For those itching to travel on a budget, the latest trend might be the answer to that itch to explore on a budget: destination dupes.
According to Forbes Advisor 2023 ProjectionsDestination dupes have become popular as the cost of traveling abroad has increased by 32% since 2022. According to TikTok influencers, travelers are strapped for cash and want to go on cheap vacations because the average price for a family of four visiting somewhere abroad is around $4,000.
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@calebthill #ExpediaPartner Some popular destinations are popular for a reason, but honestly, it's so much fun to explore the less traveled destinations! I'm so excited that the @expedia group just released their Unpack '24 Travel Trends report and one of the travel trends is Destination Dupes – less obvious and sometimes cheaper destinations that are swaps for more popular destinations! Such a cool list! Curaçao definitely did not disappoint! #Unpack travel trends #Curacao #stmartin #traveltiktok #affordabletravel #curacaotiktok #beautiful beaches #travelinspo #travelbucketlist ♬ original sound – Calebthill
Destination dupes offer vacationers alternatives to popular and expensive places with a similar vibe. People have started sharing – mostly on social media – destination dupes, or duplicates, which are typically lower-budget, less-traveled “sister” destinations with a more popular destination.
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Dupes to check out if you plan to travel This year, according to Expedia, include Curacao instead of St. Maarten for a Caribbean vacation; Taipei in Taiwan instead of Seoul in South Korea for those visiting East Asia; Perth instead of Sydney for a vacation in Australia; and Pattaya instead of Bangkok for anyone who wants to travel to Thailand.
Others include Palermo instead of Lisbon for exploring Western Europe, Quebec in Canada instead of Geneva in Switzerland, Memphis instead of Nashville in Tennessee, Liverpool instead of London for visiting England and Akumal instead of Tulum, both in Mexico.
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