Similar to Maldives but without the price!

[gbb]

If you want real chill, no nightlife (barring the entertainment at the hotel), very few people, quiet beaches, blue sea, warm enough to swim in but not tropical...Cape Verde.
When we arrived, the interior is a bit like Mars, a bit alarming....but endless beautiful sandy beaches with very few people beyond the bit the hotel has its beds etc on....it was a revelation, the ultimate unwind, sit on the sand, swim in the crashing (but seemingly safe) waves, relax, empty your head and chill holiday I ever had.
But theres very little else there (we went to Sal)

Edited , apologies, I missed the New Year bit, no idea what Cape Verde is like at that time of year,, we went August time.

 

[dodgy]

We went to the Maldives in about 2005 (I will have to check the date). It was to be the holiday of a lifetime. The accommodation was in fact superb, I mean really amazing. We had a little hut/villa on stilts with private access in to the lagoon, octopus, rays, small sharks nipping at the stilts in the evening, all lit up by underwater lamps. It was amazing.
But.
By day 3 I was bored off my tits.
Seriously. I really wanted to appreciate it, but I was simply bored. I know I sound ungrateful.
So don't worry about not going there, if you're an active person there are better holidays. Having said that, there were a few recreational divers at the resort who seemed to enjoy it.

 

[DCLane]

If you want closer - Mauritius / Cape Verde (as mentioned above). I'd also echo South Africa and the coast - after we had been volunteering in Swaziland, which I'd recommend visiting, we had a break in a beach lodge near Richard's Bay. No-one else in sight all day long.

 

[gbb]

Sal, Cape Verde, 200 yards behind, you see the hotel beachbeds....

And beyond as far as you can see....same either side of the hotel

It goes on like that for maybe 2 miles.

 

[Grant Fondo]

We went to the Maldives in about 2005 (I will have to check the date). It was to be the holiday of a lifetime. The accommodation was in fact superb, I mean really amazing. We had a little hut/villa on stilts with private access in to the lagoon, octopus, rays, small sharks nipping at the stilts in the evening, all lit up by underwater lamps. It was amazing.
But.
By day 3 I was bored off my tits.
Seriously. I really wanted to appreciate it, but I was simply bored. I know I sound ungrateful.
So don't worry about not going there, if you're an active person there are better holidays. Having said that, there were a few recreational divers at the resort who seemed to enjoy it.

Friends of mine have said the same thing... if you don't enjoy a few hours a day snorkelling/diving its not the place to go. You can walk around some islands in 10 mins. The isolation appeals to some, not others. We went to Kuredu in 2019, its huge, you could even watch the inter-island league on the Kuredu FC footy pitch! Magical place though and easily the best beaches and sea I have seen. Remote parts of the Philippines aside, but who goes there?

 

[Cycleops]

Sal, Cape Verde, 200 yards behind, you see the hotel beachbeds.... View attachment 582346


And beyond as far as you can see....same either side of the hotel
View attachment 582347
It goes on like that for maybe 2 miles.

Not far from me. Could make a nice break.

 

[Dan77]

Koh Chang is nice. There are some smaller islands nearby within the national park if you want to be even more isolated but I think there are resorts on Koh Chang which give you that feel whilst still being able to take a bus to town for the bars, shops, etc.

 

[FrankCrank]

Koh Chang is nice. There are some smaller islands nearby within the national park if you want to be even more isolated but I think there are resorts on Koh Chang which give you that feel whilst still being able to take a bus to town for the bars, shops, etc.

+1....it's our favourite island here, Lanta being second choice. Big downer though is quarantine on arrival, down to 10 days now, but until they drop this can't see anyone wanting to come for a typical length of vacation.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Bali for the widest options for nearly all travel attributes
Price - budget to luxuries
Beaches - busy to quiet stretches
Accommodation site - city or an isolated forest with infinity pool with nothing but natural greenery to bright green rice terraces
Accommodation type - 5 star high rise hotels to villas
Mix and match - somedays quite and idyllic and somedays busy night markets, you won't get bored
Book a table at a 5 star for NY celebration and enjoy with people from across the world.
Nice people, warm and tropical,
value for money

 

[Blue Hills]

Skegness ?

I just knew on seeing the title of this thread what some of the replies would be.
I have been on holiday to Skegness but I don't remember it being an island.
So i nominate, rather more islandish, Canvey.

 

[MartinQ]

I just knew on seeing the title of this thread what some of the replies would be.
I have been on holiday to Skegness but I don't remember it being an island.
So i nominate, rather more islandish, Canvey.

You've obviously not lived
https://www.fantasyislandresort.co.uk/

 

[Bonefish Blues]

We don't really know your priorities/criteria, OP?

 

[Blue Hills]

You've obviously not lived
https://www.fantasyislandresort.co.uk/

too early as usual - it was actually ingoldmells we went to - before that place sprouted.

 

[Blue Hills]

On a more serious note OP, save some money, and lots of jet fuel, and airtime.
I can recommend Sardinia.
Flights from all over the country usually.
Some spectacular beaches, particularly if you are prepared to walk a bit - a google will show you pics
Beaches so great they have had to start fining some folks for nicking sand.
Plenty hot enough and in fact I would avoid July/August - plus for other reasons.
Great cheap wine - some of the best from pumps into your own jerry cans.
Great food.
Also a very interesting interior - ancient remains etc.,
And excellent cycling - either on very good tarmac or white roads.

 

[contadino]

On a more serious note OP, save some money, and lots of jet fuel, and airtime.
I can recommend Sardinia.
Flights from all over the country usually.
Some spectacular beaches, particularly if you are prepared to walk a bit - a google will show you pics
Beaches so great they have had to start fining some folks for nicking sand.
Plenty hot enough and in fact I would avoid July/August - plus for other reasons.
Great cheap wine - some of the best from pumps into your own jerry cans.
Great food.
Also a very interesting interior - ancient remains etc.,
And excellent cycling - either on very good tarmac or white roads. View attachment 582403

The Maldives have the benefit of having manta rays to swim with, but I'd take Italy over the Maldives any day.