A new travel trend is gaining popularity as budget-conscious travelers seek out “gimmick” destinations. These hidden gems offer a similar experience to the hotspots, but at a fraction of the cost and tourist traffic. Brett Keller, CEO of Priceline, joined TheStreet to discuss this trend, as well as the most in-demand destinations.
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CONWAY GITTENS: So, Brett, there's a trend that I heard you talk about in another interview that I wanted you to really summarize for us, this idea of the dupe, the journey of the dupe. Can you tell us about it and which destinations are in favor?
BRETT KELLER: Sure, it's not unusual, obviously, when you scroll through your instagram or facebook feed to see people posting photos in top destinations around the world that are very busy, especially during peak leisure travel periods. So a tricky destination is to find a place that is similar, that offers the same type of quality of experience, whether it's food, scenery, etcetera. But you'll go to a less crowded destination, which might have lower prices because there's simply less demand for it. And in almost any market in the world, you can find something similar if you're willing to do a little more research and go off the beaten path. And there are a number of bloggers and writers who propose alternative destinations as a trick destination for you, which can result in big savings and have fewer crowds. You may miss some of the world's best-known attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, but you can still have the experience of being in France, but not necessarily Paris.
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CONWAY GITTENS: So give me an idea of some of the dupes out there.
BRETT KELLER: Well, if you go to Greece, for example, obviously everyone wants to go to some of the bigger islands where there are a lot of events and parties, but a lot of people want to go there just to relax. And in fact, if you fly into Athens, you can drive up the coast and be in a beautiful, beautiful part of Greece without having to deal with a lot of the crowds on some of these other crowded islands. So part of this is just getting in a car, driving to a new destination, and trying something new.
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