How I did a luxury holiday in the Maldives for cheaper than a week at Center Parcs
I WAS lucky enough to travel to the Maldives recently – the stunning islands in the Indian Ocean, where the warm waters are teeming with tropical fish and turtles.
The destination is - simply put - paradise.
But what surprised me most about my exotic getaway wasn't the white sand beaches or the turquoise waters. It was the affordable price tag.
A family holiday in the Maldives, it seems, may even cost you less than an activity-packed getaway at Center Parcs, right here in the UK.
The cost of living crisis and newly-introduced taxes have caused the price of UK holidays to soar in recent years, with staycations setting families back eye-watering sums.
New data from On the Beach showed that 34 per cent of Brits believe a holiday in one of Europe's beach resorts offers better value for money than a UK break.
Depending on which resort you choose, there's endless fun for both kids and adults, as I found during my recent stay at the 4* Sun Siyam Olhuveli, in the South Malé Atoll.
A whole week can be spent snorkelling through colourful reefs, sharpening up your racket skills on the tennis court and speeding across the ocean behind the wheel of a car that drives on water.
After a short stint here, my opinion on the sleepy honeymoon hotspot had changed completely.
There was so much to do that the destination felt somewhat like a Center Parcs, only with much warmer weather AND (here's the key point) it was cheaper – yes, really.
So, can a luxury holiday in the balmy Maldives really match the great British getaway on price?
I've crunched the numbers and the answer is yes.
Center Parcs' Elveden Forest in Suffolk recently opened a number of luxury water lodges, set on its tranquil lake, much like the over-water villas that are synonymous with the Maldives.
And much like the Maldives, Center Parcs is also bursting at the seams with activities. Archery classes? Yep. Watersports activities? Plenty of those. Indoor gaming areas? Teens will love that.
But all of these activities don't come cheap. And, ultimately, that's what sways the price.
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Travellers can bag themselves a seven-night all-inclusive break at Sun Siyam Olhuveli for £1,359pp for a family of four travelling in June 2025, outside of the school holidays, with Travelbag.
This price includes all flights and speedboat transfers to the resort, too, plus a lot of activities and snorkel gear.
It means that kids and parents can wander from their bedroom straight into the ocean or house reef to spot a plethora of fish.
The cost above also includes an excursion, such as a sunset cruise where you'll take in breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean (keep your eyes peeled for dolphins).
What else? On top of the bucket list experiences, dotted around the resort is a giant chess board, tennis and badminton courts and beach volleyball.
Non-motorised water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding, Maldivian themed nights, evening entertainment and weekly prize giveaways are also included in the price above.
So, for a family of four, the total cost racks up to £5,436, which admittedly does sound steep - and you will have to travel during term time to bag this last-minute deal. But what I love about an all-inclusive is that you don't need to spend a penny when you're there.
And with these packages covering nearly every restaurant at the resort as well as certain drinks and cocktails, you're not missing out.
Center Parcs, by comparison, looks a similar price at first glance, during the same time of year.
A quick search showed that to stay in one of the resort's new waterside lodges at Elveden Forest during the same month next year will cost around £5,298 for one week.
This does, however, sleep six guests instead of four - so you'll have room for an extra two kids or you can bring the grandparents along for babysitting duties.
Food and drink is not included, though, and nor are most of the activities. And this is where the costs add up pushing it significantly over my Maldives trip.
One lasagne will set you back a hefty £17 at Center Parc's Whinfell Forest resort, while a prawn spaghetti costs £18.
Multiply that by a family of four and that comes to over £500 for just one meal each across the week.
Extras like archery sessions cost from £21pp for 55 minutes, while paintballing costs £47 and kayaking is £15 for a double kayak for 30 minutes, all at Elveden Forest.
It's easy to see how the prices can soar.
That's not to say that Center Parcs doesn't have its perks. In terms of activities, this adventure holiday company is unbeatable and a small Maldivian island simply can't compete on scale.
The prices can't exactly be compared like for like, either, with costs varying according to the time of year and number of people visiting.
But if you're after something different, where you won't have to panic about spending money when you're there, booking a package further afield could be the way to go.
One thing is for sure. The look of sheer excitement on your child's face when they spot their first turtle is something money can't buy.
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The Last Journey: behind the scenes of the feel-good film of the summer
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4 hours ago
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As the sun rose over the East China Sea, the city's iconic Hirado O-hashi suspension bridge (tomato red, often likened to San Francisco's Golden Gate) appeared to part the low-lying clouds. Our first stop was the Atomic Bomb Museum, which displays a sobering and comprehensive collection that recounts the devastation inflicted on the city and its residents in 1945. More moving still is the peace memorial, located in a tranquil park nearby. With much to process, we broke for lunch, feasting on delicate sashimi and bento served in beautiful lacquerware boxes decorated with traditional Maki-e patterns, a 1,200-year-old technique of painting motifs onto lacquer and sprinkling gold powder before the material hardens. But there is far more to Nagasaki than its tragedy – and our afternoon was dedicated to exploring other aspects of its fascinating past. 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Suffice to say, the Shinto oracles had worked their magic. Essentials Emilee Tombs was a guest of Princess Cruises, which offers the 10-night Japan Explorer sailing from £979 per person (based on two sharing an inside stateroom) or £2,219 per person (based on two sharing a balcony stateroom). Departs February 24, 2026.
