The Gozo Hideaway

Rooms

Walk up the broad, sweeping staircase and you’ll reach 2 large bedrooms on the first floor, both of which have ensuite bathrooms. The master double bedroom is large, and has a small balcony that overlooks the pool and the tangle of cactus in the neighbouring farmhouse’s field. It’s furnished with an antique wrought-iron bed, canopied by a filmy white mosquito net. There’s a rustic dressing table and a wardrobe. The bathroom leads off the bedroom and is white tiled - it has a tub (with an overhead shower), which can be a rarity around these parts and is useful for those travelling with kids.

Along the hall is a twin room with 2 slightly high, charmingly vintage wrought-iron bedsteads, plus an additional sofabed. This room has a balcony overlooking the quiet street. The ensuite bathroom has a shower only, and again is plain and unfussy.

From the first floor, an almost-hidden flight of stairs leads up to the third bedroom - another double. It feels very private and nicely separated from the other bedrooms - again it’s of a good size and has an ensuite shower bathroom. Doors here lead out to the house's roof terrace, which is as yet unexploited, but has views across the town's rooftops.

Bathrooms are supplied are with soap, shower gel and shampoo. Optional air conditioning is installed in all rooms on a pay-as-you-go meter system, though more traditional room fans are always available if you want something with a little more charm.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Mosquito net
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The well-kitted kitchen is a lovely place to cook, with lots of pale limestone work surfaces and a large wooden farmhouse table for convivial meals. Appliances are Smeg and include a large fridge-freezer and a gas range cooker. There’s a great array of sharp knives, good quality saucepans and enough crockery to supply a small army. There’s also a barbecue outside and you can ask the villa concierge if you need any extra fuel.

You'll receive a welcome pack to start you off (local sourdough bread, a bottle of red wine, local honey, butter, water and milk), and kitchen basics are supplied (bin bags, washing-up liquid etc). And you can pre-book a ready-to-eat meal if you're arriving late. Local butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers are all listed in the villa book - there’s a small local supermarket and fresh fruit and vegetables are on sale in the local market daily.

You can book a personal chef for a special celebration or if self-catering starts to pall. Choose Italian/Maltese themed set menus or bespoke dishes as you prefer, vegetarian options are available. The chef will source local beverages and wines.

There are also several excellent restaurants in the main square, including D-Venue (grills, seafood and cocktails on a lovely terrace) and Oleander (traditional Maltese food), plus a handy café for coffee and cakes. There are lots of takeaways offering good pizza too.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster
• Welcome hamper

Activities

• Lounge around, and in, the private pool; the terrace has all-day sun
  
• Visit Xaghra’s mysterious Ggantija Temples and wonder why and how they were built. Afterwards, explore the underground caverns that lie beneath people's houses, with stalagmites and stalagtites
  
• Enjoy beach fun at beautiful red-sand Ramla and San Blas Bays; the villa has beach toys to borrow. Or explore Dwerja, a coastal area with extraordinary rock formations
  
• Rent the villa's private boat and head out on a day trip; or charter a luxury yacht with onboard 3 course BBQ lunch
  
• The villa concierge can book horse riding, boat trips, guided island walks and jeep safaris to explore the countryside. They also partner with a local operator who can arrange eco-tours, painting and photography workshops, watersports, biking, hiking and diving
  
• Hike through Gozo's extraordinary countryside by taking a coastal walk on one of the island’s many winding paths
  
• Visit Victoria, with its walled citadel, beautiful cathedral and fascinating Museum of Archaeology
  
• Take a day trip to the beautiful, barren island of Comino, and swim in the Blue Lagoon
  
• Go diving or snorkelling from one of Gozo’s many picturesque coves

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Scuba diving
• Snorkelling
• Swimming

Best Time to go

Our Top Tips

Location

The house is on the smaller Maltese island of Gozo, in the village of Xaghra. Gozo is 6km from Malta, and currently only accessible by ferry.

By Air
Fly to Malta International Airport - there are plenty of flights year-round from UK and other countries.

By Boat
You can also reach Malta by catamaran from Sicily, a 1.5-hour journey. See Virtu Ferries.

From Malta to Gozo
If you intend to hire a car for your holiday, it makes sense to pick it up at Malta airport, drive to Cirkewwa port (40 mins) and take the car across to Gozo on the ferry (25 mins).
If not, there are express buses to Cirkewwa port, or the owners can arrange a transfer.
Either way, the ferry docks at the Gozitan port of Mgarr. From here it's 10 mins' drive by car to Xaghra, a little longer by bus. Or you can pre-book a taxi.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.