A HUGE resort just a few hours from the UK has been compared to the Maldives.
The Granada Luxury Belek in Turkey is a huge five-star resort in the resort city of Antalya.
However, the Maldives comparison comes from their overwater villas, which are in the adult-only zone.
Sleeping up to two people, the villas have direct access to the huge water lagoon, similar to ones in the Maldives.
TikToker Charmane Isabella recently visited, saying in her video: “POV: you take a 4.5 hour flight from the UK to visit Turkey Maldives instead of an 11.5 hour flight to actual Maldives”.
Even locals were left stunned by the comparison.
One commented: “As a Maldivian, for a second I was wondering which resort this is and why have I never known of it.”
Another person wrote: “This might be the only Maldives i can afford.”
It’s not the only holiday destination the Turkish resort has replicated.
There is also the Miami Beach, designed to look just like the iconic strip.
While the hotel has three of it’s own artificial beaches, there is a real beach just 15 minutes away as well, with a free shuttle.
There are 14 swimming pools to choose from, including a lazy river, wave pool, and four indoor pools.
The onsite Wonderland waterpark had 15 slides to choose from too.
Other attractions include a kids club, cinema room, Turkish spa with sauna and seam rooms, as well as tennis, bowling and football facilities.
Make sure to book on their ultra-inclusive package to get all food, drinks and snacks included with 17 bars scattered across the resort (including a disco bar until 2am).
Thankfully you won’t run out of food choices with five buffet restaurants and four a la carte options.
If you fancy staying, holiday providers such as Thomas Cook, TUI easyJet Holidays and Jet2Holidays all have deals.
Loveholidays has bargain deals, costing £519pp for a seven night stay, all-inclusive and with return flights from London Stansted in January.
Or you can book rooms from £130 a night, although these will be the most basic room options at the hotel.
However, this is a fraction of the cost of a holidays to the Maldives, which can cost between £3,000 and £5,000 on average per person.
Elsewhere in Turkey, the island of Suluada has also been compared to the Maldives due to it’s clear blue waters and pretty beaches.
It’s not the only Maldives dupe destination, with a number in Europe too.
The new King Jason Hotel on the Greek island of Zante recently opened, with it’s own private overwater villas.
Or in Crete, there is a water bungalow resort that is much cheaper than the Maldives.
Even the Albanian Riviera has been compared to the luxury island destination, having affordable huts on the water.
Still rather go to the Maldives? Here’s the most expensive resort with villas you can only get to by private boat.
