If it's always been your dream to stay in a lush overwater villa in the Maldives but you can't quite bear to part with the thousands of pounds it would ultimately cost, we've found the next best thing.
Stella Island Resort in Crete, Greece, is an adults-only hotel with 225 rooms, including magical overwater bungalows complete with private decks, hammocks and Jacuzzis.
There's just one small catch - the villas aren't quite over the sea like you'd find in the Maldives or Fiji, but they do hang out over one of Europe's largest lagoon pools. Which we think is actually even better - there'll be no nasty jellyfish hanging around or sand in your bed at the end of the day. There's even a lounge area in the middle of the pool for when you want to hang out in the water without getting wet.
Heaven on earth, right?
The luxe star resort is designed especially for couples, so it's the perfect spot for a honeymoon or anniversary, with the Grand overwater bungalows totally secluded from all other guests. But even if you opt for a standard villa, you'll still be divided by screens for privacy, so you'll get a pretty sweet deal either way.
The hotel's style is minimalist - think lots of blonde wood, canvas and bamboo - plus there's a spa with an elevated heated pool with glass sides so you can gaze out into the sea beyond.
The bungalows start at around £490 per night including breakfast and dinner (there's an all-inclusive option for an extra £70), but seeing as a standard water bungalow at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas will set you back almost £3,000 per night, we reckon you're definitely getting more bang for your buck.
Greece is currently exempt from the FCO advice against all non-essential international travel with no quarantine on arrival back to the UK, but that could all change so we recommend you keep an eye on the news if you're planning to book!
Featured Image Credit: Stella Island ResortTopics: Greece, holidays, Travel News, travel