There's no place in the world like New York. Or Chicago. Or Miami. Or Hawaii. But if you're on a tight travel budget, you can find equally great destinations that offer similar experiences. Often, the trick is to "go smaller," says Tim Leffel, author of The World's Cheapest Destinations. "Big cities just naturally cost more, but you're usually visiting a small part of it anyway. So zero in on what really interests you, and you can almost always find a good alternative with lower costs."
We took care of that hard work for you. We selected nine of the most popular — and priciest — travel destinations in the country. And, focusing on their most tourist-attractive characteristics, we found similar but more affordable alternatives based on cost data from travel sites Kayak and TripAdvisor, as well as the opinions of travel pros.
Also, check out our list of 5 Bargain Vacation Destinations Off the Beaten Path.
Philadelphia instead of New York
Trade the Statue of Liberty for the Liberty Bell, Central Park for Fairmount Park, and pizza for cheesesteak, and you'll find an equally enticing city center in Philly.
"Philadelphia has a good restaurant scene and good theaters," says Leffel. This November, catch Wicked at the Academy of Music or Beauty and the Beast at the Walnut Street Theatre.
As for preshow dining options, Philly has a fantastic culinary scene. In fact, Philadelphia chefs and restaurants took home three James Beard Awards this year. Art lovers won't miss the Met thanks to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum and renowned Barnes Foundation, home to 69 Cézannes. We'll leave comparing the two cities' pro sports teams to their respective rabid fans.
How you'll save on your vacation
Lodging is cheaper in the City of Brotherly Love. According to Kayak.com, the average hotel room costs $228 for a weekend night, compared with $398 in New York City.
Admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is "pay what you wish" the first Sunday of the month and every Friday night (5:00–8:45 p.m.). Entry to the Rodin Museum is always pay what you wish, and the garden is free year-round. Plus, there's a complimentary shuttle between the two museums.
A $54 CityPASS saves 49% on tickets to three popular tourist spots, including The Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Zoo. It's free to reenact Sylvester Stallone's iconic run up the "Rocky" steps or to play a round of disc golf (bring your own Frisbee) at the Sedgley Woods course in sprawling Fairmount Park.
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Williamsburg instead of Boston
Boston doesn't have a monopoly on the American Revolution. History buffs can live it up at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, where actors go totally meta for their performances and become 18th-century townsfolk, including loyalists, patriots and slaves. As you explore the city, you can chat with them and ask about their lives, trades and time. And you'll witness the drama unfold as colonists' dissension divides the community.
You can also visit nearby Jamestown, home to America's first permanent English settlement, and Yorktown, where Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington. The free Historic Triangle Shuttle runs between the sites in-season. Or stay completely in modern times and enjoy the Busch Gardens and Water Country USA theme parks.
How you'll save on your vacation
Cut your hotel costs in half by heading south. The average hotel rate for a weekend night is $427 a night in Boston, compared with only $180 a night in Williamsburg, according to Kayak.
If you'd like the full Colonial Williamsburg experience, you can pay $59.99 for a three-day ticket to a selection of guided sites, historic trades, gardens and staged performances on the Charlton Stage and in the Hennage Auditorium and Art Museums collections.
But here's a frugal secret: There's no charge to roam the grounds and watch many of the outdoor activities and performances. Other free activities: Ride the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry across the James River and get a nice view of the shoreline, or enjoy Free Concert Thursdays in July & August on the lawn of Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg from 6PM-8PM. You can also walk around Merchant's Square, where the Williamsburg Farmer's Market takes place.
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Cedar Point instead of Disney World
It's true, the fantastic experience that is Orlando's Disney World cannot be replicated, not even by Disney itself (sorry, Disneyland). But you can find plenty of theme-park amusements — with smaller crowds, better prices and fewer princesses — elsewhere around the country.
Robb Henshaw, former VP of Marketing & Communications at travel site GetGoing.com, recommends Cedar Point, "a massive theme park that's big for ride enthusiasts." Located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point features more than 150 rides, shows and attractions, including 18 world-class roller coasters. In July, the average high temperature in Sandusky is 82.4, much cooler than Orlando's sweltering average of 91.4.
How you'll save on your vacation
For two-day tickets to Disney World (good for admission to one of the following four parks per day: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom), a family of two adults and two children between ages 3 and 9 would pay a whopping $1,250 online. And that price doesn't even include access to a water park.
