For many the Maldives are a dream holiday destination, with pristine, white sandy beaches and picturesque wooden huts hanging over the sea. Known for its luxury resorts, the archipelago in the Indian Ocean is a favourite with the rich and famous.
The resorts are recognisable for the beautiful wooden villas which are built over the water. One of these is the Soneva Jani, which features platforms that link up private homes with swimming pools, verandas and a lengthy slide which leads you into the sea, The Mirror reports.
But while it sounds dreamy, trips to the Maldives can set you back thousands - making it a once-in-a-lifetime holiday if you’re lucky enough to go. A week’s stay in a one bedroom village in the Soneva Jani this December (the best time to visit the Maldives is between November and April, outside the Monsoon season) will cost you a whopping £21,600 for two people.
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Luckily, there is a cheaper option - much closer to home - which has been compared to the luxury holiday destination. Ksamil, in southern Albania, has been described as the “Maldives of Albania” by Tiktokers and influencers, although possibly with the encouragement of the country’s government.
We looked up how much a full week would cost for a trip to the 'Maldives of Albania' in July (we looked up July 6 to 13). Flights can be found for as little as £75 on Skyscanner, while we found a week in an entire villa for £227 on Booking.com.
Once a small village on the Albania Riviera, it’s since become a home to a number of hotels which seem to have imitated the style of those in the Maldives. Dozens of videos online show tanned holidaymakers swimming through the sparkling water beneath blue skies,
There’s one spot which is particularly popular, Pema e Thate beach, which has several wooden framed beds that are suspended over the sea. There’s even a sheltered shady area beneath the straw roof which makes it ideal for an afternoon nap.
If you fancy stretching your legs, there are several tree islands dotted along the bay which are just a few hundred metres from the main beach. But, perhaps the major advantage of opting for a stay in Albania over the Maldives is the price.
Tickets from Manchester Airport to Corfu, the nearest airport to Ksamil and just a 30 minute ferry ride away, can be bought for around £75 (in July) with returns costing a similar price on Skyscanner, while a round trip to the Maldives will cost you around £700 (in December). Hotels and villas in Ksamil can cost as little as £30-40 per night, making it an affordable destination to visit.
But there’s even more to do in Albania than just visit the beach. During your stay in the Southern European country you can go climbing in the Alps, walk the historicSilk Road trail, and take in the skyline of capital Tirana from its rotating bar.
