2026 - Malta Group Long-Stay Trip
April 18 - May 9, 2026 | 21 Night Long-Stay Trip
Mellieħa, Malta
What is a Group Long-Stay?
The idea behind a group long-stay program is to escape Canada's cold winter by heading somewhere warm for 3 - 4 weeks to shake the dreariness off! You'll be booked with other solos and couples staying at the same accommodations but your time is your own to spend as you wish. You choose your pace and activities at leisure. Long stays are meant to be relaxing and independent, not rigid or busy.
There will be group transfers for those arriving on the same flights and we'll look at group tour options once we guage interest. Other than that, your time is your own to keep busy or relax, as you wish. Join others to explore a new town in the mountains or along the coast, or walk the beach in solitude. Join others for dinner out to enjoy fresh local seafood or paella or cook up a lunch or dinner in your own kitchen with produce and fish from the local market. Take a day tour, rent a car or wander ... choose to spend each day however you wish.
Photo: Malta
Beautiful Mellieħa
Your home-away-from-home will be at the Pergola Hotel, situated a top a hill with breathtaking views of the town of Mellieha and of the islands of Gozo and Comino. You’ll be just two minutes walk from the town centre with shops, restaurants and always beautiful views. You’ll also be just 40 minutes away from the Capital of Valetta by car or an hour and a bit by public bus. You’ll be a few minutes from the ferries or boat trips that take you to the incredible islands of Comino and Gozo which offer endless incredible scenery and famed beaches.
Malta is a hilly destination in general. There are lots of great hikes throughout the island, including in Mellieha. There are incredible beaches and long, mostly flat promenades near many of them, but there are times when you won’t want to walk the hill back to the hotel or in another local town. Be prepared to use local public transportation or grab an Uber. Everything is not walkable for everyone. The hilly landscape is also what adds to the rugged beauty of the destination and you’ll fall in love with the breathtaking sunsets!
Photo: Malta
Inclusions:
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21 nights in an apartment with kitchenette – all units may be slightly different.
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Group transfers from/to the Airport for those arriving on group flights.
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2 outdoor pools + a panoramic roof terrace
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2 restaurants + 1 bar on site
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Shuttle bus from the hotel available that will take you to various parts of the island (additional costs may apply). Taxis or Ubers and public bus are available as well.
Distances:
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2 – 3 kms walk to the beach or 7 – 10 minutes by bus
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Local bus stop 2 – 3 minutes walk from hotel
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Supermarkets or convenience stores are 5 - 10 minutes walk from the hotel
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25 minute walk (mostly) downhill to the bay and beaches – you will likely want to use public transportation to return to the hotel!
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There are no underground subways in Malta. Transportation will be by bus, foot, shuttle, taxi/uber, self-drive and/or ferry.
Photo: Pergola Hotel, Melliha, Malta
PRICING:
** Pricing is based on a minimum of 20 confirmed passengers.
Deposit
Deposit: 50% of the room category you choose
Final Payment due by: Jan 16, 2026
- Planning & Support Fees: $225 + tax CAD for solo travellers OR $300 + tax per household/couple – this fee covers booking your flights, any extra tours you may wish to add, assistance with insurance, emergency in-destination assistance & more
- Insurance – depends on individual – to be purchased when first deposits are made
- Flights – estimated $1400 - $1700 CAD per person in Economy.
Premium Economy estimated $3500 - $5000 CAD per person
You can use points with Avion / Aeroplan for flights if you wish, but you'll need to book these with your points provider. - Meals & Tipping – depends on individual grocery & restaurant preferences
- Car Rental – optional – We can arrange this in advance for you, or you can hire a car locally, provided there is availability. Electric vehicles are possible and recharging is available at the hotel for an additional cost.
- Tour options will be provided at a later date, based on group interest.
- Transportation – Taxis, trains etc throughout your stay, as needed
- There is a Maltese Tourist Tax of .50c EUR per person, per night to be paid locally which exists to sustainably enhance tourism infrastructure. It ensures visitors enjoy improved facilities while supporting local communities, balancing tourism growth with environmental and cultural preservation.

Are you ready?
You can look forward to beautiful beach walks, Pastizzi and Bragioli, intriguing history and beautiful new friendships.
Frequently Asked Questions
The pricing listed above per person is for the land portion of the trip only. As passengers may choose to arrive early, stay longer or visit other destinations, international flights will be arranged for each couple/individual as per their preferences.
