The perfect way to start your Maltese holiday is to eschew the ranks of taxis and take a bus ride from the airport into the capital city of Valetta. The chances are the bus will be a rickety yellow thing that’s a throwback to the 1950s. The driver will supply your ticket whilst driving with the door wide open and his cab will be decorated with a picture of the Virgin Mary and a figurine of a naked lady. There will be potholes every few yards and the noise of honking car horns. You’ll sit back and watch the landscape of cacti and sand-coloured hills pass by. Welcome to Malta!

Malta is well served by big hotel chains which is fine if your idea of fun is to spend your holiday (and a lot of money) with other tourists. However, to get a real feel for Malta, hire a villa. This will be a particularly good option for families and groups where the cost can be shared.