Deeper Dive: The Duplexities of Dupe Travel

So, you have your heart set on visiting Paris but aren’t a big fan of crowds. Adore the thought of dining in Sicily, but the possibility of going over budget is leaving a bad taste in your mouth. No worries. Although it’s been said (and sang!) that you can’t always get what you want. We believe, thanks to dupe travel, you can. And, to all the destinations out there, guess what? You can get what you want too.

At Dana, we blogged about dupe travel in 12 Travel Trends Making Moves in 2024. In 2025, the fervor we wrote about then is still going strong among even the most seasoned globe-trotters. And it’s not just us. Some of the world’s most heavy-hitting travel media giants are on board too.

When National Geographic released their 9 destination dupes that feel like the real deal, they included the viticultural regions of Western Cape, South Africa, as a great stand-in for Napa Valley. The Historic Hot Springs Loop in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains as a dupe for Iceland’s beloved watery wonder, the Blue Lagoon. And Letchworth State Park in New York as a less crowded alternative to the cliffside recreation and captivation of the Grand Canyon.  

Travel + Leisure offered ways to escape the crowds with destination dupes as well, showcasing Paros, Greece, as a more affordable alternative for Mykonos, Bordeaux, France, as a dupe for those who love the wines and culture found in Paris, the City of Light and Adelaide, Australia as a more intimate alternative to the more tourist-laden Melbourne. Dupe travel destinations are all around us. And most of the time, they’re just a Google search away.

The Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) released its annual economic outlook for 2025, revealing insight into the growth of “travel twins” – less costly and less crowded destinations that mirror the attractions and experiences found at tourist hot spots. The report goes on to note that hotel transactions for these destinations have seen higher growth than their more well-known “twins.” So, knowing that dupe and twin travel is a force to be reckoned with, what can destinations do to work this trend to their benefit? A lot.

The fact that your location bears the same culture, charm and landscapes travelers seek out at more well-known places is a huge selling point. So get social! As with most “experience” sales, Influencers are a surefire way to convey the value of your destination as a less crowded and less pricey alternative. By bringing the beauty of your location to life through TikTok, Instagram reels, Facebook and more, your market can see firsthand that close-enough can be better (and a lot less moolah!) than the real deal.

As participants in a screen-focused society, upping your social game is always a smart move. Enticing rates and package deals are also a great way to spark attention and visitation to your location, especially to today’s cost-conscious and rather impulsive travelers. It’s also a best practice to get the word out on your website. Let your market know you’ve got the same charisma that pricey parts of the globe do, and soon, vacationers will most likely be flocking to you.

Let Dana Communications do the work for you. With 45 years of brilliant creative, savvy strategies and media masterpieces, we know how to navigate your destination through the travel climate of today flawlessly. Let’s talk tourism. Contact Lynn Kaniper at 609.466.9187 ext. 117 or lkaniper@danacommunications.com today.