Rising prices across the travel industry, lead by the soaring cost of gas and its widespread impact across global industries, is leading to a new travel trend among consumers who want to save cash while still enjoying the trip of their dreams—or, at least, something similar.
According to travel booking site Expedia, airfare prices are up nearly 15% year over year, leading to travelers recalibrating their priorities when booking a vacation, choosing to swap an iconic yet expensive travel destination with a similar option that is easier on the wallet.
Expedia says this year’s top travel trend is “destination dupes,” aka, booking a trip to one destination that has the look and feel of a more expensive one.
“Instead of canceling trips, people are getting smarter about how (and where) they travel,” Expedia wrote in its 2026 Summer Travel Outlook. “Travelers are swapping iconic hotspots for lookalike destinations that offer similar experiences for less.”
Among these “destination dupes” that people are booking, Expedia names Philadelphia as a cheaper alternative to New York City.
“Up 80% year over year, Philadelphia offers world‑class museums, historic neighborhoods, and a thriving dining scene,” Expedia write. “Average nightly hotel rates are 30% lower than New York, averaging $300 per night.”
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Palm Springs is listed as an alternative to Los Angeles with poolside resorts, a vibrant art scene and hotel accommodations that cost 25% less than L.A.
And Puerto Rico is named as a potential cost-saving vacation option for those wanting a Hawaiian escape. Puerto Rico travel is up 25% year over year, Expedia says, with hotel rates about 40% lower than Honolulu while still offering tropical beaches and rich culture.
But these destination dupes aren’t just limited to domestic vacations.
Rather than booking an expensive trip to Cancun, Mexico, travelers can instead route to Belize in Central America where hotel rates are about $269 per night—about 36% lower than Cancun.
Dublin, Ireland is considered a close facsimile of London with its “walkable neighborhoods, historic pubs and easy coastal escapes,” Expedia write. Hotel stays are about 10% cheaper in Dublin than in London at about $330 per night.
People planning a Parisian escape can save big by traveling a few hours north to Brussels, Belgium.
“Brussels is up 40% year over year, drawing travelers with historic squares, elegant architecture, and a well‑known food and beer scene, with hotel rates 40% lower than Paris, averaging $229 nightly,” Expedia writes in its annual report.
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Other international destination dupes include the Caribbean island of Curaçao instead of the popular Dominican vacation spot Punta Cana. Naples is listed as an adequate recreation of its Italian sister city Rome with accommodations that are 30% lower than the capital city.
Destination dupes are just one way to save
Expedia says swapping a high-profile city with one nearby can unlock smaller crowds and lower hotel rates. Bundling your flight with your hotel stay is also listed as money-saving move, as is booking early for peak travel season and being flexible with dates—Expedia says traveling in early June or mid‑August can significantly reduce both hotel and airfare costs.
“Summer travel still matters deeply to travelers, but how they travel is changing,” said Expedia spokesperson and travel expert Melanie Fish. “With airfare under pressure, travelers who stay flexible, stay closer to home and look beyond the obvious destinations can still unlock meaningful savings without compromising the experience. Travellers can also find added value by booking flights and hotels together. It’s about doing more with every travel dollar.”
To read Expedia’s complete 2026 Summer Travel Outlook, click here.
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