Travel dupes for ’24
The TikTok trend has arrived in travel: Pay less and learn more at these on-the-down-low doppelgängers for popular vacation spots
A fashion dupe, as all of TikTok knows, is an affordable alternative to a popular product—one that’s sneakily more interesting, unexpected, and creative.
The same logic holds for “Destination Dupes.” These locations are just as trip-worthy as their tried-and-true doppelgängers, but you’ll pay less and learn more. “In online slang, dupes are cheaper versions of luxury brands. In the Expedia Trends in Travel report, dupes are destinations that are a little unexpected, sometimes more affordable, but every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true places travelers love,” said Melanie Fish, chief trend tracker for Expedia Brands. “Places like Palermo, Taipei, Curaçao, and Québec City make a really interesting destinations of the year list for 2024.”
If the idea of expanding your horizons piques your interest, that’s the perfect excuse to try Expedia’s integrated ChatGPT tool, where AI can answer (literally) all of your questions about each destination. Except for the one that only you can know: So where are you going first?
Which dupe is on your must-see list?
Taipei: Dupe for Seoul
South Korea’s capital, Seoul, has become a hub for tech startups, foodie culture, and fun nightlife. Taipei, Taiwan, has (quietly) done the same, with flight searches up 2,786% over last year after strict travel restrictions were lifted. Even non-nerds will be fascinated by the tech market at the Guang Hua Digital Plaza; vegans will appreciate plant-based menus at the likes of, well, Plants; the adventurous can try oyster omelets and stinky tofu at the Shilin Night Market; and everyone will savor the views from Elephant Mountain, a short hike away.
Where to stay: Hotel Eclat Taipei
Memphis: Dupe for Nashville
Memphis is to blues and soul what Nashville is for country music. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music (the famed studio where Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes recorded some of their biggest hits), Sun Studio (where B.B. King and Elvis Presley were discovered), and Beale Street (aka “Home of the Blues”) all give Nashville a run for its musical money, as do the slow-cooked ribs and pulled-pork barbecue.
Where to stay: The Guest House at Graceland
Paros: Dupe for Santorini
It’s hard to go wrong with a postcard-perfect Greek island in the Aegean Sea, but you’ll find fewer crowds in Paros (up 193%) than you will in popular Santorini. If you’re a history buff, Paros’s ancient marble quarries and Ekatontapiliani Church will give you just as much to ponder as Santorini’s Venetian Castle. And both islands ooze Cycladic charm, with iconic blue-domed churches, white-washed buildings, and the kind of twisting alleys where getting lost will make for a classic travel story.
Where to stay: Sandom
Québec City: Dupe for Geneva
Geneva sits on a striking body of water, boasts a well-preserved Old Town packed with historical significance, is lined with cobblestone streets, and has a multilingual culture. And a trip to Québec City… gives you all of these things, minus the transatlantic flight. The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is an easy dupe for the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève, and while Geneva can claim the Alps, Québec City’s Montmorency Falls are no small consolation prize.
Where to stay: Le Capitole Hôtel
Sapporo: Dupe for Zermatt
Let’s start with transportation: No cars are allowed in the Swiss ski mecca of Zermatt, so you travel by bicycle, public transit, or horse-drawn carriage. (It’s ridiculously cute.) In the ski paradise of Sapporo—arguably the Japanese version of Zermatt—you’ll find a similarly charming mode of transport with a vast system of streetcars. Sapporo’s Snow Festival (and its giant ice sculptures) is a capable stand-in for Zermatt’s Folklore-Festival, and as for the skiing itself? Having hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, Sapporo’s credentials are impeccable.
Where to stay: Cross Hotel Sapporo
Liverpool: Dupe for London
Sure, London is a reliable hit, but a jaunt further north to Liverpool is more surprising. For a hyper-specific agenda, the city (up 97%) has two solid options: A pilgrimage to The Cavern Club, where the Beatles were discovered (they played there 292 times), or Anfield stadium (and its behind-the-scenes tour), home of Liverpool FC. The city has the UK’s largest number of museums and galleries outside London: Add Tate Liverpool and The International Slavery Museum to your itinerary, too.
Where to stay: The Municipal Hotel Liverpool – Mgallery
Palermo: Dupe for Lisbon
A decade ago, the Portuguese capital Lisbon burst onto every travel guide as the new “it” city, heralded as an overlooked European gem. Now the secret is out (and the prices have risen accordingly) but the Sicilian city of Palermo checks many of the same boxes: Moorish castles, jaw-dropping views of the harbors, fresh oysters, and cotton-candy sunsets. As with all these dupes, get in before word spreads.
Where to stay: Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel
Pattaya: Dupe for Bangkok
Thailand’s capital has a wider range of entertainment options than most destinations—from the night markets of Asiatique Riverfront to rooftop nightclubs to the family-friendly Dream World—and Pattaya, around the bay, now offers the same expansive menu (and is up 249%). The neon lights of Walking Street (packed with clubs and music venues) will give adults one side of nightlife, but (as in Bangkok) family-friendly activities abound, from the Cartoon Network Amazon Waterpark to the resorts on Jomtien Beach.
Where to stay: Royal Wing Suites & Spa Pattaya
Perth: Dupe for Sydney
Looking for a vacation with beaches and plenty of urban culture? Okay, so maybe Perth’s waterfront attractions aren’t quite as well known as Sydney’s, but it is just as beautiful, and Perth’s Cottesloe Beach can go toe-to-toe with Sydney’s Bondi. Perth’s Cultural Center (with its Art Gallery of Western Australia) doubles nicely for Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales, and for day trips, Perth’s Pinnacles in Nambung National Park serve as a mini-dupe for Sydney’s Blue Mountains. No wonder searches are up 109%.
Where to stay: COMO The Treasury
Curaçao: Dupe for St. Martin
Gleaming beaches, crystal blue water, elite scuba diving? Check, check, and check. Like St. Martin, the Dutch Caribbean island nation of Curaçao (up 228%) offers the one-two punch of dives (the coral formations of the Mushroom Forest and cave are a must) and architectural charm, such as the rainbow-colored 18th-century buildings on the Handelskade waterfront—a dupe for St. Martin’s French colonial past. And in both, the food is a fusion of European, African, and Caribbean influences; don’t skip the karni stoba stew or the pastechi deep-fried pastries.
Where to stay: Blue Bay Lodges
Jeff Wilser
Writer
Jeff Wilser is the author of seven books, a frequent traveler (living in 24 countries in the three years to 2020), and a contributor to The New York Times, GQ, and Fast Company.
Trending flight paths for 2024
For those wondering where everyone’s going to—and coming from—Expedia data reveals 2024’s top trending global flight routes, based on the biggest increase in demand over last year. The number one jump was Angelenos jet-setting to Tokyo, followed in second place by Perth locals retreating to Bali.
Scan the QR code or select one of the links below.