Beach Destination Dupes That Feel Luxe—Without the Price Tag

Assume a luxury beach vacation is completely outside of your travel budget? Think again. While glamorous hotspots like the French Riviera, Santorini, and Bora Bora get all the attention—thanks to celebrities, glossy resorts, and plenty of hype—there are alternatives. These beach destination dupes give you a comparable experience, but without the steep price tag.

Here are 10 famous destinations that might be on your dream travel list, plus the more affordable beach destination dupes where your dollar stretches further:

When comparing Hawaiian destinations, Maui is often considered the most expensive island. Luxury resorts dominate the scene, and the demand for accommodations drives up prices across the board— even vacation rentals. Many argue you get what you pay for: world-class beaches, upscale amenities, and top-notch snorkeling.

Still, the crowds and costs can make Maui overwhelming. Just a short flight away, Hawaii’s Big Island offers much of the same beauty with fewer people and lower prices. Here you’ll find multicolored beaches (including black sand), dramatic lava fields, lush jungles, and quiet stretches of sand. Snorkeling, whale watching, and agritourism all remain on the menu. And throughout your stay, you’ll save money on hotels, dining, and activities.

Mykonos is famous for its stark white architecture and sapphire-blue backdrop. It’s an Instagram darling, with high-end resorts, fine dining, luxury shops, and a lively nightlife. But it’s also expensive—and budget-friendly choices are few.

Enter Naxos. Just a half-hour ferry ride away, Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and a more authentic option at a fraction of the cost. Here, you’ll enjoy excellent beaches, Venetian-era architecture, and plenty of medieval history. The pace is slower, the crowds smaller, and your spending benefits the locals rather than global chains.

Santorini is breathtaking and romantic, but when it comes to costs, it rivals Mykonos. If you’ve already tried Naxos and want something different, skip the Greek Isles altogether and set your sights on Italy’s Puglia region.

Located in southern Italy, Puglia is less crowded, more authentic, and far less expensive. You’ll still find whitewashed towns, beautiful beaches, and layers of history. Additionally, it’s overall easier (and, again, cheaper!) to get to Puglia than to Santorini, and you’ll find diverse options for every part of your trip, including accommodations and activities. Beyond the beaches (check out Polignano a Mare), you can fill your days exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site that is the Trulli of Alberobello, soaking in the food scene, and hiking in the Parco Nazionale del Gargano.

It’s no wonder the French Riviera has become a playground for the rich and famous. With turquoise waters, colorful architecture, and palm-lined promenades, it has long attracted royalty, celebrities, and luxury travelers. Cannes, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez are iconic—and priced accordingly.

You can have an equally enviable trip to the French seaside, though, without heading to the Cote d’Azur. Try a little hidden gem that’s not going to stay hidden for long, in its stead: Collioure. 

Located very nearly at the France-Spain border, Collioure is a vibrant fishing village where the local wine and seafood will delight just as much as the seaside scenery. In addition to being more affordable than towns and villages along the French Riviera, Collioure is also more laid back and relaxed.

With its energetic nightlife, arts scene, top-tier hotels and resorts, and gorgeous beach close to all the action, Miami seems to outshine just about every other Florida beach destination. If, though, you’re willing to travel approximately 45 minutes north, you’ll find a more affordable, more relaxed, more easily accessible dupe: Fort Lauderdale.

While it might not have the instant glamorous appeal of Miami, Fort Lauderdale still offers a lot to love. As the two are basically in the same metro area, they’re quite similar, but you get all the benefits of being in a destination with fewer crowds. You still can enjoy excellent dining, beautiful beaches, shopping and live entertainment venues, and many travelers feel that the Fort Lauderdale locals are overall more approachable and friendlier.

The South Pacific is filled with high-end vacation spots, but the most expensive and luxurious of them all is Bora Bora. A popular honeymoon destination, your accommodation options here span ultra-luxe private islands and all-inclusive 5-star resorts.

However, if you can’t quite swing Bora Bora just yet, consider the Cook Islands, which are significantly more affordable despite still boasting an exotic, romantic, remote locale. With far fewer tourists, you’ll find that the environment is more laid back and that it almost feels like you have the whole place to yourself. You can rent a homestay right on the beach here, and a car to get around, but resorts are also an option. With a little savvy booking, travelers find that they can get their flights and hotels for just a few thousand dollars per person, for a week-long trip (compared to the easy $10,000-plus per person that you’d spend in Bora Bora).

The remote, luxurious Seychelles offer high-end, luxury resorts and stunning beaches aplenty, plus world-renowned snorkeling opportunities. If you’re watching your travel spending, though, don’t overlook the nearby island country of Mauritius. 

Not only does Mauritius offer more affordable stays, but it provides plenty of activity options beyond its beaches, too, such as nightlife, hiking and cultural attractions. It basically gives you all the amenities and fun that you’d get on a busier, more active, more populated island, but without sacrificing much in the beach department.

St. Barts is one of the most luxurious and exclusive islands in the Caribbean, but if a visit isn’t quite within your budget at the moment, you don’t have to settle for tourists, massive cruise ships, and cheap all-inclusive resorts. You can still enjoy a certain level of exclusivity and fewer crowds (at a more palatable price point) by simply traveling one island over, to St. Martin.

St. Martin offers luxury, but that’s not all it has. The larger island provides more overall options, great beaches, dining, nightlife fun, and a history and culture rich with French and Dutch influences. Plus, if you really want to see St. Barts, you can save cash by staying on St. Martin, but then take a little day trip to either St. Martin or nearby Anguilla (or both!).

For nature lovers and adventure travelers, the Galapagos islands are an absolute god-level travel destination—but getting there typically requires a guided experience or, very commonly, a luxury adventure cruise. 

For a more affordable alternative, then, visit Isla De La Plata, which is similarly located off the Ecuadorian coast, though situated much closer to the mainland. You’ll still be treated to an array of unique species (such as blue-footed boobies!) and wildlife watching opportunities, with tours that allow you to hike across the two-mile island to take it all in. You won’t be able to directly stay on the island, though, so plan to base camp in either Puerto Lopez or Montanita, both worthy beach destinations in their own rights.

Yet another ultra-luxe honeymoon destination, the Maldives are known for their pricey resorts and overwater bungalows. You’ll save significantly by skipping over these expensive (and, frankly, growing in popularity and lessening in exclusivity) islands by opting for the Andaman Islands instead. 

Together with the Nicobar Islands, the Andaman Islands total nearly 600 isles off the coast of India, but with only a few dozen inhabited. Whichever island you stay on, you’ll not only enjoy much more moderately priced accommodations, but also a greater variety of land-based activities, fewer international tourists, and a great local food scene.