else help me find something in Malta for 18 May onwards please?
Open to any accom. Flights from London ideally. Budget small. Fingers crossed.

I appreciate that the internet is at my fingertips but I'm not great & not confident so if anyone could give me a steer I'd be grateful. Travel agent just sent me the above (great except for pool situation) or hols / cruises for 8K!

Maybe I just take the cheap option & try to forget we can't access the Pool?
Was hoping to find some alternatives to compare so I could book up today.
I did see an AirB&B in the Valetta area last year which had a tiny private pool on its roof which would do but now I can't find it (ok with MN but rubbish with tech)

When you say a small budget, what sort of price range are you looking at? Is it 1 adult and 2 teens?

@ThreeB thanks for replying -
Yes, me, Ds (19) & Dd (16)
I was very pleased with 2k for 10 nights self catering inc flights.
I'm thinking I'd probably need to allow £100 / dy for food & drinks so £3K total if includes food & around £2k if none included seems about right?
(I appreciate that this is beans but it's a big chunk of my income so that's it)
But only 2 of us could use the pool (therefore none of us would)
Beaches aren't the easiest to get to as I have some mobility issues.
We're quite happy with basic & small self catering with a plunge pool would do.

It's definitely worth a look on the BA website. I had a bit of a play and I can find a number of options (including flights) that may work for you. This one was the result that caught my eye (I really hope it's not the hotel you already looked at!) as I know the location and it's a good base as it's on the bus routes straight back into Valetta but also near enough to the ferry terminal that you could pop across to Gozo for the day

Quite honestly if DD 2 is 16 I’d be using the adults only pool. They won’t be checking ID, and in my extensive experience people with much younger kids take them in adults only pools. In fact, the vast majority of “adults only” places have 16 as the acceptable age.

Another option but 7 nights all inclusive rather than 10 nights self catering

Valetta is not the best area if you have mobility issues plus it's not a relaxing pool/beach area.

Try Melieha further North. Look at Easyjet for flights.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/34828691?adults=1&children=2&checkin=2024-05-18&check_out=2024-05-31&source_impression_id=p3_1705926407_lc4NDf0gm6oqUJ9O&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=b8efbd19-352d-44b9-aed6-3ac73264acde

16 is fine ? They just don't want kids running and screaming

I agree, 16 will be fine for the pool. Melleiha is a good area based on what you have said. Also worth noting, the Maltese are very inclusive. If your sons need a quiet space/fast tracking at Malta airport, email them your requirements. They were excellent for my son. Have an amazing time, it is a wonderful country

Have you looked on the jet2 holiday website? 10 nights self catering in Melleiha Bay from 20th May for 2 adults one child is coming up at £1,900

I looked on Tripadvisor & people said: 'average hotel but really lovely rooftop pool - best bit but strictly over 17'. So I emailed the manager & said Dd will be 16 yrs 11m & would only use pool with myself & older brother but they said No & they check entry carefully. So, it would be too stressful to try it. Bit of a pity.

I'd thought of Valetta / Sliema area as I have maltese family there we will want to see (but not stay with). So Sliema would mean not too much trekking around. But its pricey (for me). Thank you all, please keep any ideas coming x

https://www.onthebeach.co.uk/results?adults=3&childAges=&children=0&dateFormat=specific&departureDate=2024-05-18&flexibility=3&hotelIds=&infants=0&locationIds=378&nights=10&departureRangeEndDate=2024-05-18&rooms=1&searchType=holiday&departureAirports=LGW%2CLHR%2CLTN%2CSEN%2CSTN&filters%5Bdeparture_date%5D%5B0%5D=20240518&filters%5Bdeparture_date%5D%5B1%5D=20240519&filters%5Bdeparture_date%5D%5B2%5D=20240520&bags=2&sort=PRICE_LOW_HIGH

Sorry for ridiculous link but hopefully this will show you the options I found starting from £300 ish pp for 10 nights.

TUI have a half board hotel coming in at just over £2k. But be patient, their best deals come out on Tuesdays about 2 months ahead of the date, you could get lucky by waiting at least a bit

@bobomomo oh I didn't know that -Thank you !!!

@Sallysoup - thanks, lots of cheapies on there - interestingly including the one with the lovely rooftop pool we coudn't use this year (hotel said: 'choose us next year' !) & it's 500 cheaper than the travel agent quote.

Am I always cheaper online than using an agent?
I think I probably want a package rather than sep flights / accom for this 1st trip but is booking direct with Tui etc cheaper than going into, say, Hays Travel ?

I find it luck of the draw whether agents are cheaper or not. They will often try to price match an online price.

I usually book everything separately online these days but I am used to doing it, packages can be handy.

I consistently find on the beach cheaper than other websites.

Look on skyscanner for flights

Airbnb or Booking.com for accommodation.

Then you just need to take care of transfers to and from the airport which is easy for a country that is as tiny as Malta!

Usually way cheaper than a package deal if you're doing self-catering.