Move over, Paris and London: The “dupe travel” trend is here to stay. Travelers are increasingly skipping overly touristy destinations like these in favor of less crowded (and therefore less expensive) alternatives—otherwise known as “destination dupes.”
If you’re on TikTok, you’ll know that dupes are trending in general, especially when it comes to products that offer affordable alternatives to popular brands. But dupe destinations are more than a mere social media trend: Increased travel post-pandemic and digital nomadism have led to rising costs and crowds, forcing travelers to reconsider cities they once considered bucket list destinations. On the other hand, many modern travelers simply prefer a slower pace and are eager to support the growth of lesser-known communities and economies.
Dupe destinations provide the ideal solution, offering similar vibes and attractions at a more budget-friendly price. Plus, travelers often have a more positive experience in these destinations, simply because they’re not overly packed.
Exactly when the “dupe travel” trend started is debatable, but there’s evidence that it gained significant traction in 2023 and continues to be a hot trend in 2024. So, what are some ideal dupe destinations for your next trip? Online sources have identified numerous, and we’ve turned to our internal data to confirm them.
Here are five trending dupe destinations, all of which have seen a surge in vacation rental bookings on Lodgify this year.
Liverpool, England > London, England
Looking for London town vibes without the hustle and bustle of, well, London? Head a little further north to discover Liverpool’s unique—yet equally impressive—cultural scene.
Home to the most museums and galleries in the U.K. outside of London, Liverpool is absolutely brimming with arts and culture. The Tate Liverpool is an excellent dupe for the Tate Modern, and the Merseyside Maritime Museum stands in for London’s National Maritime Museum. Music and sports fans will also find plenty to do, such as visit the historic Cavern Club (where the Beatles were discovered) or take a behind-the-scenes tour of Anfield Stadium (home of Liverpool FC).
Of course, Liverpool also offers comparable weather and food options, with numerous bars and restaurants lining the picturesque Royal Albert Dock and trendy Ropewalks District. And considering that your money goes much further here than in the country’s capital, it’s no wonder that…
📈 Liverpool bookings are up 900% since 2023 and 2900% since 2022.
Perth, Australia > Sydney, Australia
Perth might not have Sydney’s iconic waterfront skyline, but its perfect blend of beautiful beaches and urban culture make it an excellent rival.
Visit Perth’s stunning Cottesloe Beach rather than Sydney’s Bondi Beach, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia rather than Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales. Even the surrounding natural wonders are comparable, with Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park serving as dupes for the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney.
Despite these attractions, Perth sees a more relaxed atmosphere, cheaper nightly rates, and fewer crowds—for now.
📈 Bookings in Perth are up 850% since 2023 and 375% since 2022.
Montreal, Canada > Brussels, Belgium
For some, Montreal is reminiscent of Paris. But as you’ll see shortly, globetrotters discovered another dupe for the City of Light.
Instead, they chose Montreal as a sub for Brussels, and for good reason.
You can ask for a café au lait, s’il vous plaît while admiring the stunning architecture in either of these Francophone cities. In Brussels, that might entail mid-century landmarks such as the Atomium, whereas in Montreal you can admire the distinctive Olympic Stadium, the Biosphere’s unique geodesic dome, and the iconic Habitat 67.
Both cities are also known for their multicultural and cosmopolitan vibes, giving you access to a variety of international cuisines, vibrant art scenes, and festivals and events. It also helps that, for American travelers at least, the trip is much quicker and more affordable.
📈 Vacation rental bookings in Montreal are up 350% since 2023.
Buenos Aires, Argentina > Paris, France
There’s a reason people call Buenos Aires “the Paris of South America.”
Beaux Arts-style architecture, wide tree-lined avenues, and lush parks make the destinations very visually similar, even if Buenos Aires is much larger a city than its French counterpart. But it’s not all about looks: Trendy boutiques, European sidewalk cafes, and world-class museums lend Buenos Aires a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a certain je ne sais quoi.
Swap alfajores for macarons and Spanish for French, and you just might believe you’re in Paris.
📈 Bookings in Buenos Aires are up 200% since 2023 and 125% since 2022.
Budapest, Hungary > Barcelona, Spain
It’s well known that overtourism is an issue in Spain’s Catalan capital—so much so that Barcelona recently proposed a complete ban on short-term rentals. Whether or not this ban goes through, you can avoid the crowds and have a similar experience farther east in Budapest.
Both Barcelona and Budapest are known for their architectural diversity. So, while skipping Barcelona means you miss out on Gaudí’s marvels, Budapest’s Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion, and historic Széchenyi Baths certainly soften the blow. And if it’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites you were looking for in Gaudís creations, Budapest has several of its own, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue.
Budapest also provides a dupe for Barceloneta Beach in the Danube River, which adds to the city’s scenic beauty and provides opportunities for river cruises and water activities. Plus, both cities offer lively nightlife, music, arts, and culinary scenes. But, of course, your money will go that much further in Budapest.
📈 While bookings in Budapest are only up 8% since 2023, they’ve grown 550% since 2022.
Methodology
We analyzed over 21,700 bookings in Lodgify’s internal data, including direct bookings as well as bookings from Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, Google Vacation Rentals, and other OTAs. All reservations analyzed were for stays with arrival dates in January through May in 2022, 2023, and 2024 in order to fairly compare year-over-year booking trends. Booking trends refer to changes in the number of bookings per listing in each destination.
About Lodgify
Lodgify is the all-in-one vacation rental platform for independent hosts and property managers that provides the essential tools to start, manage, and grow a lodging business. Lodgify simplifies the process of running and marketing a vacation rental by enabling anyone to create a bookable website, synchronize property data and availability across third-party platforms, and manage all guest reservations and communications in one place.
