If you’ve seen any travel-related content on social media or the wider Internet this year, you’ll likely have heard, read or seen the words “destination dupes.” But what are they? Why are they so trendy this year? And are they all they’re cracked up to be?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Defining Destination Dupes
Destination dupes, according to Expedia, are one of 2024’s biggest trends. They’re destinations that are more affordable than traditionally popular locales that offer similar experiences, cultures or atmospheres. They encourage travelers to save money and explore lesser-visited places, destinations that may just offer less crowds of tourists and more personal experiences.
Examples of destination dupes could be Budapest instead of Vienna, Paros or Crete instead of Santorini, or Liverpool instead of London. These destinations, while different, are often considered “second cities,” in the travel world, destinations that aren’t as popular as Vienna, Santorini, or Liverpool, but offer just as much excitement, exploration and beauty as their counterparts.
A street in Agios Nikolaos, a city on the island of Crete in Greece. (Photo Credit: GNTO / Y. Skoulas)
Why Are Destination Dupes So Trendy This Year?
With the cost of travel up 12 percent from January 2020, inflated prices and global inflation have led travelers to consider creative ways to cut travel costs. Yet, while they’re interested in saving money, travelers are not interested in waiting until they can better afford their international or adventure travel plans.
That’s where destination dupes come in. No matter if you get destination dupe recommendations from TikTok or a travel magazine, influencers and experts alike are recommending alternative destinations that offer less costly ways to experience the world.
Are They Worth The Hype?
There’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone considering a destination dupe: do your research. Like visiting a medical specialist, it’s important to get more than one opinion, so if you’re interested in how much you’ll save traveling to one destination over a more popular one, then make sure to research everything, from currency changes to hotel prices to transit costs and more.
Sometimes, these destination dupes will be cheaper in accommodations or food costs, but will cost more in airfare just to get to the destination from where you are in the world, which doesn’t save you anything in the long run.
Yet there are real destinations that offer great experiences without the high prices, and these places are definitely worth the hype they’re just now receiving. I’m a big believer in traveling to lesser-known places, and there’s a great benefit to it—not just for your wallet.
Traveling to a destination dupe, and not just the places you see on TikTok, ensures you’ll be spreading the travel industry’s positive impact to more places. You’ll be investing in a rural community tourism initiative, perhaps, or encouraging younger people to stay in their hometowns instead of moving to the big cities for work. You’ll be encouraging people to preserve their cultural, historical, culinary and natural heritages for generations to come.
You’ll also be able to enjoy visiting a destination without the overtourism that has become invasive in large destinations like Venice or Amsterdam.
So, are destination dupes worth the hype? Sure they are—but they deserve more than one year of fame. Destination dupes could be the beginning of a new era in travel, one in which people are more willing to travel outside of their comfort zones of guidebooks and Instagram influencers, and discover something truly special: a place they chose regardless of its global fame.
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