THERE’S a campsite on an island in Europe that’s been compared to the Maldives by a team of travel experts.
Because of its sandy beaches, pristine waters and picturesque wooden huts, the Maldives is a dream destination – but it comes with a hefty price tag.
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For holidaymakers who want to sample a slice of paradise, but can’t fork out £800 on return flights, they’ll be pleased to know there’s an alternative much closer to home.
One of those places is Rab – a Croatian island located in the Kvarner Gulf (also known as the Kvarner Bay).
Thanks to its diverse landscapes, like its sweeping pine forests, the island was declared a Geopark back in 2008.
Even with its glorious forests, the island’s best features are arguably its sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
And a Travel expert at Eurocamp, one of Europe’s largest campsite operators, has even likened the island to the Maldives.
They said: “The Kvarner Gulf, or the Kvarner Bay, sits between the Istrian peninsula and the northern Croatian mainland and offers a range of remote and beautiful beaches, surrounded by turquoise waters and lush greenery, which rival those of the Maldives.”
Eurocamp has around 400 parks across its network, with resorts in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Croatia, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Given its extensive network, it’ll come as no surprise that the campsite operator even has a location on the Croatian island.
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Surrounded by towering trees and colourful flowers, The San Marino Parc is an ideal place to stay for holidaymakers looking for a Maldives-style holiday on a budget.
While the holiday park doesn’t have a pool, it is located right next to Paradise Beach – a sandy beach with crystal-clear waters.
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Activities at the beach include a snaking waterslide as well as other watersports like paddleboarding.
There are plenty of other on-site amenities too, including six restaurants, a grocery store and a wine shop.
Other facilities include an on-site kids’ club, a playground, a crazy golf course and a wellness centre.
There’s plenty of on-site entertainment for the evening too, including comedy acts, singers and live bands.
Away from the Croatian campsite, there are other beaches on the island, including Sahara Beach and Mel Beach.
Long walks though the cool pine forests are another popular pastime on the island.
The town of Rab, which is the island’s main hub, also has several attractions, including a 200-year-old palace that’s been transformed into a fashionable restaurant.
There are also several historical churches and a huge Bell Tower in the town.
A family of four can book a seven-night stay, in a two-bedroom Super Lodge Tent from £308 per party.
This means stays will cost just £9 per person per night based on five people sharing a lodge.
Ryanair operates direct flights from London Stansted to Rijeka International Airport in Croatia, with return fares starting from £37 in June.
From Rijeka, it’s a 90-minute drive to Stinica where holidaymakers will need to board a ferry to Rab.
Meanwhile, direct flights also operate from several UK airports, including Liverpool, Manchester, Bournemouth, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle and Edinburgh to Zadar.
The drive from Zadar Airport to Stinica is a little longer at just over two hours, with holidaymakers still needing to board a ferry to the island.
Eurocamp’s travel expert, Karen Williams said: “Destination dupes are great ways to see lesser-known spots which are often cheaper, and less crowded than their more popular counterparts.
“Not only are there cost benefits to visiting less popular destinations but these areas are often enriched in culture and can give holidaymakers a more authentic and original travel experience, which can result in some serious Insta-envy.”
And there are plenty of other destinations that have been likened to the Maldives in recent years.
Other Maldives dupes
One of those places is Ksamil in the Albania Riviera, with many suggesting it’s much like visiting the Maldives – but significantly less pricey.
A spot near Katowice in Poland has also been compared to the Maldives in recent years.
Park Gródek is actually found in a former dolomite quarry that has been repurposed as a public park and a place for people to enjoy nature.
But thanks to the colour of its water, holidaymakers have been comparing Park Gródek to the Maldives in recent years.
Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania in Africa, has also been compared to the Maldives – although holidays here are a lot more affordable.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
What are the passport rules?
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
“Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
“But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
“In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
“And you’ll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
“Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
“The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted – some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page.”
Meanwhile, a new £47million beachfront campsite has opened on a European island.
Located on the island of Pag in Croatia, the new campsite has a whopping 180 pools and pitches start from £19.
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