“Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find”, at least according to Shakespeare. But the most steadfast of friendships need a little nurturing and the laid-back atmosphere of Gozo is the perfect place to do it.

The flimsiest of pretexts will do for your other half; tell him that if you hear one more volley of whining from the kids, you won’t be responsible for your actions. The childfree might prefer to use a girlfriend crisis, real or imagined. Then grab the car, fill it with women and sail for Gozo. That way, nothing short of the apocalypse will interrupt your girl time. Here’s how to do it.

The venue

Got cash to splash? The Ta Ċenċ and the Kempinski hotels are both five-star and offer great girl-bonding opportunities while you relax in the spa or by the pool. www.hotwire.com are offering a five star “secret hotel” deal from around €86 a night. You’ll only find out which hotel it is after you book, but with these two the only likely options, it’s a great saving. If you’re broke, they also have a four star for €44.

Nothing short of the apocalypse will interrupt your girl time

For a cosy villa, www.airbnb.com is offering Sardinella, a new three-bedroom traditional style home with a cute little pool. A weekend costs around €300. Or for €280, you can stay at Farmhouse Tibna, in Victoria. It sleeps eight and has a private pool, jacuzzi and upstairs terrace (www.gozofarmhouses.com).

The menu

Gozo has some really fabulous restaurants at great prices. Reliable options are Patrick’s Steakhouse on Europe Street, Victoria (try the strawberry cheesecake) and Ta’ Karolina on Marina Street, Xlendi. For something down to earth, Tal-Furnar Restaurant on Xibla Street, Xagħra is a good choice, plus the owner’s homemade wine is likely to make the party go with a swing.

If you’re renting a villa, you might want to consider hiring TV chef Claire Borg. Claire can cook something fabulous for dinner and if you like, she’ll teach you how to do it at the same time. Her signature dishes to make you drool include wild spinach pasta, chilli cherry chocolate cupcakes, fig ’n flowers pie and foraged nettle and potato bread. Contact her at www.claireborg.com for prices.

Daytime de-stress

If you never get time to go for a massage, then it’s time one came to you. Marit from www.gozomobilemassage.weebly.com is an honest-to-goodness Scandinavian and she’ll Swedish massage your troubles away. She also works with warm lava stones and reflexology. The best bit is that after she’s finished, you can just pull on a robe and hang out with the girls again, rather than braving the outdoors to get back. Contact her for group prices.

Wake up and taste the wine

To pep you up after the massage, head to the Massar Winery vineyards in Gharb on Saturday. Wine tasting sessions here include four different types of wine, accompanied by local bread with sundried tomato paste, Gozo’s cold press olive oil, olives and peppered cheeselets. The setting itself is heavenly; on a fine day, you’ll be amongst the vines, seeing the sun and the soil that shape the grape. It costs €20 per person for ninety minutes. To book in advance or to arrange a different group time, contact them on www.massarwinery.com.

Evening entertainment

The point of Gozo is that you make your own entertainment. James Aquilina can help with that. A former winner of Best Bartender of the Year, he can show you how to mix up your favourite drinks and will keep them flowing for you. He says: “For me, cocktails are like cuisine and deserve the same level of attention to detail and craftsmanship as a chef applies to the food he prepares.” So think of it as haute cuisine a la beverage…while you can still think at all that is. Contact James at www.cocktailjames.com for prices and bookings.

Coffee morning

Before you leave, blitz any niggling hangover symptoms with a coffee morning at Café Reale in Xagħra. They serve the black stuff in a glass, which has a grown-up feel to it, and complement it with great slabs of berry almond cake or chocolate pastries. The place is worth it just for a gossipy session of people watching in the square.