Maldives

Holidaymakers are turning their backs on the usual hotspots in Spain and Greece for a breathtaking stretch of the Albanian Riviera, now dubbed ‘Europe’s Maldives’

Those looking to enjoy gorgeous sun-kissed scenery this summer could do well to look beyond the tried and trusted favourites of Spain and Greece, in favour of Ksamil, a glorious stretch of coastline known as ‘Europe’s Maldives’.

With turquoise waters, majestic mountains, and budget-friendly prices, Ksamil is on the Albanian Riviera and is quickly becoming a popular destination for Brits, drawn by its beauty, balmy weather, and pints with prices as low as 77p.

It’s perhaps no wonder that 120,000 Brits make the journey to Albania every year, with some destinations as close as three hours away. With plenty in the way of picturesque coastal towns and tranquil beaches, this is a true underrated gem, with one charming seaside village in particular capturing the hearts of wanderers.

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Hailed as the ‘Caribbean of Europe’ by The Telegraph, which praised its “palm trees, dazzling beach, azure sea and thatched parasols”, Ksamil is situated in the Riviera of southern Albania, where it forms part of Butrint National Park.

Pretty enough to enchant even the most seasoned of holidaymakers, Ksamil’s white sand beaches and summer time highs of 30 °C make it a sunbather’s paradise. Crucially, it’s also very reasonable, with apartments as low as £20 a night, with three-course dinners available for as little as £17.

A top destination among both domestic and foreign tourists, both Ksamil Beach and Albania’s Ionian Coast further north were included in the Guardian’s 20 best bargain beach holidays back in 2013, and in the years since, a notable tourism boom has led to the construction of more hotels.

Indeed, as reported by DW.com last May, more than 11.7 million overseas tourists visited the Balkan country in 2024, with officials estimating this number to rise to 15 million by the close of 2025 — a figure almost four times the country’s population.

In a bid to compete against more established tourist destinations, Albanian hotel owners are reportedly now looking to build a deeper connection with visitors by offering cultural experiences such as food tasting and folk dances. Meanwhile, those who’ve fallen for Albania have been sharing their top tips online.

According to the travel guide 48 Hours in Europe: “Ksamil’s beaches reminded me of Greece’s. The majority of them are privately owned and back onto restaurants and cafes that supply beach lounges and umbrellas that cost a couple of euros for the day (if you come after 3pm, it’s cheaper).

“Make sure you get there early in summer, as the spots go quickly (and the best ones appear to be cheekily reserved for the locals). Once you’re settled in, you can swim in the calm azure water or lie around reading and eating the doughnuts, fresh fruit and other sweet treats that locals wander around selling.”

Culture vultures will find plenty to enjoy, with the natural wonders mingled with plenty of historical sites, from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gjirokastër, the former fortress of a sultan, to Apollonia Archaeological Park, filled with ancient Greek and Roman ruins.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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SINGER Nicole Scherzinger leaves her fans in total oar as she paddleboards on holiday.

The ex-Pussycat Dolls star and actress, 47, shared snaps of herself soaking up the sun in the pool and in the Indian Ocean off the Maldives.

Nicole flaunted her figure in three different bikinis during her romantic getaway with retired Scottish rugby ace fiancé Thom Evans, 40,

The couple have been staying at the £2,700-a-night One&Only Reethi Rah resort.

Nicole wrote on social media: “Saltwater therapy.”

In August, Nicole flashed her abs in a tiny blue bikini before suffering a rare beach mishap.

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The hitmaker opted for a cobalt-colour two-piece which tied high on her hip and pulled on a pair of sunglasses to finish her summer look.

The vocalist struck a series of poses with her hand perched on a rock, which backed onto the crystal-clear sea.

After taking a few steps into a small rock pool, the Don’t Cha songstress appeared to turn over on the sole of her foot before quickly recovering with a leap and a jump.

The American chart star then took a cheeky glance at the camera and was seen muttering about her mishap.

She posted the scenes to her page accompanied by Lucky by Britney Spears, which appeared to be a tongue in cheek choice of track.

In her caption, Nicole wrote: “When luck strikes” followed by relieved Emoji icons.

One fan was quick to gush: “YOU ARE A GODDESS.”

A second put: “Nicole you fine baby.”

Nicole started her music career with the Pussycat Dolls but then went on to be an even bigger star.

She cemented a major career U-turn when she was named Best Actress In A Musical at the prestigious Tony Awards, thanks to her powerful turn as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.

The star, who also won an Olivier Award for the role the previous year following the show’s run in London, recently told The Sun: “I want to do it all.“

WITH my floating breakfast and infinity pool overlooking the ocean, I feel like I’m in the Maldives.

Yet I’m barely four hours from the UK, on the Greek island of Crete, where temperatures reach into the low 20s — and it’s only January.

My hotel, the Royal Senses Resort & Spa, is a masterclass in elegance — with the towering resort built into the mountainside.

Its main attractions are the two swimming pools, stretching 80m across the front of the resort.