At Cedar Point, you can score four Gold tier season passes, offering unlimited visits to Cedar Point and it's water park, for just $125 a piece.
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Oregon Wine Country instead of Napa Valley
Napa's not the only game in town anymore for oenophiles. "There's great wine country all over the place now," says Jane Wooldridge, co-author of The 100 Best Affordable Vacations to Enrich Your Life. She recommends Oregon, starting south of Portland and going all the way down to Medford. "Oregon has lots of wine country, some really inexpensive lodging, and it's not overrun."
Medford and the Rogue Valley are home to more than 60 wineries, far fewer than Napa's 400 but more than enough to fill a vacation. Local foods are also sure to satisfy the epicurean traveler. Harry & David, of gift-basket fame, is rooted in Medford alongside a host of chocolatiers, cheesemakers and organic farmers.
A tour of the Harry & David factory costs $5 and ends with free chocolate. About 30 minutes south in Ashland, theater lovers should catch one of the Tony-award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's many productions, ranging from Macbeth to non-Shakespearean plays such as Jane Eyre.
How you'll save on your vacation
According to a 2023 Silicon Valley Bank Direct-to-Consumer Survey, the average tasting fee for an Oregon vineyard was $32, compared to $81 in Napa. The average bottle price in Napa, as of 2022, was $107.79 a bottle, compared to just $52.59 in Oregon.
Savings can also be found when it comes to sleeping off the effects of a day on the Oregon wine trail. According to TripAdvisor, Medford's top-rated B&B is Lady Geneva Bed & Breakfast, with nightly rates around $204. At The Francis House, Napa's top-rated B&B on TripAdvisor, the nightly rate can reach over $700.
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Milwaukee instead of Chicago
Not to be outdone by its neighbor to the south, Milwaukee boasts lake views, pro sports (the NBA's Bucks and MLB's Brewers), iconic beers (Pabst anyone?) and all manner of meats in tube form. "It's another Midwestern city where you can get some of the Chicago vibe," says Wooldridge. "But it's also a great town that has a distinctive flavor unto itself."
Milwaukeeans love festivals, highlighted by Summerfest, the season's biggest music event. Headliners include Mötley Crüe, Tyler Childers and Keith Urban. Before (or after) a show, cool off with a dip in Lake Michigan. North Beach in nearby Racine is considered one of the best beaches in the Midwest.
How you'll save on your vacation
General admission tickets to Summerfest start at just $26, letting you watch a mix of artists. And while you'll have to buy a separate ticket to see headliners at the Marcus Amphitheater, even these shows are reasonably priced. Tickets to see Tyler Childers in Milwaukee next summer cost $94.26 on Ticketmaster, compared to $125.50 in Chicago.
Other frugal things you can enjoy in Milwaukee include the $10 MillerCoors brewery tour, which comes with free brews served at various stops along the tour; strolling the two-mile-long Riverwalk; and checking out the Milwaukee Art Museum ($22 for adults. The Milwaukee Public Museum also offers free admission the first Thursday of every month.
You can rest for less as well. According to Kayak, nightly hotel rates average $161 in Milwaukee for a weekend, versus $245 in Chicago.
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Puerto Rico instead of Hawaii
Enjoy an exotic island vacation filled with sun, surf, and unique culture and natural wonders without departing the good ol' U.S. of A. Because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, you can leave your passport at home, speak English without hesitation (though a little Spanish doesn't hurt) and skip the currency exchange.
History buffs can stroll the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan and tour El Morro, a massive Spanish fortification. Surfers head to the western side of the island for the best breaks, especially around Rincon. Nature lovers flock to El Yunque, a rare 28,000-acre subtropical rainforest complete with waterfalls, beaches and hiking trails. It's free to visit El Yunque on your own, or spring for a ranger-guided tour. Another unique natural attraction is Mosquito Bay on the small island of Vieques. Take a boat or kayak out, ideally on a moonless night, to see the water glow with every touch due to the high concentration of bioluminescent microorganisms.
How you'll save on your vacation
Staying in San Juan is budget-friendly. According to Kayak, the average hotel room in Honolulu goes for $442 a night; in Puerto Rico's capital, it's $345.