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Planning & Support Fees - $258.75 CAD for solo travellers OR $345 per household/couple – this fee covers booking your flights, any extra tours you may wish to add, assistance with insurance, emergency in-destination assistance & more
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Insurance – cost depends on your individual situation and is based on age, length of trip, cost of trip and what insurance you may already have.
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Flights – estimated $1400 - $1700 CAD per person in Economy class. We will assist with the booking of flights. This will be done after the final payments are collected in January 2026. If you have Avion / Aeroplan points you can book flights with those to save this cost, no problem. Please do not book flights until after final payments are complete to ensure we have the minimum number required for the group.
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Meals & Tipping – depends on individual grocery & restaurant preferences
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Car Rental – optional – We can arrange this in advance for you, or you can hire a car locally, provided there is availability.
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Tours – will be provided at a later date, based on group interest.
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Transportation – Hotel shuttle, Taxis, trains, etc, throughout your stay, as needed
- Laundry Service – Available daily. Price list available on request.
- Spa treatments and services depending on your needs.
- Groceries – Your apartment is equipped with a full kitchenette. There is a small grocery store next door to the hotel and a large grocery store in the village about 1km away.
- Guests will have access to the hotel's indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and gym, Cave bar daily from 9:00am to late, and a conference room available for booking.
- Spa treatments and services are available for an additional fee and generally do not have long wait lists. View the price list.
- Daily laundry service is available for an additional fee (price list available on request).
- Guests may access the hotel shuttle service. View the price list.
- Daily breakfast service may be added for an additional fee.
Solo travellers are most welcome to join the trip and will no doubt enjoy the company of the other travellers. The cost for a Solo Occupancy room is $5715 CAD. You will have a regular double occupancy room, but won't need to share the space with anyone!
Please understand that special requests are requests only and can never be guaranteed. Ultimately, the hotel property is in charge of assigning rooms. Please let us know of any special requests when you register to book your space on the trip.
- All rooms have balconies or terraces (if on the ground floor)
- Some rooms may have the option for twin beds, but not all of them do so if you'd like twin beds we need to know in advance. Also, you should know that while twin beds will be sheeted separately, there may not be room in between them.
For any other special requests or accessibility needs, please let us know when booking. We will work with the hotel to accommodate requests, but they cannot be guaranteed.
We have a minimum number of 15 participants required to confirm group space. We have a maximum number of 26 participants if all rooms fill with double occupancy.
We understand the extra cost of travelling solo can be cost prohibitive for some. Many people enjoy the company of others, while some wish to truly have their own space.
If you are interested in joining the trip and wish to have a roommate, we are happy to connect you with other travellers looking for the same. We do not pair anyone up, but we will connect you to a new potential friend and you can decide if you would like to room together.
Please email Louise to express interest and let her know you are looking for a roommate.
Absolutely! Unfortunately,, we can't assist with booking or managing points flights for you, but if you want to do this yourself, by all means you can.
Please do not book any flights until we confirm it's time to do so!
We will start looking at flight options after final payments are collected in January 2026.
No vaccines or medications are required to participate in this trip although we always recommend travellers speak to a travel health clinic/nurse to discuss your particular health situation. We suggest that your childhood vaccines and routine vaccinations such as Tetanus, Hepatitus A & B, Shingles, Flu and Covid19, etc are up to date. We can provide a discount code for virtual travel health services if you wish to have an online consultation, or consult with your family Doctor.
We feel overall Malta is a safe destination to visit. Some of the cities and markets have issues with petty crime such as theft and pickpocketing. You should be vigilant with your belongings when using local transit, but overall Malta is considered a safe destination to visit.
You can review the Canadian Government's travel advice for Malta here.
The apartments have a fully equipped kitchenette with afull-size microwave, full size fridge, and cooker. View photos and information.
There is a small grocery store close to the hotel and a large grocery store in the village about 1km away.
There is a small grocery store close to the hotel and a large grocery store in the village about 1km away.
Daily laundry service is available and a price list is available on request or you can go to a local laundromat nearby.
Tours are not included in the price, however, we will be offering a couple of group tours at a later date.
You will also have the option of booking your own tours or working with the Pergola Hotel's concierge to book your choice of activities.

Next Steps
If you're ready to have a relaxing escape from Nova Scotia's cold Winter and you are intrigued by exploring the sunny islands of Malta, the 2026 Long-Stay Trip might be the perfect vacation for you. Please message Louise Fraser with any questions and to book your space right away! Louise will get your booking forms and credit card information. She’ll take care of everything from start to finish for your vacation.