"Copies" are just as beautiful as the originals of famous destinations, but the prices are surprisingly cheap
Many travelers are looking for destinations that are similar to familiar famous names but with a smaller budget.
From Liverpool to London, Paros to Santorini and Curacao to St Martin, according to travel technology company Expedia, finding “replicas” of famous landmarks is one of the biggest travel trends of 2024. According to the BBC, many tourists today are trying to avoid popular destinations in favor of lesser-known, more budget-friendly options that offer similar experiences without the cost and crowds.
Around the world, tourism has seen a major rebound from the pandemic. With air passenger traffic set to reach nearly 95% of pre-pandemic levels by 2023, many destinations are now promoting some form of tourist tax as a solution to address concerns about overtourism.
Lavina Dsouza, a creative in Leeds, UK, says she did the same thing long before the term was coined. “I would randomly search for similar destinations to Bruges and ended up finding Ghent. When I actually visited Bruges it was super crowded and I found I had a much better time in Ghent,” she says.
Over the years, Dsouza has also travelled to Palawan in the Philippines (instead of the Maldives) and Liverpool (instead of plunking down money for London).
Janavi Iyer, a traveler from Vadodara, India, says the trend is growing in popularity. Janavi says that when she was researching less crowded, more affordable beach vacations, she decided that Turkey’s Bodrum coast would be the perfect alternative to St. Tropez. “We’re living in an era where off-season travel is no longer a thing, so this is the best way to plan your vacation, as it combines affordability, authenticity and allows you to escape the crowds,” she says.
According to Expedia's list, popular alternative travel destinations around the world include Taipei (Taiwan, China) instead of Seoul (South Korea), Perth instead of Sydney (Australia), Pattaya instead of Bangkok (Thailand), Palermo instead of Lisbon (Portugal), Quebec City instead of Geneva (Switzerland) and Memphis instead of Nashville (USA).
“They are all unexpected destinations, sometimes more affordable but just as exciting as the popular places that many people love,” Melanie Fish, Expedia Brands manager, wrote in a company report.
Expedia also reported a significant increase in searches for “alternative destinations” over the past year, with global searches for Expedia’s top five destinations more than doubling year-on-year. Searches for Taipei increased by 2,786% globally, while searches for Pattaya increased by 249%. Flight searches for other alternative regions also skyrocketed: 185% for Curaçao, 109% for Perth, and 97% for Liverpool.
Dsouza said traveling to an alternative destination would be better because “not only is it cheaper, but there are also fewer crowds to deal with, allowing travelers to get a feel for the new destination without having to rush and spend too much.”
“Visiting the underground river in Palawan will be one of my most memorable activities ever,” she added. “Meanwhile, Liverpool surprised me because the museums are huge and the prices are not expensive. Plus, you still get the same weather and food as you would in the country!”
Helen Barber from Sheffield, England, has been to an alternative destination in the past and would definitely consider it again. “I love the sense of adventure and discovering new things,” she says. “These destinations tend to be less crowded, have fewer queues, are cheaper and often offer a more authentic cultural experience.”
As costs continue to rise, the trend will become more attractive. By 2023, Forbes Advisor predicts, a three-day vacation for a family of four will cost an average of about $4,000. Round-trip flights to Europe will be 32% more expensive that year than they were in 2022.
A 2023 study by Skyscanner found that 93% of travellers had considered an alternative destination, with around 64% saying the savings helped them make their decision. Skyscanner’s suggestions included Belfast (instead of London), Girona (instead of Barcelona), Krakow (instead of Rome) and Seville (instead of Madrid).
“These locations, be it islands in Thailand or the Indian Ocean, are just as worth travelling to as the more popular out-of-the-way destinations, but cost less and offer a more diverse range of experiences,” says Iyer.
Rikant Pittie, co-founder of travel tech company EaseMyTrip, believes the trend of finding alternative destinations will ultimately foster a “win-win scenario for both destinations and travelers, enhancing the overall travel experience with the scope to positively impact the local economy and promote sustainable tourism practices.”
He added that data from their website revealed that bookings had shifted from destinations such as the Maldives to the Seychelles and Lakshadweep, from Thailand to Vietnam, and from Dubai to Saudi Arabia. “This shift reflects a shift in travelers’ preferences to explore similar destinations,” he said.
Maybe it's time to visit Fontainebleau instead of Versailles, Lake Maggiore instead of Lake Como and the Faroe Islands instead of Iceland.