In fact, prices everywhere in the Caribbean are discounted during summer and early fall because of the threat of hurricanes. But don't let Mother Nature scare you away from fabulous deals. The heart of hurricane season is short, typically August to October. Plus, says Wooldridge, "a lot of the resorts and hotels in the area will give you a kind of hurricane guarantee, so if a place gets nailed or there's a warning, you get a refund."
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Kansas City instead of New Orleans
Home to the legendary Charlie "Yardbird" Parker and the historic 18th & Vine jazz district, music enthusiasts will find plenty of toe-tapping entertainment in Kansas City. The American Jazz Museum has interactive exhibits, memorabilia displays and, of course, live musical performances. Built into the museum, the Blue Room resembles the famous 1930s jazz club of the same name and hosts live shows. For hardcore jazz fans, the Mutual Musicians Foundation holds late-night (midnight to 6 a.m.) jam sessions on Fridays and Saturdays.
If listening to all that jazz works up your appetite, you're in luck. While you won't find Creole or Cajun cuisine on many menus, there's no shortage of Kansas City-style barbeque smothered in the city's signature sweet tomato-based sauce. Popular purveyors include Joe's Kansas City, Fiorella's, Arthur Bryant's BBQ and LC’s Bar-B-Q.
How you'll save on your vacation
Tickets to the American Jazz Museum cost $10 for adults, but you can get into the museum's Horace M. Peterson III Visitor Center and Changing Gallery and view their exhibits free. Tickets to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum also cost just $10 for adults. Furthermore, The Blue Room hosts free jazz performances on Mondays, and Friday and Saturday shows usually cost just $10 for one set or $15 for both.
Need a hotel? Lodging runs cheaper in Kansas City, where the average weekend room rate is just $186 a night — $49 lower than in New Orleans, according to Kayak.
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Portland, Ore., instead of San Francisco
Portland provides a great environment for creative types, who have built up a unique music, food and art scene. "They have fantastic beer, great coffee, food and culture, and all the other things you'd go to San Francisco for — and it is much more reasonably priced," says Leffel.
The neighborhood choices are as eclectic as they are in the California city. In Northwest Portland, nicknamed Nob Hill after the area in San Francisco, check out Victorian-style homes, unique shops and a variety of cafes and restaurants. Downtown offers even more food and shopping choices, as well as a number of art galleries, museums and theaters. And in the Hawthorne and Belmont districts you'll find a regular cluster of food carts and trucks, the Helium Comedy Club and Mount Tabor Park atop a dormant volcano.
How you'll save on your vacation
The average hotel rate in San Francisco is $219 a night; in Portland, it's $160. Plus, you can enjoy all of your shopping sans sales tax.
Free events are everywhere. Hawthorne holds a street fair in August with live music and family-friendly activities. You can sample an earful of local bands at the annual weekend-long PDX Pop Now! music festival for no charge. Many downtown art galleries stay open late — and serve complimentary wine — on the first Thursday of every month. Or catch a cheap tour and tasting at many of Portland's breweries. A tour of Widmer Brothers costs just $5.
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Tampa instead of Miami
More casual than the international jetsetter vibe pulsing through Miami, Tampa still gives you a taste of foreign cultures, as well as white-sand beaches and an active enough nightlife. Ybor City, Tampa's Latin American district, was born a factory town where immigrants from Cuba, Spain and Sicily came to roll cigars. Today, that heritage spices up the neighborhood's shops, art, music and cuisine.
Other attractive Florida destinations that are more affordable than Miami: St. Petersburg and Delray Beach. Leffel, who lives in Tampa, suggests St. Petersburg for its "lively downtown, clubs and bars." And Wooldridge, from Miami, recommends Delray Beach for its "thriving life with lots of restaurants and great street scene and beach."
How You'll Save on Your Vacation
The average hotel price for a weekend night stay in Tampa is $184, compared to $231 a night in Miami.
Plus, bumming on the beach and soaking up the sun is always an enjoyable, wallet-friendly way to spend your vacation days. Or check out the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center between November 1 and April 15 to learn about the local wildlife free. To brush up on Tampa's history, visit the Ybor City Museum State Park ($4 per person; kids under 5 free). At night, you can stay in historic Ybor for the club scene. With five floors of music and dancing, Club Prana lets you pay the $25 cover online and skip the line. In Miami, cover charges are likely to be double that or more.
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