Skip the Crowds: 3 European "Travel Dupes" That Are Better Than the Originals
We’ve all seen the photos: the serene sparkling waters of Lake Como, the iconic orange rooftops of Dubrovnik, and the romantic canals of Amsterdam. They are on every "Bucket List" for a reason—they are stunning.
But here’s the secret your average booking site won't tell you: The crowds have arrived, and they brought the high prices with them.
As a travel consultant, my job is to find you that "main character" feeling without the wait for a photo or the tourist-trap dinner bill. If you love the vibe of Europe's most famous spots but want a more authentic (and affordable) experience, it’s time to consider the "Travel Dupe."
Here are three swaps for your next DIY itinerary that will make your friends wonder how you found these hidden gems.
The Alpine Dream: Swap Lake Como for Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Como is the height of Italian glamour, but it can feel incredibly "seen and be seen." It’s also sprawling and expensive to navigate. Lake Bled offers a Dramatic mountains, emerald water, and lakeside luxury. It has a tiny island with a church in the centre, a medieval castle perched on a cliff, and some of the best hiking in the Julian Alps.
While Como is about boat tours and villas, Bled is about movement. You can walk the entire perimeter of the lake in about 90 minutes, rent a stand up paddle board/canoe to explore the lake on your own or if you prefer to cycle there is always the option to ride around the lake.
You can either stay close to Lake Bled itself or stay in the gorgeous capital, Ljubljana, and take the one hour bus ride that departs regularly from the centre.
Don't Miss: Take a traditional Pletna boat to the island, but make sure to hike up to the Ojstrica lookout for the iconic "postcard" view without the crowds.
The Medieval Fortress: Swap Dubrovnik for Kotor, Montenegro
Dubrovnik is gorgeous, but between the cruise ship crowds and the Game of Thrones tours, it can feel more like a theme park than a living city. Just a few hours south is the Bay of Kotor. It offers the same dramatic Venetian architecture and deep blue bay views.
Your money goes significantly further in Montenegro. You can enjoy a high-end seafood dinner on the water for a fraction of what you’d pay on Dubrovnik’s Stradun.
Instead of walking the Dubrovnik walls, climb the 1,350 steps to the Castle of San Giovanni. The view of the bay at sunset is a spiritual experience.
The hotel options cover all bases. You have the larger resorts as well as small boutique hotels right on the water front. Kotor is somewhere I think about regularly and think it’s probably one of the biggest hidden gems in Europe.
The Canal Classic: Swap Amsterdam for Utrecht, Netherlands
Amsterdam is a victim of its own success. It’s loud, crowded, and often feels like it's built for tourists rather than locals. Utrecht is the soul of the Netherlands and is still full of bicycles and historic canals. It features unique "wharf-level" canals (where the cellars open right onto the water—perfect for dining) and a massive student population that keeps the energy young and authentic.
Utrecht is only 25 minutes by train from Amsterdam. You can stay in a quiet, boutique canal house in Utrecht and just "day trip" into Amsterdam to see the museums.
It’s slower. It’s prettier. It’s where the Dutch go to hang out.
Why use a travel consultant?
The hardest part of a DIY trip isn't clicking "book"—it's knowing what to book so you don't end up in a tourist trap.
If you want a tailor-made itinerary that includes these types of hidden gems, logistical maps, and hand-picked "non-touristy" recommendations, I’m here to help.
