Lampman, I usually stay at the Riu Seabank in Mellieha bay which has the island's largest sandy beach. I used to stay at the Paradise Bay which also has lovely small beaches and, of course, there's Golden Sands if you can afford a 5* hotel - it's ve-e-e-e-ry expensive (so I don't stay there).
All the sandy beaches are in the North, or on Gozo, and I like the quietness up there but I think part of Malta's charm is the rocky coastline further South.
Oh, I always take my umbrella to Malta. Four years ago I got caught in a "monsoon" in Valletta and it rained like I've rarely seen before. All the karrozin drivers crowded, with their horses, under the arch and everyone was drenched. It only lasted half an hour, though, and then it was 35'C again and brilliant sunshine.
