Everyone has a different thought in mind when we say luxury holidays. It could be the white sand beaches and palm trees or relaxing in a spa in a resort where your every need is catered for…maybe its both put together!
Typical luxurious destinations might include Indian Ocean paradise like the Maldives, or the Caribbean beauty of the Bahamas, but with holidays getting more expensive and a less than favourable exchange rate hitting British travellers hard, getting that great early-bird (or last-minute) deal isn’t as easy as it once was.
Happily, there are number of less well known destinations that still have that luxury holiday feel but won’t cost the Earth. Take a look at our alternative destinations to those ultra-luxury holidays, and before you jet off don’t forget to get travel insurance.
The beaches of the Maldives are simply stunning, made up of thousands of islands grouped into atolls you really are spoilt for choice. The downside about being on a luxury island resort (are there are disadvantages) is that you have little choice about where to eat and drink. You’re at the mercy of expensive resorts, and if you’re not all inclusive then the costs really can mount up. So it can prove expensive to stay in the Maldives as well as during your trip.
Our alternative destination of Sri Lanka doesn’t have that problem. Sri Lanka sits just to the northeast of the Maldives and enjoys the same climate. The best time to visit will depend upon which coast you wish to visit.
Most likely you’ll fly into Colombo, the capital on the west coast, from there the beaches of Galle, Matara and Tangalle can be reached by car in 2-3 hours. December through to April are the best time of year to visit the west and south coast resorts.
If you plan to head across the country then the beaches in the east are at their best between May and October. Pasikuda in particular is home to some extremely luxurious resorts, perfect for honeymoon or just a relaxing couple of weeks soaking up the sun.
Our tip would be to head for the East coast where the beaches are most similar to the Maldivian white sand and crystal clear water. On your way there stop and do some safari trekking either in Yala National Reserve in the south east, or take the northern route across the country and take in the tea plantations and the wonderful Sigiriya rock which stands proud over the lush green surroundings.
Sri Lanka (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 18th September 2023: £873
Return flight from London: £1,344
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £68.14
TOTAL: £2,285.14
Maldives (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 18th September 2023: £1,816
Return flight from London: £1,352
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £68.14
TOTAL: £3,236
POTENTIAL SAVING: £951
Soft white sands and crystal clear waters are just one of the attractions of the Seychelles. It is often whispered in the same breath as the Maldives, and due to that it tends to be a very expensive, once-in-a-lifetime destination.
If the budget doesn’t quite stretch to the Seychelles at this point, a great alternative could be Zanzibar. Itself is an island part of Tanzania in the east of Africa. Its fantastic beaches, amazing dive sites, historic towns and quaint fishing villages make for some wonderful experiences on this island paradise.
If relaxation is what you are looking for then you will be spoilt for choice. Nungwi Beach which has been rated one of the world’s best beaches, Bwejuu Beach which gives you the Seychelle-like experience, Prison Island – which despite the name, is perfect for a day of sun worshipping, Kendwa beach for sunset viewing or, a bit further afield, Pemba is pristine untouched coastline perfect for that ‘off the grid’ feeling.
Seychelles (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £2,946
Return flight from London: £1,449
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £4,461.50
Zanzibar (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £1,346
Return flight from London: £1,243
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £2,655.50
POTENTIAL SAVING: £1,806
You may be more familiar with Tahiti and Bora Bora, but they along with more than another 100 islands make up the country of French Polynesia. It is known as a playground for the rich and famous, with Nicole Kidman having her honeymoon there and Justin Bieber also a frequent guest.
Due to its remoteness in the South Pacific it both costs a lot of money and time to travel here. Happily nearby, there is an equally beautiful country, Fiji.
Fiji is also comprised of over 300 islands. It is known for palm tree lines beaches and is widely considered to have some of the best scuba diving in the world, so if you’re looking to get up close and personal with some ocean wildlife then Fiji should be top of the list.
Flying from the UK, it is likely that you’ll land in Nadi, the capital. If you’re in a hurry to set foot on the sand, then head for Natadola Beach in the south west, just 30 mins from Nadi. It is the ideal place for swimming and snorkelling.
A little further away Castaway Island and Turtle Island is the very epitome of luxury and as such are popular destinations for newlyweds.