And it is safe to say my attempts to get some laps in before breakfast were quickly left wanting.

Instead, I hopped into the heated pool just behind, which is popular with the younger guests if they’re not at the on-site splash park.

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Live saxophonist

If you want some peace and quiet, tucked away on the other side of the resort is the adults-only luxury infinity pool, complete with mini hot tubs and curtained cabanas.

Despite the gym calling me after my failed swimming session, I headed to the hotel spa for a sleep-inducing massage, followed by a trip to the steam room and sauna.

The spa pool is worth a visit too. Half inside, half outside, it has muted pink tiles I want in my own bathroom.

When it comes to time to eat, there is a buffet — complete with a live saxophonist at breakfast — grill restaurants Mitato and the Michelin chef-run Cretamos.

After goat milk ice creams at the Platia pop-up restaurant and cocktails at the Euphoria pool bar, I very much needed the walk back up to my room.

The two-room suite, with sea views, had me feeling like I had stepped on to the set of Netflix’s Selling Sunset.

For an additional charge, you can request your own floating breakfast — something I couldn’t resist — and it came loaded with pastries, fruits, meats and cheeses.

Many of the smaller suites have their own pools as well.

The only thing the hotel is missing is the beach — but that’s where sister hotel The Royal Blue Resort comes in, which is just a short shuttle ride down to the coastline.

The best rooms in the house are the Blue Residence villas, which opened last year and are ideal for larger families.

Made up of a sprawling lounge and kitchenette, along with two bedrooms and three bathrooms, they have private balconies that wrap the length of the villa.

Of course they have their own swimming pools for a quick dip, but the only spot I wanted to be was the hotel’s secluded beach. No beaches on Crete are private, but this certainly felt like it was.

This resort is the smaller of the two but has plenty of dining options to keep you full. Symposium is where you can find breakfast and dinner, with similar options to its sister resort.

Seafood lovers can try the a-la-carte Asterias — serving everything from sea bream ceviche to grilled octopus — or the Mediterranean Elia (I’m still dreaming of the creamy duck risotto).

If you’re feeling pruney from all the pool and sea sessions, and want a touch of culture, then there are some great day trips to choose from.

A short taxi ride away is Margarites — a small village known for its ceramics — or Rethimno, a coastal city with Venetian architecture and trendy cafes.

But being in paradise with your feet in the pool and champagne in hand?

That’s worth the pruney toes.

MOLLY-MAE Hague and Tommy Fury have jetted to an exclusive resort for the super rich – splashing £6,000 a night to relax in the Maldives over the festive break.

The luxury trip includes a stay at the One & Only Reethi Rah resort, where villas lead straight into the Indian Ocean.

Previous A-list guests include Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, The Beckhams and former TopShop owner Phillip Green.

Molly-Mae and Tommy booked into a Grand Water Villa that costs £6,000 a night over the New Year period.

They opted to forgo a private pool, likely to keep a close eye on their two-year-old daughter Bambi.

The resort is nestled on North Male Atoll with villas having access into the beautiful Indian Ocean.

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The resport was previously voted the best in the world 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.

Tommy showed fans the jaw-dropping views from their sitting room, opening the doors onto a private veranda.

Molly-Mae also revealed their new digs on her Story, showing Tommy and Bambi in the sea.

She penned: “Can we stay forever.”

It is her seventh trip this year after a booming 2025 for the Maebe fashion founder.

The star was called out over the summer for moaning about “not having enough fun”.

But Molly-Mae flew to St Moritz in January, Budapest in April, Dubai in May, Disneyland Paris via private jet in May, Turkey in August, and St Tropez again via private jet in August.

The star also enjoyed a motorhome holiday to the Isle of Man in July.

However, many of her trips are for work – and she often shares a glimpse of the action, including photo shoots in lavish locations like St Moritz earlier this year.

The social media mogul has seen the cash come flowing in after launching her brand, Maebe.

New accounts for her firm MMH International Ltd have laid bare just how much money she is making.

The millionaire Love Island star made around £300,000 in profit for the 12 months to the end of March this year.

Currently, cash deposits in the firm stand at £231,155, having risen from £65,071 last year.

The firm’s documents also go on to reveal that Molly currently has around £700,000 worth of stock.

At present, Molly currently sells a variety of items on Maebe, with some items such as jackets costing £150, as well as jeans and dresses which range up to £90.

SPOTTING yet another shark, my sister Hayley shouts: “Quick! There are loads over here,” pointing towards the edge of the reef.

We’ve only just jumped into the sea on our 90-minute guided snorkelling trip, £53 each, so I decide to closely follow the guide instead, who points out moray eels, box fish and spotted eagle rays, plus the aforementioned reef sharks, which are thankfully harmless.

There is coral aplenty, and it’s teeming with sea life in every colour of the rainbow, as if I’ve swum straight into a scene from Finding Nemo.

Water View

Staying in a water villa at Oblu Xperience Ailafushi – complete with an outdoor rainfall shower and deck with a ladder straight into the turquoise water below – offers the classic Maldives experience.

