There are few things in this life capable of shocking you back to reality quite like the experience of traveling.
But modern travel? That’s a whole different kind of beast. These days, the latest iteration of tourism can test the patience of even the most intrepid among us. How many human bodies can one viewpoint hold before it becomes a purely theoretical landscape? How many “can’t miss” back alleys can you squeeze down before it becomes a town-wide game of leapfrog? Somehow, though, the desire to experience new places persists — proof of the enduring power of a landscape, a city, or even a well-timed sunset.
Still, we can all use a little help. Some places are meant to be more taxing than others, and this is where the destination dupe excels. Behind most over-famous spots on Earth, there is a quieter version offering similar views, similar atmosphere, similar charm — and none of the habitat lines, menu price gouging, or the creeping suspicion that half the globe conspired to take the exact same vacation the exact same week you did.
These aren’t “lower” versions. Often, they’re the more authentic version — the one where the view preserves its visibility, your memories can actually breathe, and you aren’t just muscling through someone else’s definition of vacation.
The only question is: if a quieter, equally beautiful alternative exists, why wouldn’t you consider it?
What are destination dupes and why are they dominating travel trends?
A destination dupe is a simple answer to a problem most travellers don’t want to acknowledge: popularity has become a cover for chaos. It’s a place that gives you the look, feel, and experience of a tourist hotspot without elbowing your way through a thousand-strong cluster of Instagramming strangers.
Dupes are on the rise for three core reasons:
Cost: prices have risen faster and with more enthusiasm than services. Hotels price rooms as if they include a side of life-changing personal clarity. Airlines charge as though planes run on rocket fuel and fairy dust. Airport food costs more than Gollum’s bling. People — the kind with jobs and contracts they can’t break — need affordable travel alternatives.
Overtourism: When a city needs a weekday colour-coded crowd plan, you’re no longer visiting a destination — you’re entering a human petri dish. Venice charges an entrance fee. Amsterdam rewrites laws. Kyoto puts out PSAs reminding people that streets are, in fact, streets.
Sense of sameness: If you’ve seen something Instagrammed, snapchatted, tweeted, hearted, and immortalised in a tattoo, it’s no longer an “undiscovered gem”. Dupes feel refreshing, not recycled.
Strip away the terminology, and a dupe is simply a destination that offers everything you wanted, minus the crowd-induced inertia.
The travel revolution: balancing budget, authenticity, and sustainability
Travel still offers a profoundly different experience — but modern travellers are savvier, more selective, and far less willing to endure unnecessary hassle. The perfect trip balances price, vibe, and impact, and this is exactly where dupes shine.
Money: spend on experience, not premium
Money comes first because the price of everything has entered performative territory. Rooms get smaller, prices get bigger, and affording food starts to look like a side hustle. Dupes let you invest in experiences, not premiums.
Authenticity: where real life happens
Certain cities are so overwhelmed by constant tourism that daily life feels like a performance, pushing genuine local rhythm backstage. Culture becomes less ingrained and more performance. Travel dupes protect against that. Sit in a café in a little-known town and you hear real life, not just the pre-recorded song-and-dance to welcome the tour groups. Why choose an alternative destination? Because the most interesting parts of a place are rarely found where all the cameras are pointing.
Sustainability: distributing the benefit
Over-touristed destinations might take the strain off tourists, but those on the ground pay the price in terms of resources and everyday life. Likewise, major visitor magnets siphon a lot of the money you spend into the same old pockets: transnational hotel giants, worldwide brands, and restaurants with set menus. Distraction dupes, on the other hand, redistribute that economic benefit to smaller operators who feel the change you created.
There’s something else there, too: mental Sustainability. The classic places often require you to expend a lot of psychic energy, watching your bags like a hawk, navigating the swarm of humanity, keeping your game face on in the face of a less-than-efficient crowd control barrier. Dupes afford an escape from that. They allow a holiday to actually feel like a break, not a test of endurance. By making the savvy choice you conserve the energy you have for the stuff you actually came to experience.
European dupes: trading the crowds and high costs for affordable charm
Europe does wonderful work with beauty, and history, and utilising minute parcels of land. But while the Amalfi Coast is breathtaking, the mere five minutes it takes to find a roadside vista makes this perfectly lovely reality exceedingly clear: nature was simply not built to handle the seven billion people who decisively want to gaze upon it. Venice is every bit as enchanting as ever, but walking any of the city’s lanes during the summer busy season is kind of like getting swept up in an awkwardly slow-dancing mob.
This, of course, is where the best European dupes swoop right in: all of the beauty, charming architecture and atmosphere of the original, minus the alleyway shuffle battles, without the logistical battle.
The Albanian Riviera: coastline without competition
The Albanian Riviera is a perfect example. The coastline is not just beautiful, it’s angular and bright and carefree. Cliffs are clean. Crystal clear water. And beaches where there’s actually more than two feet of space around you. No scrambling for space. No silent competition for the best angle. Just a coastline that behaves like a coastline, not a stage hosting an endless crowd rotation. The catch? Probably the transport.
But that’s why our group adventure to Albania is great. It’s designed to dive deep into the local culture, explore hidden coastal gems with fellow travelers, and share the pure joy of discovery on a coastline few have experienced together. If you’re looking for cheaper holiday destinations that still feel genuinely high-value, Albania hits the mark.
Strasbourg and Colmar: festive charm, better flow
These cities look almost fictional with their timber-framed houses, narrow lanes, and canals that appear arranged specifically for admiration. Winter turns them into illuminated pathways lined with markets selling everything from mulled wine to ornaments crafted with improbable patience. But the markets spread across several districts, and the crowds can snatch away the charm if you’re busy figuring out directions instead of enjoying them. A group trip to the Christmas Markets of Colmar and Strasbourg transforms the experience; we move beyond the usual tourist traps to find the most authentic festive atmosphere, tasting traditional treats and sharing the magic of the illuminated paths with a great group of companions.
