Over the last couple of years, the concept of ‘destination dupes’ have gone viral thanks to the likes of TikTok.
These dupes offer a less touristy version of a beautiful location or one that is more budget friendly for the masses. It’s a term that has become massively popularized due to social media as travelers are seeking hidden gems which are more affordable.
This has brought up a whole range of interesting towns, villages and cities which may have otherwise gone unnoticed to the everyday tourist.
In Expedia Group’s 2024 Travel Trends report, the company awarded the ‘dupe’ badge to honor some trending destinations. They say these alternatives are often less crowded, tend to be a little unexpected, and “can be every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true destinations.”
Their list includes ten of the top destination dupes, with these being on the left.
Taipei instead of Seoul
Pattaya instead of Bangkok
Paros instead of Santorini
Curaçao instead of Saint Martin
Perth instead of Sydney
Liverpool instead of London
Palermo instead of Lisbon
Quebec City instead of Geneva
Sapporo instead of Zermatt
Memphis instead of Nashville
Destination dupes can be less crowded and lower budget
AirBnB also noted the trend, with their data suggesting there had been over 1.1 million views on TikTok for #DestinationDupes with this being one of the most popular trends from the year 2024.
They found that “the likes of Lake Maggiore in Italy (224%) Pattaya in Thailand (56%), and Cavtat in Croatia (39%)” had risen in popularity in July.
To help travelers find more alternative locations, AirBnB put together a list of dupes. For Croatia, they suggested Montenegro. Both places are close by, with Montenegro offering a mountainous coastline scenery.
For those looking to explore the Cotswolds which sits in the south of England, the short-and-long-term homestay brand suggests visiting the quaint Saxon town of Winchcombe instead.
Other dupes include Genoa instead of Venice and Paros rather than Santorini.
Image Credit – Via Ideogram