Gozo – three hotels/guest houses owned and run by one family – ferry across to Mgarr in Gozo free, then pay €4.60 for return journey to mainland Malta.
Ghasri is a small village in northern part of Gozo. Catch 308 bus from Victoria (Rabat) to Il-Fonal stop, walk to corner and turn left, then right opposite the Ta Fonal Holiday Complex – sounds more complicated and further than it actually is.
This is a beautiful traditional stone building with a large frontage, very small windows, and a very splendid front door. Originally a farmhouse built 250 years ago, it is a stunning building, beautifully restored to retain some fantastic original features. If you are not sure of time of arrival, phone the owners and someone will pop round to open up and hand over the biggest set of door keys we have ever seen!
Primarily self-catering, (breakfast is provided between 8.30-9.30am sitting at tables next to sunny outdoor pool) there is a big fully-equipped kitchen, your own labelled drawer in the fridge, and help yourself to homemade cake whenever you want to. We were only here for one night in the main house, just four spacious bedroom suites in this building and a further four suites in the annex across from the pool, so ate our main meal out at lunch time and brought munchies and wine back for a snack meal in the evening.
This is a perfect spot if you want to relax away from the town, enjoy walking or sitting by the pool, and particularly if you want somewhere quiet to pen your life story. If you have a chance, you must visit Ta Pinu, approximately half an hour’s walk back along the 308 bus-route. Spectacular church with awe-inspiring curved mosaic panels outside telling the story of Jesus, with more large mosaics inside. Known locally as the Pilgrimage Trail of Ta Pinu, this is the one to visit in Gozo if you have no time for anything else (see separate review of Ta Pinu and Gozo).
Downside? The accommodation is out of the town, about 30 minutes’ walk to nearest mini-market, but there is a bus into the main city Victoria every hour. There are no restaurants nearby, so we found it easier to eat out for lunch then just prepare a light meal in the evening. It does rely on getting on with any other guests, but there is basically a lounge or large balcony each if you want. We would certainly spend more time here, especially as a base for exploring this part of the island.
