When most people think about booking a vacation, their mind wanders to faraway hotspots, such as Bali, Amsterdam, and Paris. While these destinations shouldn’t go unnoticed, there are plenty of less-crowded havens to explore that you won’t find in travel books and vacation listicles. Take a look at some of the best alternatives to overpopulated travel destinations that follow.
1. Cebu, instead of Bali
It’s likely you’ve never even heard of Cebu, a province in the Philippines. But Cebu Island has quite a few things in common with the popular travel destination Bali. Named Number 3 on Money’s travel destination list, Cebu touts fresh sands and plenty of surrounding cities to explore. Plus, the island is generally cheaper than Bali, so you might have money left over to hit another destination on your travel bucket list before heading home.
2. Colmar, instead of Venice
If you’ve been itching to wander Venice, Italy, but you aren’t keen on overspending on bottled water and tourist traps, check out Colmar, France, instead. The city is, “ … something straight out of a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale,” according to the Independent. From taking romantic boat rides to sipping some of France’s best wine, you can find both leisure and love in Colmar, France.
3. Quebec City, instead of Paris
Paris might be one of the most popular places to travel to in the world, but it’s also known for its crowds and sky-high prices. Quebec City, on the other hand, has opportunistic exchange rates for Americans, flawless public transit, and infinite sightseeing. In addition, French is the official language of Quebec, so you can still practice your, “Un vin, s’il vous plaît,” (One wine, please,) without leaving North America.
If hotspots like Paris, Venice, and Bali are on your travel bucket list, you might want to grab some Wite-Out. These less-crowded, often cheaper travel destinations are equally worth exploring.