MALTESE CROSSING

Last year 205,000 stressed Britons sought respite through holistic holidays and spa breaks, taking advantage of yoga classes, therapy and healing visits in addition to surgical recuperation, spending £135million on ‘health and wellness’ trips.

In ancient Greece, pilgrims and patients travelled all across the Med to the sacred waters of Epidaurus to pray to the gods to heal their medical ailments. Today’s health tourist may have long abandoned pagan rituals, but it's de rigeur to go to retreats - like the Fortina Spa Resort in Malta for pampering, relaxation - and now cosmetic work!

Malta is renowned for its legacy as a convalescence island during the Second World War, earning it the nickname of Nurse of the Mediterranean. Caring for over 20,000 convalescent soldiers on its shores, in 1942, Malta was awarded the George Cross for its people's ‘outstanding gallantry’ during the second world war.

Health Tourism

Today, Malta’s legacy lives on in Fortina, the most comprehensive spa resort in the Mediterranean. The spa has launched a health tourism programme to consolidate the combined costs of the initial consultation, travel, treatment, accommodation, post-operative care and even spa treatments into their packages.

As private costs have rocketed in the UK, more Britons are considering going abroad for dental work for treatments such as crowns, implants, bridges and cosmetic dentistry. Those in need of dental treatment or a medical makeover will find that the Fortendent, a state of the art clinic managed by professionals offering the highest level of dentistry.

Malta

To add to Fortina’s respect and praise from the international medical community, Malta is one of the foremost health destinations in the world. Just a quick three hour flight from the UK and with English as its official second language, Malta has established itself as an ideal destination. Malta itself, as historically intriguing as it is culturally fascinating, it is a country where familiar pillar box red phone boxes hold court with walled gardens,-palaces and outstanding architecture.  So while Fortina’s aftercare for post-operative care patients is distinctive in it’s all-encompassing excellence, the resort is also perfect for those who don’t necessarily require elective or cosmetic treatment but are aiming for a restful breaks to rejuvenate, invigorate and heal.

As Fortina’s reputation and appeal has spread outwards, it has begun to attract the great and the good of the entertainment industry.  It is currently a popular holiday destination for musicians, footballers and actors. Following a recent stay at Fortina, dynamic Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant is rumoured to be in talks with the surviving members to reform the band. The music press and fans are salivating, performing backflips and the rock and roll salute in desperate hope that the world’s ultimate supergroup will reunite. And so the question begs, if a stay at Fortina pre-empts such epiphanies and reconciliations for iconic rock legends, what could it do for the average Joe?

Fine dining

The Fortina has some of the most exquisite cuisine to be found in Europe. There are eight fantastic restaurants toexperience with varied international cuisine, from far eastern to Mediterrean, all in one resort.

You could also taste Japanese delicacies prepared by highly qualified authentic Japanese chefs within the beautifullythemed Hibiki restaurant, equipped with Tepanyaki grills. Make your fine dining choices from La Vallette buffet restaurant, Tigne Brasserie, Giardino Pizzeria, Italian Pizzeria, Hibiki Japanese Restaurant, Can Thai restaurant.and Taste restaurant. I remember the desserts at the Brasserie from my own visit in 2002...to DIE for...