'Absolutely beautiful and cheap' country is 'most underrated in world'

A holidaymaker is urging travel enthusiasts to visit what she calls the "most underrated country in the world" promising a wealth of activities and an experience that won't break the bank at under £500. Hannah, a young traveller who regularly shares her top travel tips on her TikTok account @hannahshols, has been captivated by numerous destinations but holds a special place in her heart for Malta.

Nestled below Italy and above Tunisia, this gem of a location is just over a three-hour flight from the UK. On a trip to the diminutive nation with friends, Hannah found that they each spent slightly more than £400 for flights, a five-night hotel stay with access to a rooftop pool, breakfast included, as well as baggage and transfers.

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Her TikTok video showcasing the adventure amassed over one million likes. She enthused: "Malta is by far the most underrate country I think I've ever visited."

She continued: "Even though Malta is the 10th smallest country in the world, it is definitely giving big country energy." The video highlights the destination's captivating sea views, abundant shops and restaurants, historical landmarks, and stunning gardens.

Reflecting on her September visit last year, Hannah shared why the trip was so memorable: "One thing I loved about Malta was that it was like nowhere I'd ever been before. It's got such strong Arabic and Roman influences."

She concluded with heartfelt praise: "It was just absolutely beautiful and everyone we met just seemed so proud to be Maltese."

The travel influencer recommends a trip to the capital city of Valletta for those visiting Malta. Hannah and her group primarily explored the city on foot or used the bus service, which she described as "super convenient and cheap".

She suggested: "Just spend a day in Valletta, roaming around, street dining, going to the boutique shops, wandering in and out of the gardens, seeing the cannons being fired at the saluting battery, and checking out the harbour front."

Hannah also endorsed the Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon cruise. This full-day maritime excursion departs from Sliema and offers the chance to see both islands in a single day, along with various landmarks.

According to Hannah, the cost for her and her friends was "around £29 each". Her video attracted over 1,000 comments, with many echoing her sentiments about the country. A local resident expressed, "I am from Malta and I am so happy that you loved our little island."

Another user exclaimed: "Malta is stunning, I would go back in a heartbeat," while someone else remarked, "Genuinely one of my favourite European destinations ever- never gets boring.

"Omg I live in Malta, it's so underrated," another commenter posted.

How to get to Malta

A variety of airlines including Air Malta, Easyjet, British Airways, Ryanair, and Jet2 operate direct flights from the UK to Malta. The most frequented route is from London Heathrow to Malta International Airport, located in the capital city of Valletta.

Flights can also be booked from Bournemouth, Liverpool, Norwich, Belfast, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, and Glasgow.