How to Find Luxury Hotels in Gozo Island

Gozo Island is part of the archipelago of Malta. Located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, Italy, it is the second largest island in the archipelago, next to Malta itself. Vacationers flock to Gozo Island for its gorgeous beaches and bay.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport
• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Choose Where to Stay on Gozo Island

1. Choose accommodations in Marsalforn, the fishing harbor, for close proximity to the area's many shops and restaurants as well as nightlife. This area is popular with tourists for its 4-star luxury resorts and water sports. To book accommodations, contact the Gozo Tourism Association at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).
2. Gozo Island doesn't have a lot of inexpensive accommodations. Most of the hotels have 3- and 5-star ratings. Other options include guest houses and vacation rentals. Some luxury vacation rentals are 200-year-old farmhouses with private pools.
3. Pick accommodations in Victoria, the capital of Gozo, to be within walking distance of the island's historical attractions such as the Citadel and St. George's Basilica. The city is called Rabat by residents and is located at the center of the island.

Get to and Around Gozo Island

4. Plan to take the ferry to Mgarr, the harbor on Gozo. Ferries usually leave from Cirkewwa, Malta every 45 minutes. The ferry takes about 25 minutes and only costs 2 Malta lira, which is the equivalent of about $6 US, depending on the exchange rate.
5. Take a helicopter from Malta International Airport to Xewkija Heliport on Gozo. It only takes 15 minutes to get there and offers a beautiful view of both islands. Helicopters fly multiple times everyday, and a round trip adult fare is about 25 Malta lira, or about $77.

Plan Your Stay on Gozo Island

6. Visit the Ramla i-Hamra beach near Xaghra. It's the best beach on Gozo and is believed to be the location of Calypso's Cave written about Homer's "The Odyssey." Gozo is sometimes called the Island of Calypso. Today, visitors marvel at the red sands and undeveloped coastline.
7. Plan a day trip to the Azure Window and the Inland Sea on the west coast of Gozo if you have time. Beautiful pictures can be taken at both.

Tips & Warnings

• Book summer accommodations early because this is the high season. You may want to avoid traveling in August; this is when Europeans take their holiday.
• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Practice water safety when swimming around Gozo as currents can be strong. Don't go swimming by yourself.