THE Maldives top many travelers’ bucket lists – despite being so far from the UK and pricey too.
However, we found one Mediterranean holiday destination that looks just like the Maldives and it doesn’t cost a fortune to go there.
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Suluada is a Mediterranean island Turkey and it is surrounded by crystal clear water with white sand.
The incredible Turkish island is located at the end of the Gulf of Antalya.
The island owes its name ‘Suluada‘ from a word meaning ‘watery island’ and it is often referred to as the ‘Turkish Maldives’.
While you won’t find lodging or restaurants on the island, it’s still an incredibly popular destination for snorkeling and swimming.
Thanks to the turquoise-hued clear waters, you can admire a wide variety of marine life swimming around you, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin.
The water gets its unique color from micro-organisms called ‘foraminifera’.
There are two swimming beaches on Suluada, the beach on the west side is bigger and has more waves, while the beach on the mainland is better if you prefer a quieter swim.
The island is easily accessible by boat and the journey takes about 40 minutes from Antalya or Kemer.
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You can take a day boat trip (which takes about 8 hours) and explore more islands and bays, including Adrasan Island and Cıral Island.
The best time to visit Suluada is between March and November when temperatures reach 33C and there is virtually no chance of rain.
The island has a rating of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor also, with reviewers praising it.
Visitors called it “magical” and said the “island is a true natural wonder.”
One reviewer even left a great tip for visitors, saying the island “can get very, very busy with throngs of tourists in high season.”
Her advice is therefore to go there with the first morning boat to ‘enjoy the beautiful beach in all its glory’.
We found excursions to Suluada from Kemer and Antalya cost from £15pp.
Turkey is a great location for a beach holiday, and it’s also budget-friendly.
The country has incredible views, historical sites, markets and plenty of activities during the summer season.
The country is also an excellent location for a family holiday as it has many hotels huge water parks on site.
We found week-long stays at Gazipasa Star Hotel from £373 p.p in June on a room only basis with Jet2holidays.
Here are some more deals we found for this spring and summer:
- 7 nights self-catering at New Garden Luna Side Apart Hotel in Side – from £390 p.p
- 7 nights self-catering at Hanay Suites in Side – from £390 p.p
- 7 nights self-catering at Vega Green in Alayna – from £414pp
- 7 nights all inclusive at Grand Park Lara in Lara Beach – from £559 pp
- 7 nights all inclusive at Champion Holiday Village in Kemer – from £567 p.p
we revealed five surprisingly affordable holiday hotspots where flights are still cheap in August.
And we also found the European island that is the ‘new Mykonos’ but with cheap hotels and quiet beaches.
And if you don’t want to travel too far, we have the British beach where it ‘feels like you’re abroad’ and it is one of the cheapest places to visit.
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