French Polynesia (Tahiti) (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £6,551
Return flight from London: £3,309
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £10,026.50
Fiji (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £2,414
Return flight from London: £2,847
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £5,327.50
POTENTIAL SAVING: £4,699
Bali is an island paradise in Indonesia offering beach side relaxation in some fantastic 5-star resorts. Whilst Bali remains popular it is becoming more expensive particularly for the luxurious resorts in Seminyak, Ubud and Nusa Dua.
So for those of you looking for a bargain, Thailand’s island of Koh Lanta offer similar Balinese experience without being as busy as both the rest of Thailand or Bali itself.
The journey is a little complicated to get to Koh Lanta but it’s well worth the flight and short ferry needed to get there..
The beauty of Koh Lanta is that it is much less well travelled and therefore provides ample opportunity to find hidden spots where you can really unwind. The beaches of Kong Nin and Kaw Kwang are among the island’s most stunning, whilst Koh Lanta also boasts fantastic diving and snorkelling spots such as Kan Kwang.
Given the journey to Koh Lanta requires travelling via Bangkok it is worth making time for 2 or 3 nights in the Thai capital before you hit the beaches.
Bali (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £2,037
Return flight from London: £1,976
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £4,079.50
Koh Lanta (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 15th Jan 2023: £1,373
Return flight from London: £1,248
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £66.50
TOTAL: £2,687.50
POTENTIAL SAVING: £1,392
Believe it or not Hawaii is made up of 137 islands but only 7 are inhabited, with the most well known being Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Big Island. The Hawaiian Islands are the dream destination for so many, its relaxed, friendly, laid back lifestyle alongside the contrasting islands make it a firm favourite for tourists across the globe.
However, given its location in the Pacific Ocean making it a lengthy 5.30 hour flight from the west coast of United States; its reputation as a dream luxury destination and the less than favourable UK pound to US dollar exchange rate it makes travelling for British visitors expensive.
An alternative to consider a little closer to the UK is The Azores. It’s actually known as the Europe’s Hawaii, and is an archipelago located off the coast of Portugal.
Stunning, and much less busy, beaches are great for soaking up the European sun, whilst the location of these islands make for fantastic surfing conditions if you fancy riding some waves.
Much like Hawaii, The Azores also has a fantastic mix of waterfalls, forests, hot springs and volcanic activity. The ood news about the volcanic hot springs is that there are a number of spas which allow you to really pamper yourself during your stay.
If you are set on heading west from the UK and therefore looking for a North American alternative to Hawaii then we recommend considering the island of Turks & Caicos.
Hawaii (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £3,158
Return flight from London: £2,387
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £146.46
TOTAL: £5,691.46
The Azores (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 1st July 2023: £2,350
Return flight from London: £404
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £45.22
TOTAL: £2,799.22
POTENTIAL SAVING: £2,892.24
Both the Bahamas, and our alternative, Barbados are destinations that would appear high on most people’s holiday bucket lists. But, should you want to soak up the sun in the Bahamas you can expect to pay considerably more expensive than its nearby neighbour.
The great thing about both islands is that they are small. Barbados takes no more than 3 hours to drive around which means you really have the chance to enjoy everything this island has to offer. If you plan to take in the whole island then Speightstown, Animal Flower Cave, Cove Bay, Cherry Tree Hill, Bathsheba Beach and Crane Beach are essential stops.
If you prefer to spend all your time on the sand and in the sea, then Barbados’ most beautiful beaches include Bathsheba Beach, Bottom Bay Beach, Crane Beach and well-known Sandy Lane Beach.
With so many islands to choose from in the Caribbean there are plenty of options to travel to, if you can’t make your mind up then consider a cruise around the region and then head back to your favourite islands.
Bahamas (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 10st January 2023: £6,070
Return flight from London: £1,670
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £68.14
TOTAL: £7,808.14
Barbados (Conducted on 10th Feb 2023)
5* hotel for 10 nights from 10st January 2023: £2,119
Return flight from London: £1,173
Travel Insurance (couple 40 man/woman): Single Trip Gold: £68.14
TOTAL: £3,360.14
POTENTIAL SAVING: £4,448
By there very nature dream holidays, even our alternatives are still going to be one of the most expensive purchases you make each year.
With travel insurance you can protect yourself from unforseen travel issues such as cancellation and curtailment, loss, damage or theft of personal belongings, end supplier failure and of course medical expenses cover.
