If there’s one destination we associate with peak tropical luxury, it’s the Maldives – and it hasn’t gained that enviable reputation for nothing.
With 160 of its islands occupied by resorts, it fulfils all the basic holiday paradise criteria: turquoise water, powder white sand, and year-round blue skies. But it’s those dreamy overwater and beachfront villas, leading straight onto the sand or hovering above the ocean, that really set Maldivian luxury apart.
Yet even paradise isn’t perfect – most notably because it’s a 10-hour flight from the UK and air tickets in peak holiday seasons can veer into the astronomical. The journey doesn’t end once you’ve landed in the capital city of Malé, either: some of the nearer islands are accessible by boat, but most are a seaplane-flight away. As idyllic as it sounds, flying in a tiny aircraft that lands on water is not everyone’s cup of tea.
It’s fortunate, then, that the Maldives is not the only game in town, so to speak. It might surprise you to discover that Europe is home to various (almost) identical destinations where you can enjoy your own private slice of sandy heaven every bit as lovely as its Indian Ocean equivalent.
Here’s where to find them…
Analipsi
Crete, Greece
Known for its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibe, there are more than a few hotels on the island of Crete. The resort that has managed to most closely mimic that Maldivian feel, however, might surprise you. Despite offering the all-important over-water bungalows, Stella Island (from £272) in Analipsi is, ironically, slightly inland. That’s because it’s not actually an island at all, but a hotel built around a giant man-made lagoon.
It’s adults-only, and bills itself as a “floating paradise”, with thatched-roof villas that feature wooden decks and steps that head straight into the water – just like they do in the real deal. After a few fancy cocktails from their poolside bar, you could definitely be fooled.
Verdict: Perfect accommodation, but lacking on the nature front
Maldives-alike rating: 6/10
Ksamil
Butrint National Park, Albania
This gem of the Albanian Riviera has become an Instagram hit thanks to its turquoise waters and white beaches, with uninhabited off-shore islands helping to add to that Robinson Crusoe feel. In summer, however, the beaches can be packed – and feel more Margate than Maldives.
For the best of both worlds, head to Arameras Beach Resort (from £95), which is located just 2km from the village, but has its own private beach and individual villas. You’ll need to take a short buggy ride down the hill to reach the sand, but the elevated position means you can look out from your room across the Ionian Sea to Crete.
Verdict: Beautiful and reasonable, but lacking when it comes to proper seclusion
Maldives-alike rating: 6/10
Costa Smeralda
Sardinia, Italy
Meaning ‘emerald coast’, the clue is in the name when it comes to Costa Smeralda. The water here is indeed a dazzling shade of green and the beaches are equally worthy of paradise status. The main hub of Porto Cervo is Europe’s worst-kept secret – it’s a playground for the rich and famous, crammed with fancy hotels, glamorous yachts and designer boutiques. But along the same coastline, away from the bustle, there are quieter coves to explore.
Right next to Porto Rotondo, a 30-minute drive south, sits the elegant Hotel Sporting (from £222) with ground-floor rooms that lead straight onto a private beach. It takes around 10 seconds to get from bed to lapping waves, and roughly one minute in the other direction to reach the restaurants on the port. Magnifico!
Verdict: The natural beauty is top-notch, but Italian hospitality is too formal to be mistaken for its island counterpart
Maldives-alike rating: 7/10
Pampelonne Beach
Côte d’Azur, France
An idyllic stretch of sand that runs for almost 5km along the Gulf of Saint Tropez, Pampelonne Beach gets full marks for beauty, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, leaves a little to be desired when it comes to laid-back island vibes. Nevertheless, head along the shoreline from the fancy beach clubs and you’ll come upon a cluster of family-friendly holiday villages with a totally different feel – and surprisingly economical price tags.
The most luxurious, Prairies de la Mer (from £105), offers wooden lodges right on the sand, with private sun decks – some with magical sea vistas. There are also two swimming pools and endless kids’ activities on offer, as well as the odd beach party (this is still Saint Tropez, after all). But the feel is definitely more chilled island than glitz and glam.
Verdict: It’s an astonishingly good likeness, but slightly more frenetic than a Maldivian island
Maldives-alike rating: 7/10
Carbis Bay
Cornwall, UK
If you pick your moment with the weather, we have our very own Maldives-lookalike right here in the UK. On a hot day in Carbis Bay, the turquoise water, powdery sand and breathtaking scenery is as good as that of any tropical island. The water may not quite reach the bath-warm temperatures of the Indian Ocean but, on a calm day, you can take to the water on a paddle board and ignore the chill entirely.
Unfortunately, the island atmosphere tends to be ruined when the crowds turn up with their gaudy deckchairs and windbreakers. But the best way to enjoy this little enclave of British beauty is at the Carbis Bay Hotel (from £325). The main building sits up on the cliff but the hotel’s Beach Suites are right on the sand, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows and direct beach access. When the sun shines, it really is hard to believe you’re in Blighty.
Verdict: Given it’s on our doorstep, this is the perfect spot on a sunny weekend
Maldives-alike rating: 8/10
Sani Beach
Kassandra, Greece
There’s no shortage of dreamy beaches in Greece and, with warmer waters than elsewhere in Europe, its archipelagos certainly score highly on tropical credentials. The USP of island life, however, is having a secluded beachfront spot – you should, ideally, be able to roll out of bed and straight onto a lounger – and on this point, Sani Asterias (from £421) excels.
Part of the 1,000-acre Sani Resort , it offers that unique toe-in-the-sand luxury, with newly renovated Beachfront Residences that open straight onto a private enclave, as well as having their own private infinity pools. Best of all, along with the lifeguard, there’s “Babewatch”: a nanny service on the sand.
Verdict: Island-esque beauty coupled with exquisite luxury – but it doesn’t come cheap
Maldives-alike rating: 8/10
Migjorn Beach
Formentera, Spain
Ibiza’s little sister, Formentera, has been blessed with beauty, class and style. The water is crystal-clear thanks to the under-sea meadows of Posidonia sea grass and the beaches are a perfect talcum-powder white. Beachside restaurant Juan Y Andrea in Ses Illetes is the most famous on the island and is often busy with day trippers from Ibiza, while the island’s capital, San Francisco Javier, is packed with charming boutiques.
To experience that barefoot luxury, stay at Las Dunas de Formentera (from £341), an eco resort on the stunning Migjorn Beach, with a restaurant serving fresh local dishes. Villas are nestled between the dunes and the sea, and lead straight onto the sand.
Verdict: A super-cool island that couples charm and barefoot luxury with the expertise of any tropical outpost
Maldives-alike rating: 9/10