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You can stay in a Maldives-style overwater villa in Greece – for just £88pp per night

FORGET the Maldives - you can now stay in an overwater villa in Greece for a fraction of the price.

, located on the Greek island Crete, has a number of bungalows and lodges where you can jump straight into the water from your bedroom.

You can stay in an overwater villa just like the Maldives - for a fraction of the price
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You can stay in an overwater villa just like the Maldives - for a fraction of the priceCredit: Stella Island Resort

While the Maldives is a popular holiday destination with Brits, in particular honeymooners, it is also a pricey destination.

Resorts can often cost as much as £1,000 a night, excluding flights and seaplane transport.

However, you can experience some of the luxury closer to home, with Greece just a few hours by plane - and also still on the UK's safe travel list.

The resort has a range of lodges to choose from, with 225 rooms overall, some with private pools and others with pool views.

Stella Island resort has rooms overlooking the lagoon style pool
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Stella Island resort has rooms overlooking the lagoon style poolCredit: Stella Island Resort
Some rooms have private hot tubs and overwater hammocks
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Some rooms have private hot tubs and overwater hammocksCredit: Stella Island Resort
The resort is actually on a large lagoon style swimming pool
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The resort is actually on a large lagoon style swimming poolCredit: Stella Island Resort
The lodges have some privacy screens - and ladders straight into the pool
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The lodges have some privacy screens - and ladders straight into the poolCredit: Stella Island Resort

However, the overwater villas are identical to many of the Maldives options, the only difference being that the lodges are over a large pool, rather than the sea.

Yet each bungalow has a private pool deck and hammock, with direct access to the swimming pool

If you want even more luxury, their new Grand Overwater Bungalows feature overwater hammocks and private hot tubs.

The overwater bungalows start from £177 per night, making them a fraction of the cost in the Maldives.

Guests can access the resort across bridges connecting the 'islands'
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Guests can access the resort across bridges connecting the 'islands'Credit: Stella Island Resort
Some rooms feature hammocks above the water to cool off in
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Some rooms feature hammocks above the water to cool off inCredit: Stella Island Resort
While the resort is over the pool, not the sea, guests can still enjoy a similar vibe to the Maldives
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While the resort is over the pool, not the sea, guests can still enjoy a similar vibe to the MaldivesCredit: Stella Island Resort
The overwater villas start from just £177 per night - £88 each
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The overwater villas start from just £177 per night - £88 eachCredit: Stella Island Resort

You can also go all inclusive from £200 per night, with dining options at the KIMATA buffet restaurant or La Parilla grill restaurant. 

Other restaurants include Umami, with Asian fusion food, and Oceana, with Mediterranean food.

Hotel activities include a spa and fitness centre, water sports and horse riding and trekking, or just relaxing in the lagoon style pool.

Book for more than three nights and you get free private transfers from the airport, while premium bookings include transfers, a free spa session as well as complimentary fizz and fruit on arrival.

Flights to Crete take just four hours, with next month.

The Maldives is currently on the UK's quarantine list, meaning Brits must self-isolate for two weeks when back home.

We've rounded up some of the best locations which look just like the Maldives, with many found in Europe.

Greece remains on the UK's safe travel list as well, with new coronavirus cases remaining under 20 per 100,000 - over this, and they risk quarantine restrictions.

Inside Kelly Brook's £1,900 a night luxury Maldives holiday with boyfriend Jeremy Parisi
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