Cheat code unlocked – destination dupes for budget travel

Consider this your picky cheat sheet to get those holiday savings without the spreadsheets. We’re unlocking a mega series of money-saving hacks, AKA cheat codes, so you can get the trip you really want with the budget you really have. They’re so good they feel like they’re secrets but they’re not…  

First up, we’ve got 🔎 destination dupes. Love a capital city or classic destination but can’t afford to go because EVERYONE’S doing the same? PSA 🚨 These places are same, same but different – and by different we mean cheaper. So, do your budget a favour and pick one of these dupes for your next break… 

Swap Barcelona for Porto 

Porto‘s Ribeira district’s just as gorg as Barcelona‘s Gothic Quarter, with colourful buildings and hidden alleys. The Portuguese also love their tapas, and the seafood here is hard to beat. Plus, they’ve got port wine – Porto’s where all the most famous port houses are. Visit Taylor’s and Graham’s over in Vila Nova de Gaia for a tasting and order a Porto Tonico for sunset. It’s Portugal’s answer to an Aperol spritz – white port mixed with tonic water and sometimes different garnishes. Being lesser known than Barcelona already means Porto’s less crowded in peak season, but the best time to go is April-June and September-November when travel’s cheaper anyway! 

Swap Croatia for Montenegro  

Croatia’s been in the travel game for a while but has had a serious surge lately – Game of Thrones is slightly to blame, and Hvar has become an interrailing, gap yar paradise to experience the island club, Carpe Diem. But, with all of that comes the crowds… The solution? Keep going south until you hit Montenegro. They are neighbours after all, so this Balkan gem will definitely cause a few cases of déjà vu. The walled town of Budva is giving Dubrovnik with its medieval towers and there’s even the Budva Riviera for your nightlife fix. Becici is your best beachy bet with a beaut mountain backdrop. Plus, there’s the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fjord-like bay – so, Norway fans, this one’s a good dupe for you, too.  

Swap Venice for Ljubljana 

TikTok’s all over this one… Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is set between the Alps and Adriatic Sea and is giving serious Venice vibes. Its historic centre is also all cobbled streets, pastel-coloured buildings and pretty bridges. Take a boat ride along the river to spot the buzzing café culture – there are barely any cars here, so it’s mainly boats and bikes. And, if anything, Ljubljana takes the win as Venice is one of the major places affected by overtourism, so you’ll be doing the city a favour with this substitution, and boosting Slovenia’s rep at the same time. 

Swap Costa Rica for Madeira 

This Portuguese island, AKA the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, has made it onto England’s travel green list and has been voted as Europe’s best island destination. Madeira’s south-west has a subtropical climate, growing mango and avocado trees that give it those Costa Rica feels less than four hours from home. The sunrise hikes are dreamy, the beaches are dramatic, and you can even go surfing at Porta da Cruz or Paul do Mar. Pura Vida is joining the surfer crowd for sunset at Maktub… 

Swap Lake Garda for Lake Ohrid 

Italy’s lakes are iconic, but Europe has so many others that fly under the radar – enter Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. First up, it’s less crowded and known about than Lake Garda. It’s also one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, and North Macedonia alone is one of the continent’s cheapest places, so holidays here won’t cost you as much either. Ohrid has over 360 churches, and the lakeside is full of restaurants, bars and cafés – the cappuccinos taste like Italy, but they only cost £1 – and you can walk everywhere. Boat trips out on the blue water, breathtaking sunset views from the hilltops and pebbly shores for sunbathing – it really is just like Italy, you just hadn’t heard about it until now. 

Swap Paris for Budapest  

Budapest gets the nickname, the ‘Paris of the East’ so it’s a natural swap. The medieval vibe matches the French capital, with its grand palace, Matthias Church and parliament building. And Jardin du Luxembourg eat your heart out, the Károlyi Garden is where the nature’s at. Instead of the Seine, you’ve got the Danube, and Budapest will also raise you its thermal baths… Paris is known for being super chilly in winter and so is Budapest – they’re both on par for their festive Christmas market scenes – but Hungary takes the win as the ‘World’s Spa Capital’. Warm up with a dip in the mineral-rich waters, blessed by naturally heated springs from underground. The spa buildings themselves are gorgeous and grand – it’s part of the whole Budapest experience.  

Tell everyone you know and activate this code ASAP by browsing our destinations to book your fave dupe.  

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Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 05/12/2024