Malta holiday packages versus booking it yourself

Packages are still the default for many British visitors to Malta, and the numbers show it. The Malta Tourism Authority’s 2025 research found that British travellers book a package 62.4% of the time, more than any other of the six markets surveyed. The Spanish, by comparison, went package in only 27.4% of cases. So the question isn’t whether packages to Malta exist, but when one is actually the smarter buy.

What’s in the box

According to the same survey, a Malta package almost always includes the accommodation (98.8%) and the flight (98.1%), and transfers in 73.3% of cases. Sightseeing, car hire or event tickets turn up in very few. The MTA adds that package spending covers bed and breakfast, half board and all-inclusive deals.

On price, I’ll give you the MTA’s averages and nothing more precise, because every package is different. UK visitors paid €1,000.4 per person on average for their package before leaving home, while those going independently spent €463.5 up front on flights, rooms and extras. The two aren’t directly comparable, since independent travellers pay some of their accommodation in Malta, but it gives you a sense of scale. Across the six markets, the average package was €729.2 in winter and €1,174.4 in summer.

What ATOL does for you

For me, this is the strongest argument for a package. The UK Civil Aviation Authority describes ATOL as financial protection when you book a package trip that includes a flight, and it has been around since 1973. You should receive an ATOL certificate when you pay. If the company fails while you’re away, the CAA says it will help you stay in your accommodation where possible, reimburse what you have to pay again and arrange flights home, depending on the circumstances.

The small print matters just as much. ATOL is not travel insurance, so medical bills and personal cancellations need their own cover. And a flight bought directly from the airline, where you receive a valid e-ticket for your payment, isn’t covered. If you want the protection, make sure what you’re buying is a package and that the certificate arrives.

Package or DIY, in pounds and hours

Frankly, it comes down to your dates more than anything else. Out of season, with flights from most UK regional airports and a €3 bus from the airport, building the trip yourself takes an evening and usually leaves you with more choice of hotel. In the peak weeks, when rooms are scarce and you’re travelling with children, I’d rather have one company responsible for flight, room and transfer, and one number to ring if the flight is cancelled. That’s the trade I’m paying for with a package, more than any discount.

Getting there from the UK

On a single day in late September 2026, Malta airport’s departure board showed flights to eleven UK airports, the London ones plus a spread of regional airports from Newcastle to Belfast. That’s one day’s snapshot, not a timetable, but it tells you most regional airports have a route. My guide to flights to Malta has the details. If you’re combining Spain and Malta, Madrid is direct all year too, and I cover its late-night arrivals in Madrid to Malta flights.

When I’d buy a package, and when I wouldn’t

I’d go for a package in July and August, when Maltese hotels ran at close to 84% occupancy in 2024, particularly with children, and whenever I wanted all-inclusive in Malta, because that’s where buying it all together makes most sense. For a short break in Valletta, I’d book separately, since its hotels are small and sell a lot of rooms directly; see where to stay in Malta.

Sums to do before paying

Three checks before handing over a deposit. First, the same hotel’s room-only price for your dates. Second, whether transfers are included, because the Airport Direct bus is €3 a head (€3.50 on the TD1), as I explain in Malta airport to Valletta. Third, the 2026 eco-contribution, which the MTA treats as a separate charge from the room and which may be missing from the headline figure.

And one last calculation, of time rather than money. UK visitors stayed 6.4 nights on average in 2025, according to the MTA using NSO data, which is roughly the classic seven-night package. That’s enough for Valletta, Mdina and a day on Gozo without rushing.