How to tempt your teenager away from their mobile in Malta
Planning a family holiday in which everyone from the adults to the toddlers to the teens has a good time can feel like an impossible feat. Finding a balance between family time and individual activities for everyone is especially tricky when you have teenagers in your travelling party. Malta has the solution: with cultural sites to adventure sports and everything in between, there’s plenty to appeal to your teen, plus everyone else in your family. Here’s some ideas for your itinerary.
1. Water Sports at St George’s Bay
Whilst the rest of the family is enjoying the beach at St George’s Bay, sunbathing or swimming, teens can indulge in the wide variety of water sports available within the lido. They can try their hand at paragliding, water skiing, a paddle boat or ride a banana boat. Or, if you’re looking for something which the whole family can join in together, you could even book a powerboat experience.
2. Scuba Diving
Staying with the water theme, Malta’s clear turquoise blue waters are ideal to indulge in a scuba dive and explore the spectacular underwater landscape that’s full of a huge variety of colourful marine life. The family can bond whilst learning to dive together, courtesy of one of the many dive schools on the island, or your teen can explore alone if other family members are less keen.
3. Splash and Fun Water Park
If the water sports and scuba diving in St George’s Bay were a success, then you should consider planning a visit to Malta’s water theme park, Splash and Fun. With attractions for the whole family including lazy rivers, a wave pool, a baby pool, enclosed and open slides and the signature ‘Black Hole’ ride, the park’s resort-like facilities are perfect to let everyone explore individually or together.
4. Day Trip to Gozo
If your adrenaline-rush-loving teen adores adventure sports, then set aside a day of your holiday to go to Malta’s sister island of Gozo. Sample a selection of organised action-packed activities for young adults and the young at heart with local company ‘Gozo Adventures’, or you go solo and try cycling, kayaking, rock-climbing or hiking through Gozo’s stunning countryside, caves and valleys.
5. Quad biking
For the teen who craves yet more adrenaline after Gozo, there’s quad biking in Malta. Older teens with a need for speed will thank you for this cool activity that shows them the island from a fresh perspective, and it’s great fun for the adults in the group as well. (Note: Drivers must be over 18. But teens will definitely enjoy riding along with an adult too!)
6. Exploring Local Culture
For the young archaeologist or artist, Malta has a wealth of cultural sites to whet the appetite for history, art and culture. Home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with some of the most ancient structures and temples in the world open to public view as well as numerous museums, Malta offers plenty to see and experience for art and history enthusiasts.
If you’re planning a family trip to Malta, the Radisson Blu Resort, St. Julian’s is an excellent, centrally-located option for an unforgettable stay. And if you need more convincing, here are 5 reasons to stay in St Julian’s!
