Greece's second largest island that you won't have heard of has a new hotel – and you can walk to it from the mainland

Plus, the affordable holiday island for Brits with white sand beaches and Dubai-like restaurants that is loved by celebs
ISLE GO Greece's second largest island that you won't have heard of has a new hotel – and you can walk to it from the mainland
THE second largest island in Greece is less than an hour from Athens - but most Brits wont have heard of it.
Evia is split off from the mainland by only about 50 metres so visitors can cross the bridge from the mainland.
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Evia is Greece's second largest island and is home to beautiful beaches
Credit: Alamy
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It also has a number of thermal springs
Credit: Alamy
The island is welcoming a new hotel resort as well upgrading a current one.
One of the largest hotel investments in Evia is being developed in the Cheromylos area, including a five-star hotel.
The resort will span across 54-acres on the seaside and have a total of 71 rooms, seven bungalows with private pools, wellness facilities, conference rooms and a number of eateries.
Only electric vehicles will be allowed within the hotel complex and at the front of the resort there will be around 200 metres of sandy beach.
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Heading over one of the Two Bridges - the Old Bridge and the newer suspension bridge - travellers will find themselves in Chalkida, the capital of the island.
Just 80km away from Athens, Chalkida acts as the main gateway to the island.
And here is where another destination is getting an upgrade.
The Saint Minas Beach hotel is being upgraded to offer better services and facilities.
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Throughout the Chalkida there are pedestrian lined streets with quaint cafes and restaurants.
Key landmarks include the Red House - a neoclassical building that features four clay statues.
The adult-only Greek hotel with laid-back DJs and hidden beach
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And it only takes an hour to get there from Athens
Credit: Alamy
The town hall also features stunning architecture.
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Visitors won't be short of choice when it comes to historical spots too with The Archeological Museum, the Roman Aqueduct, the Folk Art Museum and a range of breathtaking churches.
Chalkida was even used as a filming location for Triangle of Sadness, which follows the story of a celebrity couple who are invited on a uber-luxury cruise captained by a questionable individual.
Also on the island is Aidipsos - a famous resort which is capable of accommodating 40,000 tourists during the summer season.
Here, travellers can relish in thermal spas that even Aristotle and Plutarch used to visit, according to Discover Greece.
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In fact, Aidipsos is home to more than 80 thermal springs with temperatures ranging from 28C to 86C.
Sun-bathing fans are also spoilt for choice, with beaches including Aghios, Minas, Asteria, Rodies and Liani Ammos.
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The capital of the island was even used as a filming location for movie Triangle of Sadness
Credit: Alamy
One particular beach - Alikes - is home to several vibrant bars that are a great spot for dance lovers wanting to boogie.
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And Kalamos Beach features azure blue waters, with one visitor commenting: "One of the most beautiful beaches on Evia".
The same visitor said on Tripadvisor that there are some local tavernas close to the beach and also showers available.
Alternatively, you could head to Armyrichi Beach, which one visitor said on Tripadvisor was "just magical".
The visitor added: "The place [is] untouched by modernism. Both family and romantic couples the place is a must vacation stop."
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Prices across the island are pretty cheap as well, with a beer costing around €2.50 (£2.13) and medium glass of white wine costs around €3 (£2.56).
It takes just under an hour to drive from Athens International Airport to Evia.
Brits are also swapping busy Spain for these three quiet Greek hotspots with £1 pints and secret beaches.
Plus, the affordable holiday island for Brits with white sand beaches and Dubai-like restaurants that is loved by celebs.
