When Your Destination is Pricey, Opt for a Less Pricey Duplicate

A May 2026 report on destination duplicates found that travelers can enjoy Zanzibar just as much as the Maldives, while paying 80% less. With millions of vacationers planning their summer breaks, a new study by the small-ship cruise company Sail Croatia reveals the cheap alternatives to luxury destinations.

• Zanzibar offers the same travel experience as the Maldives, but saves couples $500+ daily on accommodation and meals. 
• Tourists eyeing Capri should consider Procida instead, as its 60% cheaper and has the same Mediterranean vibes. 
• The Azores are the best alternative to Hawaii’s volcanic landscapes and beaches, costing visitors half as much as Maui.

The research looked at 20 popular vacation spots to find cheaper alternatives that offer the same experience. For every location, the study calculated what couples spend daily on hotels, meals, and drinks. These figures were then compared between the original destination and its lookalike to show how much travelers can save by choosing the budget option. 

Here’s a look at the top 10 destination dupes where travelers save the most:

Destination	Average Daily Cost	Dupe	Average Daily Cost	Save (%)
Maldives	$687	Zanzibar, Tanzania	$122	82.22%
The Hamptons, NY	$1,135	Outer Banks, NC	$348	69.34%
Capri, Italy	$757	Procida, Italy	$284	62.52%
Maui, Hawaii, USA	$580	Azores, Portugal	$236	59.25%
Portofino, Italy	$527	Camogli, Italy	$303	42.60%
Amalfi Coast, Italy	$392	Cilento Coast, Italy	$238	39.33%
Dubrovnik, Croatia	$325	Kotor, Montenegro	$205	36.83%
Venice, Italy	$412	Trieste, Italy	$276	33.09%
St. Tropez, France	$557	Cassis, France	$373	33.06%
Mykonos, Greece	$382	Paros, Greece	$259	32.24%

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Maldives > Zanzibar, Tanzania

• Original daily cost: $687
• Dupe daily cost: $122
• Savings: 82%
• Monthly search volume: 1.07 million

Zanzibar is the closest thing to the Maldives, while costing 82% less. The Maldives are one of the most hyped destinations, with over 1 million people looking it up every month. But it’s also overpriced, costing couples nearly $700 daily. Meanwhile, Zanzibar offers the same white beaches and turquoise waters for just around $120 per day, including hotels, meals, and drinks. So travelers choosing this Tanzanian island over the Maldives can actually save up to $4K on a week-long vacation.

2. The Hamptons, New York > Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks offers the same Atlantic beach vacation as the Hamptons, but costs 69% less. The Hamptons are where wealthy New Yorkers go for the summer, and this drives up local prices, as couples going there end up spending over $1,100 daily. At the same time, the Outer Banks offer identical oceanfront vibes for under $350. Hotels alone cost around $840 nightly in the Hamptons versus $270 in North Carolina, and even restaurants charge three times less. 

3. Capri, Italy > Procida, Italy

Tourists planning vacations to Capri might want to consider Procida, as it’s 63% cheaper. Both sit in the Bay of Naples with colorful buildings and coastal cliffs. But booking a room in a Capri hotel costs nearly $600 on average, pricing out many travelers, while Procida charges under $115 for similar seaside accommodations. Plus, Procida sees far fewer tourists than its famous neighbor, so visitors get quieter beaches while spending around $470 less each day.

4. Maui, Hawaii > Azores, Portugal

The Azores are Portugal’s answer to Hawaii, offering the same volcanic landscapes and beaches for 59% less. Maui is one of the tourist hotspots these days, with over 1.4 million people looking up hotels there every month and spending $580 daily. The Azores, on the other hand, offer black sand beaches and green mountain hikes for under $240 per day. While staying in Maui costs around $350 nightly, the same-grade hotels in the Azores charge $139. Eating out is also way more affordable, with Portuguese restaurants offering meals at half the price. 

5. Portofino, Italy > Camogli, Italy

Camogli is a 30-minute drive from Portofino along the same Italian Riviera coastline, but costs 43% less. Portofino is an elite travel destination with equally high-end hotel rates at $333 nightly. But those who want to experience the same vibes can just visit Camogli and book a local hotel for around $130 per night. While staying in Camogli for half the price, you can still visit Portofino during the day, plus keep $225 extra that you can spend on a nice dinner in an Italian restaurant. 

A tourism expert from Sail Croatia commented on the study:

“Social media drives demand for specific locations, which then raises prices artificially. Everyone wants to photograph Santorini’s blue domes or Mykonos’ windmills these days. But Greece has dozens of islands with the same white buildings and sunset views. You see this with Croatia, too. Dubrovnik became a tourist magnet due to Game of Thrones, but Kotor across the border has the same stone streets and bay views. If you prefer staying in Croatia, then there is Šibenik, which has the lookalike old-town atmosphere without Dubrovnik’s crowds.”