European dupes prove a simple truth: Europe’s best isn’t hidden — just overshadowed.
Trekking and mountain dupes: finding alpine majesty without the heavy price tag
Mountains are the promised lands for a certain type of traveller, one that’s seeking a sense of scale, a sense of silence and a sense of the sky that feels directly proportional to the slog up to see it. But as remote as a given mountain can feel, they often prove wildly popular. A summit that promises solitude can easily turn into a small gathering of hikers, all waiting for the same cloud to move.
That’s why these alpine destination dupes feel like such palate cleansers: the drama remains, the crowds vanish, and they offer the kind of space that makes the effort worthwhile.
The Dolomites: cinematic drama, simplified logistics
Take the Dolomites, for instance. Brutal, beautiful, and unapologetically dramatic. Peaks slice upwards like architectural statements. Valleys open wide. Winter turns the entire landscape into something sharp and cinematic. But the conditions shift, sometimes abruptly, and the terrain isn’t shy about reminding you that mountains demand respect. That’s where structure helps. Our Dolomites group ski and snowboard trip simplifies everything, is about tackling these legendary peaks with a community of fellow adventurers, focusing on shared thrills, perfecting your turns, and celebrating the dramatic scenery together at the end of the day.
And then there’s the cost difference, which is huge. Traditional alpine resorts charge high prices because they’re immensely popular, they can get away with it. The Dolomites, though beautiful, are more affordable. You can find accommodation terms ranging from budget hostels to 5-star luxury lodges; you’re not forced to spend your life savings on the local cheese platter at lunchtime; and you don’t need to be a logistics expert to figure out how to catch a bus.
Peru’s alternative treks: intensity and isolation
For those who like a challenge, alternative destinations often offer a different experience from the original. Choquequirao, for example, is not an easy open trail. The climb starts as soon as you enter, and you need to be committed and willing to work hard all day. However, your hard work is rewarded, you can walk for hours without seeing another person and the ruins feel a long way from anywhere.
Peru’s alternative treks offer a different kind of intensity. Salkantay and Choquequirao don’t bother with theatrics; the landscapes speak for themselves. Vast ridges. Quiet valleys. Archaeological sites that sit in open silence rather than behind timed access points. These trails are harder, longer, and richer, but they need context. A Peru group trekking adventure provides the necessary context and shared purpose, turning the challenging climb into a coherent, transformative experience where you push your limits alongside a supportive team.
Trekking dupes remind us that the world isn’t short on dramatic landscapes. It’s just that the most famous ones get all the foot traffic.
Island dupes: trading Thailand’s crowds for hidden paradises
Thailand’s islands are exactly what you heard: the water is impossibly azure, the cliffs so sharply steeped, and the beaches sell the idea of calm even when the reality involves sidestepping entire day trips of people. Phuket, Phi Phi, and their more famous siblings are pretty; it’s just that nowadays you need to accept an informal social contract that says keeping the peace doubles as an extreme sport. That’s where Southeast Asia’s island dupes come in.
The Philippines: neon coral and untouched shores
The Philippines has all the swaying palms of Thailand without the theatrics. Thousands of them. But each one stretches out for miles and miles without having to put on a show. El Nido’s limestone karsts play a game of Jenga gone geology. Coron’s lakes change colour with every passing hour. The coral is so neon it’s almost unnatural. And, finally, beaches that don’t feel clogged with humanity.
And, yes, you’ll probably save money. The rates will feel fairer, rather than as another opportunity to whip out a multi-currency ATM card. Things won’t feel as if they’re being orchestrated to seem spontaneous. The only challenge is choosing where to go first, which is why opting to join our Philippines 360 group trip makes sense. This carefully curated itinerary focuses on maximizing your time in the water, exploring the hidden lagoons, and sharing breathtaking sunset views with your new travel companions. An itinerary with all the hotspots that you don’t have to plan? Yes, please.
The dupe mindset: why choosing originality beats chasing the trend
Picking a destination dupe isn’t about sneering at the classic destinations. It’s finding that perhaps, just maybe, surprising yourself is worth more than checking another thing off the list. The best thing about travel alternatives isn’t that you’ll save money. It’s that you can think of, even pretend to yourself, that particular view, that moment, all of it belongs to you. No identical crowd. And no déjà vu because you’ve seen 1,000 identical photos online.
However, you must know a bit about the dupe’s location. Every place has a tempo and it pays to know it before you arrive. Try to think past the pull quotes and the shorthand. What’s the speed of things? The colour of the vibe? The hues in the scenery? If you loved it for a reason, do yourself the favor of finding a reasonable facsimile that offers you all the emotions of the original, without blowing your ticket on crowd control.
Travel isn’t a checklist. And there’s more than a few amazing stories to be found just a step or two off the beaten path. Besides, it’s never the “Big Trips” that you have the most fun remembering later; it’s the little corners and small moments, the ones you didn’t expect.
Smarter travel starts now: ditch the crowds and choose discovery
Choosing a dupe doesn’t mean settling. Saving your budget. leveling the load on overtaxed places, and converting lines into moments. Traveling with a group augments that effect. It takes away the logistics and produces a sense of moving together, the kind of shared community that transforms far-away places into stories you share and memories you’ll cherish forever.
Ready to find your next great discovery? Stop searching for tourist funnels and explore our newest group travel destinations. The world has far more to offer than the obvious, and the best discoveries often happen just one step off the well-trodden path. Find your dupe adventure today!
