It was supposed to be the Lee family’s first big post-COVID vacation. Last winter, they decided on a trip to Spain and Portugal; matriarch Jody even got the guidebooks for the holiday.
Then she managed to wrangle a break in their schedule – an impressive feat between the school and social calendars of her 16 and 19-year-old sons – and found a perfect six-day trip with Rabbie’s tours. They kept their eye on flight prices and planned to book with miles.
“Then I just didn’t do anything for like two months,” Lee said.
As the Lees found out, it’s a bad year to procrastinate. Demand has been high since last year, and experts said tonnes of people locked in their 2023 plans ages ago.
That means many of the remaining vacation options aren’t cheap – especially abroad.
According to data from the travel booking app Hopper, average airfare to Europe this year is nearly USD1,200, higher than it’s been in the last six years.
By then, there were no more seats available for the Lees to purchase with points; it would cost the Washington state family of four upward of USD10,000 for airfare alone, a fatal blow to their Europe plan.
They pivoted to a beach house closer to home in the Pacific Northwest, where they’ll be able to hike and kayak and spend time on a beach like they first planned.
“Obviously it’s going to be different,” Lee said. “Probably wouldn’t need a wet suit in Portugal.”
Embracing the holiday of the swap can save you substantially. As Hopper’s lead economist Hayley Berg points out, “airfare to Europe for summer and fall (July to October) is averaging USD924 per ticket today, compared to USD381 per ticket to islands in the Caribbean and USD450 for trips to Mexico and Central America,” she said in an e-mail.
You can find your own swaps by signing up for airfare deal newsletters or using a tool such as Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ search function to browse what’s cheapest.
Or, you can consider these seven alternatives to pricier travel spots.
INSTEAD OF SANTORINI, TRY CRETE
Don’t be fooled by the social media images of Santorini’s quiet stone streets; the island is a poster child for overtourism, said travel planner and co-owner of Inside Europe Travel Experiences Sandra Weinacht.
And with Santorini’s popularity comes prices to match. For a much better value destination with similar piercing blue water and charming seaside towns, Weinacht vouches for Crete, Greece’s biggest island.
Because it’s less popular than the country’s other islands, Weinacht said you can get more bang for your buck and less crowds.
“You have the magic of being on a beach that is not crowded with hundreds of others, or being stuck having to wait in line for a bus or taxi for hours, which is the situation in Santorini right now,” she said.
INSTEAD OF MIAMI, TRY CARTAGENA
While you can find decent airfare to Miami this summer, your accommodations will cost you.
According to Hopper, the median price for hotels in town is USD204 and travellers can expect to pay an average of USD308 for a home rental.
Slash those prices by travelling instead to Colombia’s vibrant Caribbean coast, said President and founder Meg Kinnerk of the luxury travel agency, Traveluxe.
Even though the flight will likely cost you more up front, Kinnerk recommends Cartagena as a swap for Miami, particularly for more affordable accommodations and dining, delicious seafood, interesting cultural heritage, lively atmosphere and warm beaches.
INSTEAD OF AMALFI, TRY CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST
Packed and pricey, Amalfi is not the move this summer. You could pivot to a lesser-visited European beach – like the more affordable Algarve in Portugal or Spain’s Costa del Sol – or you could stay stateside.
Kinnerk suggests California’s central coast for rugged cliffs, scenic drives, sandy beaches and pleasant climate.
INSTEAD OF THE BAHAMAS, THE GULF OF MEXICO’S ‘EMERALD COAST’
Darryl Jenkins, a travel adviser with InteleTravel, recommends the United States (US) Emerald Coast on the Gulf of Mexico for those priced out of the Bahamas.
The domestic alternative – which covers five counties of northwest Florida and the coast of Alabama – Jenkins says, has white sand, crystal-clear water and a laid-back vibe with reasonably priced beachfront condos and hotels. You can find bungalows tucked away on long stretches of beach, family-friendly activities like paddle boarding and fishing, and plenty of fresh seafood.
INSTEAD OF HAWAII, THE AZORES
Owner of Astonishing Travel Heidi Bocianowski had been planning a trip to Aruba earlier this year and nailed down everything but the airfare.
“Then I looked at flights and said forget it,” she said.
Bocianowski found a much better deal to the Azores, an Atlantic archipelago and autonomous region of Portugal.
Once they landed, something seemed familiar. Between its black sand beaches, lush rolling hills, island-hopping, majestic cliffs and volcanoes, “We kept saying, ‘oh my goodness, this is so similar to Hawaii’,” Bocianowski said. But prices for hotels, food and hiring a private guide were all much cheaper than she’s found in Hawaii.
If you insist on getting to Hawaii this year, hold off until the fall. Nastro said tourism numbers drop about 20 per cent or more come Labor Day. She’s seen September round-trip airfare from the West Coast to the islands on full-service airlines for under USD300 and a Boston to Kona ticket for USD471.
INSTEAD OF CROATIA, RIVIERA MAYA
For fantastic cuisine, fascinating history, swimming, boating and sunning a la Croatia, consider Mexico’s Riviera Maya, where you can travel to for a fraction of the price.
Berg said you can still find good deals on flights to Cancún (under USD300) from the US From there, grab a rental car and drive down the Caribbean coast and explore destinations like Puerto Morelos, Tulum or Akumal. President of the Evolved Traveler Justin Smith said the Riviera Maya has a much more laid back, “get-away-from-it-all” vibe than Cancún.
INSTEAD OF BALI, PUERTO RICO
Airfare to Bali is so high this summer, it overshadows the allure of affordable luxury you’ll find once you get there.
Hopper data shows that USD2,147 is considered a good deal for a round-trip ticket from the US. A much closer island with much cheaper airfare – plus sun, surfing and rich culture – is Puerto Rico.
Jenkins said travellers to Puerto Rico love its stunning beaches, tropical scenery, opportunities to tour old San Juan and hike the El Yunque National Forest.
Nastro says she’s seen consistently great deals to Puerto Rico from all over the country, not just major metro areas.
In her recent searches, she found round-trip fares to the capital city San Juan throughout August into October from Chicago (for USD157); Portland, Maine (USD189); and Tulsa (USD282), all on full-service airlines.
And because it’s a US territory, it’s a great option for travellers whose passport application got backlogged. – Natalie B. Compton
