Rosario Monachino
People have been stunned to find out there’s a ‘Maldives of Europe’ and it’s just a few hours away from the UK.
Maldives is a dream destination for many holiday-goers thanks to its picturesque and Instagram-ready sites.
However, it can cost an absolute fortune to book a flight and the plane journey is unendurably long.
Thankfully, there’s a viral location that’s much closer to the UK – and it costs a fraction of the price.
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A recent YouGov survey looked into the top holiday destinations for 2024 among the British public.
Those who took part were asked to score each destination on Value, Quality, Satisfaction and Impressions.
Surprisingly, the UK earned 17 per cent of the votes.
This was followed by Spain (15 per cent) – while Greece and Italy are tied for third place with eight per cent.
YouGov notes: “Even though many Britons choose the UK as a travel destination, they grant it a relatively low Value score of 8. This is less than a third of Greece’s value score (25) and just over a quarter of Spain’s (31).”
Other countries that featured on the survey included the United States, France and Germany – all destinations which attract a high number of tourists each year.
It’s super easy to book a holiday somewhere you are familiar with, however, now and then it can be fun to book somewhere that isn’t as well-known.
And there’s one place in Europe that is gaining a lot of attention on social media thanks to its amazing views, stunning beaches and it’s cheap food and drinks.
It’s even been dubbed ‘the Maldives of Europe’.
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TikTok creator @thetravelmum recently shared a video of her ‘paradise’ trip to the location.
She penned: “If you’re looking for white sand, crystal turquoise sea and great prices – Ksamil in Albania is a great budget-friendly holiday option.
“It’s a great base for enjoying the many beautiful beaches, but also exploring some great places close by.
“We’ve just spent £5 at the supermarket to feed five people.”
Reacting to it in the comments, one person writes: “Great content and helps a lot the locals for getting to know this nature gem.”
Another adds: “Searching flights now…”
“Wow, it actually looks so amazing!” a third person writes.
So what is this hidden gem? It’s Ksamil and it lies on the Albanian River in the Butrint National Park, Sarandë.
Flights from the UK to Ksamil can cost as low as £28.
To get there you take a three-hour flight to Tirana – the capital of Albania – and from there take a bus.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct bus so you would have to make some changes or you could take a taxi straight from the airport, which could cost 175 euros according to Albania Direct.
Alternatively, you could get a flight to Corfu and then catch a ferry across to Ksamil – which will only set you back nine euros and only take 30 minutes.
@thetravelmum If you’re looking for white sand, crystal turquoise sea and great prices – Ksamil in Albania is a great budget friendly holiday option. Top things to know: ✈️ Fly in to Corfu and get the ferry to Sarande. Alternatively fly to Tirana and drive 4 hours to Ksamil. 🍺 Key fact: you can get a pint for £1.50. 😃 The locals are very welcoming of tourists, we didn’t have any safety concerns whilst there. 🗓️ We visited in May when the beaches were almost empty and the weather was good. May, June and September will be much less busy than July and August. 🏛️ There’s more than just beaches. The ancient city of Butrint is just 5 minutes away on the bus. 🍝 Restaurant meals from as little as £2.50. 🏠 Our two bedroom apartment was £35 per night. #ksamilalbania #ksamil #albania #bestbeaches #cheaptravel #budgettravel #maldives #thetravelmum
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