The sound of the waves lapping beneath us is more calming than any white noise track I’ve listened to.

Thankfully, this all-inclusive resort on Ailafushi island is not solely aimed at couples, unlike many luxury getaways in the Maldives.

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Even better, it’s just a 15-minute speedboat ride from the capital Malé, which works out much cheaper than a sea-plane transfer.

The main restaurant, Element X, is a buffet eatery, which also helps keep costs down.

Here, we find dishes from all over the world, but it’s the Indian selection with rich, buttery paneer masala, spicy lentil daal and fresh roti, that most hits the spot.

All the action on Ailafushi centres around the main pool, the X360 bar and the neighbouring beach, where water shoes prove handy for the coral.

Daily activities include aqua Zumba, water polo and volleyball, plus a DJ hits the decks at sunset.

There’s even a twice-weekly foam party, which reminds us of teenage trips to Ibiza.

After a few frozen piña coladas, the nightly karaoke proves entertaining, and there’s a games room complete with pool tables, board games and huge screens playing live sport.

But it’s the water slide that drops you straight into the Indian ocean that becomes our favourite activity.

Beach Happy

At the other side of the island – a 10-minute stroll away – we find the Elena Spa And Wellness Centre, one of the Maldives’ largest spas, with landscaped tropical gardens that blend indoors with outdoors.

My treatment room overlooks the beach, and beneath the spa soundtrack I can hear the gentle sound of the waves.

The Balinese massage, £57 for 60 minutes, melts away tension from our long flight, while Hayley’s detoxifying lymph massage leaves her abs looking super-sculpted.

As well as treatments, there’s a steam room, sauna and salt water infinity pool, £8 for an hour, plus a juice bike which you can pedal to blend your fruits of choice.

Later, on the 90-minute dolphin cruise, which costs £53 each, we camp out on the bow of the boat, and are soon fortunate enough to spy a pod complete with a calf leaping out of the water just as the sunset turns the sky orange.

We celebrate with a delicious five-course lobster-themed beach dinner from The Copper Pot food truck, £60 each, that includes brown butter lobster tortellini, poached lobster, fennel and mango salad and a gigantic lobster thermidor.

Another ray in paradise

Our most memorable evening is spent at Oblu’s underwater restaurant Only Blu.

At 6.8m below sea level, we tuck into three courses with wine pairings, and marvel at the marine life on the other side of the super-sized windows.

As we’re feasting on scallops with pickles and cauliflower, and Maldivian yellowfin tuna poke, a 5ft-long nurse shark glides past and hundreds of tiny fish quickly dart into the reef to camouflage themselves among the coral.

It’s not long before we spy a similar-sized blacktip reef shark, and I lose count of the number of rays that appear alongside brightly coloured trigger and lion fish, before my main course of melt-in-the-mouth, pan-fried reef fish with corn mash and an olive and caper emulsion arrives.

A gulab jamun cheesecake and rich deconstructed banoffee pie don’t disappoint either, and the night proves well worth the extra £95 each.

With the fish still entertaining us just a few feet away, if we could, we’d both happily stay here until sunrise.

ISLE BE BACK

Meanwhile, writer Samantha Rea found joy on the island of Sark.

The “toast rack” – which is basically a row of benches on a trailer pulled by a tractor – is chugging me uphill from the harbour.

With no seat belts or doors, I hold on for dear life.

But seeing as only tractors and horse-drawn carriages are allowed on the tiny isle of Sark (yes, there are no cars!), this is the best way to reach The Avenue, Sark’s main street.

And at £1.80 a ride, it’s worth a go.

Sitting in the English Channel, just off the French coast, Sark is 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide with some fab foodie gems.

At Caragh Chocolates, I decorate truffles and a huge slab with hazelnuts, fudge and cranberries alongside owner Caragh, before leaving with my delicious creations.

Ninety-minute workshops cost £45 (Caraghchocolates.com).

While at cosy Nova’s Bistro, portions are generous and the rich beef stew with pastry lid, £26, and treacle tart, £9.50 (@Novas. bistro) are well worth the 20-minute walk from Stocks Hotel, where I’m kipping

I walk off some of my indulgence the next day on a one-hour tour of La Seigneurie House and Gardens, with its gorgeous fountains, bridges and chapel. It’s owned by a family who are like Sark’s royals and has a fascinating history. Entry costs £8 (Laseigneurie desercq.uk).

Sark is also great for wild swimming – the best spots being Dixcart Bay, Les Fontaine Bay and La Grande Greve.

Meanwhile, if you want to see the Milky Way once night falls, head to Sark Observatory, £10 (Darkskyisland. co.uk).

And just like the song, you’ll hopefully soon be counting stars. . .

UK flights to Guernsey cost from £100 return. Ferries to Sark cost from £38.50 return (Sarkshipping.gg).

Double rooms at Stocks Hotel cost from £250 B&B (Stockshotel.com).