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"However, when I started doing some research, I discovered there is a way to do Dubai on a budget - it's just no one talks about it." Joel's genius tips start before you've even left the UK. He said: "Rather than booking flights to Dubai directly, it is often much cheaper to fly to Abu Dhabi instead. "In fact, my flights were half the price - saving £250 before I'd even left home. "Most of the hotels in Dubai are located between Dubai airport and Abu Dhabi airport - admittedly they are closer to Dubai but getting from Abu Dhabi is easy. "There is a coach for around £7 that takes you directly from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai, dropping off at the Ibn Battuta Mall, which is in the centre of town. "They run every hour and the journey takes one hour to get to Dubai. "Before going, I didn't know anything about Abu Dhabi, but it's so close to Dubai, you could be forgiven for thinking it's the same place." 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Similarly, holidaymakers can save hundreds by swapping taxis for the Metro. Scott said: "The Dubai Metro is very safe and efficient and serves all the main tourist areas in the city. "Although hailing a cab is quite wallet-friendly, coming in at around £7 for a trip to the Marina from the Premier Inn, the city's Metro line is only ten minutes away on foot. "Fares start at just 65p for a ride, or £1.20 in the quieter 'gold' carriage — because where else would have a first- class metro carriage other than Dubai?" If it is too hot outside, there is even a free bus to take guests to the station from the budget hotel. 11 Skyline and Dubai Metro, modern elevated metro system, opened in 2010. Credit: Getty 11 Kite Beach is a great spot in Dubai Credit: Getty It's also worth checking if the hotel you stay at offers a shuttle bus to the beach. This can save you money in taxis there and back, especially if you plan on going a few times during your trip. Scott added: "The Premier Inn hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to Al Sufouh, known as the Secret Beach by locals, due to it being lesser known and less crowded as the famous Kite Beach." Al Sufouh and Kite Beach are both public beaches and not owned by the exclusive hotel resorts and so they are free to use. This is perfect for doing Dubai on a budget because pop-up stalls and food trucks line the beach path. You can pick up homemade empanadas for £7 or an excellent and sizeable burrito for £11 from La Patrona, without the excessive service charges and extras required at a posh hotel. 11 Food trucks are becoming really popular in Dubai Credit: Getty 11 The Burj Al Arab hotel is a premium location Credit: Getty Find a budget brunch Boozy brunches in Dubai are one of the most popular pastimes for the under 30s. But, extravagant spots like Burj Al Arab and The Palm can become very pricy indeed, with some starting at £80 before you add alcohol on. However, budget travelers to Dubai can still indulge in the boozy, boujee pastime with a more cost-effective brunch in a less exclusive location. Scott said: "The Premier Inn has its own bar, Mr Toad's, where a Saturday 'drunch' offers unlimited drinks for three hours for £25. 'With a pint in Dubai usually costing around £9 on average, after only three drinks you'll easily make back the cost.' Meanwhile, Finance manager, Kristina Williams used to live in Dubai and has a list of cheap things to do that she shares with family and friends who came to visit. 11 Dubai can be done on a budget, according to locals like Kristina Williams Credit: Kristina Williams 11 The Dubai Fountain is the world's tallest performing water feature - and it's free to watch Credit: Getty She said: "One of the most popular sights in Dubai has to be the fountain show in Downtown Dubai. "The Dubai Fountain, which is outside the Dubai Mall, is the tallest dancing fountain in the world and totally free to watch, so it's ideal for families. "The famous Aquarium is also located at the Dubai Mall. "If you don't want to pay to spend a whole day there, I recommend taking the kids to see the largest part of the aquarium completely free of charge. "The enormous glass tank actually makes up a huge wall inside the shopping centre." Not everything in Dubai has to cost money. Kristina says there are lots of beautiful outdoor spaces that are free to use. She said: "AL Qudra, the desert area, has a free cycling track and running track. It's popular in the early evening when the sun starts to go down. "You can just go and soak up the atmosphere, spot camels and go bird watching. 11 Not everything in Dubai has to cost money. There are lots of beautiful outdoor spaces that are free to use Credit: Getty "There is also a free walking path on the Palm. It's great for a casual stroll, with lots of affordable cafes and shady spots along the way. "This is my favourite, as it looks out to sea and you can see the famous Atlantis hotel and get the obligatory selfie outside." Being a former local, Kristina knows where to eat too. "We always go to the Deira area, which is Dubai's old town, for a cheap dinner - you can get a curry for £2 and they are always so good. "We spend less there as the area isn't known for its alcohol, so it's always more affordable than the Dubai hotels that cater to tourists."