Malta wants to cover most of your hotel expenses this summer, as they’re offering a cash handout worth up to $238 if you stay in the country’s hotels for at least three days. Since the Mediterranean archipelago is expected to open up most of its borders by June 1, the tourism ministry is hoping to get the jump on the international post-pandemic tourism resurgence that’s expected to slowly return this summer.
How the deal works
Payouts for stays of at least three nights will be tiered based on the level of hotel you’re staying in, as follows:
Also, visitors to hotel properties on the island of Gozo (just north of the main island) will get an additional 10% value on the above incentives. The program is applicable for travel dates starting in June, and will continue on a first-come, first-serve basis until all of a $4.1 million Malta Tourism subsidy is used up.
G/O Media may get a commission
All told, it’s a pretty good deal, as hotels in Malta are relatively cheap—5-star hotels can be found for under $200 per night (at least for the September dates I was looking at). If you find a good deal, it’s possible that the handout would cover most of your hotel expenses for a three-day trip.
Is it safe to travel?
While it’s currently possible to travel to Malta, the CDC suggests that you don’t do so at this time, as they still have a “very high level of COVID-19" advisory on their website. However, COVID cases have recently dropped significantly in Malta, and the country’s vaccination rate of 42% (for at least one dose) is the highest in the European Union, per Reuters. Because of this, Malta is expected to open its borders later in June.
Of course, you shouldn’t travel internationally at all unless you are fully vaccinated too. If you are fully vaccinated, however, a trip to Malta later this year seems feasible, at least. Nevertheless, if you do choose to make plans, be aware of the risks—it’s possible there could be a spike in cases that will delay the expected June border opening (for more on safety guidelines for travel, check out this Lifehacker post).
